Happy birthday

As soon as Micheal returned to his office, an unexpected message popped up on his screen from Amy.

*Hi, Mr. Langston. I was wondering if you guys have anything planned for Yvonne's birthday.*

Micheal blinked, momentarily stunned. Yvonne’s birthday? He hadn’t known. No wonder she had eaten the dessert at lunch with such passion, savoring every bite like it was a secret celebration. He replayed the afternoon in his mind, recalling how she had been in unusually high spirits, saying she was in a good mood and nothing could upset her.

Thoughts flooded his mind. He hadn’t anticipated Yvonne’s birthday would sneak up on him like this. She had been so adamant about keeping her distance from romantic entanglements, brushing off his subtle advances with grace and restraint. Micheal knew she wasn’t ready for anything more, not yet, but he couldn’t ignore his promise to his children: to make Yvonne their mother one day. He would find a way to make her see him not just as the father of her favorit