It was only after Raymond Thompson finished the "Happy Birthday" song that he pushed the cake cart and stood in front of Isabel Smith. He stepped around the cart, walked before Isabel, raised his head, looked sincerely at her, and said, "Sister Isabel, Father said you were busy awhile back and didn't have time to celebrate your birthday, so tonight we'll make it up to you."
Birthday?
Her birthday had passed more than a month ago. She hadn't celebrated her birthday for six years. How were they going to make it up now?
Isabel Smith widened her eyes, looking at Raymond Thompson in front of her, unable to speak.
Percy Stanton had already risen from the piano and held a large bunch of purple lilacs, which he had preordered from the restaurant. He walked up to Isabel, placed the lilacs in her hand, smiled at her, and said, "Isabel, happy birthday."
An indescribable whirlwind of emotions swept over Isabel Smith, flooding her heart with waves of unexpected joy.