To my utter mortification, I immediately burst into tears when I saw Michael.

Luke laughed and shook his head at me, but Marly clucked sympathetically.

“Oh, stop laughing, Luke! The poor thing, we took her by complete surprise--” And then she grinned, too. “I can’t believe we pulled it off! I was sure I was going to slip!”

My mother, who had come into the room behind me, was beaming at us all.

“I know! I was a nervous wreck all afternoon. I was so sure she’d hear something I thought by accident. Well, come in, all of you, don’t stand out on the porch!”

Marly and Luke followed her, but Michael and I remained where we were. He pulled me into his arms as I continued to sniffle.

“Are you really surprised?” he whispered into my ear.

I exulted in the feel of him against me. “Can’t you tell? I’m not that good an actress.”

He chuckled and his lips moved over my hair. “That’s true.”

I realized suddenly that we were still standing in the open door, and I took Michael’s hand, leading him to the porch swing and closing the door behind us.

“Okay, tell me everything! When did this happen? How long have you known you were coming?”

He laughed again and tugged me closer. His arms were wrapped around me, and I leaned against his chest in contentment.

“Let’s see... well, last week, I got to talking with my botany professor—the one who’s giving the test on Monday? I mentioned that I had been planning to come home for your birthday, but that now I couldn’t. I’m doing pretty well in that class, and I think the professor likes me. So then Monday, when I came into class, he called me up front and asked me if I thought I could possibly be ready to take the test on Friday morning—today, he meant. I said I thought maybe I could be, and he told me that he was willing to let me take it today so that I could come spend the weekend with you.”

“That’s incredible! He really must like you.”

“So I was going to tell you Monday night, and then I thought... I’ll make it a surprise. My mom was going crazy! She said she had to keep avoiding you all week. And every time I talked to you, I was afraid I would accidentally say something, so that’s why I didn’t stay on the phone very long. I was so excited, I was having a hard time keeping it to myself.”

“You all did an excellent job of it. I was totally in the dark.”

He shifted to kiss my cheek. “Do you know how hard it is to surprise someone who can hear thoughts? This is probably the first and last birthday surprise I’ll ever be able to give you, and it’s only because I was too far for you to hear me.”

I snuggled closer. “It was the perfect birthday gift. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

He trailed a finger around my cheek, and I shivered in pleasure.

“How much longer until dinner, do you think?” he murmured against my hair.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on hearing the minds inside the house. Marly’s was the easiest to pick up.

“They’re having hors d’oevres and perfectly content to let us have some time alone,” I reported.

“Good.” Taking me by the shoulders, Michael turned me to face him. “Then maybe I have time for a birthday kiss?”

“I think we can work that in... ” My voice trailed off as his lips covered mine, at first with the same hesitant sweetness I’d always known from him, and then with an increasing intensity and passion. I responded to his urgency, tilting my head and reveling in the feel of his back beneath my hands. I could hear his thoughts so clearly that they might have been my own, and I savored that intimacy that I’d been missing so badly.

I think we might have stayed there for hours, wrapped in each other’s arms. But I heard my mother, who was tactfully thinking quite loudly as she approached the front door, and reluctantly pulled away just as she leaned out onto the porch.

“I hate to interrupt, but I’ve worked hard on this dinner, and it’s getting cold. You two have all weekend! Let’s eat.”

Dinner was so much better than I could have guessed it would be. We laughed about Marly’s desperate ploys to keep from giving away the surprise, and she vowed that she never wanted to be in on another secret from me again. My mother brought out the cake, covered in lit candles, and they all sang to me, as Michael held my hand tightly within his own.

Then it was present time. Marly and Luke gave me an antique edition of Shakespeare, which thrilled me. Michael rolled his eyes.

“Great,” he moaned. “As if she doesn’t already know all the plays by heart.”

I stuck out my tongue at him. “It’s a wonderful gift, and I love it,” I told Marly. “Thank you so much.”

Then Michael handed me a small wrapped box. I looked at him in confusion.

“What’s this?” I asked. “I thought you being here was my gift.”

“Well, look on this as an bonus,” he suggested. “Come on, open it up.”

I carefully unwrapped it and gave him another exasperated look when I saw the velvet box. “Michael! You shouldn’t spend your money on me,” I scolded half-heartedly. Then I opened it. Inside were nestled an exquisite pair of pearl drop earrings that almost perfectly matched Nana’s necklace.

“Oh, they’re beautiful,” I breathed. “How did you know?”

“I called your mom and asked what they were giving you,” he answered smugly. “Do you like them?”

“I love them!” I exclaimed, throwing my arms around him before I remembered that we weren’t alone. None of the others seemed to notice, though, and Michael kissed me on the cheek and whispered, “I’m glad. Happy birthday.”

We sat around the table late into the evening, chatting and enjoying being together. I felt more whole and complete than I had in a month as I sat with my hand within Michael’s. When the Sawyers stood to leave, Michael rose, too.

“Can’t you stay a little longer?” I entreated him.

“Tasmyn, it’s late,” my father reminded me. “And Michael had a long drive today. Let him go home now and get some sleep, and tomorrow you two will have the entire day together.”

“That’s right,” Marly agreed. “No work for either of you—part of your birthday gift, Tas. The day is yours.”

Reluctantly I walked Michael to the porch again as the adults lingered discreetly behind us. He pulled me against him once again, and I raised my lips for a kiss. His hands tangled in my hair as he held my head, and I could hardly breathe when we broke apart.

“See you in morning,” he whispered. “I’ll be here by eight. Be ready!”