“Hey, Mom?” I ask. She makes some kind of noise, but doesn’t look up from the books.
“Since the store isn’t busy, can I head out for an hour or so? I’m meeting a friend for cupcakes.”
The wordcupcakesshould trigger her into remembering it’s my birthday. But she just nods and says, “Sure. I’ll call you if we miraculously get busy, but I’m betting that won’t happen.”
So yeah, my feelings are a little hurt that my own mother forgot my birthday, but I’m starting to worry about her. She’s so preoccupied with the store and so stressed out all the time about money. Once stress makes you forget birthdays, something should be done. I need to find a way to save The Magpie once and for all, so Mom can rest. She could take a vacation and enjoy life again without worrying about paying the bills.
I walk down to Gigi’s Cupcakes and order the birthday cake flavored cupcake. I get a coffee as well, and I sit in a corner booth and eat them because by 5:30, I’m starting to think Caleb isn’t going to show. I debate texting him again.
I finish my cupcake and wander down the boardwalk to the bonfire on the beach, but none of the benches have Caleb sitting there waiting on me. I go back to Gigi’s an hour later and order another cupcake, this time the double chocolate one with a mound of icing on top that’s taller than the cake itself.
I eat the whole thing.
Still no text from Caleb.
Happy Birthday to me. Ugh.
Mom has probably closed up the shop by now, but I walk back there to get my backpack. The lights are still on, the OPEN sign still facing outward, even though it’s fifteen minutes past closing. I guess Mom forgot about closing time just like she forgot my birthday.
I come to a stop on the boardwalk just a few feet before the entrance to the Magpie. I stare up at the setting sun, look around at the stores, half of them now owned by Jack Brown Properties.
Jack Brown is trying to ruin my mother’s business, and his son just ruined my birthday. I check my phone again, just in case, but there are no new messages. Tears well up in my eyes. I blink and they roll down my cheeks. I shouldn’t feel sorry for myself, but here I am, doing just that.
Some birthday.
Congratulations, Natalie. You picked a total asshole to ask out on a date.
Chapter 21
I don’t want Mom to see me like this, so I dry my eyes. I think about walking home, but I’m not really in the mood to spend a forty-five minute walk thinking about how Caleb stood me up and totally ruined my birthday.
With a deep breath, I push open the door to The Magpie and turn the OPEN sign to CLOSED.
“Natalie!” Mom says from the front desk. She rushes around it and sweeps me into a hug. “I’m so sorry, baby! I can’t believe I forgot your birthday!”
She squeezes me so hard all the air leaves my lungs and I struggle to draw in another breath. “It’s okay,” I mumble.
“No, it’s not! I’m so mad at myself.” Mom pulls back, holding me at arms’ length while she looks me over. “You’re so grown up and mature now, sweetheart. Let’s close up and go get dinner, okay? I’ll make it up to you.”
I shake my head. “Mom, we can’t afford restaurant food right now.”
“Not another word, Nat! We can afford it for your birthday. It’s a special night.”
“Seriously, Mom. I just had two of Gigi’s cupcakes so I’m just really not into it.”
Mom puts a hand to her chest and frowns at me. “But I feel so horrible, sweetheart! It’s my daughter’s birthday and I’ve been so absorbed in work, I completely forgot.”
I shrug. “You remembered eventually. That’s all that matters.”
Mom frowns. “Actually… I didn’t. Not at first.” Guilt lines form in her forehead and I give her a weird look.
“But…you did remember. It’s still my birthday.”
She shakes her head. “Your friend came by to see you and he made me realize what day it is.”
My heart lifts. “Caleb?” So maybe he didn’t ditch me tonight after all. Maybe his phone broke or he lost my number or something. I glance out at the boardwalk. He could be out there waiting for me right now.
“Caleb?” Mom says, her voice high-pitched. “You have two boyfriends now?”
