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“Okay. I need you to make the tartar sauce for the fish and shrimp, and after that, I need you to sauté the mushrooms and onions and make a vinaigrette dressing for the pasta salad,” he instructed.
“Sir, yes, sir.” Jo saluted Daniel, provoking a laugh from him.
“All right, get to work, Private,” he said with the most serious face he could muster.
Jo laughed at how ridiculous he looked, trying to keep in his own laughter while trying to maintain his composure. As if triggered by her own laughter, he chuckled, shaking his head.
“All right, we really need to get to work now,” he spoke through his chuckles.
The two worked in sync, getting everything ready. When she was finished, she excused herself to go freshen up.
When she made it back over to the inn, the guests had already started to arrive. Jo hadn’t seen their cars because Cora had instructed everyone to park over by the house as the plan was that Andrea would take their mother straight to the inn when they arrived.
“Hi, Uncle Luke, Aunt Maria. You’re both looking very lovely,” Jo complimented her uncle and his wife.
“Thanks, JoJo. You’re looking quite lovely yourself,” Uncle Luke returned.
“Absolutely stunning,” Aunt Maria joined in.
Just then, Cora came running through the back door of the inn. “All right, everyone in position. Andrea says they’re five minutes away,” she alerted the guests.
Jo waited in anticipation for her mother to come around the side of the building to be pleasantly surprised. Andrea would tell her that she needed to go pick up something from the gazebo behind the inn and have Becky follow her.
“They’re here. Get ready,” Cora whispered.
Just then, they heard Andrea’s voice loud enough to alert them of their presence. Three seconds later, the two women rounded the side of the building.
“Surprise!”
Becky jumped in surprise, holding her chest. Her wide brown eyes began to register what was before her, and as realization kicked in, a wide smile came to her lips as tears of joy glistened in her eyes.
“Happy birthday, Mom,” Andrea, who was closest to her, said, pulling her into a loving embrace.
When she released her, Cora went up to hug her mother, followed by Jo.
“I can’t believe you all came here to celebrate my birthday. It truly means a lot to me,” Becky spoke with her hand across her heart.
“You deserve to be celebrated, Becky.” Aunt Stacy slowly drove up in her mobility scooter and stopped before Becky. “You are an extraordinary woman, and we all know that Sam would want you to continue celebrating your birthday even though he’s not here.”
Becky reached down and grasped the older woman’s hand. “Thank you, Stacy. I truly appreciate it.”
After everyone had greeted and congratulated Becky on another milestone, the partygoers made their way inside the lobby of the inn, where the food had been set up buffet style. Everyone took their plates and stacked as much food as they could handle before taking their seat at the tables outside.
Jo made her mother’s plate and brought it to her. When her mother looked at the content of her plate, her eyes widened in surprise before she raised them to her daughter, questioning.
“Truffle mushroom pasta,” she confirmed. “I remember you and Dad had said that was the best dish from your wedding. I thought I would recreate it for you as that was one of the happiest days of your life, and it started with this meal,” she explained.
Becky’s eyes watered as she reached up to curve her palm over her daughter’s cheek. “Thank you, sweetie. This is… I love you very much, my flower,” her mother finished.
Jo gave her a sweet smile before reaching down to kiss her on the side of her head.
After everyone had gotten their plates, family members and friends alike got up to make a toast to Becky.
“I have worked for Becky for over ten years now, and in that time, she’s been more than just my employer— she became my friend and, dare I say, even my family. Becky, you are a gem that, with time, has grown even more beautiful, and I see no one that deserves such a day of appreciation as you do. To Becky.” Marg raised her glass to the woman who sat looking down at the people that had come to celebrate her, tears glistening in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she mouthed to Marg. Jo gave her a subtle nod of approval for her sweet toast.
After that, Uncle Luke got up to make a toast of his own. “Becky, it always amazed me how my brother managed to hit the jackpot when he got to marry you. You have been a wonderful addition to this family, showing us the meaning of unconditional love as you remained unwavering in your love for Sam and for your girls and this family. You are a sister to me and Stacy, and I want you to know that we love you very much. Seeing your girls back here and ready to support you on the rest of your journey makes me a happy man.”
