Birthday Surprize

Birthday parties were not her thing.  Parties sure.  Parties were lavish and exquisite, but birthday parties stung in a way the other parties did not.  For one thing, family was invited.  Family.  Lauren had married into this family.  She never felt accepted.  It was if Lady Allan could see inside her soul and pull out her dirty laundry. 

To compensate, Lauren held a tight grip on her past, keeping it hidden and under wraps.  It was bound back into years of deceit.  Though each time she saw Lady Allan she would feel stripped bare, exposed somehow.

She always projected grace and elegance, yet in her heart, she knew it was not all she was or had been. 



She entered the Grand Hall looking out over all the guests.  Her husband, George waited for her at the bottom of the staircase, his eyes lifted to her and shining.  She could feel his love from here and she took comfort in that.  Descending the stairs, she placed a smile on her face and though she made a sweep of the hall, she finally focused on George.  Faithful, loving George.  Her saviour. 

Reaching him, she slipped her arm through his and turned her face for him to kiss her check.  All still smiling.

He guided her through the crowd so she could receive the many birthday wishes and were abound.  She felt like royalty; moving through the crowd each person focused on her.  Yet she could not help feeling a sense of dread that kept nipping at her heels.  To chase it off, she ramped up her smile and greeted her guests with aplomb. 

When dinner was called forth, George escorted her into the Grand Dining Room and sat her at her place of honour.  Her eyes travelled the length of the table and fell on Lady Allan, who seemed to glance down her nose at her.  She looked away quickly, settling her gaze back on George and his faithful smile and closeness. 

When everyone was seated, Lady Allan raised her gloved hand and the room fell silent.

“In honour of Lauren’s 50th birthday I wanted to present a gift of my own.  A gift that took much to discover, but I know it is perfect for her.  Belongs to her even.”

All eyes focused on Lady Allan as she stood and walked towards the last guest who was late to enter the room.  The girl was dressed in dowdy jeans and a floppy t-shirt that was cut to expose her midriff.  Her hair was pulled up off her shoulders in two lopsided pig – tails.  It was dyed black with purple tips.  Her eyes rounded like racoons with heavy black eye liner.  Chains even looped from her belt loops.  They rattled in the opening, expectant silence.

“This is Ariel.”  Lady Allan began.

Lauren felt her head lighten and she grabbed for George’s hand.

“She is Lauren’s long lost daughter.”

The words cut straight through her and with a quick intake of breath that refused to move beyond her throat, her eyes rolled back in her head, and she fell off her chair in a faint.





Word Count = 522