MARCH, 1994, ABERDEEN, WA

          FOR THE FIRST time in ages, Lindy had made the executive decision to stay in Aberdeen for the duration of her birthday celebrations.

She had driven into town the day before, her things packed for a few nights stay in the town that she had escaped. Though she never would have thought it would happen, Lindy actually wanted more than anything to be truly home when she turned twenty-five.

Her welcoming had been warm — Trae and Allie both decorated their house with streamers and had prepared a cake, one which Hannah helped Lindy blow the candles out on.

The four of them had gone out to dinner with Lee on Lindy's actual birthday. While Lindy had persisted that they all go to the local diner in town where Lee would surely be more comfortable, Lee was steadfast in his decision that they go to a steak restaurant just outside of town that had been his favorite for many years.

Why he maintained this as the restaurant of choice, Lindy did not know. She was not even sure that there would be anything on the menu that Lee could actually digest. She had a feeling that her father wanted to spend an exuberant amount of money on her though, a now one time opportunity. Lee was ill to the point of being on his death bed, but with his children's help, he managed to have one last decent meal to celebrate Lindy.

Naturally, Lee ordered a ribeye that half-hung off his plate. Lindy had cut up Lee's steak for him, encouraging him to take tiny bites in order not to waste the meal, but this did not help much. Lee could barely stomach anything solid anymore, let alone a medium-cooked piece of meat. Yet as his daughter coaxed him with food, caring for him like she would a child on her own birthday, his eyes filled with grateful tears.

Kurt had called Lindy that same night, but unaware that she had gone to Aberdeen, his call was forwarded to her voicemail machine. Depressed, Kurt had left her his love and hopes that she was having an excellent day before hanging up. He had needed very badly to speak with her and felt lost to have not heard her voice.

Lindy would not hear Kurt's voicemail anytime soon. She extended her stay in Aberdeen even after her birthday was over, insisting she could take the time off from the hospital. Besides, Lee's condition was more concerning than ever. Lindy guessed that she'd need to take the time while in town to find a reputable hospice to place him in.

"How about this one?" Lindy asked. She was sitting on the floor of Trae and Allie's living room, Hannah in her lap playing with a spinning top toy as Lindy sifted through hospice brochures.

Trae was on the couch, his sock-clad feet raised on the armchair. He was exhausted, deprived of sleep and time with his family due to the demands of ensuring Lee was okay. Since they'd had no room in their two bedroom house for Lee to move in, Trae had enlisted the help of their old next door neighbor to frequently check on Lee in the night to make sure he didn't fall down.

"That one's too far. I've got to be able to drive Hannah up to see him."

"Okay," Lindy agreed, flicking the brochure aside. They'd already ruled out several hospices and severely narrowed down their search.

It was a funny thing, how they both had strongly advocated that their father be placed in the best hospice care that they could find. Lindy guessed that some may have called them all too forgiving, but the importance of Lee's quality of life had grown hugely on her.

It was a gift to her mother — a gift to show that her children were capable of forgiveness.

"I can't believe we're doing this," Trae said quietly from his spot on the couch.

The only sound in the living room became of that Hannah, who excitedly squealed every time her toy jingled in her hands. Lindy bounced her on her lap, only inducing more giggles out of the baby.

"I guess we should have known this day would come," Lindy said obscurely. She was regretful that they were both not better prepared for what was ahead. Lee didn't have much time left.

"We can't be hard on ourselves," Trae commanded, noting the way in which Lindy spoke. "Like I told you, it's got to be all put in the past, right?"

"Right," Lindy echoed. She looked down at Hannah, whose small fingers were now locked around hers as she sprung up and down on Lindy's lap.

"You know how happy he is that you forgave him? Just so he could see her?" Lindy continued, glancing down at her niece. Trae smiled.

"I made the decision that I knew was best. Mom wouldn't have wanted . . ."

"For us to punish him for the rest of his life," Lindy finished. "I know."

"I just wish we could have had another brother or sister," Trae confessed, lowering his voice to a murmur at the mention of the older Hannah's death.

Lindy almost reminded him that everything happened for a reason; it was the same thing she had been telling herself since discovering the truth from Lee, and had he not told her the same thing? But she decided that now wasn't the right time. In that moment, she allowed them both to grieve the loss of their unknown sibling.

The doorbell rang, snapping them both out of their trances and causing Hannah to twist around with interest on Lindy's lap.

"I've got it," Allie called, entering the living room and hurrying down the hallway. She bent down to kiss Hannah's forehead as she passed.

"Expecting someone?" Lindy asked her brother, turning her attention back to little Hannah.

"No, unless you are," Trae said. Lindy felt that he was vaguely referring to Kurt and a potentially spontaneous visit for her birthday, but she shook her head no.

"Lindy!" Allie beckoned from the entryway of their home. "It's for you!"

Trae gave his sister a knowing look, but she continued to shake her head disdainfully as she rose to her feet and adjusted Hannah on her hip.

"Not what you think," she chided him as she made her way to Allie, both of her arms around Hannah.

As soon as Lindy got closer to the open front door, she realized with a great shock who was standing in her brother's doorway — Wendy and Kim.

"Hello," Lindy said, startled as she stared at the two women. She would have been more taken aback if she weren't already so accustomed to the surprises that life constantly dished out to her.

"Hi Lindy," Kim beamed, stepping forward to give Lindy a hug. Wendy smiled, but remained tentative. It had been a long time since she'd seen her son's first love.

"Happy birthday," Kim added. She produced a wrapped box from behind her back, pushing it into Lindy's free hand that wasn't tightly around Hannah.

"How did you . . . when . . ."

Lindy did not know what question she wanted to ask first as she accepted the gift, still unbelieving of who her visitors had turned out to be.

"We ran into your brother in town the other day," Wendy explained, finally speaking. "He told us that you would be here celebrating your birthday, and when we asked to see you, he suggested planning a surprise."

Trae had walked behind Lindy, grinning as he put an arm around her shoulders. Lindy looked at him dubiously.

"You planned this?"

"Well, they hadn't seen you in so long. And with Kurt gone, I figured you would like seeing the next best thing."

Wendy laughed. "I'm not entirely sure we're the next best, but . . ."

"No, it's perfect," Lindy said quickly. "Come inside."

Wendy and Kim joined the Claytons in the living room, reminding Lindy of when Kim had surprised her at her apartment. While seeing Kurt's sister felt natural, Lindy was unsure of how to react around Wendy — for all she knew, Kurt's mother would have disapproved greatly of their secret relationship and the potential it had to hurt her granddaughter. 

"Let me give you a hug," Lindy insisted, handing Hannah over to Trae and opening her arms to Wendy. When Wendy stepped into them, Lindy was reminded instantly of Kurt. He and his mother had similar body shapes, a fact that became more obvious to Lindy as she held Wendy close. It took her breath away to release her out of the hug.

"It's been so long," Wendy smiled, relieving Lindy of any fear that there was bad blood in their circumstances.

"Years," Lindy added. "But it's so good to see you both. I'm happy to have you here."

Lindy meant this. Trae had been right in assuming that Kurt's family would be the next best thing as a granted birthday wish. She may not have spent time with them in ages, but it was nearly as good as having Kurt standing beside her.

They all sat on the couch, Wendy and Kim remarking on how lovely of a baby Hannah was. Hannah, although young, seemed to enjoy the attention as she began to bounce on her tip toes in her rolling baby chair. This earned laughs from everyone in the room.

"What a lucky aunt you are," Kim said to Lindy, her eyes alight.

"I have to agree with you there," Lindy said, looking admiringly at Hannah's smiling face.

Despite the fact that their arrival had been unexpected on Lindy's part, the day continued on as if nothing had changed. Wendy and Kim interacted freely with Lindy and her family, happily chatting about all subjects that lay outside of Kurt. If it weren't for Lindy having known the two women previously, she would have assumed that they were members of her own family. Not a trace of awkwardness hung in the air.

When Kurt did eventually rise up in conversation, Wendy was keen to reassure Lindy that she did not judge her for pursuing a relationship with her son. On the other hand, she sounded quite approving and hopeful, as if Lindy was Kurt's saving grace. 

"We all could have guessed that it would happen at some point or another," Wendy explained, an understanding look on her face as she referenced Lindy and Kurt's quiet love affair.

"I just worry about Frances," Lindy admitted shamefully. She wanted Kurt's mother and sister to at least know that it was far from her intentions to rip a family apart. That would always remain Lindy's biggest regret about the entire thing.

"Frances would do better away from Kurt and Courtney's dynamic," Kim claimed. "From what I've heard, all they do is fight. Even though they try to hide it from her, she'll eventually notice what's up. All kids do."

There seemed to be a general consensus that although everyone was aware of how much Kurt detested divorce, it would be necessary in fixing one of the many problems in his life. Lindy silently thought to herself that the sooner Kurt separated from Courtney, the better, and not only for her sake. Better to do it while Frances was young so she would not feel the impact so strongly.

Lindy wondered if Wendy and Kim knew of Kurt's proposal to her — as time passed, she guessed that they had no clue. She decided that she wouldn't tell them. The only way they'd find out was if the day came that Lindy could actually wear Kurt's ring on her finger.

Otherwise, it would stay a secret.

Kim and Lindy ended up sharing a moment alone as Wendy followed Allie into the kitchen and Trae went to rock Hannah asleep. Kim took this opportune time to reveal some developing news.

"Kurt called our dad before he left on tour," she told Lindy. "We never ever thought he'd do that."

"Really? I sort of gave him, I don't know, a pep talk before he left. I told him what happened with my dad and it seemed to resonate with him."

"That's sweet of you," Kim said gently. "I've always hoped Kurt and Dad could fix their problems."

"As long as it helps Kurt in the end," Lindy replied, to which Kim nodded in agreement. Kurt overcoming his many present hurdles would be the first priority in leading a better life.

When night dawned through the windows and Lindy finally opened her gift from Wendy and Kim, (a silver ring that was incredibly ironic to receive) the two women announced that they were going home.

Lindy walked them both to the door, feeling a twinge of sadness to see them go. Between the both of them, she was so reminded of Kurt that she had entered a bubble of security where the pain of missing him could not reach her.

"It was so good to see you Lindy," Wendy said sweetly, touching a hand to the side of Lindy's face. Lindy gave Kurt's mother another hug before doing the same to Kim, pulling back to smile.

"Thank you guys for coming, it was so —,"

Before Lindy could complete her sentence, she felt a rushing wave of nausea that hit her with force comparable to a freight train. She felt her mouth well with saliva, a warning sign of what was happening. She was going to be sick.

"Excuse me," Lindy gasped, jerking the back of her hand up to her mouth and momentarily forgetting who was standing in front of her. She flew down the hallway, shoving past Allie and darting straight for the bathroom.

Once she had collapsed to the tiled floor and pushed up the seat, Lindy vomited violently into the toilet with every lurching muscle in her body.