My birthday started off with a weird phone call from Violet saying that I needed to come over at 11 so Violet and Grandma Mary could give me my birthday gifts. I didn't like the fuss of my birthday. 

I lollygagged my way around the house getting ready. I hated my birthday for some reason. It was just a reminder that I was a year older and the place in life I thought I would be at was not nearly as exciting.

"Just be here at 11 okay?" Violet told me in a phone call while I was getting ready.

"I will I'm just finishing my hair now," I told her as I turned off my hot tools.

"Okay see you soon," Violet told me.

I hung up and finished getting ready.

By 10:30 I was heading to Violet's and Grandma M's house. I wasn't thrilled at all.

I arrived exactly at 11 because of Saturday morning traffic. 

I pulled up in the driveway like normal and walked up the door.

I rang the bell so Violet knew I was there.

"One second," I heard Violet call out.

"Okayy," I hollered back.

She came and opened the door slowly.

"Hi," she commented.

"Uhm hi?" I remarked as she hesitated to let me in.

"Happy birthday by the way," she remarked as she looked behind her before letting me in.

"Thanks," I smiled as I walked inside.

"SURPRISE!" was all I heard for a second.

I was taken aback. I opened my eyes and some of my friends from work were there. But most of all, my parents were standing right in front of me. Before I could say anything, I was wrapped in an embrace from behind. Roses were in front of my face.

"Happy birthday," Andy commented as he let go of the embrace.

"I'm literally speechless," I remarked as I went up and hugged my parents for the first time in forever.

"We've missed you," my mom told me as she hugged me so tight.

"I've missed you guys too," I told her.

All the meeting and greeting went on for a few before I snuck back over to Violet.

"Did you do this all for me?" I asked her.

She smiled.

"Of course I did. You are the bestest friend I've ever had and I wanted to do something special for you," Violet told me as Andy walked over to us.

"How did you get my parents here?" I asked Violet before Andy grabbed my hand sneakily.

"Easy peasy. I told them how I wanted to do a birthday celebration for you since you've done so much for me this past year and they didn't hesitate to come down," Violet commented as she noticed Andy's and I's hands clasped. 

"I'm so grateful for once my birthday is actually different this year," I told Violet as her expression changed to a bigger smile.

"Wait hold on, what's up with this?" she gestured to us.

"What?" I asked.

Andy had a smile on his face.

"Wait are you two?" Violet asked.

I looked at Andy and he gave me a nod.

"Well sort of yeah," I told her.

"We haven't had a proper date yet but things have changed for the better. For the both of us," he explained to Violet.

Just then, my parents and Grandma Mary walked over.

"Wait why didn't you tell us you were in a relationship?" my mother asked curiously.

My dad didn't say much so he just looked at me and Andy.

"I, uh well," I began to comment nervously.

This would be my 2nd relationship. I was in a relationship all through high school through my sophomore year of college. I broke up with him because he cheated on me at a frat party.

"We are just starting out. I mean I'm sure you know that we've only been together together the last few days," Andy explained to them.

I squeezed his hand. 

"Well, I wish you two the best. I really love your music, Mr. Gibb," my mom told him.

"You can call me Andy," Andy remarked chuckling.

"Andy. Wait this is the Andy she's been talking about for over a year," my dad realized.

I facepalmed as Andy chuckled.

"Wait you've talked about me?" Andy asked me.

Grandma Mary pipped in along with Violet.

"We all knew it was bound to happen sooner or later after Christmas," Grandma Mary commented.

"Yeah we knew it was gonna happen somehow," Violet told me as she smiled at me.

I looked at Andy who looked so happy. His eyes had a new wave of hope and yet we still didn't know what was going to happen between us. After last Sunday, we hadn't really talked about what we were. I just knew that he was meant to be in my life after the first meeting last March.

The birthday brunch went off without a hitch. We mingled, we ate and the best part was the cake was made with buttercream.

Everyone had filed out besides Andy and my parents. 

I was sitting on Violet's porch with another small slice of cake. I was enjoying today and not caring about anything but the people in this house.

Violet found me and joined me. Andy was lost in conversation with my parents and Grandma Mary.

"So?" Violet asked me.

"Today has been the absolute best birthday I've ever had. Thank you for doing this for me," I told her as I sat down the piece of cake in my lap.

Violet smiled.

"I'm so glad you enjoyed today. I was worried you'd get suspicious about things I was doing or saying," she explained to me.

I chuckled.

"Nope I'm pretty much clueless at things like that," I told her as I took another bite of the cake.

"And when were you gonna tell me about the Andy thing?" she asked me quietly.

I sighed.

"Well, I was going to once he officially asked me out but apparently after I kissed him last week, he knew that was it," I told her.

"Well you two had been flirting off and on and being so smitten it wasn't hard to tell since like Christmas you two were bound to be together," she explained as Andy walked out to where we were.

"Mind if I join you, ladies?" Andy asked as he sat down on the porch with us.

"Not at all," I remarked as I was finishing up my piece of cake.

"Thanks for being there for my best friend. I'm glad we met so you two could meet,"  Violet told Andy.

"I got to thank you both. You've both been there for me in a perspective that I never thought was possible before my recovery," he explained.

"Violet," Grandma Mary called out.

"Be back," Violet commented as she ran inside to see what Grandma needed.

"So," I remarked.

"Your parents are really nice. They thought it was funny you never led on that I was actually Andy Gibb," he commented with a chuckle.

I giggled.

"Well, I didn't think that was important to disclose. I mean you are Andy. And I mean there is still so much I've got to learn about you," I told him.

"I could say the same thing about you. Well, the latter part of your statement," he commented.

"So what are we? I mean we're holding hands like were high schoolers," I asked him as I put my empty plate on the step.

"Well we are, well, I mean, I like you a lot you know that and I mean last week when we went out, I felt the most comfortable I had in years with someone," Andy explained.

"Is this your way of asking me out?" I asked him.

He smiled at me.

"Perhaps I mean do you just kiss the guys you are friends with?" he asked chuckling.

I laughed.

"Oh my god no I don't," I told him as I nudged him.

"So then do you wanna try?" Andy asked quietly.

He was so nervous you could tell. And I knew from his past things weren't easy for him to vocalize at all. 

I took a deep breath before replying.

"I would love to Andrew," I told him.

He grabbed my hand once again. 

"Happy birthday," Andy whispered.

I smiled at the new chapter beginning for my 26th year.