Natalie crossed into the family room, giving it a final glace. She pushed some magazines around on the coffee table when the loud ring of the doorbell echoed through the sterile house.
"Coming!" she cried, her voice echoing as she walked the long cream hall to the door.
"Are Gramma and Gwandpa hewe?" inquired Emma, Natalie's adorable 4 year old daughter. Her soft brown hair and loving eyes reflected those of her mothers.
"Yes, now stand up straighter." Natalie fixed the wrinkles in Emma's plaid jumper, turned around, exhaled and forced a smile.
"Hi Mom and Dad…"
"Nat! Hey you look great honey, how've you been?" Her father pulled her into a loving embrace and Natalie smiled. "I've been good, Dad."
As Dan greeted Emma, Diana entered the suburban home, and hugged Natalie. "Nat, Natalie." Tears surfaced in her eyes. "Hi, Mom".
Natalie broke from her mother's arms and invited them inside.
"Wow," exclaimed Dan. "This looks more incredible than the blue prints, really Nat, you and Henry did good with that piece a junk. Speaking of Henry, where is my favorite pothead?"
"Daaaaad" Natalie rolled her eyes "He's done with that. It was sort of a rebellious teen thing. And he's working but he'll be here any minute to help with dinner."
A few minutes later Henry came bustling through the door. "Hey everyone!" He was bending over, as he was trying to balance his backpack, briefcase and a large pile of papers without dropping clutter all over Natalie's freshly mopped floors. Dan took the stack of papers and followed Henry into his office, discussing architecture and floor plans and blueprints.
"Ah shoot!" Natalie said remembering, "I forgot to pick up the apple pie from the bakery!"
"Don't worry, honey," assured Diana, "I've got a little surprise…" a small smile crept up along her face.
Oh dear…thought Natalie surprises from her mother were never as good as intended.
Henry and Dan returned to the kitchen.
"So what's for dinner" asked Henry as he kissed Natalie.
"Lasagna" replied Natalie, she turned to pull oven mitts out of the chestnut wood drawer to take her lasagna out of the oven as Henry began to set the table.
"Mmmm" Dan said as Natalie placed it on the table. "Smells like it's gonna be good!"
Natalie smiled and joined everyone at the table, after cutting up smaller sized pieces for Emma and placing them in a smaller bowl.
The family chatted, and smiled, catching up on new things and reminisced of the past. Natalie put Emma to bed and the family cleaned up the dishes when Diana remembered her surprise.
"I'll be right back!" she said. She grabbed her coat off the rack and ran to the car.
No one seemed to see her disappear, until the lights went out and she came back into the kitchen. Singing happy birthday and smiling at the illuminated cake.
"Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday to you…"
Natalie and Dan exchanged looks as Natalie bolted from the kitchen muttering the f-word under her breath.
"Oh Christ…"
"Ummm is this like an occurring thing that happens in this family?" Henry wondered. Dan just shook his head in dismay and grief as Henry went to comfort Natalie.
"He's not here, he's not here. Damnit"