A/N: This story is dedicated to my friend Ashley whose birthday is today.

Happy Birthday Ashley!

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"Boy what a long day this has been!" Ashley muttered to herself as she left her workplace. She stepped outside into the cool air and took a deep breath. She loved how cool it was getting lately. She couldn't wait to get home. Not only because she couldn't wait to relax with her husband but because it was also her birthday. She had already planned on going to a local bakery and picking up a cake for the two of them to share tonight after dinner. It was only a few blocks away and she started walking towards it. She checked her phone and saw all the happy birthday messages on her Facebook page. She smiled to herself and put her phone back in her purse. She crossed the street and a few minutes later came in front of the bakery. She opened the door and stepped inside.

In front of her were cases filled with pies, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, donuts, and cakes. She went up to the cake case and gazed at all the varieties they had. Chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Chocolate cake with white icing. Yellow cake with chocolate icing. Yellow cake with white icing. White cake with white icing. White cake with chocolate icing. There were so many to choose from!

"Hello! May I help you?" the person behind the counter smiled.

"Uh yes. Well, as soon as I figure out what cake I want! There are so many here to choose from!" she laughed.

'Yeah, we do have a good selection." the counter person whose name tag said Karen smiled. "So what is the occasion?"

"It's my birthday and I'm picking up a cake for me and my husband to have after dinner tonight."

"It's your birthday honey and you're buying your own birthday cake?" the woman behind her asked sadly.

That voice! It sounded like….no it couldn't be! Ashley shook her head.

'Hello Miss Light!" Karen smiled.

"Now Karen I have told you none of this Miss Light! You can call me Judith."

'Oh my God! It is her!' Ashley couldn't believe it. She turned around and looked right into the warm and sweet smile of Judith Light!

"Miss Light? Ummm I mean Judith? Is it okay if I call you Judith?" she stammered.

Judith smiled. "Of course it is sweetheart. May I ask your name?"

"It's Ashley."

"Well it is very nice to meet you Ashley." She held her hand out and in a daze Ashley held hers out as well. They shook hands.

'Oh my God! I'm shaking Judith Light's hand! Am I dreaming?!'

"It's nice to meet you too. Oh I'm sorry. I'm just a little frazzled right now! I am such a huge fan of yours!" Ashley rattled on. She put her hands over her mouth. "Oh geez I sound like such a dork!"

Judith smiled. "Oh no not at all honey. But please there is no reason to be nervous."

Ashley smiled. "Okay I'll try!"

"So it's your birthday today?"

"Yes, it is."

'Well let me wish you a very happy birthday!"

"Thank you Miss…Judith."

"You are very welcome my dear. Now what is this I hear that you are buying your own birthday cake?"

Ashley blushed. "Well I pass by this bakery on the way home from work and it's just easier for me to pick up my own cake."

"Well I just can't let you pay for your own cake. If it is okay I would like to buy it for you."

Ashley gasped. Had she heard Judith right? Did she really say she wanted to buy her birthday cake for her?

"Oh no. I really appreciate the offer but I can't let you do that."

"Oh sweetheart it would be my pleasure if you would allow me to do this for you."

Ashley glanced back at Karen who had been watching the whole exchange in amazement. Well not that she should be of course. Judith was one of the sweetest and most generous customers they had. And her offering to buy this young lady her birthday cake was just the sort of selfless gesture she was known for. Ashley turned back around.

"Okay. Yes, I would appreciate that very much."

Judith smiled. 'Well okay then! Which one would you like?"

Ashley laughed. "Oh I don't know! There are so many to choose from!"

Judith laughed as well. "That there is. It makes it all the more difficult doesn't it?"

"Tell me about it!"

"Well honey you just take your time."

Ashley smiled and looked at the cakes again. She finally settled on a round single layer chocolate cake with white icing. It was decorated with various fall flowers made entirely out of icing.

"I'll take that one." she pointed out.

"An excellent choice." Karen said and removed the cake from the case. She grabbed a box and carefully set it inside.

"And what may I get for you Judith?"

"I'll have a half dozen of those snickerdoodle cookies and two blueberry muffins, "

Karen got Judith 's order and put the cookies and muffins in their own individual boxes. She rang the total up.

"Okay that comes to $30.55."

Judith opened her purse and pulled out a fifty dollar bill and handed it to Karen.

"Here you go. And please keep the change."

Karen gasped, That was way over 15%!

"Oh no Judith I couldn't!"

"Please, I insist."

"Well thank you so much!"

"You're welcome."

Still in a daze Karen handed Ashley and Judith their boxes.

'Thank you so much for this Judith!" Ashley smiled.

"Oh it is my pleasure!"

"UMMM could I ask you for another favor?" Ashley asked sheepishly.

"Of course honey. You can ask me anything!"

"Can I…well would you mind if we had our picture taken?"

Judith smiled. 'Hey anything for the birthday girl!"

Ashley turned to Karen. "Would you mind taking a few pictures of us?"

"Oh no not at all!"

Ashley took her phone out and handed it to her. They placed their boxes on the counter. Judith wrapped her arm around Ashley's shoulder.

"Okay on three say cheese! One! Two! Three!"

"CHEESE!" Ashley and Judith exclaimed.

'Okay a few more!"

Karen took a few more pictures and then handed the phone back to Ashley.

"Thank you" Ashley smiled at her.

"You're welcome! Now you enjoy that cake and have a happy birthday!"

"Thank you." She turned to Judith. "I can't tell you how much this means to me!"

Judith smiled. "Well I'm glad I was able to brighten your day."

"Oh you did!"

"May I give you a hug?"

Ashley was so stunned over everything that had happened she could only nod. Judith wrapped her in her arms.

'Oh my God! Judith Light is hugging me! I'm hugging Judith Light!'

After a few moments Judith released her and again wished her a happy birthday.. She picked her boxes up, waved goodbye to Karen, and left the bakery.

Ashley and Karen stared at the door both in shock.

"Did that really just happen?!" Ashley asked.

'Yeah, it did!"

Ashley picked her box up, said goodbye to Karen and walked out the door.

This was the best birthday she had ever had!