Defining Moments (A Moments In Time Love Story 2) Read Free Page A

have fun.”
    Melisa laughed. She was a neat freak and she saw nothing wrong with it; it was therapeutic and had gotten her through some terrible times. Cleaning helped clear her mind. But she had dialed things down a notch since she found out she was pregnant. She was careful never to overwork herself. “I need to ice the cupcakes and then I’ll have a rest, I promise.”
    ***
    The party was a small gathering, but Melisa wanted only her closest friends and family there. As they urged her to blow out the candles, her face glowed with an immeasurable happiness that permeated right through her. She was at peace, and barely able to contain the joy that spilled out of her. Funny how being both sad and happy had the power to take a person’s breath away.
    She closed her eyes to make a wish, and for the first time in a long time she couldn’t think of anything she wanted more than this—what she already had. So she wished that all the good would remain, that the blessings were here to stay. She blew out the white candles on the yellow birthday cake. Heat had tried to talk her out of baking her own cake, but after much persuasion from Melisa, he had caved. She was, after all, one of the best bakers in Serendipity. Mel’s Delights, her bakery, was the go-to place for anyone in need of delicious and elaborate cakes and other sweet treats. Her dream for the near future was to expand to other towns in Door County and eventually the rest of Wisconsin.
    Clapping rang out and Melisa gazed at everyone in turn. Carlene and Nick, her closest friends; Lucy, Heat’s sister; the five Deare sisters, friends from school; her mother, who was back in her life; and her husband, who completed her world. She placed a hand on her stomach. The baby kicked in response.
    Everyone asked Melisa to go ahead and open the presents, but she always preferred to do that in an unrushed atmosphere, where she could appreciate each individual present in peace. This time was hers to spend with the people she loved and cared about.
    Melisa’s mother helped her carry the presents to the master bedroom, for her to open later. Turning back from placing a box on the bed, Melisa watched her bring in an enormous bouquet of yellow roses. Her heart began pounding, but she didn’t say a word until her mom had placed it on the dresser and left the room. Melisa immediately picked up the bouquet and studied it. They were the exact flowers Scott used to buy her when he was alive. She used to receive a bouquet just like this at every birthday and wedding anniversary. He matched the number of the roses with the age she had reached or the number of years they had been married.
    Melisa took a deep breath and held it as she counted them. Thirty-seven. Her heart raced as she lowered the white ceramic vase onto the table again and shook her head. Who could have sent them to her? She read the card. It said simply: Happy Birthday, Melisa. It couldn’t be Heat, because he had already given her his present first thing in the morning: a diamond necklace and a bouquet of calla lilies.
    A knock on the door startled Melisa and she turned away from the flowers. She gripped the edge of the dresser tightly with one hand.
    Carlene stood in the doorway holding a glass of champagne. “Are you okay?” She tilted her head to the side. “You look worried about something.”
    Her mouth dry, Melisa wobbled to the door and ushered Carlene inside. She closed the door again and led her to the dresser. “I received these flowers and I have no idea from whom. Scott used to send me yellow roses on my birthday and our anniversary. It doesn’t make sense.”
    Carlene felt one of the lush roses with the tip of her finger. “Couldn’t anyone have sent them? They do fit with the baby shower theme.”
    “That’s what I thought at first, but there are thirty-seven. Scott always gave me a bouquet of yellow roses that corresponded to the number of years I had turned.”
    Carlene shrugged. “It could just