RESURRECTED Read Free

her forehead.
    “You okay, baby?” he asked. “You’ve been spacing out a lot lately.” Before Caitlin could reply, Polly yelled:
    “I see her! Scarlet! She’s outside. Hurry!”
    As everyone rushed to the front door, she quickly lit the 16 candles on the cake, then hurried to the parlor to join them.
    Caitlin positioned herself so that Scarlet wouldn’t see the cake, standing right in front of the door, her heart racing. As she waited, she heard footsteps on the old porch, and was surprised to hear two sets of steps. She’d assumed Scarlet would be coming home alone, and didn’t know who could be with her. Ruth whined like crazy.
    Scarlet opened the door, and as she did, they all yelled: “SURPRISE!” Scarlet stared back, wide-eyed, looking completely shocked. Caitlin felt victorious that she’d actually managed to surprise her—Scarlet, of all people—the smartest person she’d ever known, and the hardest person to surprise with anything. Scarlet was also the most beautiful. As she stood there, with her perfectly-chiseled pale face, her large, crystal-blue eyes, her flowing, red hair, she was breathtaking. In some ways, she reminded Caitlin of Caleb.
    Ruth barked and barked and Scarlet leaned over and hugged her. Scarlet’s face lit with excitement as she stood back up and broke into a huge smile, revealing perfect white teeth.
    “That’s why you didn’t call today!” she said.
    Caitlin hugged her, smiling over her shoulder.
    “I wanted you to be surprised! Happy birthday, sweetheart. We love you!” Scarlet then hugged Caleb, and he hugged her back firmly.
    “Happy birthday, sweetheart!” he said.
    But as Caleb looked over Scarlet’s shoulder, at the person standing in the doorway, his expression hardened.
    Caitlin looked and saw that in the front door, stood a boy, maybe Scarlet’s age, 16. Hands in his pockets, he wore a plaid shirt and jeans, with longish hair, and looked up warily at both of them.
    Caitlin had never seen this boy, but was suddenly overwhelmed by the strangest feeling that they’d met. He seemed so familiar that it bothered her.
    Scarlet must have noticed the sudden tension in the air, because she turned.
    “Um…guys,” she said. “Like, sorry, I didn’t realize everyone would be here. This is my boyfriend. Blake.”
    “ Boyfriend ?” Caleb asked warily, surprise rising in his voice.
    Blake , Caitlin thought. How did she know that name? Somehow, she felt she did.
    Blake looked cautiously back and forth between Caitlin and Caleb.

    “Um…hi,” he finally said, shyly.
    “Dad, be nice,” Scarlet cautioned.
    Caleb held out a large, firm hand, and Blake reached out tentatively. Caleb shook his hand hard—just a little bit too hard, Caitlin could see.
    “Any friend of my daughter is welcome in our home,” Caleb said, though Caitlin could see his jaw tighten. She also noticed he chose the word friend , not boyfriend.
    “Hi Scarlet!” Sam yelled out, and came hurrying over and gave her a hug.
    “Oh my god are you gorgeous or what!?” Polly screamed, as she hurried over and wrapped Scarlet in a big hug, picking her up. “Oh my God, look at that hair! And those earrings! And those shoes! Where did you get those? Oh my god, you look stunning! Stunning!” Polly said.
    Scarlet smiled wide as she embraced Polly, who was like a second mom to her.
    “Thanks, Polly. You look great, too.”
    Caitlin gently herded them towards the dinner table, and as they all were getting closer, she hurried around behind Scarlet and placed her palms over her eyes.
    “Don’t look!” Caitlin said, as she walked Scarlet across the dining room. As they neared the table, Caitlin pulled back her hands.
    Scarlet’s eyes opened in surprise, and she broke into a huge smile.
    “Oh my God, you got it for me!” she screamed, and turned and hugged Caitlin tightly.
    Caitlin beamed with satisfaction. It was Scarlet’s favorite cake, a red velvet cheesecake she’d once had in Manhattan and never