Therese awoke in the morning and went straight out to her garden as soon as she could. “Good morning, Rabbits.” Therese told them. Therese worked the soil, pulled the weeds, and planted some new seeds. The rabbits smiled back, twitching their ears and tails to show her they loved her. Therese finished and went inside to have breakfast with her parents. Mom was up, and breakfast smells good, thought Therese as she smelled the air from outside.

“Happy Birthday!” said her parents, handing her a small box with a card. Therese smiled, and opened the card, it had a picture of a bunny and said “Hoppy Birthday” and signed by her parents. To most eighteen-year-olds, that might seem lame, but for Therese she hoped she would never be too old for bunny cards. “Thank you.” said Therese, smiling at the bunny and running her finger over the velvet texture.

Therese opened the box, and saw her mother’s car keys. “My own set of keys!” Therese shouted excitedly.

“Honey, think bigger.” said her mother Mary while smiling.

“You mean?” said Therese.

“Yes, I have to buy your mother a new car.” said Therese’s father as he hugged her. Therese thanked her parents over and over and hugged them both. The family ate breakfast, and Therese glanced and held the keys, something felt different now that they were hers. Therese was very happy.

After breakfast, Therese’s parents left to go look for a new car, and Therese readied herself for work. She went through every shirt, until deciding on the one she wore for her first date. She felt the shirt and smiled. Yes, she decided, if Ben had a lucky shirt, maybe she did too, but she would wash hers more often. Therese took her time getting ready. She wanted to look perfect for her photo. Therese smiled in the mirror, she still could not believe how beautiful she looked. Therese checked the clock, time to go, she was always on time. Therese drove carefully to the Cowffee Cup, she was always careful whether it was her car or not.

Therese arrived at the Cowffee Cup, and Erin was outside waiting for her, also dressed up nice. Therese walked carefully but as quickly as she could to her boss. Erin stopped her. “We are giving you a surprise party for your birthday, Happy Birthday!” said Erin before she gave Therese a big hug which Therese gladly returned, “I thought leaving the lights off and yelling surprise might be too much.” explained Erin.

Therese rolled her eyes back and nodded in agreement, “It would have been too much,” agreed Therese, and also asked, “Who is here?”

“Come be surprised.” Erin told her before opening the door. Therese walked in and stood excitedly with her mouth half-open. Her parents, Peter, Vivo, Ben, Mr. Shank , Buck, Ana, and of course Erin were all there. “Happy Birthday!” Everyone said. Therese could not remember being so happy, except maybe the first time she kissed Peter. Therese blushed at thinking about kissing Peter.

“What about inventory?” asked Therese.

“I probably should learn how to do that, but not today, no badges either.” said Erin.

Therese was glad to sit in the middle of her friends and family. Everyone was happy to see her well. “You know, I’ve been her teacher for three years.” Mr. Shank bragged to Vivo.

“Only because she signed up for you every year, she built her schedule around your class.” said Therese’s mother, Mary, to Mr. Shank.

“She did. After the first year, she insisted upon it. She said you were a great teacher.” explained Therese’s dad, Rodger. Mr. Shank had never been so proud to teach, he drank some soda and grinned.

“Is someone watching the store?” Therese asked Ben, expecting a responsible answer from him and not Vivo, who might as just left a jar on the counter with money in it.

“I put a sign up, closed for lunch, we’ll go back in a couple hours. Don’t worry, would you rather I send your boyfriend over there?” asked Ben.

“No, I like him here.” Therese told Ben.

Erin brought out lunch, she had made a plate of sandwiches and muffins. Ben made coffee drinks and passed out sodas to whoever wanted them. Vivo gave Ana airplane rides around the store. Peter sat next to Therese. Shank and Buck traded Navy stories. Erin grinned, she never imagined life could feel complete again. Therese smiled back, she never imagined life could be so good. After lunch, Erin brought out a beautiful carrot cake with eighteen candles on it.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Make a wish.” said Therese’s mom as she lit the candles.

Therese thought long and deep. Therese wished she would never forget today, and she wished Kara would be friends with her again, she wished Kara was with her now. Therese blew out the candles. She smiled, all in one breath. Ana clapped. Therese picked her up and hugged her, little Ana hugged back.

Buck reached over and handed Therese a metal jewelry box. It was carefully welded, the joints polished and had a neat little hinge on it. It was made out of blue steel. The hood ornament from Bud’s truck was polished brightly. The jewelry box was a masterpiece of work in all its aspects. Therese shed a tear. “Buck.” was the only word she could say.

“Lucky jewelry box.” said Buck, winking. Therese looked at it and smiled but tears formed in her eyes. She mouthed the word “Thank you.” her voice wouldn’t work.

“You’re welcome.” said Buck, with a wink.

Therese unwrapped a box Vivo handed her. It was filled with bootleg copies of Space-Girl Michelle, including the lost movie. “Thank you.” said Therese.

Erin gave her a box, and she opened it. Inside was a beautiful shirt. “Thank you.” said Therese, Erin winked back.

Ben was next, he handed her an unwrapped cardboard box. She opened it, it was a Kookie Mart shirt just like what they wear but “Therese” was embroidered on the name tape. “In case you ever get tired of working for Erin.” Ben told her. Erin threw a pretend mean look at Ben. Therese rubbed her finger over the embroidered name tape with her name. “Thank you,” she told Ben, who fist-bumped her.

“I wasn’t sure what a girl needed, I teach girls, I don’t understand them, but since you are graduating, they use this model at the college.” Therese looked at the graphing calculator. “I wish you taught there, thank you.” said Therese.

“I’m actually applying. I think they are done with me at the high school, and I am grateful for that.” said Ed Shank.

‘It’s not much, but I got you this.” Peter handed Therese a small box, with a gold chain and a heart-shaped locket. Therese admired it, it reflected the light. She opened the locket, it was empty. “It is missing your picture.” She told him.

“Idiot.” Ben called Peter and threw him a playful elbow.

“Maybe he just forgot.” said Therese, willing to give Peter the benefit of the doubt.

“He doesn’t want you, he just did this to be nice.” said a little voice in Therese’s head.

“All right, all right, if I have condone this relationship finally, I will.” said Ben, pulling out his phone, to take a picture of Peter.

“Wait.” Therese told Ben, picking up and handing Ana to Peter. “I want both of you.” Ben took the picture and went to his office to print it out. He came back a few minutes later with a glossy printout, and a pair of scissors.

“Let me.” Erin told him, taking the scissors and cutting the picture to fit the locket.

“Good idea.” said Ben, watching how much better with the scissors Erin was. Erin finished the picture and put it in the locket. Erin handed the locket back to Therese, saying “Therese, her arms open.” and winked at Vivo, who fell in love with her again for the many-ith time that day. “Nerds.’ Ben whispered to Peter.

Therese opened the locket and smiled. “Always, I want you both right by my heart. Thank you.” said Therese, putting the locket over her neck. Peter blushed. Therese smiled, out of a terrible week, into a good day.

Shank and Buck were excited to find out they had been on the Enterprise, but Vivo was disappointed to find out it was the one that floated. The two men had a great time trading sea stories. Mr. Shank offered to give Buck a ride home, and they said their farewells. Therese stood up and gave them both a hug.

“We really do have to go get a car.” Therese’s mother told her, as her parents got up, thanked everyone, said goodbye and hugged Therese before they left.

“Just the bridge crew left.” Vivo told Erin.

“One to beam back to work.” said Ben pointing to Peter. “Hey, that was pretty good.” Ben said impressed by his wit, then Ben grabbed another slice of cake and started eating it. Therese was sad to see Peter go back to work, then she remembered her gift from Ben. She pulled out the Kookie Mart shirt, leaned over, said thank you to Ben, kissed him on the cheek, and held up the Kookie Mart shirt to show Ben her plan. Therese walked to the back and headed to the Kookie Mart.

“I guess I did that to myself.” Ben said aloud. Then stood up and shouted, “Hey wait, don’t change in front of him.” Erin pulled Ben back down to sit at the table with them. Let’s eat some cake.” she said, bringing Ben’s attention back to his dessert, a diversion which was successful.

Therese walked to the bathroom. She took off her blouse and put on the kookie mart shirt. It was too big, it was the size of Ben. Therese laughed, she knew wouldn’t be able to guess her size, so he used one of his because it would fit everyone. Therese modeled for herself in the mirror. The shirt revealed nothing. Ben would be satisfied. She walked out and greeted Peter as soon as she could. “Hi Peter.” she told him.

“You still look great.” said Peter, looking at Therese in the bulky work shirt in Kookie Mart colors, that Ben had given her. Peter unlocked the door, and pulled down the out to lunch sign. And flipped on the neon “Open” sign.

“It’s Sunday, you’re off, don’t you want to go do something?” Peter asked her.

“I do have some DVD’s I can watch.” said Therese, to Tease Peter, and then went and started brewing a fresh pot of coffee.