He’d laughed merrily at the parade of gifts the kids had presented him with throughout the day as he worked his shift at the beach, balloons (which flew up into the sky with a little help from Emma), singing, and even a cake with candles that wouldn’t stay lit in the breeze. Erica insisted on a big dinner, though, with the kids, Erica’s parents, Riley and Debbie. Despite the good cheer that seemed to radiate off the very walls that evening, Bryce found herself quiet and withdrawn, as understanding of what she must do began to dawn. God, they love him so much, she thought, and despite the laughter and the loud music, the voices and smiles and flurry of a happy family celebrating one of many, many happy birthdays, she felt a cold twisting pain in her gut, 100 times worse than what she’d been denying, because this was final. Not the threat of pain anymore, but the reality of it; she knew, suddenly and certainly, what she must do. What it would be up to her to do before this week was out.
