Free Music of the Heart by Harper Brooks Page B

cupcakes but smaller than a whole cake.  It’s plenty for all of us to eat together.  Sitting on top of it is a candle and after she sets it down, she slips me a note.
     
                  The girls know better than to sing out loud to me so they whisper sing instead.  We all grab our forks and dig in.  It doesn’t take long for the guys to come over but Cross is no longer with them.  I sneak a glance at the note and see that the cake was from Cross and he wished me a happy birthday.  I want to thank him but he’s nowhere to be seen.
     
                  After we finish the cake, I look at everyone, “Well, I need to go and get ready for tonight.  My family is coming over early to spend some time together before we head to dinner.”
     
                  Everyone says their goodbyes and I head home to shower and change clothes.  I called my mom and she said they were about thirty minutes away so I go ahead and get ready and sit down to work on some new lyrics to kill time.
     
                  About an hour and a half has gone by and I hear my doorbell ring.  I ran to the door expecting to see my sweet two-year-old niece standing there but instead am greeted by an enormous bouquets of flowers.
     
                  I take the flowers and sign for them and just stare at them in awe.  I’ve never seen a bouquet like this and whoever sent it must know that tulips are my favorite flower.  There has to five dozen tulips in the arrangement and all different colors.  I quickly grab the card and to my shock, they are from Cross. 
     
                  I’m standing here just staring at the flowers when the doorbell rings again.  This time I am greeted by the cutest little blonde haired, blue-eyed cutie pie in the world. 
     
                  “Aunt Ashweigh!  Happy, Happy Burthday to you!”
     
                  I get hugs all around from everyone as they walk in my house.  My niece, Greer instantly notices the big bouquet of tulips. 
     
                  “Wow Aunt Ashleigh!  These flowers are so pretty!  Can I smell them?  Please?!?!”
     
                  My mom and sister walk in as I pick up Greer to smell the flowers. 
     
                  “Ashleigh, these are beautiful and there are so many.  Where on Earth did you get these from?”
     
                  Thankfully I removed the card from the flowers before they got to the house so I decided to lie about who sent them.  The last thing I needed tonight was tons of questions about who Cross is.
     
                  “Oh, the record label sent them for my birthday.  They are beautiful, aren’t they?”
     
                  We talk a little longer and then head out to Fins.  As always, dinner was amazing.  My family raves about the restaurant.  After we ate, they head back to the hotel and I am so tired, I spend the rest of the night in soaking in a bubble bath with a nice glass of wine.  Thankfully, it wasn’t too long after that when sleep finds me.
     
     
     
    CROSS
     
                  I can’t believe the guys never mentioned to me that it was Ashleigh’s birthday today.  I felt like an ass not saying anything to her once they told me.  I ended up going back to the counter and telling one of my employees to bring out a few of the miniature caramel cakes to her table.  I also wrote a quick note and asked Jenna if she would slip it to Ashleigh for me. 
     
                  After we left the café, I told the guys I had a few errands to run and that I would see them tonight at Merritt’s house to help decorate.
     
                  Once I got in my car, I pulled up the florist I use and ordered five dozen tulips to be sent to Ashleigh’s house immediately.  After placing the flower order, I head straight to Phipps Plaza to try and find her a