Stomping down to the office, Candy gathered the computer and returned to the kitchen, where everyone else busily prepared the scene. Once she established the connection, she used her phone to text the code to the list of guests they had chosen to invite. Watching as the screen populated with friendly faces, she grimaced, then forced a smile as she moved into the range of the camera. “Hi guys!” she called cheerfully, adding a wave for effect. She had gotten better at pretending, or at least she hoped she had.
“Where’s the birthday girl?” Eve snorted, obviously miffed about something.
“We’re almost ready,” Candy replied soothingly. Glancing around, she adjusted the position of the laptop to improve their view. “Can you see now?”
“That’s much better,” Roger announced, wiggling in his seat.
“Be still,” Eve commanded as he squirmed in the chair beside her.
“Shh,” he hushed back.
Candy resisted the urge to mute them.
“I think we’re all set,” Gary announced. Using a long arm to slide the cake closer, he fumbled in his pocket for a lighter. Once the dancing flames glowed before them, he pulled away as singing filled the air. When the song ended, he instructed, “Blow it hard, Joy!”
They had been practicing all week, preparing her for the big moment. Her cheeks puffed out, air hissed between her tiny, puckered lips, and the flames fluttered to the side. Not satisfied with the result, she inhaled deeply and tried again, this time succeeding in extinguishing the pair of candles and sending a thin line of smoke curling above them. “Yay!” she cheered, clapping her hands as the others joined in the celebration.
Glancing at the screen, Gary could see his father genuinely enjoying the moment. His mother on the other hand appeared to be chewing sour grapes. Sighing deeply, he did his best to appease her. “Can you see all right, Mother?”
“I see fine,” she quibbled, dabbing the corner of her eye. “From here.”
A joyous crescendo of laughter filled the air and Gary nodded knowingly. “I know, Mother,” he stated flatly. Dropping the conversation there, he turned to the cake and began cutting small squares. “Do we have ice cream?”
“Yes,” Carol replied, opening the freezer and pulling out a large container. “I remembered.”
Holding out a bowl, Ben offered, “I guess I’ll help with the serving. Might as well make myself useful.” He winked at Candy, knowing she probably needed a break after the computer.
“Thanks, Ben.” Gary placed a square of cake into the dish, then returned to snag another cube of decadence. “This cake looks delicious, Kitten.”
Her face flushed and Candy beamed. She had been taking an online decorating class during the quarantine and creating the special desert had certainly raised her spirits. “Thank you, Babe,” she replied meekly.
After a few minutes, the noise level dropped as everyone enjoyed their slices and scoops. Glancing at the Zoom, Gary could see that the Doubletrees and other cousins had provided a cake for themselves, as had Cathy, but his parents simply sat in their chairs…glaring at them. “Where’s your cake, Dad?”
“We don’t need cake,” Eveline tartly replied.
Licking at the icing coating the roof of his mouth, Gary considered his reply. Nothing he could say would appease her. “This really isn’t the time,” he said instead. “You know we are going to arrange things for Halloween. You’ll get to see everyone then.”
“Hmph,” Eve grunted, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Please don’t,” Candy begged through gritted teeth.
“Exactly,” Gary inserted, aware that everyone had been drawn into the turmoil that zoomed across the airwaves for the whole family to see. “I promise, Mother. We will see you in person in a few days.” Without hesitating, he reached over and removed them from the connection.
“What did you do that for?” Candy squealed, terrified at what Eveline Ford would say or do next.
“Shh,” Gary shushed her. “Enjoy your daughter’s birthday and let me handle my mother.” Placing his bowl on the table, he stood and marched out of the room, turning left towards the office.
Around her, spoons clanging against dishes filled the small space. Standing frozen in place, she waited, not entirely sure what to do, but the others dropped the confrontation and focused on the celebration.
“I have to hand it to you, Candy, this cake is delicious,” Cathy piped up, holding up her plate as she took an exaggerated forkful. She had baked a double chocolate cake for herself that very morning.
“Oh, isn’t it heavenly?!” Anette agreed, offering her bite to the camera for the others to see. “Isn’t it lovely how we all get to have our favorite this way?”
For a moment, Candy thought she might cry, but Joy’s dimples creased her tiny face as she sat beaming at her and her heart melted. “Oh, guys. I so wish you could be here.”
“We are here,” Paula clipped, “as much as we can be. You and Gary have genuine concerns for the wellbeing of your family. Don’t apologize for that. Eve will simply have to respect it.”
“Well said,” Robert agreed next to her. “This is Joylana’s day. Don’t let anyone spoil it.”
Nodding, Candy placed her bowl on the table beside her husband’s and followed him down the hall. Pausing at the door, she could hear his stern voice on the other side.
“I understand, Mother, but you have to also understand. Just because you don’t think there is any danger in a visit doesn’t negate how we feel about it.”
Candy couldn’t hear her response.
“Yes, I know that I’m still working and that does raise some risk of exposure,” he continued, catching a shadow in the hallway. “We are taking precautions for that.”
Realizing she’d been noticed, Candy stepped through the portal. “We can talk about this later,” she announced loudly. “Come and join us.”
Her simple request spoke volumes. “I have to go, Mother,” Gary cut off Eve’s rant. “I’ll call you tomorrow and give you the details for Halloween.” Removing the phone from his ear and ending the call, he placed the phone on his desk. Following Candy back to the kitchen, they both wore smiles as they rejoined the group of happy guests, both live and virtual, all of them ignoring the problems of the world as best they could.
“That’s it,” Roger announced firmly. “Party’s over.”
“That is not it,” Eve countered, pressing her phone firmly against her ear. Across town, Gary’s device sat on his desk, flashing brightly in the darkened room. “Damn it,” she cursed as his voicemail cut in for the umpteenth time.
His hand shaking slightly, Roger gently removed her fingers to take possession of her iPhone. “Eve, listen to me. I know how stubborn you can be, but our son can be just as hardheaded as you. Look how long it took him to settle down and give us those grandchildren you were always harping about. And now he’s got a beautiful family, and there’s even a new baby on the way.”
“For all the good it does me,” Eve retorted. “I haven’t seen or touched them in months.” She wafted her hands around her. “Not since this virus thing started.”