But Lauren didn’t smile.
She stared at the cake for several seconds. Her face slowly lost its color, and tears began filling her eyes. Mark immediately put an arm around her and whispered something into her ear. Lauren nodded, but the worried expression remained.
At first, I assumed she was simply overwhelmed.
After all, she had waited so long for this day.
But the longer I watched her, the more certain I became that something was wrong.
Then I noticed the baker.
She was standing near the backyard gate.
Apparently, she had returned after delivering the cake that morning. She wasn’t talking to anyone or joining in the celebration. Instead, she kept watching Lauren and Mark.
When our eyes met, she subtly motioned for me to come over.
I walked toward her.
