It's the final day of our short story for this birthday week. I hope you've enjoyed the little drama between Kevin and Stacy, along with the literary references. If you missed any of the previous days, they can be found here: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, or Day 4. And now, the conclusion of our story ...

​Kevin still couldn’t believe Stacy was in the passenger seat of his car as he drove them to his favorite café. Had he really finally asked her for a date? She knew this was a date, right?

“So, did you like Little Women?” Stacy broke their silence. “I have to ask because if you didn’t, I’m not sure we can date longer than tonight.”

Kevin blinked.

“I’m joking!” Stacy giggled.

“Well, joking or not, I did enjoy the book. I don’t think it was what I expected. But it was really fascinating.”

​Stacy leaned closer, her floral scent wafting his way. “Did you cry?”

It's the next-to-last day of our short story. I hope you have been enjoying it. If you've missed any of the previous days, you can find them here: Day 1, Day 2, or Day 3.

Rainy days made Stacy want to just curl up and read somewhere. Preferably with a warm cup of coffee. But, instead, the day had been full of chaotic story times, lost books, and a few preschool breakdowns. She was about to the point where she wanted to join them.

It was finally closing time, but no sign of the weather letting up. She’d just have to pull the hood up on her jacket and make a run for it. If only she hadn’t had to park so far away! But the employees tried to leave closer spots for the library patrons, so she was stuck in the back corner tonight.
​
She paused on the back doorstep, breathing in the damp air, listening to the pounding on the pavement. A wonderful night to snuggle under a blanket with a book. First, she had to get home.

It's my actual birthday today and I hope you're enjoying celebrating with me this week by reading my free short story. We're on to Day 3, which means only two left after this one. If you missed the previous days, they're here: Day 1, Day 2.

Now Kevin had gone and done it. Could this be any more humiliating?

​“Are you wanting to write a novel?” Stacy glanced from the book to him.

“No, I—” Argh. Maybe it could get more humiliating. And why did he always forget how to talk when she was around?

“Kevin.” Stacy laid a hand on his bicep. “Maybe if you tell me what you’re looking for, I could help. I know I am head of the children’s department, but I read rather widely, especially in this genre. I mean, I won’t know everything, of course—”
​
He cut her off before she could go any farther. “I was trying to figure out how it’s done.”

Ready for Day 2 of my annual short story? If you missed Day 1, you can catch up here. If you're ready to find out what happens next between Kevin and Stacy, read on.

“Is Kevin still here?” Stacy stopped by the front desk after checking the history section—his favorite spot. But there was no sign of the quiet man who had stopped by earlier and never finished telling her what he needed.
​
She’d been so distracted with the emergency spill Felicia had alerted her to and then to finishing up her book repair project. Kevin hadn’t crossed her mind again until she was helping a little girl find a biography in the children’s section. Which made her think about the man who could help find one in the adults’. And guilt niggled at her belly.

It's my birthday week! That means a free short story. It's my gift to my readers to celebrate another year around the sun. This year, we're hanging out in a library (bet you didn't figure that out from the title). I'll post a piece of the story every day this week through Friday, so make sure you come back all week for the next scene.

All the other stories from the last five years are still on my blog under the link "Short Stories." Feel free to go back and read them. And in the meantime, here's the new one. Enjoy!

​​Today was the day.

Kevin had been hemming and hawing about doing this for weeks now. Possibly even months. But no more.

He straightened his shoulders, tugged his sweater smooth, and drew a deep breath. The worst thing she could say was no, and this waiting around not knowing was worse than that in some ways. It was time.

Today, he would ask Stacy for a coffee date.
​
He put a hand on the door marked “Children’s Library Staff,” and pushed it open.

Welcome back to my annual birthday story. Ready to find out what happens next with David and Macy? Read on. Or, if you missed Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, or Day 4, follow those links to catch up!

Macy hadn’t been able to get a good read on David this afternoon. Had he been pleased with his party? Was he upset? Was that why he wanted to talk to her?

He had mentioned to his mom that he didn’t want a party. And that’s exactly what she’d thrown. Maybe she’d ruined her chances for an office friendship before it could even start. Her own mom often chided her for eavesdropping. This exact situation was the reason.

“Macy?” David’s voice in her doorway startled her from her brooding.

“David. Hi.” She set her pens straight on her blotter for the next day.

“I have a question for you.” David leaned against her desk.

“Oh?”

“Why did you think today was my birthday?”
​
Her hands stilled and she slowly lifted her gaze to him. “What?”

Welcome back to my annual birthday story. Ready to find out what happens next with David and Macy? Read on. Or, if you missed Day 1, Day 2, or Day 3, follow those links to catch up!

Something strange was going on. David frowned as another coworker walked past his cubicle. An awful lot of traffic for a Tuesday afternoon. Had he missed a meeting memo?

A quick scan of his emails showed nothing. But three more walked by, whispering as they passed his desk. Maybe someday he’d have a close bond to some of his coworkers too. In the last month, he hadn’t really had time to get to know anyone. But surely that would change now that the Tyler project was wrapped up.

“Hey. Meeting in the conference room.” Macy poked her head through his doorway.

“I didn’t get a message about it.” David motioned toward his screen.

She shook her head. “It was last-minute.”

He frowned. “What’s it about?”

“Standard stuff. You know how it goes.” Macy moved her head in a ‘follow-me’ sort of way. “You coming?”
​
“If only to appease my curiosity.” He grabbed a memo pad and a pen. “Lead on.”

Welcome back to my annual birthday story. Ready to find out what happens next with David and Macy? Read on. Or, if you missed Day 1, or Day 2, follow those links to catch up!

“I don’t know, Macy. I’m sort of on a diet right now. Gotta stay thin enough to fit into my wedding dress next month, ya know.” Hilary ran her hands down her perfectly skinny waist and Macy barely kept herself from rolling her eyes.

“Even if you don’t eat the cake, you could still come sing.” Macy cocked an eyebrow. “I didn’t get a huge cake anyway. Our birthday budget was pretty much blown for the month already.”

“We have had a lot of birthdays lately.”

“Right?”

“If I remember, I’ll try to swing by. You said three?” Hilary jiggled her mouse to wake her computer back up.

“In the big conference room.” Macy backed out of the payroll office. “And tell the others when they get back from lunch.”

Hilary waved at Macy, but no telling if she actually heard her words or not. Something had already caught her eye on the monitor in front of her.
​
Macy huffed. Things were not going as well as she’d figured. Maybe people were birthday’d out or something, but barely anyone seemed excited about celebrating David this afternoon. They’d sure be put out if no one showed up to celebrate them on their day, but apparently it was too much trouble to give the same courtesy to their newest co-worker.

Welcome back to my annual birthday story. Ready to find out what happens next with David and Macy? Read on. Or, if you missed Day 1, it's here.

David stepped into the small kitchenette and the three women congregated around the microwave practically gasped as they straightened. Strange. Not that David had ever confessed to understanding the female half of the species. Still … he didn’t think he was that startling.

He eased around them to grab his leftovers from the fridge. A few titters of laughter burst from a couple of the girls before they smirked and headed out of the kitchen. That left only Macy.

She occupied the cubicle on the other side of his wall. Often he heard her soft voice chatting on the phone or with other co-workers. But he rarely had time to actually experience a conversation with her for himself. Since he’d started a month before, their schedules hadn’t cooperated for much more than a smile in passing.
​
Maybe that could change soon. He leaned back against the counter on the other side of the microwave while she waited for her meal to finish heating. Glancing her way, he discovered her watching him, but she quickly turned her attention to the beeping machine.

She hissed as she grabbed the hot container and let it slip a bit, some red sauce splattering over the countertop. “Shoot!”

“No, Mom.”

Macy tried to tune out the voice filtering over from the next cubicle, but it was hard. David was worked up about something. Not that it took much for him to catch her attention. Between his mellow voice and his thick dark hair, he made it hard to focus on work several times a day.

“That’s very sweet, and you know I love you for it. But no. I don’t need a celebration.”

Celebration? One of Macy’s favorite words. Something told her this spreadsheet would not be finished today.

“Mom, seriously. No.” He paused. “Yes, I know it’s been three-hundred and sixty-five days. But that doesn’t mean we need to celebrate. Seriously.”

A tapping followed, as if he were letting out frustration through his pen. Macy lifted a brow.

“Yes. We can have dinner. But nothing more. I don’t want a big deal made.”

Was it his birthday? What else could he be talking about? A celebration for something that happened once a year.
​
Macy stifled a squeal. Any excuse to eat cake was a good one in her book.