Anneliese, true to her anxious nature, continued to repeatedly brush the length of her hair down with her hands. It was Will’s birthday today, which would usually be more than enough for her to over compensate. Everything had to be perfect (they took birthdays in this household very seriously), and to add to that, she knew she had the best present she could give to him! So one could see how her anxiety for all of this was higher than usual!

Breathing quickly, Anneliese skidded around the kitchen table, arranging the contents again. The cake she and Henry had made this morning was perfectly frosted, Will’s gifts were circled around it, and they’d even had time to decorate the room a little! It was exciting, seeing all of this made her even more excited than she already was. What a complete difference than last time.

“Now when Papa comes in, we say ‘surprise!’” Anneliese turned to her son in his chair, raising her arms high in the air as she spoke. An encouraging smile formed on her face, and Henry gave a happy laugh. He had gotten so big so quickly in the last year--- it almost made her tear at the thought of him being an older brother.

“Surprise!” Henry repeated, mimicking his mother. Anneliese’s smile grew wider, then she quickly placed a single hushing finger over her mouth once it was obvious her husband had come home. Henry responded, and quickly quieted himself as well. Will was going to be so happy.