Birthday by the Lake

"A picnic?" Faith asked with a laugh, skating ahead of her mother on the path through the park. "That's kind of dull for a 16th birthday, isn't it, Ma?"

"Oh, shush, love. I'm not your uncle. I can't be extravagant and shower you with expensive gifts like he does." Syl chuckled back and shook her head. "Ah, here we are."

The path wound past a lake, and Syl pointed to an empty picnic table by the water. "That spot's perfect."

Placing the picnic basket she carried on top of the table, Syl pulled out a table cloth and lay it on the surface, then she began to place the food on it as they waited for the others to arrive. "You're too young to remember this, but this is actually where we celebrated your first birthday, so it's actually a fitting coincidence that we're celebrating your 16th here."

"Really?" Faith smirked as she sat down at the table to untie her roller blades. "So there's a sentimental reason why we're celebrating my birthday in a lame way?"

"Smart mouth." Laughing, Syl sat down beside her daughter, and playfully jabbed the girl in the shoulder, before resting a hand on the baby belly that held Faith's little brother.

"It runs in the family, Ma." The girl grinned as she slid off her blades, then peeled off her socks. Her bare feet nestled into the soft cool grass, a different sensation than the hot crisp sands back home.

Home

Faith was wide awake, though she shouldn't have been. She had taken an evening flight, so her plane had landed right at midnight. While all the other passengers were yawning and dragging their feet, she was wired and received strange looks from the porter who was helping to carry her guitar and her hockey bag and stick.

As she passed through the Arrivals gate, she heard a familiar voice and smiled. Scanning the small crowd hovering around the gate, she caught sight of Aunt Beth waving and calling. Dropping her bags, she ran into her aunt's arms for a hug.