Happy Birthday to You (Birthday Trilogy, Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

the bed and started petting our dog Cinder, who looked overjoyed
to see me.
    “Well that’s
really sweet of you, Cam,” my mom said, sitting up in bed and smiling at me.
“No, we can handle it. We didn’t have that much.”
    “You sure?”
    “Yes, of
course.”
    “OK.”
    I stood up but
didn’t leave the room yet. I needed to say good-bye. But I didn’t know how to
do it in a way that wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
    “Anything else?”
my mom asked. “You should get to bed. It’s late.”
    “Yeah, I know…”
I stood there for another few seconds. “Mom?”
    “Yeah?”
    “I just… I just
wanted to say…”
    “What?”
    “I love you.”
    My mom scooted
toward me, a frown appearing on her face. “Oh my God… Cam… are you OK?”
    “I’m fine.”
    “Cuz if
something’s happening again…”
    I shook my head.
“It’s not. I promise. I swear a thousand times. You don’t have to worry about
me.”
    You just have to worry about you. And
Dad. And Kimber.
    “Then what…” my
mom trailed off.
    “I just… thanks
for everything, really. I’m so lucky to have you and Dad around to help me, to
support me. You guys are just… you’re the best.”
    “What’s going
on?” my dad asked, entering the bedroom and taking a seat on the bed. He had
his back turned to me, as he was focused on removing his dirty socks.
    “Nothing,” my
mom said. “Cameron’s just being the sweetest son a mother could ever ask for.”
    “What?” my dad
asked, finally turning my direction. “What’s he saying?”
    I’m saying good-bye.
    “I’m saying I
just really love you both.” I could feel tears coming on. I had to fight them.
If I started crying, they would know something was up. And I didn’t want that.
“You guys have been really great, and I’m gonna…” I’m gonna miss you. “I’m never gonna
forget how much you guys have sacrificed for me, how much you’ve… you know… put
up with me. Kimber and I are so very lucky.”
    My mom looked
about ready to cry, but my dad appeared suspicious. “What’s this all about,
Cam?” he asked.
    I shrugged. “A
sentimental moment. That’s all.”
    I walked up to
my mom and gave her a big hug. “I love you, Cam,” she said. “Thanks for coming
this weekend.”
    “Of course,” I
said. “Wouldn’t have missed it.”
    I thought I
could see a smile on my dad’s face. That gave me enough reason to give him a hug,
too. I couldn’t remember a time I had hugged my dad when I wasn’t near death. I
put my arms out.
    “What are you
doing?” he asked.
    “Trying to hug
my father,” I said.
    It took him a
few seconds, but he warmed up to my hug. He slapped me on the back a few times
and nodded.
    “OK,” he said.
“Better get to bed now.”
    “Of course,” I
said. “Good night.”
    As I exited the
room, I turned around one last time. Before my dad turned out the overhead
light, I could see the remnants of a tear on his cheek.
    I smiled, closed
the door behind me, and headed downstairs.
    I would never
see them alive again.
    ---
    When I stepped
into my bedroom, I caught Liesel standing in the corner, ominously silent. As I
made my way up to her, I could start to hear her crying.
    “Leese?”
    She turned
around and wiped tears from her eyes. She tried to act like she hadn’t been
sobbing, but it was too late for that. “Hey. Sorry.”
    “What is it?”
    I looked over
her shoulder to see that she had been staring at a framed photograph on the
edge of my desk of me and my family, taken two years ago on a vacation in Cabo
San Lucas. We looked like the happiest family in the world, a family who would
never be broken apart by anything or anyone.
    “I’m sorry,” she
said. “I forgot about that photo.” She walked over to the bedroom door and
turned to me. “Are you ready?”
    I didn’t answer
her right away. I too stared at the photo for a moment, trying to remember
those joyous, less complicated times. I licked my lips and cracked my neck.
    Don’t cry,