A Box of Chocolates by Bryan Mooney

Author:Bryan Mooney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, short stories, sex, womens studies
Publisher: Bryan Mooney

A New Beginning

The extra chair stood silent at the head of the table, empty, as the assembled group began to sing.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Christine, happy birthday to you.

Christine stood there teary-eyed, looking around her dining room table. All of her closest friends were there, those who meant anything at all to her had come to help celebrate her fortieth birthday.

Her mom, her daughter, her sister, and her best friend Trish were all in attendance to help her celebrate. Trish had even baked a cake and added four flaming candles to the top of it.

“Make a wish,” they all yelled at the same time.

She held out her arms, reaching for her three-year-old daughter Amber. “Come here sweetie,” she said. She looked just like her mother, with her long blonde hair, bright green eyes, high cheekbones, and that adorable smile. “Come on now. Help Mommy blow out the candles.”

The little princess relished the attention and starring role she was thrust into but more than that, she was so happy to see her mom smile again. She hugged her tight before climbing up on her lap to blow out the candles.

“Make a wish,” Chrissie whispered into her ear.

The little girl glanced at the empty chair at the end of the table then squeezed her eyes tight. She opened them and quickly blew out the candles in one big breath. “Happy birthday, Mommy! I made a special wish. Can I help you open your presents? Can I? Can I? Please?”

“Yes but only after we clean up and have some cake, okay baby?”

She smiled and hugged her daughter, a hug lasting longer than usual. They had a lot more to celebrate than just the passage of time until another birthday. Christine was bursting to tell everyone the good news.

Stephanie, Christine’s mom, the matriarch of the family, rose from the table and proclaimed, “Here’s to my daughter, Christine,” she said raising a glass of wine to toast her offspring, “and of course to my sweet Amber.”

The little girl clapped her hands together and sported a broad smile. Her mom winked at her and said, “Chrissie, you don’t look a day over thirty, although I must say I am still trying to get used to your shorter hairstyle. But all in all, I like it, it suits you.”

Chrissie raised a glass of ice water and toasted the other three wine glasses saying, “Cheers! It has been a tough two years for me and for the baby but I couldn’t have done this without all of your help and support. You were there for me when I needed you. You were there in the middle of the night when I needed a shoulder to cry on,” she smiled at Trish. “You helped me with Amber. You gave me help with job interviews, but most importantly you were there with encouragement and support. I can’t thank all of you enough.”

One seat was empty at the head of table with no place

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