CHAPTER 51 BIRTHDAY REFLECTIONS

The sun was just a little peeping over the curtains waking Jenna up on the following morning. As consciousness slowly returned, she became aware of two things: the warmth of the heavy arm of Ryan, lying across her specially enlarged belly, and the fact that today was her thirtieth birthday. She lay still for a moment and closed her eyes and thought of the past year which has been such a whirlwind. So much had changed— the pregnancy, the relationship with Ryan ’s mother, which softened with time, the start of the café. She felt like a little part of her was waiting for the bubble to burst, but at the same time, really excited and looking forward to what the new decade had in store for her. Ryan rolled over and awoke; he opened his eyes wide. He looked at her and a very soft, slow smile spread across his face. “Happy birthday, beautiful,” he whispered, closing his lips on hers firmly and giving her a gentle peck. Jenna responded by kissing him back, and as always, she could feel th