Terry S. Bowers 
September 15, 2002  

The house was quiet. Julia entered the drawing room and looked around, half expecting the lights to come on and people to jump out at her, but it did not happen. She knew she had told everyone she didn’t want a fuss made, that she wanted this particular milestone birthday to be allowed to pass quietly, but she’d secretly hoped that maybe one person would ignore her wishes and at least give her a card, ribbing her about her age. No one had. Julia sighed. She couldn’t be angry or disappointed – they were doing what she had asked.

A soft footfall behind her caught Julia’s attention. She stood still, waiting to find out if it was friend or foe, human or spirit who crept up on her. Julia smiled as a soft, warm hand slowly slid around her waist the other hand resting on her elbow as it turned her around and into Barnabas’ embrace.

He kissed her deeply, then released her enough so he could hold her comfortably. Barnabas began to dance, slowly, sensuously, to no particular rhythm or tune. Julia smiled and rested her head on Barnabas’ chest as she allowed him to guide her about the darkened room, in tune with each other. Eventually Barnabas danced Julia from the drawing room and into the dining room, where candles were lit and an intimate dinner for two awaited.

“Happy Birthday, my dear.”

Julia smiled her gratitude and allowed Barnabas to help her with her chair. They dined on shrimp cocktails, Caesar salad, chicken parmesan and raspberry sorbet.

After dinner, Barnabas escorted Julia back to the drawing room, now illuminated by candlelight. He seated her in a chair by the fireplace and crossed to the desk for a moment. When Barnabas returned to Julia, he carried an elegantly wrapped gift in his hand. He knelt before Julia as he handed it to her.

“I know you requested that no fuss be made, but I could not allow this day to pass without marking it in some way. Happy Birthday, Julia.”

She took the gift and met Barnabas’ sparkling gaze. The look of anticipation in his eyes made her heart beat a little more quickly. Julia began to unwrap the gift and revealed a case from one of the finest jewelers in Boston.

“Barnabas?”

He simply smiled and nodded toward the case. With trembling fingers Julia opened the hinged case and gasped. On a bed of velvet lay an exquisite emerald and diamond necklace. She blinked and looked up at Barnabas, not believing what she saw. He smiled and reached up to caress her cheek.

“The emeralds match your eyes, the diamonds your smile. There is one of each for each year you have been on this earth, one cluster of jewels for each year you have graced and improved my life.” Tears were clouding her vision as Julia looked from Barnabas, to the necklace, then back to Barnabas. He smiled as he gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, then Barnabas lifted the necklace from its velvety cushion, moved behind Julia and clasped it around her neck.

The necklace was exquisitely fashioned, as delicate and as strong as the woman for whom it had been designed. Julia raised a trembling hand to touch the precious stones at her neck, and shivered with delight and overwhelming love when her fingers encountered Barnabas’ fingers.

Standing slowly, Julia turned to face her husband of only two years and smiled. She moved into his arms and kissed him deeply, thrilling as his arms slid around her waist and he pulled her closer to him.

Once again they began to slowly sway together. Barnabas whispered his love into her ear, putting words to what she already knew, that as precious as the necklace was, she was even more precious to him, and he could not let even one year pass without celebrating the fact she was a part of his life. Julia smiled through her tears of happiness. Perhaps having a milestone birthday wasn’t as bad as she’d thought it would be.