[Written/Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[There's a wonderful smell coming from the Coolidge house. Stella's spent her morning baking a delicious cake for a very special occasion (and shooing away housemates who'd try to sneak a taste). Although the windows are closed thanks to the season, the smell should eventually sneak out of the house to make its presence known. Specifically,

Comments

[corrinesbell]

[knock knock. It's not Shirley but your house. It smells of baking]

[goldenfirefly]

[She thought it was Shirley at first, so once Stella opened the door, she pauses with mild surprise.]

Oh... Sheena! Hello. I admit, I wasn't expecting you to come over.

[corrinesbell]

I kinda wasn't expecting to either but it smells delicious!

[and. We haven't seen you in a while]

[goldenfirefly]

[Stella laughs a little, but then wags a finger back and forth.]

Ah-ah-ah. I'm saving this for someone. But I did make extra, just in case.

[Written / Action ]

[prayingone]

Of course, Stella. I need to put the dishes away, but I'll come over right after that.

[Action]

[And about fifteen minutes or so after she's written that, Shirley will be over at the Coolidge house. Mmm, baking smells. Instead of knocking, since Stella was expecting her to come over, she'll just call out before coming in.]

Stella? I'm coming in... [With that out of the way, she'll step into the house, pulling off her shawl and scarf to hang up in the closet.]

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[At last! After valiantly defending her baking from reaching hands and making sure it was just right, Shirley's here! Stella smiles to herself as she calls out.]

In here, Shirley. [Sounds like she's in the dining room. Better go check it out!]

[Action]

[prayingone]

[After her shawl and scarf are hung up, Shirley will, indeed, head over to the dining room. Whatever will she find there?]

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Well, there's Stella standing by the table and Sophie in a high chair on the other side. But in the middle of it is a peach spice cake with the appropriate amount of candles all nice and lit, and on one side is a small box wrapped up in light pink paper with a soft blue ribbon. And, on the chair Stella has her hands on, there are five pink balloons like the one outside tied to it. Once Shirley comes in, Stella grins and pulls out the chair.]

Surprise!

[Voice]

[xelhes]

[Fenimore, flipping through the journal lazily, comes across the notice. As always, she's pinged by Shirley's name. Since it's Stella, it's not anything unusual, but for some reason it makes her feel like she's forgotten something. Something about Shirley....

Wait. WAIT. She's suddenly alert and sounding slightly panicked.] What day is it today?

[Voice]

[goldenfirefly]

[Oh, Fenimore. Stella responds as she's putting the candles in the cake she made.]

The 20th of February. [And there's a bit of a mischievous tone to her voice. Could Fenimore have forgotten? Well, let's nudge her to remembering.] Or, rather... Shirley's birthday.

[Voice]

[xelhes]

[If Fenimore were the swearing sort, there would definitely be some swearword here. Instead, there's just a thump as she accidentally smacks the journal when she stands up quickly.]

Already? I thought that there were still...!

How long is she going to be over there? [There are sounds of Fenimore throwing open a drawer and digging through it.]

[Voice]

[goldenfirefly]

I can't say for sure. Maybe an hour or two... Or maybe she'd like to stay for a while.

[And these are the sounds of Stella striking a match and lighting the candles.]

[written]

[filial_guardian]

The Merines will be spending the entire afternoon there?

[written]

[goldenfirefly]

I'd assume so. It's the first time we've celebrated all together like this in years.

[voice/sound]

[filial_guardian]

[There's some thoughtful tapping on the other end.]

Hm...

[voice/sound]

[goldenfirefly]

[She'll let Walter think. In the meantime, Stella hums as she strikes the match to light the candles - it's an old Ferines tune meant to bestow good fortune and blessing on such a day.]