Angelica couldn’t stop thinking about Jake and going to see Death Cab with him. It seemed too good to be true. She had sat on her bed in a daydream since coming home. She had put the tickets on her bedside table and every so often would pick them up and look at them just to make sure they were real.

It was now 6 o clock and Angelica knew she should start getting ready. She slowly raised herself from her bed, glancing at the tickets one last time and headed to the bathroom. Figuring she didn’t have time to wash and dry her hair Angelica just had a shower then made her way back to her room to decide what to wear.
She decided on a flowy but figure accentuating green top with spaghetti straps, black trousers and her favourite black high heels. As she finished applying her make up, Angelica looked at her clock. It was 6:45.
“Time for the countdown” Angelica thought. “5…4…3…2…1″

“Angelica are you ready?” came a shout.

Angelica rolled her eyes. Bette was so predictable.

“Yes mom!” Angelica shouted back. Before heading out of her room Angelica quickly sprayed herself with her favourite perfume.
Her moms were waiting in the kitchen.

“You look nice Ange” Bette said

“Thanks. I do try”

“You smell nice too” Tina added as she passed Angelica.

Angelica just smiled at this comment. She did appreciate her mothers compliments but now it was time to go Angelica was getting excited and really wanted to head off.
Bette seemed to notice Angelica’s irritation and picked up her car keys.

“Right. Let’s go”

It was at ths point that Angelica didn’t actually know where they were going.
“Hey mom, where is it we’re actually going?” Angelica asked as they made their way to the door.

“Ah, now that would be telling” replied Bette with a smile. She looked towards Tina who gave a small chuckle.

“Oh man. You two are such teases. Come on tell me” Angelica said pleadingly opening the door.

“Nope. You’ll just have to wait and see.” Tina said.



Angelica slipped back into her daydream whilst staring out of the car window. Both Bette and Tina noticed this and tried to make conversation with their daughter.

“So Angie, how was school today?” Tina asked.

“Mmm, same as every other day” Angelica replied.

“Anyone wish you a happy birthday?” Tina continued determined to make Angelica talk.

“A few people”

“Oh. Who?”

“You wouldn’t know them” Angelica said.

Tina gave up. It was obvious she wasn’t going to get anything out of Angelica. She had been like this since she had come home from work and Tina had tried to talk to her then. It was Bette’s turn to try with Angelica.

“So, how does it feel to be a whole year older?” Bette asked

“No different”

“Really?You don’t feel any different?”

“Erm…not really. Maybe a bit spottier but that’s it.” Angelica replied with a shrug.

Bette rolled her eyes and looked at Tina. Tina looked back at Bette and Bette could see that they were both thinking the same thing. “Teenagers”.

It took Angelica a while to realise that they had stopped and Bette and Tina were gettnig out of the car. Angelica quickly unbuckled her seat belt and got out of the car. She stared at the restaurant in front of her while Bette went to give the valet the car keys. Tina saw the look of amazement on her daughters face and smiled.

“Happy birthday baby” Tina said putting her arm round Angelica’s shoulders.

“Mom, are we at the right place?” Angelica asked after her brain had had time to take in where she was.

Tina laughed. “Yes baby I’m sure”

Bette had returned and stood at the other side of Angelica.
“We better go in if we want our table. Besides I’m starving”

Bette led the way followed by Angelica with Tina bringing up the rear.

“Welcome to The Olive Grove. May I help you?” said the waiter at the reception.

“Yes. We have a reservation under Kennard-Porter” said Bette.

The waiter checked the reservations book. “Ah yes. For three?”

“Yes, that’s correct”

“If you follow me then please. I will take you to your table”

The waiter led the family to their tale and gave them some menus. Angelica had always wanted to come to this restaurant but never expected it to happen as she knew it was way too expensive. Scanning the menu she saw she was right.

“Mom, are you sure? Everything’s so..”

Bette cut Angelica off. “Angelica, it’s your birthday, your 16th birthday. You deserve to be spoiled”

Angelica smiled and went back to her menu. The waiter returned after a while and the family ordered drinks. When these came they then proceeded to order their meal. It was the most delicious thing Angelica had ever tasted. She still couldn’t believe she was sat in The Olive Grove with her moms. It made her realise just how lucky she was and how much she loved her family. 

Back in the car Angelica spoke up.

“Thanks for tonight you guys. It was really nice and totally unexpected. This has been the best birthday ever.I couldn’t have asked for more. I love you both”

“Well, we’re glad you enjoyed it but the night’s not over yet” Bette said.

“Huh? Where are we going now?” Anglica asked confused.

“Why The Planet of course so the rest of your family can see you” Tina answered.

“Cool” Angelica said with a smile. In all her excitement of the day she had forgotten she had yet to see the rest of her family.



As Angelica entered The Planet she saw a huge banner saying “HAPPY 16TH BITHDAY ANGE!” draped across the wall behind the stage. The Planet had been decorated with balloons and streamers and pictures of Angelica as a baby. “Oh mom” Angelica thought giving Tina a look. Tina just smiled at her daughter knowing she had succeeded in embarrassing her.

Kit was the first to come over to Angelica.

“Ahh, happy birthday baby girl” Kit said giving Angelica a huge hug.

“Thanks, Aunt Kit” Angelica said as Kit let her go. “Did you do these decorations yourself?”

“Oh, no. Shane and Carmen helped too with your mom providing the pictures” Kit laughed at the last part of her sentence.

“Well, they’re really nice. The decorations not the pictures. Thank you” Angelica smiled. She made her way round everyone, Alice, Dana, Shane and Carmen, Jenny, Mark and his fiance Lucy, thanking them for coming and giving them all hugs. Angelica did notice that there was no Lara.

“Hey Dana?”

“Yeah”

“Where’s Lara?” Angelica asked. She was really fond of Lara who had shown her a few cooking skills and was disppointed she wasn’t there.

“Oh, she couldn’t make it sweety. She had some cook’s convention or something. She’s really annoyed she couldn’t make it though and sends her love.” Dana replied.

“Oh ok. Well, when does she get back?I’ll have to come round and she her.”

“She gets back Wednesday. I’m sure she’d love to see you. I’ll let her know” Dana said.

“Okay, cool. Thanks” Angelica said with a smile. As she turned around she saw her moms in deep conversation with Shane and Alice. Just as she was about to go over to see what was going on they all turned around and smiled at her.
Bette cleared her throat and tapped the glass she was holding. Tina had one arm wrapped around her wife’s waist. Her other arm was behind her back.

“Could I have everyone’s attention please?” Bette paused before carrying on. ”Now, we all know why we’re gathered here tonight as a very special someone has turned 16″
Angelica felt herself go red.
“Now, she has told me and Tina that she has had a wonderful birthday and couldn’t have asked for more but we have one last surprise for her”

At this, Tina moved her arm from behind her back to reveal an envelope. She moved towards Angelica and held it out.

“We hope you like it” Tina said as Angelica took the envelope.

Angelica opened the envelope slowly, reached in and pulled out what was inside. For the second time that day Angelica’s jaw dropped as she saw what she was holding. A brochure for Scotland and three plane tickets. Angelica had always been intrigued by Scotland and it was one of her dreams to go there one day.

Angelica was speechless. The most she could do was smile, which seemed to have caught around the room as this was all everybody else was doing. Angelica looked down at the tickets and her smile vanished.

“Oh no” she thought.

TBC