It's a rare day that Alex is home from work but John isn't, and yet when I bound downstairs in the morning, Alex is sitting at the table with newspaper, coffee, and an egg and cheese Hot Pocket. I grab some diner leftovers (half of a cold grilled cheese, two bites of scrambled egg with bacon, and what looks like a raw potato) out of the fridge and join him.

"Good morning, honey," Alex says to me, grinning. I go over for a hug, and he kisses the top of my head.

"Morning, Dad." I kiss him on the cheek and then sit across from him. I can read the cartoons in the paper more easily this way. "You're not usually home on Thursday, what's up?"

"What, something has to be 'up' now for me to spend time with you?" He turns a page of his newspaper.

I grab his coffee and take a sip. "No, I just wanted to ask."

He chuckles and takes his cup back from me. "Indeed, this time, something is most definitely up. Can I trust you with a secret?"

I love keeping secrets. They make me feel all special and powerful. "You can trust me with anything. My lips are sealed. Like, I haven't told anyone that Harriet is afraid of singing a solo or that Theo hates Harriet's cat-" I drop my head into my hands. "I've done it now."

Alex pats me on the shoulder reassuringly. "That's alright. I'm not going to tell your friend's secrets. I'm home because, well, today is mine and John's anniversary. I have no idea what to do for him, and I can't let him know I forgot."

I swing my feet, eating my sandwich and thinking. "Take him out to dinner?"

"That's what I do every year. It's our five-year anniversary, though. That's kind of special, and John's very special, so I want to do something for him that he'll never forget." He stares into the dregs of his coffee.

"Buy him a popsicle. Buy him a Ninja Turtle!" I swing my feet faster, knocking them against the chair legs. "Or throw him a party."

Alex thinks for a moment. "You know, I bet he would love a party. But we'd have to pull it together by this evening, and I can only do it with your help. Are you in?"

I think for just a second, then flash a thumbs-up. "I'm in."

************

A few hours later, Alex and I are at the party supply store, standing in the theme aisle. Unfortunately, all of the themes are very...cookie-cutter. Nothing is really screaming 'John!' I step back, thinking. After a moment, I get it.

"What about a pride theme?"

He glances at me, a little confused. "What do you mean, honey?"

I spread my hands in front of me, my vision taking shape. "Like, do white tablecloths and stuff, but put rainbow streamers everywhere. Rainbow flowers, and rainbow food, and little white lights everywhere."

Alex thinks for a second, then nods. "We're going to need a lot of streamers."

I take this as an invitation to start running for things. I grab streamers in an array of colors, strand after strand of tiny white fairy lights, party poppers and balloons and all kinds of party supplies. Alex is more strategic, thinking of what we'll actually need and making a list of expenses.

Our next stop is the bakery where Maria works. While Alex drives and raps along to Macklemore, I use his phone to text all of John's friends.

A.Ham has created the chat.

A.Ham has added PegLeg, Mari-AH, Angel, Lizzie, Herc, French-Fry, Washing-Mom, and Washing-Dad to the chat.

PegLeg- What's up this time, Alex?

A.Ham- It's Kathryn. Dad's driving rn.

Washing-Dad- RN? What does that mean?

Washing-Mom- It means 'right now', honey.

Herc- What's up, Katrina?

Herc- *Katrina

Herc- **KATHRYN

A.Ham- We're throwing a party for John tonight, and we want you all to come.

Angel- I would be honored.

Lizzie- Count us in :-)

Washing-Dad- xD

Washing-Mom- Stop trying to be cool, George dear.

A.Ham- Don't tell John, tho. It's a Syracuse.

Mari-AH- ?

A.Ham- *Surprise. Sorry, autocorrect

FrenchFry- Adrienne and I will be there! We shall bring the girls ;)

PegLeg- Laf no

PegLeg- no winky face

Mari-AH- do I c u guys outside the baekry?

PegLeg- is that where u go to get baes? If so, that explains y u work there ;)

A.Ham has left the chat

I set the phone down and grin. "Everyone's in, Daddy. George and Martha are even coming."

Alex puts the car in park and lets his seatbelt slide back. "Excellent. That means we need food for fifteen people."

I jump out of the car and stand on the curb in front of the bakery. It's balmy out, the perfect weather for late June, and the humidity cuts through my t-shirt and leaves the fabric damp. It's not quite enough to leave me sweating, but enough to make me long for air conditioning outdoors.

The bakery, Rose Petal Patisserie, is all pink and red and as cutesy as can be. Inside, the air is cool and perfumed with powdered sugar. Behind the counter, piping very pale pink icing onto a tray of cupcakes and singing along to the Maroon 5 that's playing in the back, is Maria. She's got frosting on her nose, and her hair is a wild, frizzy mess, but she looks happy.

"Hello, Miss Maria," Alex says, leaning over the counter.

"Hello, Mister Alex, and please don't be leaning on my counter. I just washed it, and I don't particularly want it smudged up." Maria makes a particularly giant swirl of frosting on the top of a cupcake.

Alex snorts with laughter. "I need a cake."

"For John's party, right?" She sets her pastry bag down on some newspaper and begins to wash her hands. "Describe what you want."

I spread my hands out in the air. "Can you do rainbow layers, but frost it like a wedding cake?"

Maria cracks her knuckles. "You need it by what time?"

"Tonight at six." Alex nods. "Let me know how much it costs."

She waves a hand. "Consider it a repayment, from the time you let me stay over."

Alex grins and hugs Maria. "Thank you so much."

"Anytime, Alex."

*********

The backyard looks incredible. There are a couple of small tables clothed in white set up, and there are fairy lights strung through the trees. Alex and I have made what's almost a canopy of rainbow streamers, and now everything is bathed in spotty colorful light. There's a long table, in the back, piled high with food, and we're both dressed nicely. Alex has an actual suit on, with a rainbow tie, and I have a sundress that's covered in rainbow stripes.

Peggy and Maria are the first ones here, both dressed to the nines. Maria is carrying what looks like a small wedding cake. I run over and hug Peggy.

"Hey, Aunt Peggy."

She laughs and ruffles my hair. "Hey, fake niece."

I hear an excited scream, and three little girls come running into the backyard. Henriette, Anastasie, and Virginie are here, dressed in white that will soon be green with grass stains. Henriette perches herself in a chair and opens her book- a leatherbound copy of Sherlock Holmes.

Lafayette and Adrienne follow them in, laughing softly. I wave, and Lafayette gives me an exaggerated kiss on each cheek. "Bonjour, ma cherie."

As everyone flows in, I remember the last part of my assignment. I have to bring John to the backyard. I run into the house and wait by the door. After about fifteen minutes, I hear his key in the door. Time to lie.

"Daddy!" I fill my voice with tears. "K-Koopa- in the backyard- hurry!"

John drops his bag and wraps me in a hug. "What happened, honey?"

I pretend to wipe my eyes, really hiding a smile. "It's easier to show you..."

He takes my hand, and I feign nervousness as I open the back door. When I rip it open and grin, John's jaw drops.

The backyard looks even more spectacular from here, with everyone sitting and waving. The sky has darkened some, throwing the fairy lights into even greater relief. Koopa has a place of honor on the table, and she's investigating a salad bowl with a glint in her tiny turtle eye. In the center of everything, Alex is on one knee, grinning at John.

"My husband," he starts, his voice filled with a smile, "I love you more than words can express, but I'm going to try anyway. These past five years that we've been married have definitely been the best of my life. You bring me so much joy and happiness, even on my worst days. We have each other, thank God, and we have a fantastic little girl now to join us. I just wanted to thank you for putting up with me for this long, and for sticking with me no matter-"

John cuts him off by running across the yard and kissing him. The two of them land on the ground, and they separate after a moment, laughing.

"Happy anniversary," I hear Alex whisper.