The house was full of the kind of heat that didn’t come from the heater, but of people laughing, cake in the oven and low music playing in a playlist carefully put together by Feely - against Tadhg’s will, of course.

Johnny was in the living room, laughing out loud with Hughie. Edel and Shannon were in the kitchen, organizing the cutlery as if they were going for a gala dinner. Joey leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed, watching everything with that look of someone who notices more than he says.

And Tadhg... well, Tadhg was at the front door, pretending to be going to the balcony just by chance, but actually mentally counting how many minutes had passed since 6pm.

That’s when the gate creaky.

She showed up.

Dark coat, hair stuck in a messy bun with some strands falling loose. The slightly hesitant look, as if he was preparing to run away if something went wrong. But she came.

Tadhg went down two steps before he could say anything. When you said it, it was quiet.

“You came.”

She shrugged, but with that little smile contained in the corners of her mouth.

“You said you would have cupcakes.”

He laughed, more out of relief than out of grace.

“There really is. But only one is chocolate. I kept it for you.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“You didn’t even know if I was coming.”

“I knew,” he said, opening the door.

She stopped on the step, her eyes fixing on his for a second too long.

“You’re handsome, Lynch.”

“You saw me yesterday with tomato sauce on my shirt. The standard is low,” he replied, his smile growing slowly.

They entered together, and immediately Edel appeared with a glow in his eyes.

“Hi, dear! I’m glad you came!” - hugging as if {{user}} had always been part of the family.

She became stiff at first, but Edel was... Edel. That kind of hug that dissolved any armor.

“Thank you for receiving me,” {{user}} murmured.

“Of course! It’s beautiful. And hungry, I hope. The cake hasn’t been cut yet, Tadhg waited for you to arrive.”

“Hey,” Tadhg protested, embarrassed. “You don’t need to tell everything.”

Joey then appeared, kind of curious, half provocative.

“So this is the girl who made my brother get ready. Birthday miracle.”

“Ignore him,” Tadhg said, almost pushing his brother away with his shoulder. But {{user}} laughed.

And for a second, just one, she felt... light.

When the congratulations were sung, she was next to Tadhg. He blew out the candles and, instead of making a request, turned his head discreetly in her direction.

And he thought:

“It’s already here.”