The police officer turned into a parking lot.
My heart sank.
It was a community center I recognized immediately.
I had spent countless hours there when my children were growing up.
School events.
Sports.
Fundraisers.
Graduations.
I used to sit on those hard bleachers cheering until my voice disappeared.
For a moment, happy memories flooded back.
But they couldn’t drown out the anxiety.
There were cars parked outside.
Several of them looked familiar.
Mark’s SUV.
Sarah’s sedan.
Jason’s truck.
My mouth went dry.
“What is this?”
The officer parked and came around to open my door.
He offered me his hand.
I ignored it and climbed out on my own.
My legs were shaky.
He guided me toward the entrance.
I could see movement through the glass.
People.
Lots of people.
My heart started beating faster.
“If this is some kind of joke…”
“It’s not.”
He opened the door.
The lights suddenly snapped on.
“HAPPY—”
Jason stopped.
Everyone froze.
Mark’s face immediately filled with guilt.
Sarah looked alarmed.
Eliza covered her mouth.
Caleb went pale.
I stood completely still.
Then I saw the banner.
HAPPY 60TH, MOM!
There were balloons.
Streamers.
A huge cake.
Tables covered with food.
And five of my children were standing there.
Five.
I stared at them.
Then I said the only thing I could think of.
“So you were all here.”
Mark stepped forward.
“Mom, wait.”
“I waited four hours.”
My voice shook.
“Four hours.”
Jason rushed to explain.
“We weren’t ignoring you. We wanted to surprise you.”
“A surprise?”
I looked around the room.
“I was sitting alone at my table.”
Jason’s smile disappeared.
“Grant was supposed to pick you up,” he said. “He was handling that part.”
I looked at him.
“Where is Grant?”
Eliza’s eyes filled with tears.
“We thought…”
Sarah interrupted.
“Why is there a cop with you?”
Nobody answered.
I looked from face to face.
“I sat alone at that table,” I said quietly.
“Like an idiot.”
Mark’s face crumpled.
“Mom, we were trying to keep it a surprise.”
“Then why didn’t anyone call me?”
“We couldn’t,” Mark said.
“Why?”
“Because Grant said he was handling the pickup.”
I turned toward the officer.
“You gave me a note from my son.”
He nodded.
“You drove me here.”
Another nod.
“Where is he?”
The officer looked toward the parking lot.
“He’s not here yet.”
Jason frowned.
“He said he’d be here by seven.”
Mark pulled out his phone.
“He’s not answering.”
My stomach dropped.
I turned back toward the officer.
“Where is my son?”
Before he could answer—
another police cruiser rolled into the parking lot.
