Who: Open to Ali and Julian's friends
What: Surprise birthday party
When: Tonight at 8pm
Where: Ali and Julian's home
Rating: Low
Status: Ongoing
A quiet dinner, just the three of them. That was the plan. It was an early dinner too, to
that first restaurant they'd gone in London for New Year's. Julian had said the reservation was earlier than normal-- at 6pm-- because there were no availabilities later in the evening. Why that was on a Thursday evening, he couldn't say, but they enjoyed themselves well, with a lavish dinner and champagne that left them giggling pleasantly as they walked back, arm in arm, towards their house.
But the truth of the early reservation was this: Julian had earlier sent out invitations to all of Alicia's friends, inviting them over by quarter to 8. Emma, his co-conspirator, had snuck in as soon as Julian and Alicia left, armed with decorations and a budget for drinks and food, clearing out the living room and laying out the makings for a party, answering the door as guests trickled in, one by one, and once eight drew near, turned the light down, as though no one had been there since Ali and Julian left, and waited with the rest.
It had been left to Julian to ensure that the timing was perfect on his end. To stall, or linger, as needed. The consummate planner that he was, he'd called ahead and spoken with the maitre d' to devise a meal that would begin promptly at 6 and end promptly at twenty minutes to 8-- enough time to travel between and arrive on time-- courses served on the minute at specified intervals and not earlier or later than.
With a minute or two to spare when they reached the house, Julian stumbled, back against the door, to warn those inside that they were there. He gave Alicia a leisurely kiss, a softly whispered greeting--
"Happy birthday, Ali"-- before he let them in, the door opening to a darkened room now that the sun was down, but revealing, in the flick of a wand that cast everything in light, all of their friends jumping up in unison.
"Surprise!"