In the days that followed, Sack, Ellie, and I dedicated ourselves to planning Olivia's birthday. We knew she wanted something epic, but we also wanted to make sure it was special, something that reflected who she was to us. Although we were excited to surprise her, there was one constant issue: Olivia had an almost magical ability to show up at the most inconvenient moments.
One afternoon, we were gathered in the main hall of the Hart Estate discussing the details of the memory album Ellie was preparing. We had spread out photos and notes on the table, mostly of Sack, Lindsay, and Olivia since Ellie had only joined them almost two months ago, trying to organize them in an order that made emotional sense.
"I think we should include this photo," said Ellie, holding up an image of Olivia dramatically posing in front of an improvised birthday cake we had made months earlier for Sack's birthday. "It's so… her."
I nodded, smiling as I looked at her exaggerated expression captured in the photo.
"Definitely. And we could add this other one where she's yelling at us because we didn't give her enough chocolate in her hot cocoa at Christmas."
Sack burst out laughing.
"That story is never going to die, is it?"
We were so focused on our laughter that we didn't notice Olivia sneaking into the room with a tray of snacks. When she raised her voice, we all jumped as if we'd been caught doing something illegal.
"Oh! Look who's here! I just came to bring you some snacks…" she said innocently, though her curious eyes darted between the photos and notes on the table. "What are you planning? It looks interesting."
Ellie quickly tried to cover some papers with her notebook, but Olivia had already seen enough.
"Is this for me?" she asked, pretending to be offended. "Why don't you tell me anything? I want details!"
Sack quickly intervened.
"Olivia, you said you wanted surprises. This is part of that."
She pouted, crossing her arms.
"But I want to know what kind of surprise. You can't just make me wait without giving me hints. It could be anything. Maybe it's not even good."
I rolled my eyes, unable to hold back a laugh.
"Olivia, trust us. We're working hard to make everything perfect."
With a melodramatic sigh, Olivia placed the tray on the table and left, muttering something about "being patient." But we knew she'd be back. And she was: the next day, during another meeting, she burst in again under the pretext of looking for a scarf she had forgotten on the couch. This time, she even pretended to trip so she could get a better look at what we had on the table.
"Oops! I almost fell," she said with a mischievous smile. "What's this? A map? Are you sending me on some kind of treasure hunt?"
Ellie visibly blushed, while Sack and I exchanged knowing glances.
"Olivia, we're just organizing things. Nothing you need to worry about yet," Sack replied calmly.
Olivia raised an eyebrow, pretending to be indignant.
"Nothing to worry about, he says. Sure, sure. Like I can stop thinking about it."
The situation repeated itself several times over the following days, always with Olivia showing up "casually" to try to figure out what we were planning. It was impossible not to laugh every time she did it, but it also added pressure on us to keep everything a secret.
One morning, after a quiet night, Sack and I were cuddled up in bed, enjoying those peaceful moments before Olivia burst into our day. I knew we needed to talk about the music for the event, so I decided to bring it up.
"So, what do you think about the band?" I asked, snuggling closer to him. "Maybe we could hire the same one you brought for my birthday. Olivia seemed to enjoy it a lot."
Sack frowned slightly.
"I don't think it's enough. Olivia will want something bigger. More epic."
I thought for a moment, playing with a strand of his hair.
"You're right. We need something that will really surprise her. What if… what if we hire someone famous? At my parents' hospital, well-known artists often come for treatment. I could make a call and ask if any of them would be available."
Sack smiled widely at the idea.
"That would be incredible. But to make it even more impactful, we could add an orchestra. Imagine: a famous singer accompanied by a full orchestra. Now that would be epic."
I sat up excitedly.
"Exactly! Famous singer plus orchestra. Olivia will love it. I'll call my parents right now."
I picked up the phone and dialed my father's number. He answered on the second ring.
"Hi, Dad," I greeted enthusiastically. "I need to ask you a huge favor."
My father, always kind, responded with curiosity.
"Of course, Lindsay. You know you can count on me. What do you need?"
I quickly explained the situation: Olivia's birthday, her desire for something epic, and our idea of inviting a famous artist along with an orchestra.
"You mentioned the other day that Chris Martin came to the hospital, right?" I asked hopefully.
My father chuckled softly.
"Yes, he was here. I'll mention your request to him. But I warn you, hiring him might cost quite a bit."
I smiled, feeling like we finally had something tangible.
"It doesn't matter, Dad. I'll do whatever it takes to make this perfect."
After a few more minutes of conversation, I hung up the phone with a huge smile.
"I did it!" I exclaimed, turning to Sack. "Dad will talk to Chris Martin. He says he'll probably accept, though obviously, it'll cost a fortune."
Sack nodded, equally excited.
"Perfect. In the meantime, I'll look for available orchestras. Something big, elegant, and worthy of Olivia."
Hours later, we were in the main hall reviewing the final details. Ellie was busy writing personal messages for the album, while Sack browsed the internet looking for orchestra options. Just as I was starting to feel anxious about my dad's response, my phone buzzed. It was a message from him.
"Guys!" I shouted excitedly. "Chris Martin said yes! He's thrilled to come, though the price will be extra, of course."
Ellie put down her pen and widened her eyes.
"Chris Martin? The lead singer of Coldplay? That's amazing!"
Sack smiled broadly.
"I already have a list of orchestras we can hire. With Chris Martin and an orchestra together, this will be epic. Olivia won't have words to describe how impressed she'll be."
We fell silent for a few seconds, imagining Olivia's reaction when everything was ready. We knew that, regardless of the cost or effort, it would be worth it to see her happy.
Sack placed his laptop in the center of the table, showing a list of available orchestras. He looked at Ellie and me with a serious but friendly expression.
"Alright, girls, I need your help choosing an orchestra. There are several excellent options, but I want something that truly complements Chris Martin's style and the atmosphere we want to create."
Ellie leaned forward, carefully examining each option. After a few minutes, she pointed to one of the orchestras.
"This one looks great. They have incredible reviews. I think it could be perfect for Olivia."
Sack nodded, making a mental note.
"Good choice, Ellie. And what about you, Lindsay? What do you think?"
I looked at the list carefully, comparing the profiles and videos of each orchestra. Finally, I pointed to an option that stood out for its energy and versatility.
"I think this is the one. Their performance of contemporary pieces combined with classical arrangements is exactly what Olivia would appreciate. Plus, they have an impressive string section."
Sack smiled, closing the laptop.
"Then it's settled. We'll hire this orchestra. With Chris Martin and them together, the show will be epic."