The sun tried its best to cut through the blustery air, but Charlotte's fingers still felt stiff and cold as she hunched over, trying to unravel the tangled pieces of string.

"Here, let me block the wind," Bonnie said, hovering over her.

"Mommy, hurry!" Hank called. "It's almost the time I was born!"

"Hang on. I've got it. There!" Charlotte straightened and held out three purple balloons to Hank, making sure her daughter held them securely.

Charlotte then gave the three yellow ones to Matt, the blue one to Bonnie, and kept the red one for herself.

She imagined that they made an odd picture out there on the knoll in the middle of the Minton Recreation Park, colorful balloons flapping in the wind. But it was Hank's birthday, and this was where she wanted to launch her messages to Kurt, and the Tasker family custom was that you got whatever you wanted-within reason-on your birthday.

Hank raised her face to her mother and grinned, her blue eyes sparkling. "Tell me again exactly what he said when I was born, Mama."

Charlotte was prepared for this part of the ritual, but being prepared didn't make it any easier.

"You came out screaming bloody murder," she answered, just the way she knew Hank wanted to hear it.

"A brat from the start," Matt mumbled.

"And your daddy took you from the doctor, tucked you close, and told you shake it off and get back in the game."