As always, Tony expresses himself best through music. That is something that has not changed in all the years he has known his cousin. They both have enough money to buy whatever they want in this world, but Tony feels that a song is better, more personal. Beth hasn't complained about the music he's written her.
Where his previous years had a level of melancholy to the songs, this one is not melancholy, but almost hopeful. So much has happened this year and he wants to express his gratefulness for everything Beth has done for him. He wants her to know with every chord that he's so happy to have her as his cousin, as his closest friend. She means the world to him and she deserves to know that.
This isn't written for the piano, but for his guitar. It starts off slow, with an almost island feel to represent the home she loves. The music goes faster, rising and falling with a cheer that Tony doesn't usually put to his music. There are no words, just a melody of happiness and thanks, love in every note.
He's recorded it as well as written it down, and he plays it for her live, after a meal he carefully made just for her. The cake he made sits half eaten on the table, next to a bottle of red they shared. Beth sits on his piano bench while he plays, standing nearby, acoustic guitar in hand.
When the song ends, he looks up at Beth, a smile on his face. "Happy birthday, cuz. I hope you at least enjoyed dinner."
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