The phone rang only twice before she answered. "Ben!" her voice boomed through the receiver, cheerful and a little out of breath, as if she'd just run up the stairs. I couldn't help but smile. The mere sound of her voice was enough to brighten the gray afternoon at university. "Hey, you almost-birthday girl," I said, leaning back in my chair. "I hope I'm not interrupting your important birthday planning?" I could picture...