Maren heard her parents' laughter echoing from the guest bedroom. She wanted to be a part of it. Of course, she remembered the secret knock she used to use to make sure she wasn't interrupting a private moment between them, of which there were many. She stepped up to the door and rapped on the door one time, then two times together, than three times.
"Enter, fair Ariel," Tiffany said without thinking.
Maren swung open the door and all three of them reacted to Tiffany's familiar refrain.
"Mom?" Maren said, crossing quickly to the bed and sitting on the side her mother was on.
"I … I don't know where that came from," Tiffany said with surprise.
"Do you remember?" Sean asked.
"I don't know, I just said it," Tiffany responded. "Like a flash or something, but then it was gone."
"That's great, Mom," Maren said, moving in to hug her mother. "You always called me that because I used to love The Little Mermaid."
"Do you remember anything else?" Sean asked.
Tiffany tried to search her mind, regrasp that feeling she just had, but her head was starting to hurt. She put her hand to her head to steady herself. "No. It's gone."
Sean tried to cover his disappointment, and he leaned her back against a pillow. "It's OK. That was wonderful. I think it's really a good sign."
"Me too," Maren said brightly.
"I just wish … that I could remember more," Tiffany said.
"It's OK," Sean said. "I think you just made my day. And you definitely made your daughter's birthday."
"Ohmigoodness, Maren, happy birthday," Tiffany said.
"Thanks Mom," Maren said. "Actually it should be your day, you did all the work. I just kinda popped out, right?"
Sean smiled. "Well, it wasn't quite that easy."
"Of course not," Tiffany said, recalling their earlier conversation.
"Forgive me for not knowing this, sweetheart, but you're how old?'
"I'm 15, Mom."
"Wow," Tiffany said, overwhelmed.
"Come here, pumpkin," Sean said, determined not to let the moment get maudlin. Maren did as requested and Sean gave his daughter a big bear hug and a kiss on each cheek and on the top of her head. "Happy birthday, hon."
"Thanks Dad."
"What do you want for your birthday?" he asked. "You know, I, uhhh… haven't had much time to shop lately."
"That's my fault," Tiffany said.
"It's totally fine," Maren said. "I got everything I wanted already. Mom's back home."
"I wish I could see you," Tiffany said. "Who do you look like?"
"Well, I have to admit, I've been told I look a lot like you, only with brown hair instead of blonde," Maren said.
"Yeah, used to drive her up the wall," Sean said.
"Not anymore," Maren said plaintively. "I like it now."
"Apparently I have a daughter as sweet as my husband," Tiffany said.
"If I'm going to be honest, I have to say that I really haven't been all that great a daughter for a while," Maren said.
"We don't have to go into that right now," Sean said with concern.
"But I think I've grown up a lot," Maren continued anyway, trying to get to her point. "Not just because I'm a year older. But because of what we went through."
"Maren…" Sean said softly but firmly.
"I just want to say … I just want to tell you I love you, Mom," Maren said.
"And I'll tell you what I told your father last night, I know I love you too," Tiffany said.
Maren jumped over her father and hugged her mother tightly. "I'm so glad you remember that much."
The front doorbell rang.
"Are we expecting someone?" Tiffany asked.
"Hmmm, maybe," Sean said with a twinkle.
"Oh boy," Maren said, jumping out of bed and heading for the door.
"Uh, I think I'll go with you … just to make sure," Sean said. "I'll be back for you, my love," he said to Tiffany, brushing his lips against her cheek.
Sean followed his excited daughter to the door. Maren swung it open wildly.
"It's the UPS guy," she said disappointedly.
"Package for Maren Donely," the UPS man said. Sean looked past him at Lt. Mitchell, who was standing halfway down the sidewalk. She nodded at Sean, he nodded back appreciatively.
"A package for me?" Maren asked. She grabbed it out of his hands and started to walk away.
"Honey," Sean said. "It's your package, you have to sign for it."
"Oh!" Maren said, returning to the door. "Sorry, it's my first package."
That made the UPS man grin. "You're Maren Donely?"
"Yes, I am."
"Sign right here," he said, pointing to the spot on his electronic pad and giving her the digital pen. Maren happily scribbled away. "Thank you. Enjoy."
"Thank YOU," Maren said and raced back to the couch. She started tearing at the box as Sean closed the door.
Tiffany made her way to the living room, bumping into a couple of things as she did.
"Honey, what are you doing?" Sean said, and Maren looked up long enough to see her mother.
"Coming to join the party," Tiffany said brightly as Sean stepped to her side to help lead her to the couch.
"So damn self-sufficient," Sean said.
"A little blindness and a little headache ain't gonna keep me down," Tiffany said.
"Apparently not."
"So what did you get?" Tiffany asked of her daughter, looking to change the subject.
"Oh Daddy! It's the personal computer I wanted. DVD player, CD player, stereo speakers, the works! I thought you said you couldn't go shopping!"
"I couldn't, that's why I ordered it online," Sean said slyly.
"Ummm, I don't know if I'm seeing things or not, but is that orange?" Tiffany said as Maren pulled it from the box, tearing at the various plastic strips that protected the brand new product.
"Yep, it's orange, all right," Maren said. "My favorite color!"
"Orange is your favorite color?" Tiffany asked. "You have to get that from your father."
"Actually you look great in orange, Mom," Maren said.
"Thank you, sweetheart," Tiffany replied genuinely but with a bit of reticence.
"She's right. She bought you a beautiful orange robe for Mother's Day, and I have to admit I can't take my eyes off of you when you wear it," Sean said.
The doorbell sounded again.
"Now who's that?" Maren yelled.
"Come on, let me in, it's not like Maren can have a real birthday party without her godfather," Robert yelled back.
Maren carefully placed the computer on the couch and jumped over the other side to get the door. She swung it wide open to find Robert and a couple of men carrying huge boxes.
"What's all this?" she asked.
"Well, if you have a brand new computer, you certainly need somewhere to set it up. That's where I come in," Robert said. "But first, where's my birthday hug? After all, I did all the work."
"I believe you handed out the cigars, Robert," Sean said.
"It wasn't easy finding that kind of quality in this city," Robert said, playing his role to the hilt. "Now let these guys in, I'm paying them by the hour."
Maren stepped aside so Robert and the men can enter. "Lead the way, birthday girl," he said.
Maren pointed up the stairs and stepped back so the men could pass her. "Thanks so much, Uncle Robert. I can't believe this. This is my best birthday ever." She bounded up the stairs.
"Good work, Uncle Robert," Sean added.
"You expected anything else," Robert said and disappeared up the stairs after Maren and the workers.