Notes: Thanks to Mari and Sammy for the always awesome feedback. You're the best, ladies!
Readers and REAL McRollers - Thank you for your amazing support! It is always appreciated.
Hope you enjoy!
New Reason (A McRoll in the REAL World Story)
"Ooh da mailman here, Mommy!" Angie said as she and Catherine returned from a walk around the block. She tugged on her mother's hand in an effort to get her to go faster.
"That's the UPS driver," Catherine said, noting the distinctive brown truck and smiling broadly. She squeezed Angie's hand. "And if it's what I think it is, for once I'm as excited to see him as you."
They met the man on the path between the driveway and the house and Angie waved enthusiastically. "Hi!"
He smiled, unable to resist the bouncing curls and bright smile. "Hi there."
"You got a pack'ad for us?
"Sure do. I left it by the front door," he said, glancing back in that direction.
Catherine smiled. "Thanks very much. We've been waiting a long time for it."
He nodded. "You're welcome. Have a nice day, ma'am." He smiled down at Angie. "You, too, miss."
"Bye!" Angie gave him another wave before wriggling free from Catherine's grasp and running for the lanai.
Catherine joined her just as Angie managed to lift the medium-sized box into her arms.
"What's in de're, Mommy?" she asked as Catherine unlocked the front door.
"That is a surprise for DJ's birthday that I'm afraid I don't quite trust you enough to keep, baby girl," Catherine said, opening the door and taking the package from Angie. She stuck a foot out just in time to block Pumpkin from dashing outside as Angie rushed in to greet Cammie. The kitten had lately taken to scurrying out either the front or backdoor when she could, but fortunately she never went too far when she did get out.
"No, no, Pun'kin, you hafta stay inside," Angie said, waving one finger with her other arm around Cammie's neck. She had initially been a proponent of Pumpkin going outside "to play" but once Steve and Catherine had explained it wouldn't be safe, she'd quickly changed her tune and was quick to watch for the kitten when they were leaving the house. She let go of Cammie to come over and kneel, petting the kitten who mewled once at the now closed door and then turned to enjoy the strokes along her little back.
Catherine scratched Cammie's ears in greeting and then headed into the dining room to place the package down on the table. Angie was by her side in a flash, climbing up into a chair to get a better look at the "surprise."
"I's for DJ's birfday?" she asked.
"Yes, and I'm realizing now I probably shouldn't have even told you that much," Catherine said with a little smile. "It's a surprise, remember? So shhhhhh." She held a finger up to her lips and Angie imitated her.
"Shhhhhh," she dutifully repeated, but continued to eye the package curiously.
Catherine checked her watch again. "We've got a little time before DJ will be home from Michael's, do you want to do some more painting?"
Angie nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, yes, le's paint wif da waterpaints!"
"Watercolors," Catherine gently corrected. "Where's your smock?"
Angie twisted her lips thoughtfully as she tried to remember. "My aar'vark has is. She needed it," she added as if pre-empting the question.
Catherine smiled. "Well, do you think Angie the Aardvark will let Angie the Girl use the smock for some painting?"
Angie nodded immediately. "She's a good sharer."
Catherine chuckled. "All right, you get it and then come back down and we'll paint."
Angie headed for the stairs with Cammie following. Catherine waited for her to reach the landing and then picked up the UPS box with a smile.
"I've got just the spot for you."
It was well after the kids were in bed that Steve finally arrived home. He hated when he had to miss bedtime, but sometimes it was necessary when they were working a case.
Cammie was standing ready to greet him when he opened the door. He rubbed her head affectionately and smiled over at Catherine who was on the sofa with a sleeping Pumpkin in her lap.
"Hey," he said tiredly.
She smiled warmly, setting down her book. "Hey."
He joined her on the sofa, careful not to jostle the sleeping kitten, and kissed her slowly.
"Long day?" she asked.
"Yeah, a bit," he admitted, shaking his head as if to rid it of the details of the case. He nodded toward the stairs. "They both go down okay?"
She nodded, smiling softly. "They missed you, though."
He sighed. "Same."
She cupped his cheek, kissing him once more, then nodded upstairs. "Go peek in, then I've got something that'll make you smile."
He gave her another quick peck and then stood. "Consider me intrigued, Lieutenant."
While he was upstairs stowing his weapon and looking in on the kids, Catherine carefully transferred Pumpkin to the sofa cushion and went to retrieve the UPS package.
Steve returned wearing shorts and an old t-shirt. As soon as he spotted the package his eyes lit up.
"Is that …?"
She nodded, smiling.
"Finally?" he asked.
"Finally." She set the package down on the dining room table and went to the sideboard for a pair of scissors to open it. After slicing through the tape, they both reached for one of the flaps excitedly.
"Oh, perfect," he said as they got a look at the contents. Catherine pulled out the package, a set of Chicago Cubs bedsheets they'd ordered months ago for DJ. "I was beginning to think they'd never come."
They had originally ordered the set for Christmas, but the item was backordered. They'd hoped the sheets would arrive for DJ's Official Day in February, but were again disappointed.
"He's gonna love them," Catherine said with a broad smile.
"Despite the rough start to the season?" he teased.
She groaned. "Let's not even talk about that."
He took the package, flipping it over to get a better look at the pattern of various Cubs' logos intermixed with images of bats and balls. "I can't wait till he opens them." His eyes lit up with an idea. "Hey, maybe we could put them on his bed after he gets up on his birthday and surprise him."
She grinned, matching his excitement. "Yes, I love that idea." She stopped suddenly and laughed.
"What?" he asked.
"The last time we were this excited about sheets, it was when we first found the sheeeets."
He grinned. "The sensory overload sheets," he said. "Turned out to be a good thing you bought so many sets since we can't get 'em anymore."
"Never found any others that were quite that soft and smooth," she lamented.
He nodded once but shrugged. "What'd you say at the time? Wouldn't matter to me if the sheets were cammo, My Little Pony, or not there at all so long as you were in them?"
"Naked," she added, grinning. "And it was Carrie that said that."
He set the sheets down and smiled, turning her toward him and sliding his hands around her waist. "I remember another time we got pretty excited about a set of sheets."
Her smile slowly grew as she ran her hands up his chest. "Mmm, when I first moved to the island and we finally found a fitted sheet that would stay on the bed during certain … activities."
He ducked his head and kissed her slowly. "And as I recall we gave them quite a thorough test."
"We did," she agreed.
After another lingering kiss, they released each other. Catherine smiled as she picked up the Cubs sheets again. "I like that we have a new reason to get excited about sheets."
He smiled, wrapping an arm around her back and kissing her temple. "Me, too."
She put the set back in the box and closed it, tucking one flap under to keep it closed. He followed her to the hall closet and quirked an eyebrow as she proceeded to hide it on the high shelf.
"DJ won't go looking," he said.
"No, but Angie might. She was here when the package got delivered and knows it's for DJ's birthday." She glanced back over her shoulder. "She had that look in her eye."
He chuckled, knowing exactly the look she meant. "Apple didn't fall far," he said and stepped forward to help her better hide the package.
Task complete, she closed the door and turned back to him, repositioning her arms around his neck again as his came around her waist. "Looks to me like you're about ready to hit our sheets after that long day, sailor."
He shrugged, nodding a bit reluctantly in acknowledgement but recognized the saucy smile and waited for what else she had to say.
She leaned up to kiss him and then pulled back a few inches. "But next time the kids are at Grandma and Grandpa's, what'd you say you and I give our sheets a ... thorough test."
He smiled and returned the kiss. "I say … I like the way you think, Lieutenant."
Hope you enjoyed!
Note: The stories referenced include Sensory Overload by Mari and Sheets by Ilna.
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