We're Home – Part 26

A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age. Robert Frost

Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest. Larry Lorenzoni

Archie stood in front of his mother, Katrina, Paul, Golly and Duncan- 'the official organisation group for Lexie's surprise birthday party'
" Now does everyone know what to do? Who's in charge of what?"
" Yes Archie" everyone chorused, slightly excited, slightly fed up- this had to be the fifth time that they had been through it.
Lexie was down in the village with Melanie paying a visit to a friend who was also in the loop. Archie had thought it best to keep Melanie out of the secret until just before the event to avoid the surprise being spoilt.
All of their friends from the village were invited and nearly everyone had accepted the invitation, it was going to be a big night. Hopefully Lexie wouldn't suspect a thing because it was a week early, but Archie had wanted to have it at Glenbogle, especially since it had been so long in between their visits.
The group were decorating the main rooms and hallway tomorrow while Archie took Lexie out for a distraction. He had no idea where he would take her, but he would hopefully figure it out by the time he had to do it.
He was actually getting quite excited himself now. It had been quite a while since he had organised anything big for her, and he was really hoping that she would like it.
He had gotten her a claddagh ring for a present. He knew it was more an Irish tradition and generally a wedding ring but he had loved this particular one the minute the jeweller had explained it's meaning to him.
It was gold, like the locket he had bought her years ago, and he had it safely tucked away in his suitcase upstairs.
If everything went right this party was going to be a great chance to escape from all the chaos that had been erupting since their return.

We're Home – Part 27

Women really do rule the world. They just haven't figured it out yet. When they do, and they will, we're all in big big trouble. "Doctor" Leon of

Lexie stuck her face under the warm comforting water and blew bubbles; she didn't feel like doing a single thing.
She should really have the fan on, but the steam rising out of the bath was much better, she should also be washing her hair and shaving her legs, but again she couldn't be stuffed.
It was while she was underwater that she heard the door click open and someone walk in, she knew it was Archie without looking up.
" Hey sweetheart" he remarked sitting down on the rim of the bath " I've got a surprise for you"
Lexie groaned "What?" she muttered into the water, sending a stream of bubbles careening up to the surface
Archie smiled, " I'm not telling. How soon can you be ready to go out?"
Lexie finally raised her head out of the water and rolled over, partly out of curiosity, partly out of annoyance, and partly because she had run out of breath.
" Archie, this is meant to be my lazy day" She murmured, picking up the soap and then promptly dropping it again, 'why was it that a bath was always the same colour as the bar of soap' she wondered irritably searching the depths until she finally retrieved it
" You'll like this surprise I promise" Archie declared, smirking at her escapade with the soap and the grumpy look covering her pretty features
" Hmmmm" Lexie grumbled, " Can you pass me the razor?"
Archie reached over to the vanity, grabbed her bright pink razor and handed it to her, watching as she stretched out her leg as much as possible, while still trying to stay enveloped in the warm water
" Come on Lex…. Please"
She turned to glance at him and saw his puppy dog brown eyes hard at work
" Oh okay" She relented, " Give me half an hour"
Archie smiled widely and bent down to kiss her
" See you then" he remarked, standing up and going back out the door. Lexie couldn't help but give a small smile, ever if it was partly out of exasperation. But her tranquillity was soon interrupted again when she realised she'd just cut herself
" Damn" She muttered
It was only then that she realised half an hour wasn't going to be nearly enough time for her to get ready for whatever Archie had planned.
She glanced at the shampoo and conditioner, it would have to wait for another day, she definitely wasn't going to have time now, and besides she'd been lazing in the water for so long that her hands were all wrinkly anyway, if she stayed in much longer she'd turn into a prune.
Reluctantly she got up some motivation and climbed out, wrapping a towel around her and flicking the fan on on the way out- ' better late than never' she mused.
It was freezing out of the bath; quickly she sprinted to the room and looked at the clock. She only had roughly 20 minutes left. Although by adding the extra 15 minutes that a woman always added to a time limit given by a man she still had 35 minutes….
Lexie nodded her head decidedly and tried to plan the best method of attack.
O…..kay…..find underwear, then find jeans….search for comfortable shirt that also looks stylish (do they exist?) again send out search party for missing sock. Deodorant…perfume…grab hairbrush, remember that legs have just been shaved, so absentmindedly grab moisturiser off the dresser as well. Pull on clothes while systematically untying hair and trying to get the brush through it. Finally find other sock under the duvet on Archie's side of the bed, decline to think how it got there, as time is precious. Collect wallet, keys, mobile phone, lip gloss and any other odds and ends that look useful and swipe them into handbag.
Spare a thought for how women would cope if they couldn't multitask. Remember that fan is still on in the bathroom, turn if off while wiping remaining steam from mirror and applying make up, remember to brush teeth after, so then have to re-apply lip stick as lip gloss is in the bottom of the hand bag somewhere.
Pause for thought, glance around and know there is something that has been forgotten…..
Shoes! Run back to bedroom and crawl under bed…found them. Earrings, necklace, wedding ring on after finding them still on the dresser from the bath. Suddenly sit down as feeling of giddiness passes over.
Lexie shook her head to try and shake the feeling, she felt slightly sick again too- it was probably all the rushing around.
Taking a deep breathe she grabbed her handbag and walked down the stairs casually (as if it had all been a breeze) to meet Archie at the bottom.