"Okay, when did you notice you couldn't hear Rick, missy?"
Rudy had cornered Laurie after dinner, concerned about the two times she couldn't "hear" Rick when she needed to reach him.
"Last week, I didn't pick him up until he was around the corner, Rudy. Could it be one of my medications?" she asked as he took the blood pressure cuff off her arm.
"I don't think so, honey, but we'll check them out. Your blood pressure's normal, I'll take a look at Rick next." He added, setting his medical bag on their bedroom table.
"Thanks, Rudy. You don't know how worried I was about not getting a hold of him today, I was scared something had happened to him or A.J." she explained somberly.
"You did the right thing in heading for the office, missy. We'll find out what's going on." Rudy embraced Laurie. "Now I want to know what our birthday girl wants for her day."
"Well, my favorite fishermen could catch some fish for tacos, and we could barbeque some steaks, but I just want to have you and Dad and all my family around me for my birthday." She grinned, then beamed as Rick and Oscar came to the door.
"Hey, Dad, did Ricky and Robin wear you out?" Laurie teased, then hugged both men.
"I think they're running on super fuel those two!" he joked, his eyes darting to Rudy as he made some notes.
"What do you think, Rudy?" Rick asked, dropping a kiss on her cheek.
"I don't know; Laurie's heart rate and pulse are normal, her blood pressure is good. I'm going to check her medications, see if anything is blocking her from reading you or vice versa." The doctor added, giving Laurie a reassuring smile.
"Good idea, Rudy. " Oscar nodded, then said "Rick's getting ready to close up the barn, do you need any eggs for the morning, honey?"
"Yes, I want to make a breakfast quiche, plus Linda says the boys really prefer scrambled eggs." She replied, accepting her father's help in getting up.
"Thanks, Dad. Only time I feel my age is when my knees start creaking." she laughed, then hugged all three men as a concerned look passed between them.
"It's not that bad, guys. I'm all right, I'm like wine, I get better with age." Laurie quipped, then giggled as Rick put his arms around her.
"See how my Peter Pan thinks, she'll never be any different to me!" he gloated, then kissed her.
"Come on, Oscar, let's give these lovebirds some privacy." Rudy chuckled, then the two friends left as Laurie nuzzled her husband's neck.
"You say the nicest things, darling. You're the one who makes me young." She whispered.
Rick brought his lips to hers, and for a long moment he savored her kisses, only to be interrupted by Mike's barking at the door.
"Darlin'." Rick parted his mouth from hers reluctantly. "Let me see who's at the door, then I'll get the eggs from the barn and we can close up for the night."
Sighing, Laurie gave Rick her hand and as they came in to the living room, found Robbie and Ramona with two sleeping children in tow.
"Pop, I'm sorry to come so late, but the power's out in town." Their son said sheepishly, as Ramona hugged her in-laws.
"I told him we should call, Mom, but…"
"But nothing, darling. I'd be upset if you two didn't come." Laurie chided Ramona. "Come on, let me make you some dinner, I bet you're hungry."
Robbie grinned. "At least Andy and Lala had something to eat before the electricity went out."
Rick stole a look at his wife, seeing how happy she was that her son and Ramona were there. "Sweetheart, I'm going to get the eggs for Chez Simon. Anything else?"
She turned, then winked as she quietly replied, "Only you."
"Well, angel, you can have me in about 30 minutes." He smirked, leaving the room.
The next day Rick reveled in breakfast with their family, and in seeing how much fun Laurie had with the kids. Teaching them how to feed the chickens, taking Ricky and Andy and Ceci on a ride, he couldn't help but be sorry when the building management of their office called. Hanging up the phone, he went to find A.J..
"No, Andy, you can't go riding tomorrow with Ricky, we're going home in a while. Maybe this weekend for Grandma's party, would you like that?" A.J. saw the expression suddenly brighten on his son's face, then the same look appeared on his nephew's.
"Uncle A.J., that would be fun. We could put on a show for Grandma, it would make her happy!" Andy turned to his cousin. "We can be knights like Uncle Ian!"
"Yeah, with swords and stuff!" Ricky puffed out his chest, and his father had a hard time not laughing.
"Well, that's a good idea, Grandma likes brave knights." A.J. put a hand on each of their shoulders.
"She sure does, Papa. That's why she loves Grandpa." Ricky bragged.
A.J. heard a stifled "huh?", then saw Rick in the doorway.
"Speaking of Grandpa…." A.J. nodded at his brother, then Ricky and Andy launched themselves at Rick.
"Did you guys have fun with your Grandma today?" he asked, picking them both up in a hug.
As both boys launched into a colorful accounting of riding with Ceci, then feeding the horses, A.J. exchanged smiles with Rick.
"Well, I think she has some treats in the kitchen for you two cowboys, why don't you see what she's got?"
Rick grinned, then had to step out of the way as Andy and Ricky made a beeline for the door.
"They're so funny, A.J.. I'm almost glad for the quake, having all of you here. I'm just sorry the building will be reopening tomorrow." He said, then A.J. chuckled.
"I still can't think of Laurie as a Grandma, she always looks the same to me. When you two were married, I knew it was for keeps, but still…"
"I know." Rick didn't know whether to cry or laugh. "She's my fountain of youth. I get scared every now and then that I haven't taken better care of Laurie. I don't ever want to lose her."
"Rick, you know better than that." A.J. shook his head. "You spoil her and she does the same for you. Linda even says the same thing, course after I've made breakfast or cleaned up the kids for her." He added in an amused tone.
"You're right." Rick sighed, "I do set a good example for you, little brother." Ducking the sofa pillow A.J. flung at him, he picked one up and was about to fire it back as two voices echoed in unison.
"A.J…."
"Rick…."
"Yes, sweetheart." Rick turned and saw their wives standing in the living room doorway. Laurie just laughed as Linda chided "Guys, no fighting in the living room, save it for outside, okay?"
"Yes, dear." A.J. got up and enfolded Linda in his arms, as Rick went and picked Laurie up.
"What does my lady want?" he asked, then smirked as she blushed. "I can think of lots of things, but right now, how about some lunch?"
"Sounds good to me." Rick answered, then kissed her.
"Eweeew, yuck." A loud noise sounded in back of them, and turning Rick tried not to laugh at Andy and Ceci staring at them.
"What's yuck?" a familiar voice said at the back door, and Laurie immediately squealed, "Temple!"
"Hey, buddy!" Towne and Temple Brown came into the room through the kitchen, and immediately Laurie hugged both their friends, then squealed at the sight of Ron and Abby Johnson.
"I've missed you so, when did you get in?"
"An hour or two ago. We came straight from the airport." Towne chimed in, throwing an arm around Rick.
Just then Joey came running in with Ricky in tow. "Mom, Ricky wants to show me a surprise in the barn, can we go see?"
Abby and Temple shot a look at Rick, then Abby smoothly said, "Of course, Joey. Laurie?"
"Sure, buddy, I've been wanting him to see Tommy, come on guys." She and Abby led the children outside.
"Whew, Abby to the rescue." Rick pretended to wipe sweat from his face.
"You are so corny, Rick. Okay, I got it, you want to see?" Temple teased him, then pulled a bag from behind her back. Spilling the contents onto the sofa, she showed the four men a watered blue silk blouse and skirt, then a warm cotton pantsuit in a jade color, with two pair of shoes to match.
Rick was pleased with her selections. "Thanks, Temple. They look just like you described."
"You're welcome, but this …Rick I think you and Rudy should have been designers. " Temple added, lifting a velveteen case from under the clothing.
Opening it up, A.J. was properly impressed by the heart-shaped deep green and blue pendant on a silver chain, with matching earrings and bracelet.
"See, the stones light up only in the back to show the transmitter's on." Rick hit the stem and the light illuminated the jewels so they sparkled.
"About time, Rick. I don't know how many times she's busted the chain or stem on her transmitter." A.J. grinned.
"What I like is that it matches her rings." Temple smiled at Rick. "She's going to love them, Rick."
"I hope so, she was so cute with my birthday, I want her to have a special day." He said quietly, then looked bemused as Temple wiped her eyes.
"I do too, pal. I've missed her. I promise, no more running to Los Angeles and back. I'm only going to tape shows once a month from now on."
Towne pulled his wife into a hug. "That's my girl. Ron and I will be able to finally finish Joey's jungle gym."
"And I'll help." Rick chuckled. "I'm pretty handy with a hammer and nails."
"Yeah, handy pounding his thumbs." A.J. ragged, then jumped up and hid behind Towne as his brother pretended to chase him angrily around the room.
Excited voices interrupted the horseplay as Ricky and Joey ran in, "Dad, Dad, Mom and Auntie Laurie said to get you, something's wrong at Uncle Towne's house."
"Something's wrong?" Towne instantly turned serious as A.J. asked his son, "What did Auntie see?"
"We were chasing Mike who was chasing a rabbit, and Auntie Laurie and Auntie Abby rode after us, then when we came to the creek, we saw a truck at the house. Auntie Laurie told us to run back here and tell you, cause she said you hadn't been home yet so you shouldn't have people over." Ricky panted.
Rick paled, then "called" out to his wife, "Laurie?"
"Rick!" Laurie answered him, hearing him faintly as she saw the front door open of her friends house.
"Laurie, we've got to get out of here, I don't have my gun." Abby whispered, then anger took hold of both women as they saw various items of furniture already loaded in the back of the delivery truck. Laurie started toward the house. "Hello?" she yelled, then realized her mistake as a big, brutish-looking man came out of the front of the house.