Chapter Two: Birthday Cakes

Well, that's just like last year on my birthday

She lost all track of time and burnt the cake

And every smoke detector in the house was goin off

And she was just about to cry until I took her in my arms

And I tried hard not to let her see me laugh

Yeah I live for little moments like that

It was March 17, 2006, Mac's 51st birthday and Lindsay his new bride was determined to make it special so she decided to hold a surprise party in their Greenwich Village brownstone and bake a cake for the occasion. After checking on the cake once and then twice more she finally convinced herself it would be okay while she went to get ready. Just as she was walking down the stairs in her shimmering ivory and gold fitted surplice halter top dress with three rows of gold sequins underneath the bust line and rows of gold sequins on the straps the doorbell rang, which made Lindsay forget about the cake she had in the oven.

"Hey, Stella, Hey, Sheldon. Glad you guys could make it, he's not here yet but he should be soon." Lindsay explained hugging her friends.

"You know Linds, I didn't think you could pull this off but I think you may just manage to surprise Mac. A feat we should all toast to after the old man gets here of course." Sheldon joked.

Lindsay blushed and told Stella and Sheldon to help themselves to anything they wanted while she continued greeting guests. Eventually everyone she guessed Mac would want to be there was gathered in their brownstone and even member's of the house band he played with at Cozy's was there keeping the party in full swing now all the guest of honor had to do was arrive.

Mac pulled up to his Greenwich Village brownstone that he shared with his new bride Lindsay Taylor and smiled as his silver wedding band gleamed from the soft moonlight and street lamps shining through his car windows. Climbing out of the car his ears were filled with the smooth sounds of jazz music being played smiling he knew Lindsay had planned something for his birthday. He just didn't know what. After five minutes of digging he finally found his keys and as he opened the front door his ears were then bombarded by the sound of every smoke alarm in the entire house going off and black smoke being let out of the open door.

Suddenly fearful for his new wife, Mac rushed inside not bothering to notice all of the people in his home and he followed the billowing smoke into the kitchen where he found an on the verge of tears Lindsay sitting beside an open oven door. She was dressed as if she were attending a party and as he knelt down beside her, Mac could clearly see the tears welling up in his wife's big hazel eyes and that's when he noticed the burnt cake well what used to be a cake sitting next to her.

Not wanting to see her cry Mac pulled her into his arms and cradled her body, her face buried in his chest as she began mumbling sentences he couldn't understand. All he could understand was she wanted to do something nice for his birthday and that was all that mattered. That she loved him enough to plan this whole thing and even baked him a cake; all that matters is she loved him.

"Linds, don't worry about the cake, they'll be other cakes but all I want for my birthday is you. I love you no matter how many cakes you burn I'll always love you." He whispered kissing the top of her hair.

"I love you, too but I just wanted this birthday to be special. I'm sorry I burnt the cake and that you were worried." She mumbled.

Mac just smiled and held her close to his chest as the party guests gathered in the doorway of the kitchen smiling at the pair. Meanwhile he took a glance at the cake just to see how badly it was burnt and hoped Lindsay didn't see him start to laugh.