Mari & Ilna-you're the best.

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Goat-tastic Fun (1/1)

Catherine held her phone against her ear as she navigated the crowded aisles of Toys Express in the Ala Moana Mall. Carrie was off double checking on the present she and John had ordered for Angie's party in a few weeks.

"I just wanted to check with you on something," Ashae's mom Raina said over the line. "We found something on Amazon that Ashae really wants to give Angie for her birthday but I didn't want to order it without asking you first."

Catherine's eyebrows creased. She couldn't imagine Angie's best friend picking any gift that wouldn't go over like gangbusters. The girls were like two peas in a pod and if anyone knew what Angie would love it was Ashae. "What does she want to get?"

"It's a stuffed goat," Raina said, but Catherine sensed by her tone there was something more to it. "It makes a sound. Listen."

Through the phone Catherine heard two sounds almost simultaneously. One was the loud bleating of a goat. The other was the unmistakable joyful laughter of an amused four year old.

Raina sighed. "It's a lot. I know. I can try to redirect her but her little heart is set on it. She said Angie would love it bunches and bunches."

Catherine barked a laugh. "I'm sure she will. It won't be the first loud toy one of the kids has ever had and I'm sure it won't be the last. Go ahead and order it."

"You just made Ashae's day."

Catherine could hear the happiness in Raina's voice.

"You sure Steve will be ok with it?"

"He made it through the bike horn," Catherine replied. "He'll make it through this."


"Are you sure you don't want us to have a separate party for you?" Steve asked as they made their way back across the island from interviewing a witness. "We could do a barbecue the weekend after."

"You don't want me sharing a birthday party with your daughter?" Danny asked with just a trace of indignance in his voice.

"I have absolutely no problem with you sharing a birthday party with my daughter," Steve replied immediately and sincerely. "She loves being birthday buddies with you. It's just that Grace came over last night to finalize plans for the party so she can start ordering supplies and all I can say is that she's hitting the goat theme pretty hard."

Danny snorted. "So I've heard."

"Have you seen the invitations?"

Steve's smirk had Danny momentarily rethinking telling Grace she didn't have to run any party ideas past him because he was sure whatever she came up with would be perfect.

"Should I see them before they go out?" he asked warily.

Steve could barely contain his laughter. "The goats are all wearing party hats. Some of them have noise makers." He paused for a moment, savoring the opportunity to make the next reveal. "It says, Angie is 5! At the top then a little lower it says, Danny is 45! Then in glittery letters it says, It's gonna be a goat-tastic time!."

The sound of Steve's laughter filled the car.

Danny scowled. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Steve turned the car into the parking lot of the palace. "More than you could ever possibly imagine."


Jenna knocked on the door of Boris's office and waited until she heard his usual lilting reply of 'Come in'.

"Just the woman I wanted to see," he said with a broad smile as she took a seat in one of the chairs across from his desk. "I just got off the phone with the director of the zoo."

"And?" Jenna was practically vibrating with excitement. Jacob and Kaitlyn had come to her a few days earlier with an idea for a gift they wanted to get Angie for her fifth birthday. She knew there was no way she and the kids could get it done themselves, but if there was anyone who could pull a few strings and make it happen, it was Boris.

Over the time she'd worked at the resort he'd been an amazing mentor, an awesome boss, and eventually a trusted friend.

"I know it's a lot to ask." She bit her lip nervously.

"Had Commander McGarrett and Lieutenant Rollins not held their wedding here, I never would have met and hired you." Boris smiled. "In which case my work life would be considerably more difficult than it is now as I can't imagine how we ever ran this place before you came along."

Jenna blushed. "You're very sweet."

The resort manager's eyes sparkled. "And very happy to help."

Jenna gasped excitedly. "Does that mean …?"

"Yes." Boris's face lit up with a smile. "The traveling petting zoo, complete with an appearance by Felix the goat of course, is a go. They will be set up for two hours at the beach house on the day of the party."

"Yes." Jenna pumped her fist. "Jacob and Kaitlyn are going to be so excited."


"Mom said to tell you she appreciates the offer to help with the decorating on the day of the party," Catherine said to Carrie as the two women sat eating lunch at the mall's food court.

"My pleasure. Tell her whatever she needs … I'm her girl." Carrie smiled then took a bite of her burger.

"She said you and John can ride over with her, dad, and Grandma Ang if you want on the day of the party." Catherine poured dressing on her salad. "One less vehicle to worry about finding a parking spot for."

She couldn't help but notice that her best friend's chewing slowed down and her eyes dropped to her plate, suddenly very interested in picking through her fries for the ones that were the most well done.

"We'll drive ourselves," Carrie said a few seconds later after she swallowed. "If we have to move the car it won't be a big deal. The jog back will do me good." She continued to avoid Catherine's eyes. "Preemptively work off the loads of cake and ice cream I'll definitely be eating that day."

"Carrie."

Catherine let her best friend's name hang in the air.

"Hmmm?" Carrie finally looked, her expression guileless.

"Is there a reason you don't want to ride to the party with my parents and my grandmother?"

"Of course not," Carrie scoffed. "I love your parents and your grandmother. You know that."

Catherine crossed her arms, leaned back in her chair, and waited patiently.

"Fine." Carrie finally cracked. "We have to drive John's truck because the gift we bought won't fit in any other vehicle." Her tone was playfully defiant. "And just like Mama Rollins, I make no apologies."

Catherine's eyes narrowed. "What did you guys do?"

"You'll see when everybody else does," Carrie replied in a sing-song voice.

Catherine grimaced. "Does it make a lot of noise?"

"Hardly any."

Carrie smiled when her best friend sighed with relief.

"It does have a seat belt though."

Catherine dropped her chin to her chest. "Of course it does."

THE END


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