Mari & Ilna-you're the best.
McRollers-thanks for reading.
Emerald Birthday (1/1)
"And since Ireland is an island, just like us, they don't have any snakes either," DJ told Carrie as he helped her set one of the tables on the deck for what was supposed to be Steve's birthday celebration, but had morphed slightly after both DJ and Angie had St. Patrick's Day programs at school and became obsessed with the holiday. The rest of the family and friends would be arriving within the hour and rumor had it that Elizabeth had even tinted her famous potato salad green for the occasion.
Carrie smiled. "That's very cool."
"And they have the most cookies too!" Angie said excitedly as she popped out from under the table.
DJ giggled. "She means they hold the world record for most cookies baked in an hour."
"I wish I'd have been there when they were setting that one," Carrie said.
"We made sham-ock cookies!" the curly haired toddler said gleefully just before she climbed on top of one of the wooden planter boxes that housed Catherine's butterfly plants and peered behind the branches.
"That sounds yummy," Carrie said. "Be careful climbing on that, please."
"I always careful," Angie replied as she hopped down.
DJ and Carrie shared a slightly skeptical look.
"What's she doing?" Carrie asked as Angie hopped down the deck steps and began peering underneath.
"She's looking for leprechauns," DJ replied. "Ms. Lane said they're mostly found where there are lots of trees but that they can appear anywhere."
"Dey might come here to visit the fairies in our fairy houses," Angie said as she continued her search. "'Cuz dey have lots of sweets."
"Where do your fairies get so many sweets?" Carrie asked.
The door from the house opened and Steve emerged carrying a platter of meat to be grilled which he leaned over to place in the outdoor refrigerator just as Angie said, "Daddy helps us feed them every night."
Carrie cocked an eyebrow at her best friend's husband. "He does, does he?" she smirked.
"Sure do," Steve replied without a trace of embarrassment.
"We built a table just like the ones on the deck except fairy sized and put it between my fairy house and Angie's so they can eat together," DJ added.
"We feed dem every night and sometimes when we don't got school da next day we spread out a blanket and read dem stories before bed," Angie said.
"I did not realize there was so much involved in being a fairy house landlord," Carrie teased.
"That's ok," Angie said, completely missing the tone of the comment, "We can teach you."
Carrie barked a laugh. "I look forward to it."
"Grandma and Grandpa found some dandelions on their hike yesterday and brought them back for us to put out for the leprechauns last night because they like plants and nuts and things like that more than sweets," DJ told Carrie. "And guess what?"
"What?"
"They were gone this morning," DJ's eyes sparkled. "The leprechauns must have come and eaten them."
"That is so exciting!" Carrie clapped her hands. "You're creating an entire magical creatures city right in your own backyard."
"The leprechauns can't stay though," DJ said with a hint of disappointment. "They have to go home to Ireland. Once a year, right around St. Patrick's Day, they get to use their magic to travel all around the world, but when it's over they have to go back."
"Kinda like Santa Claus," Angie explained as Catherine made her way onto the deck carrying a large sheet cake. "But Mommy says that if you real lucky one might come visit in your dreams one night. Right, Mommy?"
"That's right." Catherine smiled as she placed the cake on the counter and opened the refrigerator to clear a space.
"We helped decorate Daddy's cake," Angie said excitedly as she darted across the deck to examine her handiwork.
"Let me guess." Carrie chuckled, pointing to a corner of the cake covered in green sprinkles. "You did this part."
Angie beamed and nodded.
Carrie smiled as she looked at the cake. It was a mish-mash of different themes and decorations ranging from a shaky shamrock, to a rainbow, to colorful balloons, to what she assumed was supposed to be a leprechaun, to a mountain of sprinkles, to a baseball bat and what appeared to be a slightly misshapen surfboard. In the middle the words 'Happy Birthday' with one of the p's backwards.
DJ pointed to four small icing figures on the side of the cake, surrounded by hearts. "That's Mommy, Daddy, me, and Angie."
"I think this is the very best birthday cake I've ever seen," Carrie said sincerely. "Will you guys decorate mine when my birthday comes around?"
Both children nodded happily.
Just then, the sun reflected off of something tucked under Nonna's rose bush right off the deck.
"Look!" Angie pointed excitedly. "Gold money. The leper-chauns must have bringed dem!" She tore off the deck at top speed and retrieved the items from under the bush and ran back to show everyone else.
In her hand she held three small coins.
Steve and Catherine looked at each other quizzically.
"They're so pretty!" Angie bubbled. "And so shiny! I'm gonna go look for more!"
As she skipped off the deck towards the backyard DJ smiled at his parents. "I put those there," he whispered. "Ms. Lane gave them to us in school and I thought Angie would be real excited to find some."
Catherine wrapped him in a tight hug. "That is just about the sweetest thing I've ever heard."
"Mommy and I are very proud of the way you always make things special for your little sister," Steve said.
Carrie squatted down to DJ's eye level. "You know what I think," she said. "I think you're just about the best big brother ever."
The young boy blushed wildly but smiled proudly at the same time.
"DJ, come help me look for more," Angie called from the beach.
"Will you help look, Mommy," DJ asked, taking her hand.
Catherine smiled. "I'd love to."
As mother and son headed out to join Angie on the beach Carrie looked at Steve. "Who would have ever pictured this all those years ago when we met at the academy?"
"Not me," Steve replied. "That's for sure. Even my fantasies weren't this good back then."
"You know, I could probably make a few extra bucks selling the story of you reading to the fairies and feeding them sweets every night."
Steve snorted. "There are a lot of people who wouldn't believe you."
"That's because they don't get to see this side of you," Carrie said. "You're a good man, Steve McGarrett."
Steve grinned. "Is that my birthday present?" he teased. "Because I could probably make a few bucks too selling the story of you saying something nice about me."
"You keep my secret, I'll keep yours," Carrie offered with a wink.
Steve chuckled. "Deal."
THE END
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