September 14, 2019
Jason came home to find Kellie yawning while helping Jamie and Jared set up the fire pit in the back yard. He noticed wind gusts picking up.
"You know, there's time before Danny and Jake come over," Jason said, "If you wanted to take a nap."
"The kids are really excited about your birthday tonight," Kellie said.
"You look like you're about to fall asleep standing up," Jason said, "I'll make sure the fire pit is ready for when Danny and Jake come over. Although if this wind picks up like the weatherman expects, we'll have to reconsider the fire."
"But I took a nap earlier this morning," Kellie said.
"And you haven't slept well the last couple nights," Jason said, "With the baby moving and false contractions. Have you had any more contractions today?"
"This morning for bit on and off," Kellie said, "But they went away."
"Come on," Jason said, "It's either a nap or being too exhausted for tonight."
"Okay," Kellie said, letting Jason lead her back into the house and upstairs.
"Thank you for going along with the kids wanting to celebrate your birthday tonight," Kellie said, "I know you don't care about your birthday."
"But it matters a lot to Jake," Jason said, "And Jared and Jamie were excited about having a bonfire and cake."
"Lucky for them, there's still a couple more weeks until the baby's born," Kellie said, stopping at the top of the stairs, rubbing her back, "Not so lucky for me right now."
"You know if you're not up to tonight," Jason said, "You don't have to come down. It's just me and the kids. I can bring you dinner whenever you're ready for it."
"I'll come down for dinner and the bonfire," Kellie said, continuing to move, "I'd like to celebrate your birthday too. I left your gift with your bike."
"You didn't have to," Jason said.
"I wanted to," Kellie said, "Besides you've been eyeing that helmet for awhile now."
"Thank you," Jason said, guiding Kellie into the bedroom.
"You're welcome," Kellie winced.
"Contraction?" Jason asked.
"Like the ones this morning," Kellie said, "I had braxton hicks for weeks before Alyssa was born."
"If that changes come get me," Jason said, helping Kellie into bed.
Jason came back downstairs to find birthday decorations all over the kitchen and backyard. Alyssa was setting huge stacks of paper plates and napkins on the kitchen island.
"We don't need this many plates and napkins," Jason said, "It's a little early for dinner."
"It's a party isn't it," Alyssa said, "Of course we need all of this. Jared, the banner's crooked."
The doorbell rang and Jason answered to find Jake and Danny waiting with Sam, Drew, and Scout. Sam was holding balloons while Drew, Danny, and Jake were carrying boxes of pizza.
"That's a lot of pizza," Jason said, looking confused.
"For your party, Unca Jase," Scout yelled.
"Let's get this stuff in the house," Jake said.
"We wouldn't want the pizza to get cold," Danny said.
"Boys," Sam said, "Is there something you need to tell us?"
"It's a surprise birthday party," Jake said, "Surprise!"
"The surprise being on Jason and Kellie," Drew said, "I'm guessing neither one of them had any idea that you invited extra people over."
"That would defeat the purpose of it being a surprise," Jamie yelled from somewhere nearby.
"In my defense," Danny said, "I did try to explain that this isn't how a surprise party works and it might not be a good idea this close to Kellie's due date. But what do I know, I'm just the killjoy."
"Well, you still could have given us a heads up," Sam said.
Danny and Jake tried to rush in, but Drew stopped them.
"I texted Kellie asking her about the party and asking us to pick up the pizzas," Sam asked, "I got a response she knew this was going on."
Jason saw Jamie trying to move out of the room.
"Jamie, do you want to answer that?" Jason asked.
"Hypothetically, we might have borrowed Mom's phone while she was napping," Jamie said, "And deleted any texts about the party."
"We will be talking about that later," Jason said, "How many people are coming?"
"You'd have to ask Jared," Jamie said, running off with Jake.
"Where is Kellie?" Sam asked as they all came inside.
"Upstairs," Jason said, "Asleep hopefully. She was dead on her feet when I got home and hasn't slept well the past couple of nights."
"We can head people off if it's too much," Drew said.
Jake looked stricken.
"It'll be fine," Jason said, "Help me keep an eye on the kids."
"Done," Drew said as they all came inside.
Before Jason could shut the door, her saw Charles and Monica coming up the driveway followed by Michael. Michael was carrying a birthday cake box.
"So there really is a birthday party," Michael said, "I wouldn't have thought you'd agreed to something like this."
"Especially so close to Kellie's due date," Monica said.
"Kellie and I agreed to a bonfire in the backyard with just the kids," Jason said.
"Let me guess," Charles said, "My grandkids pulled a fast one on all of us. I thought something was off about the response I got back from Kellie."
"Jake and Danny were in on it too," Jason said, "How's Sasha?"
"On the mend," Michael said, "She insisted I come tonight. Nina is standing guard in case Cassandra Pierce tries anything again. How's my sister?"
"Is she up for this?" Monica asked.
"We'll see when she wakes up from her nap," Jason said, "The lack of sleep at night has been catching up to her today."
"Maybe we should postpone this," Charles said.
"Already suggested it and Jake looked heartbroken at the thought of it," Jason said, "If Kellie sleeps through this, it's fine."
"If we need to herd the kids out," Monica said, "We can always take them over to my place if needed. In fact do you mind if I look in on Kellie?"
"Not at all," Jason said as they headed inside. Monica went upstairs while Jason and Charles headed into the kitchen.
"Sage and Milo said they'll be late," Sam said, "Diane and Max won't make it. I guess the wind knocked out a tree out where they are. It's blocking the road.
Jason and Drew looked outside at the wind picking up as the kids were scrambling.
"We're not having a bonfire," Jason said.
"I'll grab Danny and we'll get all the decorations cleaned up from outside," Drew said.
"Michael and I will get the rest of the kids inside," Sam said as Jason's phone rang.
"Sonny," Jason answered as Charles set up the pizzas.
"Are you really having a birthday party and campfire with this windstorm?" Sonny asked.
"No," Jason said, "The kids invited everyone without us knowing it."
"I thought you having a birthday party was odd," Sonny said, "The power is flickering here at the house. I don't really want to take Carly or Avery out in this."
"No, you should stay home," Jason said, "A few people already declined because of the weather. We called off the campfire."
"Olivia texted me," Monica said, entering the kitchen as Jason ended the call with Sonny, "She's stuck at the hotel getting things ready for the storm. They're urging everyone to stay put if they can."
"If you all need to stay here," Jason said, "That's fine. How was Kellie?"
"She was dead asleep," Monica said, "I didn't want to wake her up since sleep like that can be hard to come by at this stage in her pregnancy."
They were interrupted by Sam and Michael herding the kids inside followed by Danny and Drew. The kids were complaining about the lack of bonfire.
Jason let out a whistle when the kids didn't settle down enough for the adults to talk, "I know we promised a bonfire, but the weather isn't cooperating with us."
At that exact moment, rain began pouring down as if to emphasize Jason's point.
The kids groaned.
"The winds already knocked down trees and power in some places," Jason said, "Why don't you grab plates and pizza before dinner gets cold."
"Hold up," Alyssa said, "We don't have our birthday hats on."
Danny groaned. Alyssa began handing out birthday hats to everyone.
"Where's mom?" Alyssa asked, "She needs a hat."
"She's upstairs asleep," Jason said.
"Again," Jared said, "She's slept all day."
"The baby's making her really tired today," Jason said, "We need to let her sleep."
"We can't have the party with out her," Jake said as all the kids started to collectively whine and argue.
This time Charles let out the ear piercing whistle, "Anyone that continues to complain will eat pizza in silence in the dining room while everyone else gets to eat their pizza and watch the new Disney movie."
Charles whipped out a copy of the movie. The kids fell silent.
"Maybe we can do the cake and presents when Kellie wakes up after the movie," Sam said.
The kids grabbed the plates and pizza without further complaint.