HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ILNA!

REAL Worlders-thanks for all the enthusiastic support. You guys are the best!

A Special Day (1/1)

"I'm really excited to meet her," Grace told Jen excitedly as they waited in the outer office for Catherine to finish up a call. "Her name is Kendra and she grew up in Montana. On a ranch! Isn't that exciting."

Jen nodded but couldn't get a word in before Grace continued.

"She's been riding horses since she was a baby. And they get soooo much snow there. She's a music major and we like so many of the same things. She's only been to Hawaii once in her life. That was when she came to tour the campus. She's super excited about living so close to the ocean."

Jen noticed the light on her desk phone go off and a second later Catherine opened her office door.

"Happy Birthday, Auntie Cath!" Grace squealed as she wrapped her aunt in a tight hug. "I was just telling Jen all about my new roommate."

"Those assignments can be so random," Jen said. "Sounds like the two of you really hit it off."

Grace nodded adamantly. "We did."

"What time do Kendra and her parents arrive?" Catherine asked.

"I'm picking them up at the airport at 2:00," Grace replied. "We're gonna take all her stuff over to the dorm then we're meeting Danno for dinner."

Catherine smiled. "I'm sure it will make Kendra's parents feel a little better knowing her roommate's father is a police officer and is so close by."

Jen smiled and went back to working on Catherine's schedule for the following week as Grace and Catherine moved into the chief of staff's inner office.

"She said they were both really happy when she told them." Grace took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Catherine's desk. "She's the oldest of four so she's the first one to leave home and her parents are a little nervous."

"I'm sure your dad will help ease their minds," Catherine said confidently as she leaned against the front of her desk.

"I know he will." Grace's smile faded. "I'm just sorry that we're moving into the dorm this weekend because it means I wasn't able to plan a birthday party for you."

"Don't worry about that." Catherine reached out and squeezed Grace's hand. "I'm fine without a party."

"I know you are, but you deserve a big celebration," Grace countered.

"You're very sweet but I'm perfectly happy with something more low-key," Catherine insisted.

"Well, we may not be having a party, but I wanted to be sure to stop by and drop off your gift." Grace reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope emblazoned with the logo of their favorite spa.

"You didn't have to do that," Catherine said.

"I wanted to," Grace replied with a bright smile. "One of the advantages of me being just across the island for college is that I can still get home to have our traditional birthday spa day!"

Catherine grinned. "That is a definite advantage."

"Happy birthday, sweetheart!" Elizabeth said as Steve and Catherine entered the condo to pick up the children. "Angie and DJ are out back playing pin the tail on the donkey with your father and Grandma Ang. So far we've managed to avoid any bloodshed."

Steve and Catherine chuckled as they followed Elizabeth through the condo and onto the patio.

"Mommy! Daddy!" DJ jumped up immediately and hugged them both.

Angie, who was currently taking her turn with the blindfold, moved towards the sound of her parent's voices, donkey tail with thumbtack still tightly in hand.

"I'll take that," Steve chuckled as he laid it on the table then lifted a giggling Angie high into the air.

"Happy Birthday, my girl," Ang said as Catherine leaned over to hug her grandmother.

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart," Joseph echoed.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Elizabeth asked, repeating a question she had asked both Steve and Catherine earlier in the day.

"We can't stay. We're having a special birthday dinner for mommy," DJ beamed. "Kamekona is dropping it off. And Esther made birthday cupcakes!"

"And 'ouse kweam!" Angie added excitedly.

Joseph smiled. "Well that sounds like a very good birthday dinner."

"We won't keep you," Elizabeth said, her eyes dancing with excitement, "But we got you a little something." She handed her daughter a large envelope.

"Thank you, but you didn't have to get me anything." Catherine lifted the flap and gasped as her eyes scanned the contents of the envelope. She looked at her mother with wide eyes. "Three nights in Los Angeles?"

"It's from all three of us," Elizabeth said. "We thought it would be nice for the two of you to get away for a long weekend. You can visit Mary and Aaron and have a nice relaxing time."

"That's an amazing gift." Steve shared a look with Catherine then turned to Elizabeth with a grin. "DJ and Angie?"

"Well, we thought they could stay with us while you're gone," Elizabeth said guilelessly.

"So this is really a present for everyone then," Catherine teased.

Joseph dropped his arm across Elizabeth's shoulders and winked at Grandma Ang. "I believe that's what you call a win/win."

"That was delicious," Catherine said as they finished up dinner on the deck. "Kamekona certainly outdid himself with that meal."

"Daddy and me will clear the dishes," DJ offered. "Then it's time for your present."

Angie threw her arms in the air excitedly. "'Ouse kweam!"

Steve tickled her tummy. "After Mommy opens her present."

Steve and DJ picked up the dishes and disappeared into the house then returned a few minutes later with a box that the children had clearly helped wrap with colorful balloon covered paper and a large purple bow.

"Pwesent!" Ang squealed. "Happy Birf-day Mommy!"

"Happy Birthday, Mommy!" DJ said as he handed her the package then sat down next to her and squeezed his hands together in anticipation. "I hope you like it."

"I'm sure I will." Catherine looked at Steve whose expression told her he was as excited as the kids about what was in the box. "You were all very good about keeping this a secret."

"Shhhhh!" Angie said. "Don't tell."

"I almost slipped a few times," DJ admitted.

"I'm actually most surprised about Daddy." Catherine smirked. "He's not always a great secret keeper."

Steve shrugged his shoulders as he knew he really couldn't argue the point. "Just open your present," he smiled.

Catherine tore away the paper to reveal a large, leather-bound book. When she turned it over and saw the title her hand flew to her mouth. 'What We Love About Mommy.'

Her eyes instantly filled with happy tears.

"Take a look inside," Steve said softly.

Catherine opened the cover and the first page was a drawing, clearly done by Angie in her very recognizable three-year-old scrawl. Underneath, in Steve's writing it said, "Mommy gives good snuggles."

The next page was a drawing of what appeared to be a woman and a young boy sitting side by side at a table with books in front of them. In DJ's careful hand underneath it read, "Mommy helps with my homework."

The next page had several paw prints and read, "Mommy gives the best belly rubs."

"Angie had to translate that one, but she promised me those were Cammie's exact words," Steve grinned.

"This is … absolutely amazing." Catherine hugged DJ then held out her arms for Angie to crawl into her lap. "This may be my best gift ever."

"Really?" DJ asked hopefully.

"Absolutely," Catherine told him.

"Mommy like pwesent?" Angie asked.

Catherine kissed her daughter's cheek. "I love it."

She turned through more pages with drawings proclaiming, "Mommy is bootiful, Mommy is nice, Mommy plays games with us, Mommy gives me treats (from Cammie)," and "Mommy has pretty hair."

As she turned to the next page Angie squealed happily. "Cookies!"

"Apparently that's a picture of you baking cookies," Steve grinned broadly as Catherine looked at the mass of colors on the page. "I offered to help but she wanted to draw it herself."

"It's gorgeous," Catherine beamed.

The next page showed four people in what appeared to be a group hug. Catherine's initial impression was confirmed when she saw the writing on the bottom of the paper. "Mommy gives the best hugs."

Catherine swiped at her eyes then gathered Angie and DJ in a tight embrace. "This is the best gift I could ever get."

"Daddy helped us make the drawings and then he took them and had them made into a book," DJ said.

Catherine opened her arms and invited Steve into the hug. The four of them held each other for a few minutes while Cammie pranced excitedly around them.

Finally, Catherine pulled back slightly and proclaimed, "Best birthday ever!" in true Jacob style.

"We have 'ouse kweam now?" Angie asked hopefully.

"Yes," Catherine beamed. "It's definitely time for ice cream."

THE END

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