The restaurant was drawing in Dallas's elite. But more than that it was becoming the city's major hot spot for a great meal and casual conversation. If there was one thing Rick needed to ensure it was that anyone and he meant anyone who ate here did so without the threat of any paparazzi hanging around his establishment trying to get a scoop on who was here. The fanfare has died down since the restaurant opened but there are still some paparazzi who do decide try and get into the establishment to get that elusive shot. For the first week or two, he actually had a bodyguard here to keep out the riffraff. Before he had the bodyguard posted at the front door, two vultures somehow got into the dining room and took pictures of Sandra Bullock and her children Louis and Laila while they were all eating dinner. He did his best to provide cover for her so she wouldn't get trampled by everyone who wanted her autograph right after and she understood that this kind of thing does happen but he was still upset that her meal was interfered with. He still felt guilty that she was hounded the way she was and decided to do something about it. He had her phone number and called her and told her that her next meal was on the house whenever she decided to show up. He must have said the right thing because the next week she was back. She had ordered the surf and turf which he personally served to her after he finished making it.
She requested the chef to come out and talk to her and Rick went out into the dining room and greeted her at her table.
"Hi, I'm Sandra."
"Hello, Ms. Bullock. Can I hope that everything was to your liking tonight?"
"Rick, this was the most tender cut of meat that I've ever had and please call me Sandra. This lobster was so succulent that I was upset to find out that I finished the entire meal and hoped that there was more."
"Sandra if you want more just say the word and I'll head back into the kitchen and make it for you. Remember meal this is on the house tonight." Rick said.
"That's fine Rick I've eaten enough. But I wanted to thank you for the extra security measures you had in place. Not necessarily for me, but for everyone who wants to enjoy a good meal with no interruptions."
Rick knew that she was happy with what he had provided for her and in all honesty, he would have provided it for anybody who came to his establishment. People should be able to eat without having to look behind their backs to see if someone is taking their picture. He graciously thanks her for coming to his place and takes a look around at who is left. But now that the evening dinner rush was just about over and the number of diners in the restaurant was minimal, he had decided that everyone in the kitchen needed some time off.
Xx
Kate had the night off and she would probably be waking up around now. He checked his watch one last time and it was he looks through the double doors to the kitchen seeing just one lone couple finishing up their meal. Sandra and her entourage have long since gone. And once the last party was gone, the restaurant he was closed for the rest of the night.
He had decided on white roses. He doesn't know why but he likes the white rose that the florist had shown him. He immediately thought of Kate when he saw the rose because it was flawless as she was. He ordered three dozen and had them delivered to the house. He has a great idea for using them he can only hope to pull it off in time. He knows that Kate has the night off tonight and she will laze around in her bed until he gets home.
They had a very well-oiled machine set up when it came to the kids. Rick had cooked for Kate when she got home from work in the morning. He did it because he loved seeing the look on her face when he gave her something new to try and he knew that she had a nutritious meal in her stomach. After he left for the restaurant Kate would make sure that Alexis and Eli had their homework assignments completed, their lunch was made or money was given to each of them to buy lunch. When they were ready to go, she drove them to school. When he had the lunch rush taken care of, there had been a lull in between the lunch and dinner crowds. He hung up his apron, got into his car and made it over to the kid's school just in time for the last bell to dismiss them from class. He got them home, set up something easy for them to take out of the oven and made back to the restaurant to start the evening meal. Once he was finished with cooking the last guest's meal for the night, he had José clean up the kitchen, place the orders for the following day for meat, fish, and veggies so all he had to do is pick it up at the market the next day and then he left for home.
Xx
By the time he gets home, his accomplices are ready and waiting for him to arrive at the back door.
"Hey, dad. Hi Rick." Both Alexis and Eli say to him as he walks through the door.
"Hi, guys. Have we got everything ready for tonight? And is Kate still asleep?"
"We do and she is. There was a delivery of roses and we had the delivery guy put them in the living room." Alexis said.
"Very good. Can you guys set two arrangements on the dining room table for me? And then I will get started in the kitchen."
Alexis and Eli take each of the vases and position them on the dining room table and head into the kitchen to give Rick a hand.
"Dad, what do you want me to do with this flour?" Alexis asks.
"Sift about a half of a cup and put it into the gravy juices."
While Alexis is doing that Eli is setting the table for the four of them. He has everything almost ready he only needs the crystal glasses and the silverware.
Rick is tending to the last phases of the lamb he has in the oven and to his delight, it's finished. He pulls put the lamb roast adds the vegetables and sets everything on the dining room table. The roses are opening nicely and the food smells delicious. Knowing that they are ready he turns to go upstairs and wake up Kate. But before he leaves he gives the kids one last task.
"Eli in my commuter bag I have a banner. Can you and Alexis hang it over your mom's chair so it faces out when she comes into the dining room?"
"Sure thing Rick." Eli and Alexis pull out the banner from his bag that says Happy Birthday and proceeds to hang it over his mom's chair. It's hung by the time Rick and Kate get down into the dining room. Knowing that she would look at what they were doing he pulls out a napkin from the restaurant and ties it around her head covering her eyes. Rick quickly joins the kids at the end of the table and then they shout "Happy Birthday." Kate removes her blindfold and is inescapably brought to tears with the effort and time they all went to make her day so special.
"Guys this is amazing! Thank you all so much!"
"Mom Rick made your favorite dish," Eli told her.
He did, did he? Kate looked over to Rick and could see he was shaking his head in an up-and-down fashion.
"I did Kate your kid is very knowledgeable about what you like and don't like. He told me that your mother made this for you when you were younger so I figured I would give it a shot."
Without even thinking about it Kate and asked Rick,
"Well if you know what I really like Rick did you remember the one thing that will make this meal complete? What will make it special for me?"
"Kate seriously? How could I ever, ever forget the mint jelly? That practically makes the meal. So why don't you just take a seat and I will show you how much work I put into this just for you." Rick said.
Rick left the kids in Kate to sit at the table. This was his show when he was going to pull everything together right now. He grabs the oven mitts to pick up the lamb that he had spent hours preparing. He brings it through the kitchen door into the dining room and automatically he can see her nose trying to sniff out what it is. She's cute actually, but he has the upper hand because it's covered and he won't let her know what it is until he sits down with her. Next, he brings out the vegetables, and the bread, and something for everyone to drink. Once that is finished, he sits down across from her and says,
"Happy Birthday Kate this meal is for you." He motions his arm over the spread in front of them.
Eli and Alexis start clapping enthusiastically and he wants them calm down so he can start serving the meal and eat while it's still hot.
During the meal, he talked about how well they becoming a family. Rick can't really believe it but what Eli is saying is true. They are blending into a family unit and he really does like the way that they're moving forward.
Xx
Kate, on the other hand, can't believe that Rick actually went to all this trouble just for her birthday. But she does realize that he knows she only turns 35 just once maybe that's why he wants to make it so special.
The meal they eat is delicious. When they're done with that, they have another surprise for her. Kate is amazed to see that Rick, Eli, and Alexis have all gotten her gifts. She's sitting at the head of the table and they return with two presents each. Within seconds she rips through Eli's gift wrap paper and sees then he got her tickets to a Texas Ranger game for the four of them. Alexis got her a bracelet in matching necklace both with her birthstones on it. She is watching Rick oddly when it's time to give her his gift. She notices the box moving a little as if the gift was a gag gift and maybe it is so she goes along with it. By the time she gets to ripping off the gift wrap on Rick's gift, she is speechless at what she sees when she looks inside the box. Inside the box is a puppy.
"Rick, is this a Husky?" Kate asks still not believing that he wrapped up a dog for her.
"She is. An Alaskan Husky to be exact. She was bred for pulling sleds. But she was being treated inhumanly so I rescued her from a shelter."
Kate can't get over the fact that anyone would treat a puppy this way. She was so small and defenseless.
The table is cleared and Rick serves dessert. Kate, Eli, and Alexis all finish the sweet apple pie topped with ice cream in record time and have seconds. The dog is nipping at their pant legs playfully and she realizes that there is nothing better in her life right at this moment.
A/N: Next up is the last chapter.