"Now, let me hear this again."
Oscar Goldman stood in front of his two "daughters", who each sat next to their husbands in A.J.'s living room. Both Rick and Steve had their left arms in slings, with Rick's bandaged head a vivid reminder of the ordeal they went through. As he saw the serious look on the older man's face, Rick knew he was proud of Laurie and Jaime's putting themselves on the line for their husbands. At the same time, he knew what could have happened, and so did Laurie. As if to bear him out, she sighed, then spoke first. "I promise, Dad. The next time you tell me to stay put, I will. I'll call you with the tip or information, but I will not disobey you."
"All right." Oscar next fixed his gaze on Jaime, who stared back at him. "Jaime?"
"Oscar…..I won't promise what I can't keep….but I will let you know what I'm going to do." She saw Oscar's eyes were disappointed, and she added, "And I'll think with my head and not just my heart."
The older man sighed, then caught both women in his embrace. "I love you two, I just want you to be safe."
"And we want you to understand, we learned from the best, we won't forget what you taught us." Jaime told him, kissing his cheek. Both Rick and Steve exchanged wry looks, and Laurie caught sight of this.
"Hmmph, " she pretended to scowl. "You two don't have to give us that "little woman" look" you know." Both men laughed as Jaime stared at them incredulously.
"Oh, I don't think so." She huffed. Steve laughed as he reached out a hand to her. "Honey, I can read you and my buddy like a book….you couldn't keep any secret from me."
Suddenly Rick saw his wife's lip quiver, and he felt bad. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, I didn't mean to make fun of you and Jaime." Laurie came over to him, then took his hand.
"I know, love, come on. Dad, do you want some lunch?"
"Yes, but I really have a craving for, oh, something sweet." At that, Rick chuckled as Steve said, "Sweet? Oscar, that's a new one, since when do you have a sweet tooth?"
"Since you and Rick have a birthday!"
Startled, Rick and Steve turned around to see A.J. and Linda, carrying a large birthday cake covered with lit candles. Behind them, Robbie and Chrystal and Robin broke into "Happy Birthday to you".
"I don't believe it….." Steve grinned and shook his head, then snaked his arm out and drew his wife to him. Her face wreathed in smiles, Jaime loudly sang "Happy Birthday, dear Steve and Rickkkk, Happy Birthday to you!"
"And Many More!" Laurie added, then exchanged a kiss with Rick, who shook his head in disbelief. "You did it again, darlin'…..but you got us both this time!"
"I almost let it slip when you made me laugh…love. You two are so funny!" she giggled, referring to the way Steve and Rick had been so certain they couldn't be fooled.
"Yeah, but Dad had the biggest laugh on us….sweet my foot!" Rick snickered.
"Oh, we've got more then birthday cake." Jaime teased, sitting on Steve's lap. Just then
Cecilia Simon and Rudy brought in a platter of sandwiches, followed by Ricky and Ceci and the younger Simons proudly holding plates of goodies and the party was on .
"I can't believe we got you, Pop. I thought for sure you'd spot Robin's car." Robbie said, as each of the grandchildren vied to bring Rick and Steve their presents.
"Well, your Uncle Oscar kept us occupied most of the morning at OSI headquarters, but it was your mom and Jaime….talk about poker faces!" Rick grinned, then reached out and snagged his wife's hand as she handed him a gift bag.
"You can open this present first, darling. Save me for later?" She whispered, making Rick turn red. "You bet I will." He returned archly.
When all the children's presents were opened and enjoyed, Laurie dropped her eyes shyly as Rick came to her gift, and he reached over and squeezed her hand.
Opening the large box, he found one small box and one shirt box. Opening the first one, he snickered as he pulled out two new shirts, one a bright Hawaiian shirt and the other a blue dress shirt. "Sweetheart, thank you, I love them." He told her, as A.J. groaned.
"Sis, how could you? I should have known you were responsible for these noisy things."
"Well, I like them, killjoy." Laurie sniffed, then squealed with surprise as Rick grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto his lap. "She's responsible for more then noisy things." He snickered, making her blush. "Rick, don't do that…here, open your other present."
As Rick lifted the lid of the smaller box, he realized she had replaced the watch that had been taken from him the week before. When he unwrapped it though, he was moved to see the silver band of the timepiece had a "knights" motif on the outside, and was engraved on the inside.
"Darlin….it's beautiful, what does it say?"
Opening the band, Laurie held it open, then read, "To my knight in shining armor, Happy 60th Birthday to my love of all time. Your Laurie."
"Sweetheart." Rick had a lump in his throat as he leaned over and kissed her, then managed to ask, "Laurie, put it on for me."
"Yes, love." She murmured, then fastened it comfortably on his wrist and kissed it.
"It has a great transmitter in it and everything, Rick."
"Well, you're my everything, Angel." He told her, holding her in his arms. Looking around to see most of the guests had left, he decided it was time to celebrate his birthday, his way.
"Can I take you home, Laurie? I want to finish this there." He whispered, and she beamed at him. "Anything you want, darling."
"Now that's what I call a great birthday present!" Rick grinned wickedly, then winked at Steve, who was looking at his gift from Jaime.
"Me too, pal. I think great minds think alike." Steve laughed, then got up and held out a hand to Jaime. "Time to finish celebrating at home, honey."
"That's my cue." She said, taking his fingers in hers. "Happy Birthday, Rick, and many more."
"Likewise, Jaime." Rick nodded his thanks, then helped Laurie to get up from her perch on his lap. When they were all packed up, Rick hugged his brother and sister-in-law.
"Thanks again for the party, that was a lot of fun. And for the great surprises."
"That's nothing to what Laurie's going to find when she enters the ranch.", A.J. teased, as Oscar came out of the kitchen with Cecilia. The three of them laughed, knowing that a new bay window had been installed to replace the one broken in the attack, and Rick's "other" birthday present was a new sofa.
"Very funny, little brother." Laurie pretended to whipper A.J. with her towel, then took Rick's arm and went out the back to the parking area. Watching both sets of birthday boys through the kitchen window, Cecilia wiped her eyes, then told Oscar, "If ever I don't appreciate what I have now, you have permission to turn me over your knee."
"Is that a promise, Mrs. Simon?" Oscar joked, then leaned over and kissed her as she nodded.
"That's a promise, Mr. Goldman." Cecilia replied, catching A.J's eye. He smiled again at her as he left the room, and again she was reminded of some words her older son had taken to heart.
"Grow old with me; the best is yet to be."
Fin
