Please Don't Leave Me

Birthday Surprise

Katrina was walking down the stairs towards the kitchen when she heard Mark talking on the phone, slicing strawberries as he chatted.

"Yep, the party's still on for 6:00 tonight at Outback Steakhouse. I made reservations for the private party room last week." Mark heard Katrina step behind him and felt her arms wrap around his waist. "Actually, here's the birthday girl herself now. Wanna say hello?...Okay. Here she is." Mark passes the phone to his bride. "It's your sister."

"Hello?...Hey Christine. How are you?...Oh I'm doing okay. Had an episode this morning...yeah again...Well Mark took me to the doctor here last week and they ran some tests and he hasn't called back with the results yet...Well, I feel okay now. I took a hot shower and Mark is fixing me some breakfast...He is the best isn't he?" Mark looked at her with a wink. Katrina winked back at him. "Well, it was nice talking with you. Thank you for calling. See you tonight at 6...Thank you...Bye-bye." Katrina hit the disconnect button and placed the phone back on the receiver. Mark walked up to her and wrapped an arm around her.

"How was your shower?"

"It was refreshing."

"You feel better?"

"Yes," she said looking up at him. "Thank you for asking."

"No problem, birthday girl." She kissed her on the cheek, his facial hair tickling her causing her to giggle. He led her over to the kitchen table and pulled a chair out so she could sit down. "Your chair, Madam."

"Gracias, Senor."

"De nada, Senorita," he replied rolling the 'r' and lifted a hand to his lips kissing it gently. He proceeded to walk over to the counter "Now you just sit here and I'll serve you your breakfast."

"Oh, I'm starving."

Mark dished up their breakfast of sliced strawberries, sausage patties, eggs, and biscuits. There was already orange juice and coffee sitting on the table. Mark had his back to Katrina and pulled something out of the top drawer by the sink and secretly placed it in Katrina's biscuit. He turned towards her, plates in hand and she saw a single candle sticking out of the biscuit on her plate. She couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"That's a nice touch, Mark."

He sat the plates on the table and took out a box of matches out of his pocket. He took out a single match and struck it against the matchbox and lit the single candle for Katrina as he began to sing her a happy birthday.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Katrina. Happy birthday to you."

"Aww. You're so sweet."

"You'll get a cake later on tonight. Right now, this biscuit will have to do." He shook the match till the flame was no more and tossed the match in the trash can. "Okay. Close your eyes and make a wish."

Katrina closed her eyes to make a wish, then opened her eyes and blew out the candle. Mark reached over and pulled the candle out of her food, then tossed it in the trash also before grabbing a napkin and placing it on her lap. He went over to his side of the table and placed a napking on his lap before he began to eat.

"So what did you wish for?" Mark asked before taking a bite of eggs.

Katrina swallowed her bite of sausage before answering. "Nope. Can't tell you."

He looked at her sticking out his lower lip, giving her the puppy dog eyes.

"Not falling for that, Mr. Calaway," she said giggling.

"Oh, okay," Mark said mocking a pout causing her to giggle again. Oh how she loved his humor. He took a drink of orange juice before he spoke again. "How's your food?"

"Mmm-hmm," she replied with a mouth-full. She took a drink of coffe before answering him. "Very tasty. Thank you, honey."

"You're welcome, sweetheart," he said with a smile.

"Your next birthday, I'll make you a breakfast. How about that?"

"Sounds good."

They continued sitting around the table eating their breakfast, drinking their coffee and juice when the phone rang again. Katrina started to rise out of her chair. "I'll get it."

"No I'll get it," Mark said rising from his chair. He went over to the wall and answered the phone on the third ring. "Hello?...Oh, hello doctor." Mark turned to Katrina whom was looking up at him. "Yes, she's right here." He held the phone away from him holding out towards her. "It's for you."

Katrina rose from her place at the kitchen table and took the phone from Mark's hand. Mark stood by her side with his tattooed arms crossed over his chest. "Hello?...Hi doctor. Are you calling about my test results?...Okay. Tell me...Yep...Uh-huh...That's good news...Anything else?...Really?...Are you sure?...Okay...Well thank you...Good bye." Katrina hit the disconnect button and handed the phone back to Mark to put on the receiver. He looked at her once again before asking.

"Well..." Worry filled his voice. "What did he say?"

Katrina sighed as she looked at her husband. "I know what that episode was from this morning.

"What was it?"

"Morning sickness."

A confused expression crossed Mark's face. "Morning sickness? But that would only happen if you were pregnant."

Katrina looked into his eyes before smiling brightly. "I am."

Mark's eyes went wide and his mouth formed an 'o' shape. "What?"

"I'm pregnant. That's what I wished for. My wish was for someday to be a mom and you to be a dad. Well...we're gonna be a family. We're gonna have a baby, Mark. We're gonna have a baby."

Katrina's eyes filled with tears as Mark pulled her into his arms, tears stinging his own eyes. He then held her at arms length, then picked her up by the waist and twirled her around the kitchen, both of them laughing. He carefully put her back on her feet before pulling her close and kissed her lovingly. He put every ounce of love and affection he had for her into that kiss. It's true he wanted so much to someday be a dad and he knew that Katrina wanted so much to be a mom. They both got their wish. Mark ceased the kissing to catch his breath. He looked at Katrina with tears in his eyes. He placed a hand over her stomach and she placed her hand over his.

"You've made me the happiest man on God's green Earth."

"Are you happy?"

"Very. Happy birthday."

"Thank you. I love you Mark Calaway."

"I love you too Katrina McGee Calaway."

They kissed once more just as lovingly as the last one. Their world would soon be complete. They were going to be a family and in Katrina's mind, this was the best birthday surprise ever.

THE END