It's the Sunday before Valentine's Day and Mike and Carolyn come by The Goren's for a visit. Time is running out. Tick, tock, tick, tock ...

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February 8, 2009 A Visit

It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in New York City. The air had the slight promise of spring. Mike and Carolyn decided on an impromptu visit to The Goren's and their brood. They came armed with lunch and baby toys.

Mike stood at the peephole waving a rattle as Caro rang the bell. They had called prior to the gathering, so impromptu as it may have been, they were right on time.

Hugs and kisses at the door, Alex stepped aside and let them in.

"Oh you guys … how nice of you to bring lunch and gifts. Bobby's making coffee with a kick in the kitchen. Come in and make yourselves at home."

Mike went right to the babies to coochy coo them and Caro went to the kitchen to help Bobby set up for lunch. She gave him a backwards bear hug and he reached behind and hugged her back.

"You look so manly in that apron Bobby … grrrrr!"

"Funny, but you try to get coffee stains out!"

"I haven't seen you in so long, you look good. How's work without … Eames?"

He shook his head. "Sucks, but I've been working some with Jeffries. He's a funny guy."

"You're kidding?"

"No, really … he has a lot of stories and funny ones too. Did you know that he has ten tattoos?"

"NO WAY!"

"Yeah, ah-huh … ten!"

Bobby leaned up against the counter to see Caro shaking her head in disbelief … it made him laugh. It was the same response Alex had.

"Hey Car … what would you consider to be the perfect Valentine's Day gift?"

"Did Mike put you up to this? I swear that man can't think for himself!"

Bobby held his hands up … "No, no … for me to give Alex."

"Oh, okay. Hmm? How about a dog? She talks about this dog that she had as a kid a lot … Binky, Bonky …"

"It was Butchy."

"Yeah, Butchy. Yeah, I think a dog would be the perfect gift for Alex."

With Triplets and me not home. That might put me in the doghouse!

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By popular demand ... he finally consulted Caro but to his dismay, he is still no closer to the perfect gift. Who's up next? Thanks for reading. Smoochies to my Dear friend Liz ... Thank you!