"What time is it, Dr. Parsons?" Steven asked with his hands clasped behind his back.
"It's 3:30," Cynthia said, looking at her watch.
"Charlie and I have to go home," Steven said.
"Okay. Do you need me to walk you to your houses?" Cynthia asked.
"Nope. We'll be fine," Steven said confidently.
"Okay, honey," Cynthia said. "Don't forget all your candy." She turned to Cady who was over talking to Julia and Dorothy. "Cady, Steven and Charlie are leaving. Come say goodbye."
Cady came over and hugged both of the boys. "Thank you for coming to my party," she said. "And thank you for the presents."
"You're welcome, C.J.," Steven said for the both of them.
"See you in school," Charlie said.
Cynthia escorted the two boys around the house and watched them walk down the street to their houses. She returned to the backyard. Julia passed her. "Excuse me, Dr. P.," Julia said. "I have to go to the bathroom."
"Okay, Julia," Cynthia said and continued to where the adults were sitting. Bill was talking to Roger. Janice and Robert, who had a very tired-looking Dorothy sitting between them, were talking to both sets of grandparents. She noticed that Mattlock and Cady were sitting next to each other in front of the shed door and talking, and tapped both Bill and Roger and discreetly pointed at the two children.
"I'm sorry I messed up your dress," Mattlock said.
"It's okay, I over'acted, and shouldn't have hit you," Cady said.
"That's okay," Mattlock replied. "Hey…. you hit hard."
"Sorry," she said.
"How did you learn to punch like that?" he asked.
With a bemused expression on her face, she said, "I don't know. Nowhere, I guess. I'm not 'pposed to hit people."
"Sometimes you have to. Where do you go to school?" he asked.
"Barrick Elementary," she replied.
"I go there!" he said enthusiastically. "My teacher is Miss Hotchkiss. Who's your teacher?"
"Miss Weatherford," she replied.
"Maybe I'll see you at recess," Mattlock said.
"I don't know. Maybe," Cady replied.
"Maybe we could play with the Lincoln Logs some time?" Mattlock persisted.
Julia ran up to them and interrupted. She asked, "Did I miss anything?"
"Matt goes to my school," Cady said.
"Neat!" Julia exclaimed. She joined in on their conversation, and over at the adult table, one set of grandparents, Robert and Janice were standing up.
"We better hit the road," Robert said to Roger and Cynthia as he picked up Dorothy and she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. "We've got one tired little girl, here."
"We're going to go back to the hotel too, son," Peter said.
"Are you sure?" Roger asked, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Yes. We're both pretty tired," Peter said.
Roger turned to where Cady was. "Cady, come say goodbye to your family," he said. She got up off the ground and ran to her grandparents. She hugged Joanne who hugged her back. "I'm sorry about the dress you got me," Cady said.
"Oh honey, don't worry about it. Your mom will fix that," Joanne said. "It will be good as new, next time we come for a visit." Cady hugged her again. Then she hugged Peter. She walked over and tugged at Dorothy's foot while she was in her father's arms.
"Bye, Dorothy," Cady said.
"Love you, kiddo," Robert said while Dorothy yawned.
Janice hugged Cady and said, "See you soon, sweetie."
"You be sure to keep those boys in line," Robert said as he patted her on the head.
"Robert…." Cynthia chided, and Cady ran back to Julia and Mattlock by the shed.
"Guess that's my cue. See ya later, Sis," Robert said as he hugged Cynthia with his free arm. Janice hugged Cynthia as well.
"We'll get together soon," Cynthia said, and her brother and his family walked around the house to their car and left.
"I wish we could say we'll see you again soon, but we'll be going back to Dallas early tomorrow morning," Joanne said.
"We'll come up and see you next month. It's our turn," Roger said.
"That would be nice, son," Joanne replied with a sigh.
"Let's go, Joanne. I'm sure the kids are tired too," Peter said with his arm around his wife's shoulders. Peter and Joanne hugged both Cynthia and Roger and also disappeared to the front yard and left to go back to the hotel.
Bill walked up to Cynthia and Roger. "Thanks for inviting Mattlock and I to Cady's party. It was a lot of fun. Sorry about the incident with Mattlock," he said.
"You don't have to be sorry, Bill. Kids will be kids," Roger said reassuringly. "We're glad you could come and we got to know both of you better. Remember - don't be a stranger."
"I won't. Thanks for your kindness," Bill said and he turned to Mattlock. "Mattlock, we're going!" he called.
Over by the girls, next to the shed, Mattlock stood up and wiped the dirt from his backside. "I have to go. I'll look for you at school, C.J.," he said with a smile, revealing the deep dimple in his left cheek.
Looking bemused again, she said, "Okay." Thanks for coming to my party."
"It was fun! Happy birthday!" he called as he ran to his father. Julia and Cady just looked at each other after he left their company.
Bill and Mattlock left, and Deborah said, "Let me help you clean up inside, Cynthia."
"Okay, Mom," Cynthia replied.
"Why don't we all go inside?" Roger said. He turned to the girls and called, "Girls!" Julia and Cady turned to look at Roger. "Why don't you two go to Cady's room and play with her new toys," he said. The girls enthusiastically ran into the house and to Cady's bedroom.
Once inside, Deborah and Cynthia washed dishes and put away leftover cake and stacked the picnic supplies on the counter. Roger and Jacob sat at the kitchen table and talked.
"What about the streamers and balloons, outside?" Cynthia asked Roger.
"That can wait until tomorrow. I'll have Cady help me," he said.
"Okay," Cynthia replied.
"Cady's just like you when you were her age," Deborah observed.
"How so?" Cynthia asked.
"Yeah. Do tell?" Roger said with a smile.
"She's deliberate and focused, but caring. She's got your temper, for sure – quick to ignite, slow to burn out," Deborah said.
"Did she inherit Cynthia's right upper-cut?" Roger joked and slapped Jacob, who couldn't help but smile.
"I don't recall Cynthia ever actually hitting anyone, do you, Jacob?" Deborah asked as she dried the cake pan.
"If I did, I wouldn't tell you now, dear," Jacob said, and winked at Roger.
"You're a big help, Jacob," Deborah said with feigned dismay.
"Roger, what was going on with your parents today?" Cynthia asked. Deborah turned to hear the answer as well.
"Dad's just not happy anymore. Well, neither of them are, really," Roger said. "He said, that since all of us kids left home, she's just gotten more bitter and controlling, when before, she was just melancholic," Roger said.
"That's too bad," Cynthia said.
"Maybe they need a mediator," Deborah said.
"I wouldn't volunteer for that job," Roger said.
"Maybe a minister or a doctor, or other objective third party," Deborah suggested.
"I'm sure they'll figure something out," Roger said.
"I wonder if your Mom would see a psychiatrist if I suggested one I know in Dallas," Cynthia said.
"Yeah. That would go over like a lead balloon," Roger said.
"It's just that she's had these problems for so long. There may be help out there for her," Cynthia replied.
Deborah put her arm around Cynthia. She said, "See – determined, focused, and caring." The two women finished cleaning up and joined the men at the table.
"So, Mom…You and Dad have been learning Bridge. How about a hand or two with Roger and I? Maybe you could teach us?" Cynthia said.
"I'm pretty new to the game, but I could try," Deborah said.
"How many decks of cards do we need?" Cynthia asked.
"Just one," Deborah replied. Cynthia got up and opened the drawer at the end of the counter and pulled out a deck and sat back down.
Deborah began to explain the game.
In Cady's room, she and Julia were coloring in her new coloring books on the floor surrounded by all of her new games and toys.
"What a fun day! I think it was the best party ever!" Julia exclaimed.
"It was good," Cady replied, continuing to color. "I think I'm sick from all the food and candy, though," she said, straightening up, and holding her stomach.
"Me too," Julia said, and she smiled and laughed as she mirrored Cady's actions. She changed the topic. "That Matt boy was different," she said.
"Yes he was," Cady replied.
"Kinda fun, don't you think?" Julia said.
"I don't know," Cady said, continuing to color.
"You sure popped him good," Julia said. "I thought you were going to be in big trouble."
"I don't think I am," Cady said.
"It was so funny when you punched him," Julia said. "Did you see his face?" Julia laughed at the thought of it.
"It was, kinda, wasn't it?" Cady said with a laugh.
"Remind me to not make you mad," Julia said with a big smile.
"Okay," Cady replied with a wry grin.
"Your dad picked some fun songs for Musical Chairs," Julia said. "My parents listen to boring music."
"Daddy's always a lot of fun," Cady said.
"That was kinda silly with the clothespins, though," Julia said.
Cady laughed.
Julia stopped coloring and asked Cady, "Who's your best friend in the whole world?"
Cady stopped coloring and sat up and said without delay, "You. Who's yours?"
Julia promptly replied with a deadpan voice and a smirk, "Betty Lou Montgomery." Cady waved her answer away in the air with her right hand and smiled. Julia continued, "I think we'll always be best friends."
Cady replied with a smile and halcyon tone, "Forever and ever." Then Julia waved her answer away in the air as Cady had done and they both giggled and resumed coloring.
The adults played cards until about 7 p.m. when the phone rang. Cynthia got up to answer it.
"Yes?" Cynthia said. …. "It was good." …. "Okay." …. "Right away."…. "Goodbye, Linda," Cynthia said, and hung up. She went into the living room and called for Julia.
Moments later, Julia and Cady appeared and Julia said, "Yes, Dr. P.?"
"Your Mom called. She wants you to come home," Cynthia said.
"Okay," she said with a frown. "Happy birthday, C.J.," she said and hugged Cady hard. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay," Cady said as she put her hands in her pockets.
Julia stuck her head into the kitchen and waved. "Goodbye Mr. P."
"Goodbye Julia," Roger said, glancing at Deborah and Jacob.
"Goodbye Julia," Deborah said.
"Bye!" she exclaimed and left through the front door.
"She's a bright little girl too," Deborah remarked.
"You have no idea," Roger replied.
Cynthia escorted Cady into the kitchen. "I hadn't realized the time until Linda called. I suppose we should call it a night. Cady needs a bath and to get to bed," Cynthia said.
"Okay, dear. I guess we'll get going. Come here, Cady," Deborah said and patted her lap. Cady immediately climbed into her lap and put her arms around her neck. "I hope you had a good birthday, Cady."
"I did, Mawmaw," Cady said. "Thank you for the present."
"You're welcome, sweetie," Deborah said and hugged her tightly.
Jacob reached over and pinched her on the cheek gently. He said, "You be good, little one."
She replied, "I will, Poppa."
"We're going to leave now, but we'll see you again very soon," Deborah said.
"Okay, Mawmaw. I love you," Cady said.
"We love you too, sweetie," Deborah said and hugged her one more time. Deborah put Cady down and stood up, and Jacob stood up as well.
"Love you too, Cynthia," Deborah said as she hugged her daughter.
"Love you too, Mom," Cynthia replied.
Jacob shook hands with Roger and then Deborah hugged him and said, "You take care, son."
"I will, Deborah," Roger replied.
After the goodbyes were said, the Parsons family was alone again after a very long and exhausting day. Roger flopped into his chair and stroking his hair back, said, "Whew! What a long day!"
"You're not kidding," Cynthia said, with her hand on Cady's head. "What did you think of your birthday party?"
"It was so much fun, Momma," she said.
"Are you happy with your gifts?" Roger asked.
"Very!" she exclaimed.
"Tell you what, young lady, I'm going to give you your bath, while your Daddy winds down, and when we're done, he's going to read to you and put you to bed, and then it will be my turn to wind down," Cynthia said. She turned to Roger, "Right, Daddy?"
"Sounds good to me," Roger said, putting his feet up, and shaking out the Saturday paper he had yet to finish reading.
Cynthia took Cady to give her a bath and about fifteen minutes later, came out to get Roger. Cady's in her bedroom, waiting for you.
"Already?" he said with a yawn.
"Your turn," she said unequivocally, and headed to the kitchen. She stopped and turned around, "Oh, and make sure you talk to her about what happened with Mattlock."
He sat up and went into Cady's room where she was holding her new Lady stuffed dog in bed. He pulled a chair up beside her and grabbed the book her mother had been reading with her. They took turns reading paragraphs and he helped her with the harder words. They read for about twenty minutes and he closed the book and put it on the table beside her bed.
"Did you have a good day today?" Roger asked.
"The best, Daddy," Cady replied.
"Your Momma told me to talk to you about what happened with Mattlock," he said.
"She already talked to me, Daddy," she replied.
"I know. I think she just wants me to remind you that we don't hit people," he said. "Well, most of the time."
"I know, Daddy," she said.
Roger clarified, "You can hit someone if they're trying to hurt you, though – to defend yourself. Problem is, today, Mattlock wasn't trying to hurt you. It was an accident," he said.
"I know, Daddy. I'm sorry," Cady said. "Why is Matt so weird?"
"I don't know if he's any weirder than any other kid. He's a boy with a lot of energy. I was probably like that at one time. He wasn't mean, was he?" he asked.
"No," she replied.
"Well, then that's all that matters isn't it?" he said.
"I guess so," she replied.
"If he turns out to be half the man his father is, I'd say he'll make a good friend for you. Keep that in mind," he said.
"I will, Daddy," she said.
He stood up and tucked her in and made sure she had Lady in her arms. "You go to sleep now," he said, and kissed her on her forehead. He walked to her door and turned off the light and stood silhouetted by the hallway light and said, "Happy birthday, baby."
Cady replied, "Goodnight Daddy," and she yawned, and drifted off to sleep.