The morning of their sweet 16 Jamie woke early checking on Eddie glad she finally fell back asleep. He kissed her cheek heading downstairs to start breakfast finding Sophia and Rebecca sitting at the table.
"There are my two birthday girls," Jamie smiled. "Look at you...so pretty just like Mom."
Both girls looked up smiling as he walked in. "Such a sweet talker," Rebecca teased.
"We couldn't sleep, to excited about the party," Sophia glanced her sister both nodding in agreement. Nerves mixed with excitement woke them up from a deep sleep wanting the party to be the best one ever. .
"Good, your friends will be here about six, Mary Rose is coming to help set up. Now I know this is your birthday but with Mom being pregnant...
"We know dad... don't worry we won't give mom any stress.. ..." Rebecca began, rolling her eyes at how quickly he deflated their excitement.
"But since it is our birthday can we have your special pancakes pleeease..." Sophia finished hoping for her father's delicious chocolate chip pancake pancakes with strawberry syrup on top cooked until it was golden brown.
"Rebecca, that was not what I was going to say, I was going to say that I'm going to need to ask your help with the decorating," Jamie replied. "Now, on with the pancakes. you want chocolate chips and strawberry syrup?"
Rebecca smiled, "oops sure we want everything to be perfect! " while Jamie cooked the girls talked about their party discussing where decorations should go.
It was family tradition that the birthday person or persons did not help decorate, but they had to change with Eddie's pregnancy. "Here we go, pancakes and bacon for my girls..."
"Thanks daddy.." despite the tradition both girls were excited to help hoping of their party was perfect it would help boost their popularity.
"Jamie" Eddie called from upstairs. "Jamie can you come up?"
Sighing, Jamie left the girls to their plans taking two stairs at a time going back to the bedroom. "Eddie, what's wrong?"
Eddie sat up in bed holding a gift for the girls smiling as Jamie entered. "Nothing, it's the girls birthday, we always give them their big gift together. Are you ready?"
Laughing slightly Jamie kissed her then nodded. "Yea, I'm ready need help getting up?"
"No, I'm not that big yet," Eddie laughed. "Did you wrap it?"
Jamie took the neatly wrapped gift holding it up for her to see. "Wrapped it after you went to bed last night."
"Good, let's do it. I have the balloon guy coming at noon..."
Extending a hand out to help her up despite Eddie assuring she was fine, Jamie followed Eddie downstairs to surprise the girls. Their conversation leaked out from the kitchen about the party while they are.
"Did Dad get one?" Rebecca asked
"Did dad get one what Rebecca," Jamie walked in smiling holding the present out to them. "Happy birthday girls.."
"A piñata," Sophia replied. "The party's theme, remember." She turned around and saw the girl. "Oh, thank you."
The smile and twinkle in their eyes made Jamie grin happy. Birthdays were special but his kids birthdays were more so. "We love you girls much." The girls took their gifts to find their parents had paid for two weeks at a beauty camp over the summer.
"Thank you..." Rebecca and sophia jumped out of their chairs nearly knocking both parents down while hugging them. Shrieking they rushed upstairs to put the gift in a safe place.
The front door opened, Joe walking in, dark bags under his red eyes adjusting to academy training, being yelled at and punished for something another recruit did as they attempted to create unity. .
"Hey Joey? "Sophia signed. "How are you doing? You look tired or is it my eyes?"
Joe smiled signing, "academy training.. come give your brother a hug happy birthday.." Both girls hugged their big brother, heading upstairs.
Ten minutes later Mary Rose arrived to begin helping. As they decorated Eddie caught Sophia brush at her eyes.
The girls' friends began arriving promptly at six huddling in small groups talking until the music started. Pop played from the dj stand, a friend of Jamie bringing the kids out onto the dance floor moving to its catchy beat.
Rebecca molded right into the group, smiling, laughing having a fabulous time. Sophia kept watching the door getting more and more sad by the minute. Eddie noticed her daughter watching the door knowing she was waiting for a certain boy to show up. In between walking around she watched Sophia carefully.
Finally it was too much for Eddie, she went over to her daughter and pulled her aside. "Look at me, you are better than this. Moping over a boy, my daughter?"
"I know mom I just.. my heart pounds around him.. your right thanks mom," Sophia hugs her right.
Eddie gave Sophia a kiss on the cheek as the doorbell rang...Sophia took a breath, "I'll get it. Sit down Mom, you need to rest." She walked towards the door pulling it open, nearly gasping seeing Luke standing on her doorstep. Composing herself she smiled, "Hi Luke."
Luke had a bouquet of daisies handing them to Sophia. "Hey, can you come out a minute and talk? Oh happy birthday."
"Thanks they're pretty," Sophia took the daisies stepping outside into the porch, closing the front door behind her.
"Look, I know it's been two months since..and I'm a jerk to even think that I could even do that but.." Like leaned over and took Sophia's lips in a soft chaste kiss.
Sophia froze taken back but closed her eyes breathing gently returning the kiss. When she pulled back her blue eyes found his twinkling.
"Sweet sixteen you've got to be kissed. I'm so sorry, it was never you Sophia it was my father. When he found out about the accident he was so angry. Please think about us being friends again I miss you."
Smiling, Sophia reached for his free hand, "Luke, I like you a lot maybe we can go out on a date.."