A Happy Birthday?

The Other Man

Tony is at his back. 'We need to keep moving, sir. We can't stand on the street', he says.

Joe nods absently and steps inside the nearest store, not caring in the slightest what it is. He talks to the staff in a daze, he cannot stop his mind from straying back to the fact that nobody in his family seems to want him, least of all his wife.

Before he knows it, it's time to meet for lunch. He feels queasy at the thought. His mind has been spinning for the past hour. He's had zero communication from anyone, it's as if he's all alone on the island. All alone in the world.

Without him really realizing it, the team brought him to the door of the restaurant. He feels sick. What is he supposed to do? Just act like everything is normal? Like he didn't just see his wife walk along the street, laughing and joking with some other guy while ignoring his calls.

No.

He decides he's just going to confront her, ask for an explanation straight out.

Dave walks in through the door of Queenqueg's ahead of him. The opaque glass almost slams back in his face as Dave lets the door go. So much for fucking protection, Joe thinks, his mood foul now.

He reaches out and yanks the door open ...

Surprise!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Pop!

They are all there. The whole family. Smiling and cheering and clapping. Balloons fall from the ceiling, ticker tape shoots across in front of his face but he has eyes for only one person.

Jill is beaming at him. Her eyes are sparkling, excited. He feels the smile form on his own face in response. She is so exuberant. Is absolutely glowing.

He can see from her whole demeanor how much fun she's gotten from arranging this for him. He also sees behind her smile and knows that she's tired and sore but she still did all of this for him and he feels like such a fool.

He opens his arms wide and she fills the space in three strides, almost running to get to him. He wraps her in a huge hug and she settles so close against him he can feel her heartbeat through the layers of clothes. He smiles into her neck as he hears the kids awwww in the background. With eyes tightly closed he loses himself in the sensation of holding his girl, and chastises himself roundly for his petty jealousy.

They cling to each other for an age. Finally Jill moves a little and presses her lips to his throat. 'Happy birthday, honey', she says resting her palm against his chest. 'It's a little belated but the wishes are just the same', she tells him, reaching up to find his lips.

He understands Jilly is talking to him but he's having a hard time tuning in. His mind is still back on their kiss. He's lost in the lingering feeling of her soft lips against his. He realizes he's staring at the plump, red jewels that are moving as she speaks and he has to tell his mind to focus on her words.

'I'm sorry I kept this from you but it all happened so quickly', she tells him, leaning in close again. 'I wanted to surprise you, but I only felt good enough this morning to begin to plan. It's my fault we never got to celebrate your birthday. And you've been so wonderful to me all week, so attentive and patient. I just wanted to do something for you', she tells him, her fingers stroking his cheek, her lips hovering over his.

He decides to come clean. He can't, won't hold anything back from her.

He rests his forehead against hers. 'I saw you cross the street ... an hour ago. You didn't take my calls. I wondered what was going on', he said, his thumb grazing her right hand, held safely in his. 'When nobody wanted to come for coffee with me I started to get paranoid', he admits.