Forever yours

Chapter 13 Part 14

'So.........what you going to do for the special day?' Allison asked him as he stepped into the office.

He frowned at her. 'What day?'

'The birthday girl. You did not ask me to get flowers so I assumed you did something special yourself.'

He froze. It was her birthday, he had ignored her all morning, and they had a huge argument, which they still needed to sort out. Oh God, why had he not noticed the date?

'You forgot didn't you?' Allison was watching his reaction to her news. 'Oh boy, you are in deep shit.'

His brain was working at super speed. What could he do that was special and how was he going to make it up to her.

'I can always contact a jeweler if you want anything along that line?' Allison had no idea what Marie would like.

'No, I am taking the rest of the day off. Cancel any meetings and then I want you to do me a favor but I want it done as soon as possible.'

She was sitting on the patio on her phone rocking the bouncy chair with her foot while she drank coffee. Jeff listened to her conversation. She was still angry about the previous evening but then she revealed something that made him realize just how selfish he had been.

'I miss you guys Val. I miss the times we spent together. You were right, there is nothing and no-one here for me. At least I have these two little bunnies. They are all I need to make my day special.' She chatted for a while longer before hanging up.

Jeff felt as though his heart was being ripped into two. She had no friends, her brother was far away and he went about his day as he normally did without considering how she might feel. She had nothing and she had not had a chance to make friends because she had been ill the last two months. Despite all that she had been through she had never complained once.

'So girls. Shall we hit a milk bar and pick up some guys or get some strippers in huggies?'

He smiled. No matter how bad her day was, she always had time for humor.

She turned around when she heard footsteps. He leaned down to kiss her whispering against her lips. 'I'm sorry I forgot your birthday'

She pulled back. 'Thank you.'

'We could take a drive down to Robert if you are up to it.'

'He is working today.' She answered politely.

'You are not going to make this easy for me, are you?'

'I am really not in the mood for an argument Jeff.'

He caught her hand. 'I'm sorry about last night. What I said was not fair and I should never have walked away. We can talk about it and I promise that I will listen and keep an open mind.'

His phone rang and he answered it. 'Excellent. Have it delivered to the apartment immediately. Thanks for the help.'

She had walked inside while he was on the phone, carrying the twins in one by one.

'How about I take you girls out to a milk bar and then we can see if we can grab some lunch?' He grinned.

Marie stared at him willing herself to stay angry but she was not that kind of person.

'No thanks, we prefer strippers in huggies.'

Jeff breathed a sigh of relief. He was convinced she was going to stay angry at him and have a rotten birthday.

Theresa insisted they leave the twins with her so that he could take Marie out. She had given him an earful for forgetting the birthday and then he got the blame for not telling her either. He took her to a small bistro that overlooked the Hudson River.