Wednesday evening, they put together the party favors and left them lined up on Betty’s cabinet. Betty had mixed up the chicken salad for the sandwiches on Wednesday. She promised she would make the sandwiches, with the crusts cut off, of course, the next morning. The hot dogs had all been purchased, along with the buns and roasting sticks—actually long forks. They were going to build a fire in the barbecue pit, and Peter promised to supervise the area so he could keep a sharp eye out for any problems. When Joey learned they could roast marshmallows, too, he was thrilled.
“Can we make s’mores?” he asked eagerly.
“Not this time. You’re having ice cream and cake. That will be enough sugar for a day or two.”
“But, Mommy, we don’t have a cake,” Joey said, frowning, worried the highlight of his party would go missing.
“Betty is going to make you a special cake. Be sure to thank her for it.”
“I will. But what if it’s not—you know, decorated?” Joey asked.
“I think you can trust Betty. She knows all about birthday parties.”
Rebecca was glad to send Joey off to school the next morning. His teacher could deal with those endless questions. Rebecca took the day off from her own classes and work so she could ease Betty’s burden somewhat. When she found Vivian setting the big dining table for the party, she suggested they move it to the patio.
“I’m so afraid they’ll spill something on the carpet.”
“Not to worry. We’re not serving Kool-Aid. I learned that when I gave Vanessa her first party. We had to recarpet the entire dining room.”
“Oh, no.”
“Now we serve ginger ale. Those spills clean up easily.”
“But we have eighteen children coming and there are only twelve chairs.”
“Peter is bringing in a folding table with six more chairs. And we’ll serve the mothers in the lounge, away from the noise of the party. They’ll enjoy it more in there.”
Rebecca gave Vivian a quick hug. “You and Betty are the best.”
“You and Vanessa will run the party with Betty’s help and I’ll entertain the mothers. Will will float between the two groups, and Peter’s in charge of the barbecue pit. I’m sure Chelsea will probably be a big help, too, along with Jeff and Bill, so I think we have everything covered.”
“Yes. I’ll go help Betty make the chicken salad sandwiches. When I was in there last, she was decorating a beautiful cake for Joey.”
“Yes, she’s good at cake making.”
When it was almost time for the kids to arrive from school, the doorbell rang. Rebecca ran to answer it. Instead of the kids, it was Chelsea, Jeff and Bill. She made them welcome and asked for their assistance. Bill and Jeff she assigned to Peter during the roast. Chelsea agreed to join her and Vanessa in patrolling the dining room. All the presents would be in the lounge where they would join the other adults for the final event of the party. They would play games on the patio.
Three hours later, when all their short guests had departed with their mothers, everyone else collapsed in the lounge. Joey was still raring to go and admiring his presents. Rebecca served the adults leftover sandwiches, hot dogs, cake and ice cream as a reward for a job well done.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for what you did today. This was Joey’s first birthday party and it was so much fun for him.”
Jeff added, “I thank you, too. And if I ever decide to give my son a party, remind me of this one. I’m sure I’ll cancel it at once.”
Joey leaped to his feet and ran to his father’s side. “Didn’t you have fun, Daddy?”
Jeff looked into those blue eyes so like his mother’s and said, “Of course I had fun, but I’m very tired now. Aren’t you?”
“No. I had two pieces of cake.”
“At least,” Rebecca murmured.
“Everyone’s invited to dinner this evening,” Vivian announced. “But I’m going upstairs to have a nap until then.”
“Dinner?” Bill asked. “I don’t feel like I can ever eat again. I had an eating contest with that big boy. What was his name?”
“I think it was Stephen,” Chelsea said. “I couldn’t believe you could be so childish.”
“Hell, I thought I’d beat him easy. That kid ate four hot dogs.”
Joey looked up, bright-eyed. “Hell, he always does.”
There was a shocked silence. Then Rebecca took Joey’s hand and led him from the room to discuss the issue of cursing.
Chapter Eleven
Bill, his cheeks red, apologized at once.
Will laughed. “Thanks for reminding me that I’ll need to curb my language at all times. It’s so easy to forget.”
“I’m sure his mother will be reading Joey the riot act,” Jeff added. “There’s no harm done. Now, who wants to have a cake-eating contest? I’m feeling like I could manage another piece. Betty makes a damn fine cake.”
Since Jeff had intentionally used a swearword to make Bill feel better, he was relieved when everyone laughed. Of course, he’d taken care to do so while his son and Rebecca were out of the room.
When Rebecca and Joey came back into the room, Rebecca announced, “Joey is going upstairs to his room for a nap. But he wanted to say something first.”
“Thank you all for coming to my party and helping Mommy and everything. I appreciate it.” Then he ran around the room, hugging everyone’s neck.
“You’d better stop off in the kitchen and thank Betty and Peter, too,” Jeff suggested.
“I will, Daddy. And you’ll be here for supper, won’t you?” Joey asked anxiously.
“Of course I will.”
Fortunately, in Rebecca’s mind, Jeff didn’t mention that he, Bill and Chelsea had yet to give Joey a present. They thought it would be better to wait until after the party.
She’d agreed, but she didn’t need Joey to get all excited again before she tried to get him to rest.
When she came back downstairs again, she discovered the other adults had put their heads together to decide how to spend the afternoon. Will and Vivian had recently gone to the movies and seen a movie they thought was good. Will suggested the four of them go to the movies while Joey rested.
“But I might not get back before he wakes up,” Rebecca protested.
“True, but I’ll be here, as will Betty and Peter, and he does have a lot of new toys to play with.”
“Come on, Rebecca,” Jeff urged. “I’ve been wanting to see that movie.”
“Why don’t the three of you go? I’ll stay here and help clean up.”
Will stood. “I insist you go, Rebecca. You worked hard all day for the party. You deserve a break.”
Then he shooed them out the door.
When they got to the movie, the guys bought them popcorn and sodas. When they filed into the dark room, Rebecca discovered she was in the lead. Jeff put a hand on her waist to guide her. When they found seats, Jeff and Chelsea sat in the middle, with Rebecca and Bill on the outsides. Rebecca wished she was on Chelsea’s side, not Jeff’s—it was too dangerous.
The movie started almost at once. It had been five years since she’d been to a movie with Jeff. When his hand reached over to take hers, she was so wrapped up in the movie, she almost didn’t think to protest. When she realized what he’d done, she jerked her hand away.
He gave an audible sigh but said nothing. She didn’t dare steal a look at Chelsea. Instead, she stared straight ahead and sat stiffly in her seat. The movie was ruined for her.
When they got back in the car, the two men talked about the movie, but she noticed Chelsea didn’t have much to say about it. Rebecca said nothing, either. At the house, the other three took in their presents for Joey. The little boy met them at the door.
“I was afraid you’d forget to come back,” he told his daddy.
“Not a chance, squirt. I said I’d be here for dinner, didn’t I?”
“But it’s almost ready.”
“Then you’d better open these presents in a hurr
y,” Jeff told his son, watching him squeal with delight and run into the library to tell Vivian and Will that he had more presents.
When Will and Vivian handed him a gift also, and Betty and Peter came in with their gift, Joey was completely overwhelmed.
“Where’s Vanessa?” Rebecca asked.
“I’m here,” Vanessa answered, coming in the door. “You don’t think I’d miss Joey’s second party, do you?”
She, too, handed Joey a package. Joey immediately hugged her neck. The others complained that they hadn’t received a hug. Joey again made the rounds, hugging everyone. He was so excited he didn’t even know what he was doing.
Rebecca had him come sit beside her and she gave him one present at a time to open, telling him who it was from so he could properly thank them. She knew her son wouldn’t appreciate her gift much, since it was clothes. But she’d tried to buy him the things his friends wore to school. When he opened Jeff’s present, he was speechless. His father had purchased a watch for him to wear.
“I figured it was time for you to learn to tell time,” he said.
“Thank you, Daddy. Will you teach me?”
“Look, it says six-thirty.”
When all the presents had been opened, Betty called them all to dinner. They settled around the dining table for a leisurely meal. Rebecca kept an eye on Joey, who sat beside her, as usual. His eyelids began to sag partway through dinner. She urged him to stay awake so they could sing happy birthday to him when Betty brought in another birthday cake she’d made. This one was chocolate with white icing, Joey’s favorite.
Joey ate the small piece he received. Then he leaned against his mother, yawning.
“Are you ready for bed, sweetie?”
“Yes, Mommy. This has been the best birthday ever.”
“I agree. Why don’t you tell everyone thank you and good-night, and I’ll take you up to bed?”
He did as he was told, and Rebecca picked him up. Jeff stood and took him from his mother. “I’ll carry him upstairs for you.”
Rebecca had hoped to avoid being alone with Jeff. Now, once Joey went to sleep, she would have to hurry back downstairs or be faced with time alone. She did so, almost tripping in her rush. Jeff caught her arm, saving her from a fall.
“What’s your hurry, Becca?”
“I want to help Betty clean up. It’s been a long day for all of us.”
“I don’t think you have to hurry that much. I bet everyone will still be sitting around the table. You didn’t eat any of the cake yet.”
“I thought I should skip it. Too many calories.”
“Joey would want you to eat a piece.”
She ignored him and rushed into the dining room.
“Come sit down, Rebecca,” Vivian said at once. “We’ve cut you a piece of cake. Did Joey go right to sleep?”
“Yes, he was asleep before I could wash his face. Thank you all for giving him such a wonderful day. I think he’ll remember it for all his life.”
“It was fun for us, too,” Will assured her. “Joey has brought a lot of joy to this house.”
After a few minutes, when she’d finally finished her piece of cake, Bill, Chelsea and Jeff excused themselves. Rebecca got up and gave Chelsea a hug.
“Thanks for helping us today, Chelsea. You were really good with the kids.”
“I surprised myself,” Chelsea said with a laugh. “I didn’t know I could relate to four-year-olds.”
“You certainly can. You all were terrific, especially Bill with the roasting marshmallows. I saw him comforting more than one child who lost his marshmallow in the fire.”
Bill blushed and grinned at the same time. “You’d have thought the world had ended. All it took was a new marshmallow.”
“It’s nice when tragedies can be so easily solved,” Rebecca agreed, avoiding looking at Jeff.
Once they’d left, she went back in to help Betty with the dinner dishes. Vanessa, too, was helping out. They dried the dishes together. After a few minutes, Vanessa said, “Are you feeling all right?”
“Yes, just tired.”
“I guess so. You’ve had a long day.”
“Everyone has.” She put away a plate. “Joey was so happy. I can’t thank you enough for all you did.”
“We love him almost as much as you do, sis.”
“That’s what is even more impressive. For almost his entire life, there was just the two of us. And now his life is filled with so many people.”
“Chelsea is nicer than I thought she’d turn out to be,” Vanessa said.
“Yes, she is. I—I hope she and Jeff will be happy together.”
“You still love him, don’t you?” Vanessa asked softly.
Rebecca’s head jerked up. She met Vanessa’s gaze and then looked away. “It doesn’t matter. He’s going to marry Chelsea.”
“I’m sorry, sis. It would’ve been better if it had turned out differently.”
“Yes, but it didn’t. I’ll survive.”
“I know you will. I’m never going to marry. We’ll get a big condo and share it.”
“Why would you never marry? I thought you were half in love with Jeremy.”
“Dear Jeremy thought since it was our first date, I should thank him by going to bed with him.”
“No! Even after Will gave him a talking-to?”
“Even after he’d been flirting with me like he was shy.”
“How terrible of him. I’m glad you ditched him. You did ditch him, didn’t you?”
“Oh, yes. If I can’t find someone with more sensitivity than Jeremy, I’ll never marry.”
“Hopefully, some really great guy will come along and change your mind. I’d really like to have some nieces and nephews.”
Vanessa put her cup towel away and hugged Rebecca again. “Don’t hold your breath. Maybe Will will find Rachel or David, and they’ll produce some children.”
“Or maybe Jim.”
“I don’t know. He’s thirty-one and not married. Sounds like he may be going solo, too.”
“Maybe he just hasn’t had time to settle down. He wrote in his last letter that he’s thinking about getting out of the marines when it’s time for him to re-up, which will be in six months. I’d hoped he’d come home sooner than that.”
“Me, too. But at least he writes nice letters.”
“Yes, he does.” Rebecca hung up her cup towel also. “I think I’m going to go up to bed now. I’m tired.”
“Me, too,” Vanessa said.
They both stopped off in the library to tell Will and Vivian good-night. Then they climbed the stairs together.
AT THE OFFICE THE NEXT afternoon, Rebecca hurried in to work, sure she’d have a lot of filing piled up since she hadn’t worked yesterday.
“Hi, Harriet. Thank you for sending a present for Joey. That was so sweet of you. He loves that toy.”
“I’m so glad. I’ve nephews who are a couple of years older than your Joey and I asked for their opinion.”
“Well, tell them they did a great job. I’ll get started right away with the filing,” she said, hurrying past Harriet’s desk to her own.
“Jeff wants to see you first.”
“Why?” Rebecca demanded sharply.
Harriet gave her a reproving look. “I didn’t ask him, dear.”
“Oh, no, of course not. I’m sorry, Harriet. You took me by surprise. Are you sure he’s free now?”
“Oh, yes, he’s waiting.”
Left with no choice, Rebecca advanced toward Jeff’s closed door like a heroine in the tumbrel approaching the guillotine. She knocked on the door and prayed he wouldn’t answer. But, of course, he did. “Come in.”
She opened the door but didn’t go in. “You wanted to see me about something?”
“Yes, come on in and have a seat.”
“Why?”
After giving her a considering look, Jeff got up from his desk and came to the door. He took her by the arm and pulled her into his office and closed the door.<
br />
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t act like I had the plague.”
“I wasn’t—”
“Yes, you were. I wanted to remind you that the basketball tickets are for Saturday night. Do you want to go to dinner first?”
“No. No, it will be better if Joey has his dinner at home, before he gets too excited.”
“That actually makes sense. But I’ll need to pick you up by seven. Can you be ready by then?”
“Yes. Aren’t you picking up Chelsea and Bill, too?”
“No.” He cleared his throat. “Bill wanted to go to a steak place and Chelsea thought that was a good idea.”
“You’ll go with them, won’t you?” She watched him with worried eyes.
“I don’t think so. I get tired of eating out.”
“Jeff, you have to go with them.”
“No, I don’t. In fact, since you refuse to go, I’m going to see if I can talk Vivian into inviting me for dinner.”
“That’s not fair or polite. You know she’ll invite you to dinner at the first hint.”
“I know. That’s one of the things I love about her.”
“Jeff, I don’t think you’re thinking clearly. You need to go with Chelsea.”
“Honey, you’re the one who isn’t thinking clearly. Maybe you’d better get back to work before I say more than I should.”
Finding herself easily dismissed, on the other side of the closed door, Rebecca thought of several things she could say, but she didn’t go back in. Instead, she got to work and said a few prayers as she did so.
CHELSEA PICKED AT HER STEAK, not really eating it.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Bill asked.
“No, I’m not. I don’t think this was a good idea.”
“Going to the basketball game? I think it will be fun.”
“No. Having dinner without Jeff and Rebecca. It’s too—too intimate.”
Bill straightened and stared at Chelsea. “You’re afraid I’ll do something out of line? Jeff is my friend, and as long as that ring is on your finger, you’re safe. I make no promises if you should give back the ring. Then I would feel free to express my emotions about you. But not until then.”
“Bill, that’s not how it works.”
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