I opened my eyes after the date night with Leonard. I looked at Leonard's side of the bed. He wasn't in the bed next to me; sighing, as I stood up, walking to the living room to see him sitting on the couch watching television. His pajamas gone in their place were his blazer, his once messed up hair, now slicked back. A coffee in his grip. "Leonard? Didn't you go to bed again?"
He looked at me with a smile. "Yeah, I slept. I got up a couple of hours ago. I tried to cook some breakfast, but I ordered some instead. Trent asked me to come to the office."
I looked at him. "Trent said that that's odd. No one had brought it to my attention."
He looked at me. "I've been meeting up with Trent for the past month. I have some business that Trent said he could help with."
"Ah. You ask Trent for help, not me?" The hurt seemed more apparent to him than I would have ever dared it to. "I would have helped you."
He looked at him with a sigh. "Grace, I know you would. But you had already had things going on, not that I didn't want your help. I just didn't want you to be overworked with the girls, work, and taking care of me. I couldn't ask anything else from you."
I sighed. "I suppose I should be grateful, but." I sighed. "Thanks for your concern, I suppose."
He looked at me, placed his coffee on the coffee table, walking over to me. "I promise, Grace. You won't be upset for long."
I looked at him, trying to force a smile. "Leonard, what are you planning?"
I watched as he grabbed his wallet, placing it in his pocket. "I have to go, love you, see you in a couple of hours."
He kissed my lips, walking from the condo. I sighed, looking around. "Did he clean the house?" Walking into the kitchen. "He did the dishes?"
I walked into the clean-living room, sitting on the couch. To see the show that Leonard was watching was a cooking show. I leaned back into the couch, seeing a white envelope laying on the couch cushion with my name written on it. I picked it up, opened the envelope, saw a card, getting it from its package, I opened it, reading the message that was written in Leonard's handwriting.
I had set on the couch for what seemed like an hour, however; it was merely five minutes. I stood up, walking into the kitchen seeing the McDonald's bag laying on the table. I sat down in my chair, opening the bag getting one biscuit that was wrapped in the grease-soaked paper holding it. I unwrapped the biscuit, taking a bite of the moist, buttery biscuit with a moan of satisfaction. I love my cooking, but McDonald's biscuits were like heaven in my mouth. I saw my tumbler sitting by the bag, getting it, as the sound of ice hitting against the inside told me that Leonard had already placed my beverage into my favorite cup.
I took a drink of the ice-cold Pepsi. As I heard Kourtney yell in excitement. "Momma, we're home, and Uncle Nicolae braided my hair!" soft footprints ran towards the living room.
"I'm in the kitchen, dear."
Kourtney soon ran into the kitchen, in her favorite pink floral dress, and black pumps. I looked at her, her hair in long blond pigtails, with fluff pink fur balls.
"See momma, my hair is so pretty." I looked at her as Nicolae walked into the room, sitting at the table.
"Happy birthday, Grace. Charmaine and I did not know what to get you for your special day, so we settled on giving you a spa day. At the spa of your choice."
I looked at him. "My birthday? This would explain Leonard's reaction this morning."
He looked at me with a raised brow. "Leonard, is acting strange? How weird is weird exactly?"
I looked at him. "He cleaned the house, has this mysterious meeting with the Agency, he was watching a cooking show."
"You are a special woman, Grace. Leonard may not say much, but he goes all out for birthdays, mainly your birthday and the girls. You can blame Charmaine for that. He has been talking to her before and after church. I was feeling jealous until Charmaine had told me that the only thing, he had to talk about was you."
I looked at him, taking a sip of my Pepsi. "Americans celebrate too many holidays. Even celebrating a holiday to get free candy, and dressing in stupid costumes, I'd be all aboard if it were vodka I was getting dressed up for. I'd be glad if there was a holiday that let you drink yourself stupid."
"New Years, Grace. Don't worry, it's next week. Charmaine and I will watch the girls so you can properly celebrate."
I froze in my spot. "I forgot this month was Christmas. Is it too late to go Christmas shopping?"
I looked at her. "It might be for online shopping. You and Charmaine should take a shopping day, you have a few days. Kourtney and the girls wanted to hang out with Aria longer. I could take them to the zoo, then out for ice cream. I'll have them back before midnight."
He stood up. "Kourt, you want to go to the zoo with Aria and me? We usually go out for ice cream later, then to Build a Bear."
"YES! Momma, can we?"
I looked at Nicolae. "You don't care to do this?"
"Grace, I enjoy having them. With Charmaine gone with you, I'm going to need some sort of company. Now just enjoy your shopping trip."
I looked at him, then at Kourtney, who was bouncing her heels. "Please, Momma. I'll be a good girl, I promise."
I sighed, looking at Nicolae. "Fine, but tomorrow, Kourtney, you girls are staying home."
"Otay, momma. Thank you!" the child wrapped her arms around my leg, Nicolae laughed.
"Alright, Kourtney, go get your sisters." Kourtney ran from the room gleefully. I looked at Nicolae with a sigh. "Kids will be kids." Nicolae chuckled as I sighed, taking a drink of my Pepsi, shaking my head.