Birthdays and Surprises

It's January 5th. I'm still 34. Natalie and Madison turn 15 today. We turn the dining room table of the packhouse into a smorgasbord of pizza, with continuous cheeseburger pizza which Natalie and I have introduced to the pack. On the other side of the banquet hall, we had a huge TV running Disney movies since noon. At 6 pm, we break for presents. I had never seen such a stack of presents for Natalie. There was an equal amount for Madison and she was constantly dabbing her eyes, since she was so moved by this outpouring of adoration.

Edward and I got them diamond teardrop necklaces with a small garnet chip on the bottom left. The gold chain was the perfect length to sit just below the top of the sternum. Claudia made each of them a dress to match the individual personalities. I'm reminded of a young Grace Kelly when I look at Natalie and Trisha Yearwood when I look at Madison. Classic and Country, the twins were certainly individuals. They have so much living yet to do and I am so thankful that they have all the support a large family can give them. Everyone from the pack took time to stop in with well wishes. Danielle and Jenny called with greetings from everyone from their household plus Grandma Meghan and Jamirul Mao.

The gifts continue to show their individuality. Natalie is receiving business notebooks and computer software, a new notebook and a desk calendar. Madison is receiving recipe notebooks and painting supplies. They also appreciate what the other has received and I feel how they love each other as only family can. It warms my heart to see them interact with each other, with their mates, and with the whole pack. Trey Cross tries to keep up with wrapping paper cleanup and the girls tease him for it. He grunts, good-naturedly and his mate, Alicia, laughs with the twins.

Twins. What a wonder. I gave birth to, not one, but two, wonderful young women. I have been blessed to have a hand in raising one. I missed out on raising the other. Thankfully, I will be part of the rest of her life.

Natalie and Madison bundle up all their presents at the end of the evening and make their way upstairs with the help of their mates. Everyone ate so much pizza that almost no one had room for the Grecian Orange cakes I had made. I had put away all the left over pizza into the two refrigerators. Then I hear soft female conversation as the door swings open.

"Hi, Mom," Natalie starts.

Madison hugs me with a soft, "Thank you for everything."

"I'm glad you both had a wonderful birthday," I manage to choke out without crying. "Now, off to bed, the both of you." I hug Natalie before I shoo them out of the kitchen.

"Thanks again, Mom," Natalie leans in for one last kiss.

Like I've said, I've given birth to two wonderful, and gracious, young women. 'Thank You, Goddess Serena and God Sol for blessing us.'

....

Almost three weeks later, it's my turn. On January 23rd, Edward got me breakfast in bed. Roses appeared on the dresser. The girls made an elegant dinner with dinner attire. Suits and dresses surrounded us. I don't know where she found it, but Natalie had a honeysuckle centerpiece placed in front of my seat at the table.

"I didn't know you liked honeysuckle," Edward sounded disappointed.

"We couldn't afford roses, so we picked honeysuckle from neighborhood bushes when it bloomed. Natalie sometimes picked some for me on the walk home from the bus stop. It became her thing for me. Her favorite flowers are carnations - our birth flower. When she was a toddler, I would buy her one when she was good at the grocery store."

'Now that I have this information, can it be our thing too?' Edward switched to a mindlink to keep our conversation private.

'I guess it's a family thing, now,' I admitted, 'now that we have people we can share our secrets with.'

The dinner was roast beef or chicken with plenty of side dishes. Fruits, vegetables, rice, potatoes, and breads. Plenty of food, plenty of conversations, and plenty of laughter. Natalie and Madison ran the kitchen like they had been doing it for years. Leo and Kevin played waitstaff with Trey and Alicia. Many pack members were amazed at the novelty of the privileged taking on the role of service staff. I was humbled.

Afterwards, Edward insisted on dancing after dinner. Several couples joined us in the heated atrium. Three hours later, happy and tired, Edward and I headed for bed.

'Thank you for everything,' I put all the love and humility I felt into the mindlink.

'Don't blame me!' Edward confessed. 'The kids decided to take on the food service tasks to honor your years working in restaurants. Leo told me he didn't realize how hard it is to remember everything, even with notes.'

I can't help but chuckle, 'Tell him to imagine doing it with a basketball for a belly!' I remember working during my pregnancy to make sure the bills got paid.

'Sure, when I talk to him tomorrow.' With that, Edward kisses me and we head for the shower, together.

....

The following morning I head for the herb/mushroom display that Edward had built for me. It was an after-breakfast treat at first, but I've been restless in the mornings of late. I pick and prune and water for a half hour before heading to the kitchen to start breakfast. I have taken over the kitchen and the packhouse finances.

I have the Anna Sanders and Alicia Cross to help with breakfast this morning. I ready and start the giant coffee pot. The serving carafes are ready to be filled. I open the refrigerator and I am assailed by the smell of pickles from a jar not properly closed. Claudia peeks her head into the kitchen swing door just as I rush out the side door and empty my stomach contents over the porch railing.

"What the hell?!? Are you okay?" Claudia rushes to my side on the porch outside the kitchen.

"It's..." I moan, "pickles..."

"You usually like pickles...." she stands there, confused.

"The last time pickles made me sick...." I moan again.

'WE'RE PREGNANT!!!' Tia shouts, to not just the close family, not just the pack, but to the entire universe. I hear the pack members, Edward howling in triumph, sleepy congratulations from Blaire and Andrew Cross, and excited congratulations from Jenny and Danielle. I hear 'That's wonderful!' from Grandma Meghan and 'Stellar!' from Doug Gilhoughley. I hear the musical notes that feel like Fae magic and the mighty roar of a distant dragon. At the very back of my mind, in the shadows, I hear a very faint, 'Fleabags, the lot o' ya!'

On a very different wavelength, I hear the Primallupa family thrumming with excitement. 'We will listen for their wolf spirits,' Catarina assures me.

I feel warm embraces from other Gilhoughleys surrounding me. 'That's a fine way to introduce yerself to yer Grandpa, me darlin'. I hope I can meet yer bairn soon after their first cry to Mother Earth.'

"Well, at least now you have the pack to help you through this." Claudia is ever optimistic.

"And then some!" I explain the litany of mindlinks that I just experienced, minus the negative unknown hiding in the shadows. We will have to deal with him another time.

Claudia looks closely at my face. "You are not cooking today. Go get some rest, or Edward will have my head." She guides me into the kitchen. Anna and Alicia are in the kitchen preparing the coffee carafes and condiment trays. They wave at me with bright smiles as they practically dance out the swing door to the banquet coffee stations.

Just as she says his name, Edward bursts through the door with a radiant smile on his face. He stops short when he sees my face and his face pales. "You're not feeling well. Let's get you back to bed."

"I'll send up some hot tea and soda crackers in a bit," Claudia says as she reaches for an apron. "I can handle egg casseroles. Mmmmm... with oregano? Yum!" She reaches for the freshly cut herbs that I had brought from the atrium.

Just then, Blaire shows up, too. "I'll chop veggies, you beat eggs."

And Natalie, "And I will bake the biscuits and muffins."

"It seems the A-team has got this, my dear." Edward practically coos to me.

I nod my head and let him lead me away from my ideal kitchen. It's nice to have a family.