(no subject)

[puckandpie]

The timing is just about perfect. Classes at Barton have just started up again so I don't yet have too much homework and camp is still in full swing so I know Jack won't be home until after 4:00 at the earliest. I can't help but hope the kids are spoiling him something rotten today, can't help wondering if they brought in a cake and hung streamers and sang for him. I'll definitely be asking later but, for now, I have work to do.

It takes more than a few hours of preparation when all is said and done and the dinner is the easy part.

Eventually, though, there are five pictures hanging up on the walls, each of them wrapped in a different colored paper. Or, well. It's a fake wrapping, honestly. Just enough to cover the front so Jack won't have too much difficulty opening them, so to speak. Each picture is a photo Jack's taken over the past year or so: there's one of a little family of ducklings hanging up in the dining area, one of Elvis next to one of Macha and Shannon together in the entryway, one of about a dozen of Jack's camp kids in a dogpile hanging up by the window and a beautiful black and white one of his and my skates hanging above the television.

At the very least, there's no way he'll be able to miss them all.

I'm a little worried at first about the timing on all of it since I'm not exactly sure when Jack's going to be home, but he texts me when he's about to leave and that helps. It gives me just enough time to put on all the little finishing touches -- namely setting up the table, dimming the lights and trying to tame my cowlick one last time -- before dishing up the filet mignon and homemade poutine and grilled veggies. I put all the little tricks I've learned the past few months to use to make the most appealing presentation of both plates while I have the pie keeping warm in the oven.

I've put the little doggie blockade up in the hall to keep Macha and Shannon from trying to eat everything in sight though I feel a little bad for it when we all hear the familiar jingle of Jack's keys in the lock and they immediately start whining in anticipation.

"I'll make it up to y'all later, I promise," I tell them as I grab the celebratory bottle of wine from the bucket and rush to meet Jack at the door. "Double the milk bones tonight."

Then I turn on my brightest, warmest smile as the door opens, holding the bottle of wine up. "Happy birthday!"

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[eatmoreprotein]

I'm not sure how the word got out at the camp that it was my birthday, but the day was a nonstop celebration. There were balloons and cupcakes and kids singing off-key before dragging me out for a water balloon fight. It was a lot but also kind of awesome.

The day ended with me pretty much covered in mud and I was pretty sure that Bits would have something planned, so I showered in the locker room at the camp and changed into a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt before heading home.

It's strange to open the door and not have the dogs right there in my space demanding ear scratches, and my lips quirk up into a smile when I hear their whines from the hallway as Bits shushes them.

"Is it my birthday?" I tease, eyes sparkling as I step forward to put a hand on his waist and pull him in, eyes closing in relief. Out of all the gifts in the world, this is what I wanted-- just to be here with him.

After a soft kiss I pull away, hand lingering on his hip for a moment before I let go to set down my duffle bag. "Something smells amazing. Does this mean we're not going out?"

There's a bit of a hopeful note to my voice that I don't really bother trying to hide. "The kids ran me ragged all day."