“Hey, wake up sleeping beauty,” Lee whispered. Getting no response, he lightly shook Amanda. She stirred and turned over, falling asleep again. Lee thought for a moment and then leaned over and kissed her lips, softly. Nothing, “I see the sleeping beauty story was a crock,” he chuckled. He got up out of bed and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. After a few minutes, he stepped back out seeing Amanda had sat up and patted the place next to her.

“What time is it, Sweetheart?” pulling the covers back for him to slide in beside her, couldn’t sleep.

“It’s a little after 5:00, and I heard Bucks, cat‘s fighting again” Lee smiled. 'God she is so beautiful in the mornings.'

Amanda nodded and yawned, resting her head on Lee’s chest, while Lee ran his fingers through her hair. She sat up and looked at him with wide eyes, “Today’s my birthday!” She tugged on his hand and pulled him out of bed. “Come on, Lee!”

He pulled her back in bed and laid her down next to him. He grinned, actually, “I had other plans for your birthday,” and he reached over and turned out the light.

Lee smiled at her sleeping figure. He shook her awake, she stirred and smiled. “Now you may go jump around. I’ve had my fun,” Lee pulled the covers up and rolled over.

Amanda frowned and started to get up and head out the door. She looked down and crossed her arms over her chest, “I think I need clothes first,” she giggled like a schoolgirl.

Lee snickered, “Why? I prefer the naked look, it’s you.”

Amanda’s eyes got wide and she covered herself, “Cover your eyes, Stetson! You bad boy. Just for that you don’t get any birthday cake.”

Lee chuckled, “you think me and the boys went to the store and got you a birthday cake? You’re crazy, babe.”

Amanda huffed and put her clothes on. Walking down the stairs, she screamed when she reached the bottom. “Lee! Hurry! Santa Claus left me puppy.”

Lee walked down the stairs and shook his head. “I believe Santa Claus is Christmas, time, dear.”

She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “So! If you play Santa Claus for my birthday, I’ll play the playboy girl of your choice, for yours,” she smiled.

He chuckled, “Ok, that’s a deal. Now when I say HO HO HO, you turn into a HO and then I’ll play Santa Claus, K?

“NOOOO! That’s not how you play, you hand me all of these different presents!

He nodded and leaned down and gave her a kiss, “Happy Birthday, honey.”

She smiled and gave him a kiss back, “thank you, for my puppy.”

He shook his head, “that was from the boys, not me, mine comes later.”

Phillip and Jamie came running into the den “Happy Birthday, Mom,” both boy's said.

“Hey, fella’s come here,” Amanda said opening her arms out for them.

Phillip hugged her first, then Jamie, “do you like the present Mom?” Jamie asked.

“Yes, Sweetheart, I do,” she smiled, but, “I think this is more of a present for all of us.” Amanda said looking at three of her guys.

All three chuckled. “Hey, what do you want to call him, mom?” Phillip asked.

“Let’s see here,” she said picking up the little puppy that laid in the box at her feet. Holding the puppy up to her face, to get a good look at him. “How about Jack.”

“Hershey!” Phillip and Jamie both shouted. “Get it, Mom Hershey bar,” Jamie snickered.

“Yes, Sweetheart, I get it, but no. I like Jack, how do you like that name Jack.” Amanda asked the puppy. The puppy cocked his head to the side then started licking her cheek, as if to give his approval.

Lee chuckled, “Well, then Jack, it is,” reaching over, petted the puppy on the head.

They all jumped slightly upon hearing the front door slam. “Amanda dear,” Dotty yelled

“Where are you?”

“In here mother.”

Dotty crossed the landing and headed into the den, “Oh, good I caught you before you left. I wanted to take you out to lunch for your birthday and then do some shopping for the baby.” She said putting her hands on her daughter’s shoulder.

Amanda glanced up over her shoulder, “um, I don’t know mother, I was thinking of staying in today and spending it with my guys here,” glancing at all three of them.

“NO!” Lee shot back, clearing his throat, “I mean, go on, have fun with your mother. It will be good for you, a mother-daughter day.”

“Yeah, Mom it’s fine with us. Go on, have fun, we’ll do something later, when you get back.” Phillip said

“Yeah!” said Jamie.

Amanda looked at all four of them wondering what was up. “Okay, give me a minute to finish getting ready, then we can go.” She said handing the puppy to Jamie.

Lee watched Amanda struggle to get up, “here let me help you,” he said holding out his hand for her to take.

“Thanks, Sweetheart. You sure you don’t mind me going with Mother?”

“Nope!” Lee said giving her that smile she loved so much, “have a good time,” he said giving her a quick kiss on the lips, then shoving her towards the stairs.

“Fine, fine I’m going,” she giggled while waddling away.

Lee waited until she was up the stairs before speaking. “Okay coast is clear, “thank you, so much, Mom, for agreeing to take Amanda shopping so we can get everything ready.”

“Your welcome, Darling, I’m glad to do it. I don’t get to spend much time with her like I used to.” Dotty said with a smile. “What time shall I have her back?”

Looking at his watch, “um, its 11:00 now how about 3:00? Everyone is arriving around two or so.”

“Okay, then, three it is. What the heck,” Dotty said looking down at her feet. “A dog? Lee really,” she said shaking her head.

“Ahhh, grandma, he likes you,” Jamie said picking the puppy up off the floor holding him towards her.

“Jamie get that thing away from me,” Dotty pointed her finger at him. With her finger still pointing at Jamie, the puppy licked her finger. “Ohhh, look at you,” she reached over patting the puppy on the head. “You are a cute little thing.”

“See grandma I told you, he likes you,” Jamie said again with a smile.

“Yes he does,” Jamie.

A few minutes later Amanda came down the stairs dressed, walking into the den, “Okay Mother, I’m ready.”

Handing the puppy back to Jamie, “see you later Sweetheart.” Turning to Lee, she smiled, “we will see you later come on dear let’s go shopping.” Dotty, said grabbing Amanda’s, hand dragging her out the door.

Amanda yelled over her shoulder, “you boy’s be good for Lee, I love you.”

“Bye” Both boy’s yelled.

Lee, followed Dotty and Amanda, to the front door. Helping Amanda, put on her jacket, “have fun ladies and I will see you all later,” he smiled giving Amanda quick kiss on the lips.

“Bye Sweetheart.” Amanda said.

Lee shut the door after giving Amanda another kiss goodbye. He spun around while yelling, “she’s gone.”

Both Jamie and Phillip were standing at the top of the landing giggling, “we see that.” Phillip spoke first. “Now, what do you want us to do?”

Lee stood there for a second thinking, “um, okay, the decorations are in the hall closet.” He walked over and opened the door, pulling out the brown paper bag. Handing the bag to Jamie. “Here, put the decorations up in the dining room, den and living room. Hell, just put them on anything that stands still,” he chuckled.

Jamie just shrugged his shoulder’s taking the bag from Lee.

“Hey, what about me,” Phillip asked.

“Help your brother, but first clean the kitchen a little bit for me please.” Lee asked with a smile.

“Sure. . . kitchen duty, what a dream,” Phillip groaned. “Hey dude, what are you going to be doing while me and Jamie are doing all of this.”

“I’m getting the cake and stuff to eat.” Lee walked past both boys heading into the kitchen in search of his keys. Forgetting where he had put them, he looked around and spotted them on the key rack Amanda had put up for him by the back door. Smiling, he snatched his keys off the rack as he opened the door. He looked over at the boys going through the bag on the sofa. “Hey boys, I’ll be back to help as soon as I get done, but knowing your mom, she won’t stay out too long so hurry up and get that stuff up, okay? Bye.” He said before walking through the door.

About an hour later, Lee came home with his hands full. “Hey, guys, I’m home and I need your help.” He yelled.

Both boys jumped up, running out the door to get the rest of the stuff. “Hey, nice cake you have here, Lee.” Jamie said walking in the back door.

“Thanks, champ. Glad you approve.”

Everyone had arrived and was mingling around the house. Lee was in the kitchen pouring some drinks when someone slapped him on the back making him jump and spill some of the drinks on the floor. “What the hell,” he spun around to face the person who smacked him. He came face to face with a smiling Amanda, with her hands on her hips.

“What are you trying to pull, Stetson?” Amanda smiled.

“Oh, um, nothing.” ‘Uh-oh. She snuck in on her own party. Shit, she’s getting better by the day. I didn’t even hear her coming.’

“Well are you going to stand there all day or are you going to tell me what’s going on.”

“Surprise.” He smiled

Later on, after all the guests left, and Dotty went home the boys went upstairs for bed, Lee took Amanda by the hand, leading her to the couch. After setting her down, he settled in beside her. “How did you like the surprise party?” Lee asked.

“Oh, Sweetheart, it was very sweet of you to do that for me. I love you so much,” she whispered leaning over touching her lips with his.

Pulling his lips away from hers, he said “I have one more gift for you.” Getting up off the couch, he walked over to the bookshelf and pulled a square shaped, wrapped box out from behind a book. Walking back over to her, he handed her the box while sitting back down next her.

She took the box from him, ripping the paper off. She opened the lid and gasped. “Oh, Sweetheart. This is so beautiful.” She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled. “You’re so good to me.”

He smiled and looked at the necklace, “don’t cry, Honey.” She nodded and sniffled. “I don’t like it when you cry.” He wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and kissed her check.

“I love you.” She smiled.

“I love you, too.” He smiled back.