By late afternoon, Tim and Jenika had Patch's cake, some ribs to bbq and even some balloons and streamers.

After Tim got the ribs on the grill, he and Adam decorated the patio while Jenika wrapped the gift they had gotten him. It was a keyboard that Tim had wanted to get him for Christmas. Adam had drawn a picture of Patch, Kirstie, Emily and Mack. Jenika put the picture in a beautiful frame.

The three finally plopped down on the patio furniture. Exhausted. They had rushed around all day trying to get everything ready. They were finally finished. All they had to wait on was the ribs to get done and the guest of honor.

Kevin laughs as he and Tori walk out onto the patio holding hands.

"Y'all look tired." He laughs.

"Thanks." Tim says with a tired smile. "And how was your day?"

"It was great." Tori says with a huge smile.

"I'm glad. Really I am. This is my happy face." Tim says looking up at the couple with a serious expression. "My tired happy face."

"Y'all did a beautiful job decorating." Tori smiles. "The Tiki torches and all the balloons and streamers. Patch is going to be so surprised."

"So, Kevin explained everything?" Jenika asks.

"Yeah, about Patch and Adam's multiple personalities." Tori nods.

"Nobody wikes Coey." Adam says shaking his head. (likes Chloe) "The's mean." (she's)

"That's what I heard." Tori smiles sadly at Adam.

"The don't wike Patches and the wikes Tim just a wittle too much." Adam giggles. (she, like, she, likes, little)

"So, what did you get Patch for his birthday?" Jenika asks to change the subject.

"I got him a locket of a dragon's eye and I had Kirstie's picture put on one side of the locket and Emily's picture on the other side." Kevin says. "It was really cool. We found it in an antique shop."

"That sounds awesome." Jenika says with a smile.

"Were you able to get a cake on such short notice?" Kevin asks.

"As a matter of fact, we did. Check this out." Tim chuckles as he walks over to the table they had set up. A large box was sitting on the table. "I surely hope everyone is hungry for cake."

He opens the box.

"Oh. My. God." Tori giggles.

"Wow, that's amazing. We'll be eating cake for a week." Kevin laughs.

"We also went ahead and ordered Patches' and Adam's cakes for Saturday." Tim says quietly so Adam couldn't hear what was being said.

"When's Patch coming. I hungwy." Adam pouts as he lays his head on Jenika's shoulder.

"They'll be here soon, Sweetie." Jenika smiles and kisses him on the forehead,

"Yeah, it's almost seven." Tim says as he checks the ribs for the last time.

Kevin and Tori walk around lighting the Tiki torches.

"WE'RE BAAAACKKK!!" They hear Kirstie yell from inside the house.

"Remember how we planned it?" Jenika whispers to Adam.

"Yeah." Adam giggles. "We yell supwise." (surprise)

Kirstie walks out first carrying Emily. Patch had to set all the shopping bags down before he came out.

Tim is recording it all on the video camera.

"SURPRISE!!!!" Everyone shouts as Patch walks out. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"

"AHHHHH!" He screams and steps back.

Kirstie laughs and reaches for his hand to keep him from running.

"Happy Birthday, Sweetheart." Kirstie smiles.

"Today is my birthday?" Patch asks as he looks at all the balloons.

"Yep, you're 28 today. We think." Kevin says, mumbling the last part.

"This is awesome. Thanks, guys." Patch smiles as he sees the beautifully wrapped presents.

"Is that the cake?" Kirstie asks pointing to the large box on the table. "Were you expecting a crowd, Tim?"

"Hey, go big or don't go at all." Tim laughs as he continues to videotape the occasion.

She gasps as she opens the box.

"Oh my God. Patch, honey, Come here and look at your cake." Kirstie laughs.

Patch's jaw drops as he sees the guitar-shaped cake.

"I can't believe y'all went through all this trouble for me." Patch says before hanging his head and begins to cry.

Tim sighs sadly and turns off the video camera.

"Oh, Sweetheart." Kirstie pouts as she pulls him into a hug. "Don't cry."

"It was no trouble, really." Tim says as they all gather around the sobbing man.

"Hey, Buddy. This is actually your first birthday party so yeah, we wanted it to be special." Kevin says, rubbing Patch on the back.

"Yeah, you better enjoy it while you're young. Cause once you get my age, the parties stop." Tim says.

Patch chuckles as he wipes his eyes.

"Timothy, I have you know, you had a party. You were just too drunk to remember it." Jenika laughs.

"You know wad would make you peel betta, Mista Patch?" Adam asks from where he was still sitting.

"What, Buddy?" Patch asks.

"He asks what, Buddy?" Tim tells Adam what Patch had said.

"Baw-b-que wibs." Adam says with a nod.

Patch laughs and gives Adam a thumbs up.

After a huge meal of bbq ribs, home-made potato salad, slaw and baked beans along with birthday cake, it was time for Patch to open his presents.

With each present he opens, he becomes more emotional. The others were hoping they were tears of joy.

Adam's drawing, Kevin and Tori's locket, Tim and Jenika's keyboard and a beautiful banjitar from Kirstie.

"Thank-you all so much." Patch says as tears roll down his cheeks.

"Honey, don't cry." Kirstie smiles as she wipes his tears.

"Y'all just don't realize how much this means to me and how much I love you all." Patch smiles through his tears as he looks around at the special people in his life.

"Awww, we love you too." Jenika says as she wipes a tear from her own cheek.

"Okay, I thought birthday parties were supposed to be a happy occasion." Tim sniffs as he bats back the tears.

"Me too." Kevin chuckles, wiping his eyes.

~~~

"Did you have fun?" Kirstie smiles as she crawls into bed beside her boyfriend.

"Yeah, I did. I didn't know today was my birthday." Patch says, kissing her softly. "And the gifts were amazing."

"Tim said that he would teach you how to play the keyboard." Kirstie smiles.

"Great. And I'm excited about that weird looking guitar you gave me." Patch smiles.

"It's called a banjitar. Half banjo, half guitar." Kirstie giggles as she rolls over on his chest, playing with his chest hair. "But you know what?"

"What?" Patch asks.

"I've got one more present for you." She says with a smirk.

"Really? What?" Patch asks. "You didn't have to get me anything else. I got more than I could ever dream of."

She laughs as she crawls over on top of him, sitting on his hips.

"This." She smirks as she takes off the tee shirt she was wearing.

********

I'll be publishing a new book soon called "LOVE BEYOND". WATCH FOR IT!!!

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