"Honoring Sid"
Over the past few weeks that they had been together, Kate had learned very little about her new husband, Sid. It wasn’t that she wasn’t curious about everything there was to know about him, it was just that, well, he did seem to keep her preoccupied with other... activities. She couldn’t help but smile as she rolled over in bed, her body nestled up against his.
Now, her curiosity was getting the best of her again, and before Sid could roll her over and make love to her again – which was quite inevitable, since he couldn’t seem to ever get enough of her (or her of him, for that matter), she asked him the question that had been on her mind all morning, "Sid, I was just wondering...when your birthday is?"
He wasn't sure just why he thought Katherine would never ask him awkward
things like this. She'd already wanted to know his last name and he'd explained
why he didn't eat. Living in such close proximity with a human lead, he sighed,
to inevitabilities, he guessed. Birthday? Did the day his programming was
complete count? The day he'd escaped the innards of the blasted computer? A day,
eh? She wanted a day, she'd get a day. March was almost over, was it not, and
April hard on its heels.
"April first," he smiled. Ah, perfect. A great day, the day of ALL days for
inventing a non-existent birthday. April Fools. Yes. He liked it! "We were both
April babies," he added, just to make it sound even better.
Kate smiled widely. Ah, both Aries.... that made sense, Kate thought to herself. She thought again, for a moment, wondering what his reaction might be to her next question. Biting her lip, she hesitantly asked, "So...Sid... I was just wondering... well, since there's been such tragedy here in the Glen lately... the people here could use a bit of cheering up, and I thought possibly...maybe... we could have a big party... in honor of you and the day your were born. What do you think?"
"In honor of me?" He smiled, looking across the bedroom at the mirror wall. Honoring him was always a pleasurable concept. "I like that, Katherine," he added, wondering to himself, though, if anybody would actually come.
"Oh good!" Kate beamed, excitedly, then quickly sat up next to him in the bed. "I'll send out personal invites to everyone, and even put the announcement in the Glen Times! Oh, this will be the best party ever! I'm so excited! We'll hire the best chef in Sydney to cater the event, naturally, and it will of course be a formal affair... everyone will naturally want to be there, of course... I mean, who wouldn't? I'm certain they've all been just dying to see the inside of our house... Only the best for my darling husband!" She barely took a breath between sentences, all the while jumping about like an excited child, then leaned down and wrapped her arms around Sid - giving him a big hug.
After the hug, it took her an hour to get out of bed. Hugging Sid always led to...more. He lay there after she finally got up, watching her in her enthusiasm, enjoying the sight of it. He was more than ever certain he'd done the right thing by marrying this woman. She was his, body and soul, mind and heart. That was what he needed, what he'd been waiting for in a woman, never able until Katherine to find one so totally given to him.
After showering and dressing, Kate immediately got to work on her planning. She got on the internet and found a place that made the most elegant custom invitations, complete with all the embellishments, each sent out in it's own personal box lined in silk. Then, she put in a call over at the Times to run an announcement. Unfortunately, that meant talking to Colin's new girlfriend, Abby, but oh well, she wasn't going to let that spoil her day.
She was a bit disappointed that the chef she wanted to cater the event had bowed out, but she managed to find another, just as renowned as that one, whom she hoped would please everyone. He was quite expensive, but definitely worth it - even if Sid didn't eat...food, she wanted only the best at this party.
The thought of what to get Sid for a birthday gift had crossed Kate's mind more than once... what to get the man who seems to have, well, everything? Finally, it hit her - she'd create something one-of-a-kind... something that Sid would surely appreciate. Making sure that Sid was out of the room as she worked on his surprise, she got to work on his gifts, smiling to herself at her cleverness.
With all the preparations in place, all that was left to do was wait for the R.S.V.P.s to start pouring in. Unfortunately, it was two or three days before they arrived, via e-mail. Kate was so excited as she sat down and started pouring over the first of the notes from her neighbors. As she read note after note, her excitement turned to that of stunned disbelief and incredible disappointment. "I can't believe it," she cried, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Nearly everyone has said that they won't be attending the party. And such excuses they have, too..." she pulled up one of the e-mails to read aloud for Sid, 'Thank you for the invitation Kate but the date conflicts with the arrival of Richie's son so I am afraid we will not be able to attend. - Toni Roberts'.... or this one, 'We regret to inform you that we're unable to attend the party for your husband. Both Bud and I have early mornings the next day at work and can't make it. Hopefully we'll be able to personally give you and your husband our best wishes for his birthday at another time. - Marie White'. Oh, and you'd think that our closest neighbors would be able to attend, but no. Just listen to THIS excuse, 'Dear Kate, I'm sorry but Maximus and I are very busy right now giving moral support to Ahnna as well as trying to restore the mill before Alistair comes home from the hospital. Please accept my husband's and my sincere regrets, but we shall not be able to attend. And, naturally, given the circumstances, Ahnna will also not attend as neither will Cort, who is helping with the restoration. Yours sincerely, Joimus Meridius'."
Kate burst out into tears. "Oh Sid, I just wanted to make this a special night for you. I just don't understand why no one would want to attend? I mean, even that plumber, Jeff, laughed at me, thinking I was putting one over on him because the party is on April 1st! And I won't even tell you how Colin responded, the wanker!"
"So...no one...has said yes?" Sid asked. For some reason he felt hurt, really hurt. He'd known he wasn't exactly popular, of course, but...no one? "Is there not a single yes in all the replies?" he tried again, his mouth curved down in a bit of a pout. It wasn't like it was actually his birthday or anything, but, well, no one else knew that and, thinking that, they still were not coming. Maximus' refusal had been expected given their history, but...Jeff? Even the PLUMBER wouldn't come?
Kate looked up through her tears and sniffed, "Umm...well, actually Meggie and Jeffrey have graciously accepted, as have Ivy and Jim and someone named Miss Peeg. Oh, and a last minute possible one... East, works for the Meridius'... asks if there will be booze... still waiting his reply back."
Just then, she heard her e-mail ping. "Oh, we've got more!" She turned back toward her computer and frowned. "I just don't understand these people! I mean, some of the other excuses were a bit, well, understandable and even sounded sincere, but THESE? Get this... 'Dear Kate, Jack and Bridgid respectfully decline your invitation to Sid's birthday due to the fact that we have to scrape barnacles off of the hull of our boat. Please accept our apologies but we do have to take care of the ship as that's where our bread is buttered. Sincerely, Bridgid.' and these two are just plain, well, mean, 'Sheriff John Biebe and Deputy Siobhan Hennessy find it necessary to advise you that neither will be attending the scheduled birthday party for Sid Harbor. Please accept our humble apologies but we will be digging splinters from our asses. All of this sitting around in the hard wooden chairs at HQ has become an endeavor. Regards, Deputy Siobhan Hennessy.' And then there's M' and Terry, who say, quote: 'Unfortunately neither myself or Terry will be able to attend. Our teddy bears are having a long awaited picnic and their mummies and daddies insist that they have chaperone's.' The list goes on and on! Andy and Lucy are too busy working... the McGee's are busy in Sydney planning an event of their own... blah...blah...blah..."
She burst into tears again. "Oh Sid! Does everyone in this town hate me? Why would they do this? I don't understand!"
"Obviously none of them have the capacity to appreciate the finer things in life, my darling. But at least there are some yes replies." He was truly surprised that there were. "Let's concentrate on the ones who are coming and really do right by them...do it up in grand style. I'd like that."
He was right, of course he was. "Yes, and their loss, I say." She sniffed back her tears once more and dried her eyes and tried to smile. "We'll make this the event of the year, and everyone who decided not to come will surely wish they had."
"Yes," he nodded firmly. "It needs to be the best event the Glen has ever seen. You have a blank check, Katherine. Do whatever you need to do."
A wide smile spread across Kate's face and she couldn't resist jumping up and wrapping her arms around Sid's neck and planting a kiss on his cheek. "Thank-you, Sid. I'll make sure this will be worthy of the day you were born."
TBC...
