Chapter 160

Happy Birthday Mary Grace!

It was New Years morning and Bette and Tina had just finished feeding the babies and were sitting in the living room watching the Rugrats with the twins.

They heard the front door open and in ran Mary Grace all happy and full of life…unlike the adults in her life who were happy to have a new year begin…but were anything but full of life.

Mary Grace ran across the room and plopped down on the couch between Bette and Tina. “So…you two know what day it is?”

Tina looked at Mary Grace and smiled. “New Years Day?”

Mary Grace sighed. “Well yeah that too. Bette? You want to take a crack at this?”

Bette looked at Mary Grace and smiled. “A few days after you got that really cute haircut. Very nice Sweetie!”

Mary Grace let out another sigh. “No…it’s a special day…a very special day! So you like my hair? My brother Jeff took me to get it cut. He thinks it’s cute too.”

Bette looked at Mary Grace again. “It’s the day all of the computers around the world didn’t crash again.”

Mary Grace was beginning to show some irritation at this point. “You have one more guess….make it a good one…right now you’re wasting my time!”

Tina looked at Mary Grace. “Sorry Sweetie..I am typically clueless!”

Mary Grace shot back. “Because you’re blonde?”

“Funny girl.” Tina smiled at Mary Grace again.

Bette looked serious. “Ok…let’s see…a very special little boy was born on Christmas day…and….”

Mary Grace looked hopeful that Bette was going to get it this time. “And…today…let’s see…nine years ago…a very special little girl was born. But I can’t remember who she is!”

“ME! ME!” Mary Grace was excited. “My mom and dad said you got me something! What did ya get me?”

Tina giggled. “Bette…did we get this little cutie something for her birthday.”

“I’m old…I don’t remember.”

“Excuse me…I may be nine…but I know when I’m being teased!” Mary Grace flashed her cutest smile.

“Ok T…you sit here with the babies and Mary Grace and I’ll go get the book we got her.”

“BOOK? This is supposed to be a good present….a book….please say it isn’t a book!” Mary Grace looked at Tina. “It’s not a book is it?”

“No Sweetie…it’s not a book.”

“Thank you!”

At that moment, Jake and Mini came tearing around the corner and jumped on the couch and then on Mary Grace. They started licking her face. Mary Grace broke out into a belly laugh. The dog’s didn’t stop licking. Tails wagged…tongue licked…feet danced!

Tina looked at Mary Grace and smiled. “They haven’t had breakfast yet…this is a taste test to see if they want you for breakfast.”

“Funny Kennard!”

“Mary Grace…I think you’re hanging out with Bette too much. Kennard?” Tina burst out laughing.

Bette called out from the kitchen. “Close your eyes Sweetie!”

Tina yelled back. “Ok!”

“Not you Kennard…the kid!”

“I knew that Bette…give this BLONDE a little credit!”

Bette quietly came into the living room. Mary Grace had her eyes clamped shut.

“Hold out your hands!” Bette placed a very small Min Pin puppy in Mary Graces hands. “Open your eyes Sweetie.”

Mary Grace opened her eyes and looked at the cute little puppy in her hands. “Thank you…thank you…do mom and dad know…or are they going to kill you when they find out?”

Bette smiled. “They know Sweetie…they know.”

The little stag red puppy looked up at Mary Grace. “Boy or girl Bette?”

“The puppy is a girl Sweetie! And she’s all yours.” Bette had a grin across her face that could have bridged the Grand Canyon. “Her name is Tara….the breeder named her. She kind of looks like a Tara don’t you think?”

“Yeah? You didn’t get me ‘Gone with the Wind’ to read did you? I’ll be really old before i’d finish a book like that.”

Bette looked at Mary Grace. “Nope no book…swear to God…no book! You can change her name if you want to…but I really think she looks like a Tara.”

“We’ll see….she’s so cute!” Mary Grace was thrilled. “Can I take her home to show mom and dad?”

Bette looked at Mary Grace and smiled. “Sure Sweetie…but promise you’ll both come back later. Bring mom, dad and all of your brothers over for coffee and whatever around 5pm ok?”

“Promise! You guys are great!” Mary Grace gave Bette and Tina hugs and kisses and then picked up Tara and left to go home.

Tina leaned over and kissed Bette. “You re such a sucker for kids. We’re going to end up with a house full of kids and dogs aren’t we?”

“We’ll see.” Bette kissed Tina on the cheek. “Happy New Year!”

Tina smiled at the twins and then at Bette. “It’s going to be a great year. Happy New Year Baby!”