Tuesday Nov 12, Bobbies 56th Birthday

Bobbie woke up early. It was her Birthday. She lay in bed thinking of her past year. When she turned 55, she’d retired. She had enough years to avoid a penalty for retiring and it was worth it. The office culture was changing. New hires had to work until they were 60 to get their full pension. She really enjoyed her retirement/birthday party; remembering that Alex planned it all. Alex. She still missed him.

Eddie talked about the partnership and comradery of marriage and how he didn’t need it. Bobbie was having a hard time living without it. Her phone pinged and it was Johnny wishing her a happy birthday and offering to buy her breakfast in the restaurant. She laughed and texted back, “See you in 20”. She didn’t pay to eat in the restaurant it just came out of her profits.

She met Johnny as the restaurant opened. “So, you’re an early riser too now Johnny?”

Johnny held open the door. “It’s a big day. I’m having a house warming party.”

Bobbie was a little hurt. “Oh. What about my birthday?” She put her hand over her mouth realizing she sounded a little whiny.

“Don’t worry Pet; the party is really birthday party for you. What I was trying to say was that my house is finished, mostly. I managed to get plumbing in the downstairs bathroom but the kitchenette down there is just roughed in. Anyway, it should be a great party.”

“It feels weird that I’m not helping you plan the party.”

“Don’t worry. Trixie, Barb and Joan are helping me and when I say helping, I mean running the show and bossing me around.”

They laughed and sat down. Mark came over with coffee and wished Bobbie a happy birthday and said his biscuits were almost ready and he’d make Bobbie a special breakfast.

Bobbie didn’t really get much time to eat her special breakfast because as the restaurant got busier, more people came over to chat and wish her a happy birthday. She liked all the attention but said her goodbyes and escaped to her apartment when Johnny said he needed to get back to his place.

She checked her phone and saw an invitation from Trixie. It invited her to a birthday party at 3 o’clock and gave Johnny’s address. Food and beverages would be provided. All Bobbie wanted was cake and champagne. She’d have to be careful not to drink too much because it was an all-day party and she wanted to be sober until the very end.

She looked around at her apartment. Effie had already been there and left a card. Bobbie opened it and laughed when glitter fell out. It was a card from Effie, Roger and Drey and it had a gift certificate for the local yarn store in it. She sent a text, thanking them for the gift and grabbed her keys to go shopping. She might even use the gift certificate right away; the yarn store was already on her errand list. But first, it was her tradition to buy a new shirt for herself for her birthday.

This year she’d go to the thrift store first and see if they had any party shirts. Eddie called anything she had with sequins or wild colours, a party shirt. She was not disappointed. She found a long-sleeved shirt that was dark blue with fine silver threads running lengthwise through it. The front had gathers across the bodice that had blue velvet ribbon sewed around it. The arms were both from a contrasting flowered fabric and there was blue velvet around the cuffs and hem. She took it into the change room and it fit. She could wear it with her favourite denim skirt and maroon tights and shoes. The flowers in the sleeves were faded pink and maroon. She decided to head right home because she wanted to wash and dry her new shirt before she wore it. It was just before noon.

She got another text from Trixie saying she was at the motel and did she want to meet for lunch. Bobbie asked her to come to the apartment first so she could get her laundry started.

Trixie came in carrying food. “Hey birthday girl. I figured we’d hide out here so you could eat in peace. Let’s see this party shirt.”

“Come in the laundry room it’s just about to go in the washer.”

Trixie put the food on the island and came in to the laundry room and petted Fossie who was sitting beside the washing machine peering in, as Bobbie added clothes.

Bobbie pulled the shirt back out of the washer. “Here she is.”

Trixie touched the velvet around the cuffs. That’s actually very pretty Bobbie. Good work. OOOh it stinks of perfume though.”

“That tells me it really is a party shirt Trixie.”

“Well come out and get your lunch before it gets cold. I got us clams and onion rings from that place Johnny likes.”

Bobbie got out some plates and they sat at the island. “This is great Trixie. So, who’s coming to this party anyway and will there be cake and champagne?

Trixie wiped her fingers and looked at her phone. “So, all the family, including Dean and his family. And all the motel staff and Johnny and Marla and Sid and Joan and Greg and his family, George and Sam and your former work mates, Andrew Wong and a couple of people are coming from Cid City. We’re planning for about 100.”

“Wow, that’s a lot of people. I’ll have to make sure I don’t drink too much I want to talk to everybody.”

Trixie nodded in agreement. “Well, I’ve got a few errands to run, why don’t you come down at 2:30 and you can get the lay of the land.”

Bobbie went and changed her laundry over. She tidied up the lunch dishes and decided to put on her glasses and hat and take a little hike up the hill. Just to help her digest her heavy lunch and clear away the cobwebs. She set off and skirted around the busier parts of the motel and was on the trail in no time. She walked about 20 minutes and sat on the bench at the rest area Rocco made there. A few moments passes and Clive Teller, Trixie’s security friend joined her on the bench.

“Hi Clive I didn’t realize you were still here.”

“Yes, I checked out of the motel and am staying with the Thrustons. I guess I work for them now and for Trixie too; although you all should be safer with Peabody behind bars.”

“As long as he stays there. Are you coming to my party?”

“I’ll be working at your party. It’s quite a large event. You’ve had trouble at large events at this location before.”

Bobbie nodded. “Yes, the bomb scare. There wasn’t really a bomb, but I take your point. Well, I better go get ready I’ve got a new party shirt.”

Clive smiled. “I’ll see you later.”

Bobbie got in the house just as the drier dinged. She went and got her clothes and hung the party shirt in the bathroom and had a shower. The shirt just smelled faintly of perfume and was mostly unwrinkled. Bobbie decided not to iron it. She dressed and picked her jewellery. She had some nice silver bracelets and rings and decided to not wear her more expensive pieces. She put her maroon suede flats in a bag and put on her ankle high bogs and big sweater to tromp down the hill to Johnny’s.

“Wow, everything looks so nice.” Bobbie pulled off her boots and put on her shoes and started looking around. Her popup bar was done and was out on Johnny’s pool deck. The deck was covered by the second story upper deck. Lorne was setting things up in the bar.

“Lorne this is so cool.”

“Right? We have three little fridges and a freezer in here. Look at the glass rinser. The grey water drains into a tank that we empty after the event. We put this folding table in front of us and it’s like a bar top. Were setting up buckets of beer and Ice and are ready to serve simple drinks and beer and wine.”

“Are you the bartender?”

“No, I’m just setting things up. We’re all talking turns. Trixie made a schedule.”

Bobbie went around and hugged him. “Well, this popup bar is great. We’ll get so much use out of it.”

“Happy birthday Bobbie”

Bobbie went back in and found Trixie and Barb. Barb had tinted pink glasses on. “Barb is you’re eye still black?”

“Yup. I don’t think it’s ever going to get better.”

“The glasses look cool.”

“Thanks Bobbie and Happy birthday.”

Bobbie went upstairs to see Johnny’s main living space. It looked big. She admired his big windows and saw that he had two large, low, light blue sofas with wide backs and arms, oriented to enjoy the view. They looked expensive. His kitchen was simple and he had lights running along the base of the shelves that were in place of upper cabinets, above his pull-out drawers. The marble counter shone and the there was a big hob in the wooden island that ran across the front. Beside the kitchen was a large round dining table that was loaded with food. And beside the table was the glass doors to the upper deck. A nice alfresco dining area and plenty of seating looked out over the pool and over the view of the winding road and the sea.

Johnney came over and gave her a hug. “Happy birthday Bobbie, we’re all ready for your guests. We’ll put all your cards over here.” He pointed to a table on the other side of the room.

“Thanks Johnny, the house looks amazing. You’ve done such a good job.”

“Thanks’ Bobbie. I’m ready to open a small business fixing a few cars and more bikes and appliances.”

“You have time to putter, don’t rush into more work. You’re retired; remember.”

“Point taken. I’ll be working on my little recording studio too.”

“You know, I did put a good word in for you when I played with Tate.”

Johnny picked up a card from the pile on the table and handed to her. It was from Tate Cowell. Bobbie opened it and it was card and a royalty check for 146 dollars for the song that she sang with him.

Johnny looked curious. “What is Bobbie, a check?

Bobbie laughed and showed him the check. “I’m not going to quit my day job.”

Johnny laughed. We’ll frame it for my recording studio. At least he’s thinking of you. Anyway, I think Your mom and uncles and Jamie are here. Let’s get this party started!”