When I woke Alice wasn't in bed with me and I sat up. Today was the day of her party, I just hoped that everything went smoothly. I was about to get out of bed when she came back into the bedroom, wrapped in just a dressing gown, and sat on the bed.
"Happy birthday Alice." I said as she sat down.
"Thanks Andy." She answered but I could sense something wasn't right.
"What's wrong babe?" I asked reaching for her.
"Nothing really it's just that I thought at fifty four I would be married, had kids and be settled."
"I know baby but hopefully you feel settled." I answered. "Why don't you get back in bed and have a lazy day while I'm at work."
"I might as well babe just wish you didn't have to work."
"So do I but things are going so well and I have some plans that we can talk about when I get home." I told her and headed to the bathroom.
As I showered I thought of what Alice had just said and, apart from the kids, I hoped that she would say yes and the marriage would follow quickly after. Once I had finished and dried I went back to the bedroom to get dressed, saw that Alice had curled up in bed and gone back to sleep, so I picked up my clothes quietly and went and dressed in the front room.
As quietly as I could I went out to my car and climbed inside. Looking back I did feel for Alice and decided that she needed cheering up before her surprise party, so took out my mobile phone, rang a florist and ordered two dozen red roses to be delivered as soon as possible. Then I hung up and drove to work.
Isabelle and Marie were already there and once we went inside I locked the door and took them both upstairs.
"Change of plan girls." I told them. "Instead of three we are closing at lunchtime."
"Why Andy is everything okay?" Isabelle asked.
"Yeah everything's fine I just want to spend some time with Alice before the party."
"Oh okay then." Marie said.
"You two are still coming aren't you?"
"Definitely." They both answered together.
"Okay then let's open up and take some money." I said.
Isabelle went off down stairs and unlocked the shop, took the mail off the postman and brought it back upstairs. I took it from her and looked through what had been delivered and, apart from the usual bills, there was one addressed to Alice that looked suspiciously like a birthday card. I wondered why somebody would be sending Alice post to the shop, unsure whether or not to open it, when my mobile rang.
"They are gorgeous baby thank you." Alice said before I even had the chance to say hello.
"Glad you like them Alice." I said. "And as it's your birthday I'm shutting at twelve to spend more time with you."
"You don't have to do that Andy." Alice said.
"I know I don't have to but I want to, so I'll see you at about twelve thirty."
"Okay Andy I'll see you then and Andy." She said.
"Yes Alice what is it."
"I love you so much."
"Love you to baby, see you soon."
Once I had hung up the phone I went back to the suspicious card and, not wanting any nasty surprises, I went out the back and opened it. It was a birthday card, signed with just a question mark, but it was what was in the card that shocked me. There was a picture of me and Alice from the night that we were in the shop like the ones I had received, but nothing else. I turned the picture over in my hand and saw that something was written on the back of it.
ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN ALIICE HE WILL SOON BE MINE.
Quickly I tore the picture and card into the smallest pieces I could and threw them in the bin. I wished I knew who was sending these pictures and how they knew it was Alice's birthday, and vowed that I would get to the bottom of it eventually and whoever it was would be sorry.
When I went back into the shop I saw Ellie and Eva were in the shop, without the other four, talking to Marie.
"Hi you two glad you're back again." I said
The three of them turned around to me and smiled.
"Hi Andy." The twins said together.
"How can we help you today?" I asked.
"Well apparently there is this party we have been invited to tonight." Ellie said. "And we can't go unless we have some new clothes."
"Well take your time and have a good look." I said.
The two off them went off to look and Marie came over to me.
"Is everything okay Andy you looked worried?" She asked.
"Don't worry Marie everything is fine." I told her. "Why don't you get us a coffee?"