Homeless Heart

Chapter 45

Phin

Today was the big day! My twenty-first birthday was a significant landmark in my life. I didn't want to make a big fuss, but Lizzie has planned a party for me later tonight. She'd given me a lovely blow job this morning, and I begged for her to stay in bed with me all day as my present. Unfortunately, she had to work; she couldn't afford to take time off, so that wouldn’t happen, but Lizzie promised she'd make it up to me later.

The letter still sat on the coffee table nagging me constantly to open it, but I didn't want to ruin my birthday. My father had destroyed so much that I wouldn’t give this to him too. My birthday would be about building my new family and our future.

Lizzie kept to her word and my party was a meal out with her parents at Mister Tao's. We'd decided not to invite my mother to keep the evening fun. She'd sent me a beautiful card, a five-hundred-dollar gift card for Nordstrom's and a note about cutting my hair. I needed to send her a text tomorrow to say thank you, but tonight was for celebrating.

When we arrived Dan and Eve had already arrived, Mister Tao was a real guy, and he loved it when we came in. We were probably his best customers. He welcomed us, gave us his best table, and brought us our usual appetizers. We'd eaten Mister Tao's loads the first two weeks of our relationship, so it had a special place in my heart.

Mister Tao approached the table to take our order, even though it was the same every time.

"We are celebrating, Mr. T, so bring us a round of drinks. Phin turns twenty-one today," declared Lizzie.

"Have we been serving a minor all this time?"

Dan spoke up, "Don't worry, Mr. Tao, Lizzie looks younger than Phin, and you've been serving her for years."

"Dad!" Lizzie objects to her Dad's comments.

"We are all legal now, Mr. T. Bring us our normal orders and let's have anything else Phin wants," ordered Lizzie.

"How about the spicy prawns?"

"We've already ordered more than enough food to feed an army," Lizzie chimed in.

"Leftovers for tomorrow," I replied.

"Sorry, Duke couldn't come. He had planned to, but he is still having staffing issues at the bar."

"I understand, he called me today to wish me Happy Birthday." We'd had a friendly chat, and he assured me he'd come up soon. I was secretly happy that he was having a hard time replacing me at the bar.

"Good. I am glad. I can't wait to see Duke." She leaned over and kissed my cheek.

Duke had managed to visit them a few months ago when he believed his new assistant manager could handle running the bar. He and Lizzie got on like a house on fire, so I’d done my best not to get a little jealous of their instant love for each other.

"What else are you kids doing to celebrate?" asked Eve.

I looked at Lizzie with raised eyebrows. She interjected before I could embarrass her in front of her parents.

"We agreed that I would give him my gift later, Mom." Her tone told her mother not to ask anything further about our plans.

"Well, here's our gift for Phin." She pulled up a sizeable black gift bag that was decorated with green tissue coming over the top.

She got up and brought the bag to me, kissing me on the cheek.

"We love having you in the family and hope we get to celebrate many more birthdays with you."

Eve went quickly back to her chair, pulled a tissue out of her bra and wiped her eyes.

We stifled a laugh, and I tried to keep Lizzie from peeking in the bag. "Back off, woman, this is my gift."

She pretended to pout; she loved presents too much. "Well, hurry up!"

"Hold your horses. All in good time." I slowly peeled away the tissue paper and pulled out a handsome leather satchel. They'd had my initials inscribed on the top flap.

Dan spoke up. "We thought you could use a new bag to start your new life. You kids carry everything with you these days."

"It's great, thank you. I appreciate this; it means a lot." I had to choke back my feelings; it was a very thoughtful gift.

"Mom, this is beautiful. Thank you," said Lizzie.

"I love it," was all I could say before Mr. Tao brought us our dinner.

The rest of the night proceeded with an animated conversation and probably too many Chinese beers during dinner. At the end of the meal, there was another surprise when Mr. Tao wheeled out a cake with twenty-one candles burning bright on it. Everyone in the restaurant sang "Happy Birthday" to me, and I was struck by another overwhelming feeling of love.

After dessert, we all said our goodbyes and Lizzie drove home because I'd had too many beers.

I got undressed and lay down on the bed in my boxer briefs waiting for Lizzie. She came out of the bathroom in a sexy short nightie in my favorite ice-blue color. She had a bag dangling from her finger.

"My two favorite things, you and a gift bag."