It was quickly the weekend of Rogers little boy's fourth birthday party. I didn't exactly tell Louisa and Cassidy till the night before and I didn't get the present till the day of either. It had completely slipped my mind entirely and Louisa would always say.

"Chica! This is why you need a man! To help you remember the important things!"

It seemed pretty full when we arrived at the address. People were parked on the side ofthe road and some in the ditch to make more available space. Those Tundra pickup trucks took up a lot of room too. There were balloons tied to the mailbox and fence, and I could see bubbles flying from the backyard where smoke was rising. Likely from the grill.

A woman was standing at the front greeting people as they walked up the cement walkway and directed them to the back.

"Hi! You must be Katherine Klein!", said the woman.

I shook her hand, " Yes, how'd you know?", I asked smiling.

"Rogers told me to look out for a group of three girls", said the woman.

"Well, I hope we aren't the only girls", I said smiling.

"Oh no! No! Trust me! I'm Miranda, Rogers wife. Thank you so much for coming", said Miranda.

"Thank you for the invitation", I said.

Miranda shook hands with my companions.

"Louisa", "Cassidy", they both said one by one.

Louisa extended a large container to Miranda. "Oh! You really didn't have to", said Miranda seeing the assortment of homemade lemon glazed cheesecake. Louisa had spent all night on that and refused to not come without it.She always brought food to parties. Always.

"Well, thank you so much, everyone is out back, I'll go put this on a plate. Please enjoy yourselves and thank you so much for coming really!", said Miranda smiling.

So we went around back. It was small. The house was one story and was the average family home starter. It was down to earth and simple. The grass was dried and stiffly yellow with dirt patches around. But there were children running around with bubble blowers and others hit the pinata.

"I told you we were late", said Cassidy.

"We are not! It said three, it's only three fifteen!", I objected.

"Still late chica", said Louisa.

"Klein!", called Rogers.

I raised my head seeing him and waved. He had on a grilling apron and a bandana tried around his forehead to keep his sweat out of his eyes.

"I'm glad you could make it", he said shaking hands.

"You both must be Louisa and Cassidy, pleasure to meet you both", said Rogers smiling.

"Thank you for the invitation. Where is the little birthday boy?", asked Louisa.

"Oh! Ben! Ben! Ben come here you stinker!", called Rogers waving over his son.

Ben was a short kid but clearly looked like Rogers and needed a hair cut. He wipped his brown bangs from his eyes to see us.

Rogers squatted down, "Hey Ben, these are my friends. They work with me", said Rogers.

Ben looked up at us, "Hi", he said a bit timidly.

Cassidy squatted down too, "Hey there big guy. It's your birthday today isn't it?", asked Cassidy.

Ben nodded, "How old are you now?", asked Cassidy.

Ben beamed and held up four fingers, "Four!", he said excitiedly

"Four! Woah! But hey? You know what the beest part about having a birthday is?", asked Cassidy.

Ben shook his head.

"You get presents!", said Cassidy.

Ben beamed as Cassidy handed him the three bagged and wrapped presents. He took them wanting to open them.

"Hey! Hey! What do we say?", asked Rogers.

"Thank you!", said Ben.

"Alright, get goig squirt", said Rogers smiling as his son ran off. For a four year old he could go. And he didn't leave without the gifts either.

"Crazy kid", sighed Rogers amused.

"Wait! Tessa! Tessa! Come here and say hello!", called Rogers.

A little girl came over smiling. "Hi, I'm Tessa Rogers", said the girl extending her hand.

"Wow, hello Tessa, I'm Katherine, Katherine Klein", I said.

"But you can call her Kathy, everyone calls her Kathy", said Cassidy.

"These are the people I work with Tessa", said Rogers.

"Thank you for protecting my daddy, mommy says he doesn't know his way around really well", said Tessa.

I laughed at this and Tessa smiled, she played with her hands and fingers and turned in her feet as if nervous to ask a question.

I squatted down, "What is it Tessa? You can ask", I said.

"Can you come to my party too next week on Saturday?", asked Tessa.

"Tessa I think Kathy is-"

"Sure Tessa, I promise", I said smiling. "You just have to tell me what you want", I said.

Tessa looked at her father and then cupped her hands over my mouth and whispered to me. I nodded.

"I'll see what I can do but-" "Pinkie swear!", said Tessa holding up her short finger.

I smiled, "Pinkie swear", I said.

"I pinkie swear too", said Cassidy. Then Louisa.

Tessa clapped her hands with excitement and rushed off. Rogers sighed hands on his hips and shook his head.

"Hey, there's patties and hot dogs. You guys can help yourselves. I'll be finishing the last load and I'll come find you guys. Thanks so much for coming!", said Rogers.

When Cassidy heard the word hamburger she darted towards the buffet table. Self serve. I on the other hand went for the hot dog. Cassidy made herself two hamburgers. Man was I jealous of her fast metabolism. Me, I always had to watch what I ate or it would quickly build up and back fire. Even after that pulled pork hunker I had gained a bit.

"Hey, hey, Chica look who's over there", said Louisa.

I turned my head following her finger as I sat down, "Hm?".

"You seriously can't see him?", asked Cassidy.

"Too late he saw her", said Louisa.

"What? Who? I don't see.....oh...", I finished.

Who else could make Louisa point? No one other than Officer Chad. He smiled holding a paper plate walking over.

"Hello Klein, I thought I might see you here", he said smiling.

"Seeing that Rogers even invited our chief and practically everyone who is off work to come yeah", I replied.

"Night shift today?", asked Chris.

I nodded, "Yes", I replied.

Chris nodded and he smiled waving to Louisa and Cassidy, "Hi ladies", he said.

"Oye! If you want to take her on the night shift be my guest!", said Cassidy.

Chris laughed, "I would if I could, I'll have to ask Rogers. He's already partnered with me tonight", said Chris.

I shook my head, "No, no, don't worry about it! No", I said.

"I'm sure he'd be fine with it", said Chris.

"No, no, all good. Really", I said.

"I'll ask anyway", said Chris smiling.

"Chris", I warned my eyebrows furrowing together.

"Yes?", he asked.

"Work is for work", I said bluntly crossing my arms.

He blinked and smiled, then sighed, "Yes ma'am", he said.

"Aw! Chica! Look at what you've done-"

"Eh! Zip it", I said.

"Calmate, calmate! Si! Si, si!", said Louisa raising her hands in defeat. (Calm down! Calm down! Yes! Yes! Yes!)

Chris smiled, sure I had turned down his idea, but he respected my desicion. "Can I join you ladies?", he asked politely. I laughed, he was such a charmer. He was always welcome to join.