The Birthday Gift

The birthday Gift

With Leila’s birthday coming up in just two months, Mike wanted to get Leila something special and one of a kind.
Which prompted Mike to pay a visit to his Uncle John, whom he hadn’t spoken to since Maxine passed away.
Uncle John had been a jewelry maker since he was 14 years old. He met his wife, Mary, at Heysham High School in 1942.
Uncle John met Mary when John sat down next to her in class, and they just clicked from that day.
Mary announced that she will marry John one day. After dating for a few months, Mary took John home to meet her parents.
Where John met Paul Eric Franks.
Who had come back from the fighting in World War II due to an injury caused by being hit by a German hand grenade only one year before. After returning home, Paul took up making jewellery again and decided to start his own business. His first and only shop was in Morecambe, just outside the Plaza Mall. He opened his shop on May 2nd, 1942.
When Paul met John for the first time, he took to him straight away and approved of Mary’s choice in a partner. Paul took John under his wing and taught him everything he knew about the business, and on 6th September 1998, Paul retired and handed the shop over to his son-in-law in Law and John still runs the shop today.

Walking up to the front door, Mike could still remember his own father bringing him and Terry to see Uncle John on weekends, where both boys would hang out and cause mayhem, but Uncle John seemed to enjoy having them around.

As the front door opened and the bell that had been there since the shop opened made a noise. Uncle John appeared

“Michael, long time no see, my boy

“ Uncle John, how are you?” Asked Mike

“Better for seeing you, come and tell me everything you have been up to,” Uncle John while, gesturing to the seat next to the counter.

“ Drink

“ Cofee, Black, two sugars

As John made his way to the back of the shop, where the tiny little kitchen was, Mike looked around at the familiar surroundings of the shop that had been his playground for so many years as a kid. The big dent on the front door is where Terry decided to run headfirst through the door, and as he ran full speed towards the door, Uncle John surprised hi by opening the door and Terry’s footing wouldn’t allow him to stop and he ran straight into the wall ahead of him. Where his head went right through the plaster board. The marks on the counter were customers would rub their diamonds on the side to make sure the diamond was real.

“So, what is the visit for Uncle John smiled, is it personal or police business
“ Personal uncle John, I have come to ask you to make a one of a kind gift for me. It is for my partner Leila and her birthday is in two months time,
“ Tell me all about Leila, so I can get a good understanding of what would be the perfect gift, for instance what type of person is she? What type of jewellery does she like? Are you happy Michael?,” Asked Uncle John

“ I met Leila about a two years ago and we hit it off straight away, she makes me smile and feel safe and calm. She has just joined the police force herself actually . The girls like her, she treats them as her own. Leila is very different to any other woman I have dated before. I mean understood straight away that Maxine is very important to all of us and that we need and want to remember her. Leila will help the girls celebrate on Maxine birthday, the anniversary of Maxine death. I mean she too the girls to Maxine grave so they could pay their respects and have made sure that the girls and me have a safe space to talk openly about her. She will help the girls with their homework. I work weird shifts and hours but it doesn’t bother Leila at all.

“Sounds like a catch, and I believe I have the best gift. Come with me

Following Uncle John through the back he got to the locked door when he put his code in and the door opened to a safe room, where all his expensive and unique items were help. John walked towards a draw labelled (6432 PR) . As John opened the draw he pulled out a rare diamond called Kyawthuite. “This diamond was discovered in Myanmar in 2015. This diamond hasn’t been used by anyone as yet. I bought this off a gentleman that had just come back from Myanmar where he bought it off a diamond collector. This diamond is worth over £150,000. So, I was thinking of a pair of earrings using this diamond and a design that I will draw and make for you. At the same, I will register the earrings and the diamond as copyrighted. Which means there won’t be another one anywhere in the world,” Uncle John explained passing the diamond over to Mike to hold and admire.

As Mike took the diamond, he noticed how it shone and glittened, which made him squint his eyes, as it felt that he was being blinded.
“ How much Uncle John

“ For you £20,000 the rest is a gift

“ Are you sure, I don’t mind paying the more

“ Michael, I don’t have children, we never got around to having them. You and Terry were my children. My world. Both myself and Mary lived to see both of you. It made us so happy and kept us young,” Uncle John explained with a smile on his face

“ I will take it, and I am sorry I haven’t been in touch lately. I got so lost in protecting Shannon and Chloe that I forgot about everyone around me. I do love you and both me and Terry , always through of you as our second dad
Just as Mike said that , Terry walks in saying “ Hey uncle John, how’s things been. Ive missed you. Oh Shit, there’s the hole where my fat head went through it. Do you remember that Uncle John. You opened the door just as I was running toward the door and I went head first through the wall

“ I remember, I think of that day often, I've never laughed as much before. It was quite funny how you were attempting to head but the glass door with your helmet on and instead you went through the wall,” Uncle John laughed

“ It is lovely to see you, I was just saying to Michael that I missed you both so much and it had been a long time since I have seen you both. Come and look at the diamond that I am using to make a set of one-of-a-kind for Leila’s birthday present. This was discovered in Kyawthuite in Mayar 2015. It is one of the rarest diamonds in the world Uncle john explained as Mike passed it over to Terry to hold.

Terry’s eyes sparkedled with the shine of the diamond and he couldn’t take his eyes of it.

“ Why does it shine so beautifully, I feel like my eyes are being blinded,” Asked Terry

Taking the diamond back of Terry and gently placing it back on the counter on a smooth cloth. Uncle John explained to Terry and that due to its high refractive is 1.9 to 2.5 which is quite high and this causes the light to bounce around in the diamond and causes it to bend and reflex the light effectively

“ So, this will be made into a set of earrings that you are designing Uncle John,” asked Terry.

“Yes, so I will start by gently breaking the diamond where its point of weakness is , showing the Mike and Tery where the weakness break is . so not to damage the diamond. I could also make a rare necklace to match the earrings if you wanted. For the same price of course,”

“ If you don’t mind doing it Uncle John, I would love that please, Leila will be overjoyed as well when she sees the end result, and why don’t you come to dinner at ours on Sunday. I know the girls would love to see you again as they love their Grandad John

“ I would love too, I can't wait to see the girls again and to meet this special lady in your life who makes you smile so radiantly. I'm so happy for you and where is your wife and children, Terry? How is Maria and the boys doing,” Asked John

Terry has been married to Maria since they were both 21 years old, they met in college in the first year of Law and criminology, where they were sat together. They became a couple within the first three months of meeting. They dated while doing their degree and married just after they graduated. Maria because a high powered criminal justice attorney working for the DA office, Maria is known as one of the best in the industry and she is very sought after when criminal cases. Maria has prosecuted some of the most dangerous criminals in the world. After the first year of being married Maria found out she was pregnant with twin boys, Michael Jr ( 18) and Peter (18). Both boys are now away in college themselves pathing their own way in life. Michael Jr. followed in his parents footsteps studying law and Peter went to medical school to become a neuro doctor.

“All are doing great and it works out great as both boys are home from college this weekend. I know they and Maria would love to see you Uncle John. You are one of my favourite people,” Smiled Terry

“That is settled then, we will see you Sunday at 12pm at mine and we will be having a family meal/ time.” Mike smiled.

After almost three hours together, and talking about the design Uncle John will do, which looked amazing, but Mike and Terry needed to leave as they had to get back to work. As both got up to leave, both hugged Uncle John and promised to keep in touch more.

After about four weeks, designing the earrings, Uncle John called Mike to come to the shop to have a look at what he has made. Mike arrived at the shop around 14.00pm.

“ Uncle John, am excited to see what you have for me.
“Come and look

As Uncle john brought the earrings out he also had a necklace with him. He placed both items the special cloth on the counter for Mike to look over.

“ So I made a set of earrings and a necklace, I also put both your initials and the date you and Leila met as well,” Uncle John said showing Mike

As Mike look over the items, he was flabbergasted on how much details Uncle John had put into the design, he was passed a magnifying glass to be able to see the initials on the inside of the earrings and necklace.

“ What you think? Do you think Leila with Like them

“ Like, she will love them. I've decided to propose on her birthday also,” Mike suddenly said

“Good job I made a ring also,” Uncle John explained, pulling a ring box out of his pocket
“I knew when I met Leila the first Sunday I came for tea that she was special and the one you were going to marry, and so did the girls, as they asked me to make a ring as well as the earrings and necklace,” John said, laughing.

“ I cant thank you enough Uncle John, this is just perfect, I cant wait to see Leila’s face when I propose plus the gifts. She is going to be overjoyed

After what seemed hours of discussions about how and when Mike will propose and who needed to be there to make it extra special. Mike decided to do it at home, where the girls, Terry & Maria, plus other friends will be there to witness the event.

“Let’s hope she says yes and doesn’t run for the hills,” Mike said out loud nervously

“That woman is head over heels in love with you, and you know her. You can see it in her face and body language,” Uncle John explained.

“You’re right, I have nothing to worry about,” laughed Mike

Saying goodbye to Uncle John, Mike watched John put the necklace, earrings and ring back in the safe room in its rightful drawer where they would be held till the day before Leila’s birthday. Mike said his goodbyes and left the shop making his way on to Queen street where his car was park outside the Photography shop. Mike made his way back to the station and received a call as he was driving

“Hello,

“Hey, I was wondering if you knew if you were free to come for a meal with me and the girls for tea. It’s okay if you can't; I can't take the girls with me, and then I can bring you something home. Would that be okay?” asked Leila

“Let me check, it should be okay. It may just be a matter of me leaving if I do get a call. I'm on shift all the time, unfortunately. I hope you don’t mind.

“Babe, I understand that you don’t have a schedule and it is when you are needed. I love you no matter what,” explained Leila

As Mike made his way into the station, he checked to see if there were any updates on any of his cases, then he made his way back to his car, making his way home, where Leila, Shannon, and Chloe were waiting for him.

Pulling into the driveway Mike made his way into the house, straight to living room where his three ladies were wating for him.

“So, have we decided where we are going?,” Mike asked

“We were thinking the station Pub, so Chloe and I can go to the soft play, and go on then after tea, we can go to the Pleasureland and play on the arcades for an hour, please,” Shannan said and asked

“Whatever you girls want, let’s go

“Leila made her way to Mike and kissed him on the lips as she grabbed her coat, then followed both girls to the car, waiting for Mike to join them.
Arriving at the station pub, where the old train station use to be, all got out and made their way inside. Mike and Leila went to order food and the girls went into the soft play area where they paid.

“How was your day?,” asked Leila

“Not bad, been a easy day, which is rare. I’m glad I was, or I wouldn’t be here now with you and I would rather be here then there, “Mike smiled

“I’m glad you are here, I also have some good news, I signed up for to join the police force, you are looking recruit. What do you think?,” asked Leia

“Babe, that is amazing. I am so proud of you. Listen, your birthday is coming up soon, and I had something made for you and was going to keep it till your birthday, but I would rather give it to you now. I’m just going to grab the girls, as they helped me with this as well

As Mike got up to go and get the girls, Leila felt happy with pride and love that this beautiful family has accepted her and that they love her as much as she loves them. Leila sat up straight once she saw all three come back

Standing in front of Leila, Mike pulled a beautiful small wooden box out of his pants pocket and got down on one knee, grabbing the attention of the other people in the pub

“Leila, I love you so much, I am so proud of you and thankful for your love, kindness. Your beautiful heart and soul. Would you do us all the honour of marrying me and making me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife?” Mike asked

“YES, YES, YES, YES,” Leila screamed with happiness, hugging Mike and then pulling the girls in for a group hug. Both Shannon and Chloe with jumping for joy, happy that Leila has agreed to be their step mum.
The whole pub erupted into applause, clapping their hands to congratulate the happy couple

“Oh my god, everyone is looking at us,
“I know, sweetheart, but they just want to congratulate us and they will die down soon,” explained Leila
“This is awesome, I’m so happy you are going to be our forever Mumma Leila,” Said Chloe

Sitting down, the pub manager came over and told them all that their meals were on the house and that they would make sure they were not bothered.

“ We really appreciate that, the food is always lovely here,” Mike smiled

As the manager walked away, I noticed Shannon looking at Leila with a massive smile on her face.

“Are you ok Shannon

“Yes, daddy I am so so happy, I will never forget mum, but I love Leila and cant wait for you to be our mum,” Shannon Explained

After around an hour of just talking and enjoying ourselfs, it was time to go home.

“You live with us now right!! Both girls asked
“ Yes, I do and I can not wait to live with all three of you, but there is one condition,” Leila said

Looking unsure, Mike, and the girls “ What is it??

“ If either of you, ever feel out of place or that I am doing anything that is upsetting you, you have to promise me that you will come and speak to me, so I am able to correct it or find a compromise. I want both you to never feel like I am pushing you out or that you can not go to your dad. I am here to fit into your life, not the other way round. I want both you to always know that you are wanted and are the most important people in our live. Deal??

“ Deal,” all three said in unison

“On that note, lets go home

Arriving home, both girls went to their bedrooms, bouncing up the stairs as happy as can be.
As Leila went to take her coat off, Mike pulled her into a passionate kiss. “ Thank you, for being you,” Mike whispered in her ear.