CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE

Without anyone being privy to it, Mrs. Stanley and I organized a birthday celebration for tonight with the help of my grandmother, Mrs. Phillips and a special take out dinner for the family and staff at dad's favourite Mexican restaurant.

I roped Jer and Gwen in to help with the decorations, extra chairs and tables, as the four of us tried to make sure it's a surprise after the horrible week we have been having, since Logan reunited with his grandmother and mom's assumption still ringing in my ears.

Logan eyes widen in surprise when he saw me sitting at the kitchen table with Mrs. Stanley having the Bar-b-que he specially ordered for me.

Moving towards the sink to wash his hands, Mrs. Stanley got up to get his lunch, something I should be doing, but instead I sat here planning a surprise birthday party for his father.

Changing my phone page, because I was storing all of my information for the party preparations on my phone.

I frowned when I saw the miss calls from Judge Delany.

I am nervous because it could mean extra problems and I am not ready to deal with it now, or at least not today.

"What is it?" Logan asks softly as he takes the seat beside me, apparently seeing me frown at my phone.

Has he forgotten our argument so quickly?

Maybe now is not the time for that, with dad's birthday party planning in process.

Without lifting my eyes from my phone, "I'm not sure" I admitted, "I got four miss calls from Judge Delany." I replied, finally looking at him.

"Thank you," Logan mutters to Mrs. Stanley when she places his lunch in front of him.

Nodding Mrs. Stanley walks away leaving us alone, for a change.

Did she know about our argument earlier?

"Aren't you returning her call?" Logan asks from beside me.

Looking around to him, I frowned, "maybe later or tomorrow," I said, finally deciding when to call her.

"It might be important," Logan said and that's something I already knew.

It is important, otherwise she won't be calling me.

"Tomorrow" I repeated, "I've got to much going on today already," I replied firmly.

Logan looks up from the plate in front of him that's barely touched.

"You know she won't be calling unless it's important," he responded just as,quickly.

"Tell me something I don't know" I muttered softly under my breath.

With his eyes still on me, he frowns. "What was that?" he asks suspiciously.

Shrugging, I shook my head.

"Nothing" I mummer softly, wishing he would just eat and go so we could get things in order for the surprise birthday party.

Jer walks in beaming, followed by an excited Gwen.

"Everything's done so ..." Gwen was saying, but her voice trailed off when she saw Logan in the kitchen.

The excitement quickly left her face. "Uh sorry, I.. I uh will be right back," she said, awkwardly before running out of the room.

Jer winks, before following her out of the kitchen.

Logan, had stopped eating during the conversation and looked at Mrs. Stanley and I with a curious expression.

"Am I in your way?" Logan asks and I nod after exchanging a quick glance with Mrs. Stanley.

Standing up, Logan lifts his still full plate and taking a beer out of the refrigerator, he used the bottle to salute us and heads for the backdoor.

"See you at the party," he chuckles while walking out the door.

Shrugging, I opened my party planning page to ensure every aspect of the party is covered.

"MOM" I squealed, "we have to tell mom," I added lowering my voice.

I started dialing her number, then remembering her and dad's present problems, I lifted my eyes to Mrs. Stanley, frowning worriedly, cutting the call.

As if reading my mind, "she'll be here,"Mrs. Stanley assures me.

Taking a deep breath, I redialled her number and anxiously wait for her to answer.

"Jamie?" mom answered on the third ring. " Is everything okay?" She asks quickly.

I nodded stupidly even though she can't see me, "uh yeah" I finally responded. "Hold on" I told her, giving the phone to Mrs. Stanley.

"Hello Fran..." Mrs. Stanley was saying but stopped and ended up listening to whatever mom was saying to her.

Mrs. Stanley's light demeanor disappeared, before she leaves me in the kitchen and walks out into the living room to continue speaking on the phone.

I got worried all over again as I now anxiously await Mrs. Stanley's return.

Is dad not available?

Did they make other plans?

I turned at the sound of the backdoor opening.

"What's wrong now?" Logan asks softly, walking in with is empty plate.

Without answering him, I took a quick glance in the direction Mrs. Stanley went, then back at him with a sad pout.

"We called your mom to tell her about the surprise party for dad but instead of telling her, she ended up saying something to Mrs. Stanley that got her serious and she walked through there to have a private conversation with her." I said with a sad smile.

With his eyes briefly flickering to the open doorway between the kitchen and the living room, Logan took his empty plate to the sink.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure everyone's here." He assures me, while he washes his plate and mines, that was still in the sink.

I should be doing that, but here I am watching him do it instead.

I was so lost in my thought, that I didn't realize Logan was staring at me.

"I said I'll help you" he says softly, "don't worry." He promises, his voice firm and promising.

How can he still want to help me when I was being so mean to him earlier.

Looking away as I remembered that it is his dad's birthday, his dad.

I nod, "thank you" I smiled, turning to look at Mrs. Stanley as she walks through the door.

"Is she coming?" I asked quickly, still worried that our party would be squashed.

Mrs. Stanley exchanged a quick glance with Logan, before she smiles at me.

"It will work out Jamie, we just have to re-arrange some of the planning." Mrs. Stanley was saying but my countenance quickly dropped.

"Grandmother?" Logan asks softly and Mrs. Stanley nods.

"She organized a dinner with the three of you," Mrs. Stanley explained to Logan and I, "but your mom is going to change the timing so that you all will be back for a later dinner." Mrs. Stanley says confidently.

"Don't worry," she says again, because I was on the brink of canceling the surprise party, because I forgot that dad, mom, Logan and grandmother are all family, not me.