---

"Mommy will be home tomorrow, honey. We can go to the park, okay? I love you...here's Daddy!" Erica handed the phone off and the scene would have seemed almost ludicrous if you didn't know the people involved.

It was Mark's voice that said, "Yes, honey,' to his daughter Marie who was staying with the Esposito girls and his mother-in-law Diane.
"We'll be home tomorrow and we can go to feed the ducks and the big swan, okay? I love you. See you tomorrow, honey, bye."

It may have been Mark's voice alright, but it was Maired who stood in the hotel room, looking more like a baseball "Annie" than the father that Mark was.

She wore tight jeans and a bright green halter top under a Phillies jersey. Erica was similarly attired save for a shimmery blue tee instead. True to form, Erica had saved the best for last, Maired thought. Birthday at Fenway Park; Phillies interleague game with the Boston Red Sox. It really wasn't the Piá¨ce de résistance, as Maired assumed, so whatever Erica had planned had to be brilliant.

---

In the adjoining suite, a small argument ensued.

"If you wear that, I'm not sitting next to you!" Gina and Katie were clad in similar outfits to Erica and Maired. Was it the tight jeans she objected to?
No, Gina actually loved the sexy look Katie had adopted for the day; very attractive if altogether rare. Was is the bright orange halter? No, again, Katie looked so fetching in the top that Gina actually considered not leaving the hotel. She finally relented and smiled.

Sitting across from her on the other bed, Katie smiled proudly, feeling confident that she had won. It wasn't the sexy jeans or top that had Gina worried. Her lover chose to wear a #2 Derek Jeter Yankee Jersey, thus guaranteeing the animosity and harassment of over thirty-thousand screaming Red Sox fans.

---

Apart from the odd jeer and lame remark, most of the attention directed toward the foursome was not for their choice of attire, but the absolutely lovely appearance they displayed. Fearing identification, Erica wisely pulled her Phillies cap down the entire time to obscure her face. She was concerned that if she was seen in the company of Gina and the other "girls" it might place her children's series in jeopardy, as she and Mark had discussed.

The Phillies squeaked out a 2-1 victory in ten innings, evoking profanity from only some of the fans nearest the quartet. Katie received the most abuse, being a single Yankee fan in a sea of Red Sox fanatics. She didn't really care; it was another new side of her that was showing itself.

They had almost gotten to the ground level from the exit ramp when a fairly large and hugely drunk and obnoxious guy walked up to Katie and accosted her. He actually hit her in the side of the head, knocking her hat off, and he actually tried to rip her jersey. She looked up at him, reached up slightly and punched him in the throat. She grabbed his right arm and using her newly grown fingernails, squeezed his wrist where the ulnar nerve met the wrist, sending him to the ground screaming. She leaned over and said softly in her most delicate brogue,

"And while you're down there, would you mind picking up my hat?" The man quickly obliged and stood up and walked off red-faced and embarrassed. Another idiot leered at Katie and said,
"Almost makes you want to be a Yankee fan," which produced a shower of invectives and stale beer from the ramp above.

---

Arriving back at the hotel, Maired kissed Erica and thanked her for the day. The two nuzzled romantically until Erica steered Maired toward the bathroom.

"Let's get ready for dinner. You take a nice shower and I'll get an outfit ready for you," Erica said as she shoved Maired into the bathroom and closed the door.

Maired finished her shower and was toweling off when she opened the door. She took in the most breathtaking sight she had ever seen. Standing in the middle of the room, Erica was clad in a Midnight Blue strapless cocktail dress. Her hair was up and she looked absolutely gorgeous, as if she were going to a party, which she was.
Erica pointed to the bed, where a nearly identical dress was laid out, dark green and shimmery, which of course would set off Maired's lovely red hair

"Haven't got much time, My Dear, get dressed and meet me next door." She kissed Maired amorously before exiting the suite.

---

A few minutes later, Maired stood in the hallway. She was wearing her hair up, displaying new emerald tear drop earrings and a thin gold chain surrounded her throat, adorned by a matching emerald pendant. Perhaps it was because it was her birthday, but she looked lovelier than she had ever in her entire "brief" life; Erica would have said it was because Maired got lovelier every day.

She knocked on the door, which opened to reveal her gorgeous bride as well as two stunningly beautiful women. Gina wore a fuchsia halter cocktail dress and her raven hair was adorned with matching ribbons. The big surprise was Katie; she wore a simple black sleeveless satin number with a full skirt. Her blonde hair was swept up to reveal Onyx earrings and her throat was surrounded by a black ribbon bedecked with an Onyx cameo.

"Everyone looks wonderful, but we don't have time to stand and admire...let's get going." Erica said. She only told them that it was a private party they were going to, but refusing any other details. She smiled and winked at Gina with a conspiratorial grin. They went down to the lobby where they were greeted by the chauffeur who had parked the limo in front of the hotel

---

After about a half-hour, the limo pulled up to Scullers where Maired had performed the night before. A sign stood in front of the entrance.

Erica smiled as she watched Maired's eyes widen in recognition and excitement.

This would have made it the best birthday present ever, but it couldn't get better, could it? Erica handed the woman at the door four tickets and the quartet walked into the club, where only the night before they had already enjoyed a wonderful evening. Looking around, they noticed that most of the patrons were dressed in similar attire, a wonderful charity event attended by benefactors from the Boston area. Gina actually saw Ben and Jennifer along with Matt and his wife sitting next to the mayor. All of the women were bedazzled by the celebrity and beauty of the night.

A tall attractive blonde stepped toward them, accompanied by a nice looking man with black-framed glasses.

She spoke with a slight Canadian accent and said to Maired,

"I'm so glad you could come, My Dear. I've heard a lot about you, and I'm glad you'll be sitting in." Diana Krall was more charming than even her videos and CD's portrayed her. She and her husband smiled again before moving over to greet other people."

"Sitting in?" Maired mouthed. She looked at Erica, who had tears in her eyes. She nodded and mouthed, "I love you...Happy Birthday."

---

Minutes later the women were seated at a table just to the right of the stage. After about a half-hour of pleasantries and introductions and acknowledgements for the great work of the Dana-Farber Institute, the show started. Maired noticed that there were two baby-grand pianos on stage. Chick Corea sat across from Diana, who started the set with "From this Moment On." She quickly followed it with "Day in Day Out,' going back and forth between her and Chick and the rest of the ensemble. The first set lasted almost forty minutes before intermission. During the break, various works of art and music were auctioned off, along with two signed copies of "Billy Bear goes to a Concert," Erica's newest edition in the series, not even out in stores.

After talking a few moments with the band, Diana stepped toward the girl's table. The spotlight did not follow her down and remained on her piano while she was off stage; Ms. Krall had already talked with someone about Erica's need, at least at present, for anonymity. She stepped over and grabbed Maired's hand and lifted her gently out of her seat and led her to the stage.

"I'd like to introduce a new friend of mine, who'll be sitting in on the next set. Please give a warm welcome to Miss Maired Underhill” Polite applause followed by an awkward smile by Maired before she sat nervously sat down at the piano. Diana leaned over and whispered,

"I'll nod - you take it for a while and then hand it off to Tony (Wilson - guitar) or John (Clayton - bass). You'll be fine." She said as she kissed her on the cheek.
She walked over, sat down, and immediately broke into "Fly Me to the Moon" which she sang and played for about three minutes until she nodded to Maired. Nervous as she was, she didn't miss a beat and broke into her own imrov, which lasted only about a minute-forty before handing it off to Tony, although her part felt like it lasted an eternity. Things went great as they moved back and forth between the two pianos and the rest of the combo, playing some Gershwin before finishing the set with, "Just the Way You Are." They were greeted by even more applause as Ms. Krall walked over to Maired, pulled her up from the piano and gave her a hug. Standing next to her, she said once again,

"Maired Underhill," which was followed more applause and the lights dimming as the set ended. Diana gave her another hug and said softly, "Thank you, you were great." Talk to me after the last set."

---

The concert finished up with Diana and Elvis playing songs off her and his latest recordings. After the show ended Diana walked up to Maired and hugged and kissed her once again.

"Your friend here wrote to me about your situation, and I thought, I want to do something, but how much better in person." She looked right at Gina, who blushed and turned her head away. Diana explained that Gina had written to her after finding out about the concert a few months ago.

"She told me about you two; how you've both beaten cancer. She told me about your sister and how...well how you were "born," and I was so touched by your dedication. And your mother’s story as well; I thought who better to enjoy an evening like this. Gina sent me a copy of your own CD, and after hearing you play I figured, why not? Anyway, I'm awfully glad to meet all of you." With that, she smiled at Katie, who was feeling a little uncomfortable until Diana said, "Don't worry, Dr. Kelly, your secret is safe with me." She smiled once again and gripped Erica's hand and kissed her on the cheek. "God bless you, sweetheart and thanks for the Billy Bear set; my twins adore him." She stepped closer and spoke to Maired once again.

"I’m into the studio for my next album next month. How about sitting in?" She smiled at Gina with the same conspiratorial grin usually reserved between Erica and Gina and leaned over and whispered in Maired's ear,

"You and your brother, My Dear...you're both welcome." She hugged all four women again before walking off to visit with the other guests.

---

Back at the hotel, Mark lay on the bed, wondering why he had been so blessed. Erica lay asleep beside him, softly cooing in her sleep. He remembered when he was young, and Mark had seen Erica for the first time, falling in love forever. It was like Gina always said; it was like they were made for each other. Mark kissed Erica lightly on the forehead before falling asleep himself, thinking about the wonder of the day.

---

Next door, Gina was lying next to Katie, laughing softly.

"You ARE like a taller softer, Sean Dillon, she said, reminiscing about how much her gorgeous lover had brought a man nearly twice her size to tears.

Katie leaned over and took in the sight of her beautiful bride. She kissed her. She kissed her cheeks, her eyes, her ears, her mouth especially, her neck, her breasts before turning off the light and whispering softly in her lover's ear,

"As ever was, darlin', as ever was."

Another tale with the Kiernan's and the Kelly's coming soon!