The mention of "Adelaide" refers to a character featured in some of MCJ's writings.
Thanks to MCJ & Quiller for their sharp eyes & suggestions.
Thanks to my faithful readers for your encouraging e-mails and patience. Please read & review…Enjoy!
Chapter 10… "Calling Dr. Josie" or "A Little Spin Doctoring, Please!"
The machines in Margo's room whirred and beeped as Josie paced back and forth, subconsciously following their rhythms. She was deep in thought and worried.
International Rescue was currently in danger of disintegrating. Thoughts flew through Josie's mind as she tried to piece together the fractured bits and pieces that once made up the Tracy family.
If she had not gotten through to Scott, he would leave International Rescue behind. His thoughts were solely focused on Margo and as Josie contemplated it, she steadfastly nodded her head.
"And rightfully so too. He has missed much over the years, and he's not about to let this shot at happiness be taken from him under any circumstances."
As she continued to pace her frown deepened.
There was a chance John would consider walking as well, unless Jeff managed to come up with a way to allow him to have some sort of life. Six months a year all alone in that damned tin can! It was nothing short of ridiculous.
Josie heard herself exude a massive sigh.
The rotations on the space station were one concern, years of a father and son somewhat at odds needed repairing too. Jeff loved the boy, and always has, but he has never been demonstrative in that love. Not like he had been with the others.
John had a sensitive character and his nature made him all the more aware of it. Josie knew without John uttering a word that he often felt as though he was the odd man out where his father was concerned.
"Damn" she muttered. "That will have to be dealt with as well."
Josie stopped a moment. Jeff had better get together with Brains and come up with a way to operate Thunderbird 5 in real time from a base on Tracy Island. There was no reason in Hell John or Alan should have to rotate in that space station and remain separated from human contact for days and weeks on end.
"It's not natural," she thought out loud, "and it's got to stop. Alan skims his days and John is always bearing his load. Rubbish!"
Her thoughts turned inwards.
"Mmmm. Easier said than done."
The Tracy family had never been one to do things in a halfhearted manner. It was all or nothing as far as Jeff Tracy was concerned and as things stood now, Josie knew it was in her hands to make sure it did not become one huge nothing.
"This is too much for a sensible mind to bear," she huffed, as she made her way to the bureau in the small suite adjacent to Margo's room. Rummaging through the top drawer, Josie extracted a diminutive sterling silver flask of Glenlivit stashed away for such a time as this. Allowing herself a few calming sips, she slipped the flask back into the drawer and resumed her pacing and musings.
"Spin doctoring, damage control, whatever you want to call it is what this is all about. Jeff has to come about and address some key issues here if he is going to get these sons of his back on track. It looks as though Scott and Margo will be all right and there's no doubt in my mind Margo will return to the Island for her recovery. Frankly, I don't think her recovery will be all that arduous. She's physically strong and will heal quickly by the look of her; but it's really a matter of getting her back in the air and regaining her confidence. That will take some doing."
Josie thought about going for another sip of the scotch, but changed her mind as her eyes turned toward Margo.
The many times Josie has heard Scott refer to Margo as his Godiva chocolate or a long drink of hot mocha made her smile.
As always, Josie conversed with Margo and occasionally let loose on what she really thought about Scott's history with the female species.
"He's always had a thing for exotic women. That Reina wench was not worth the time of day though she was physically very beautiful, but truly dreadful on the inside. I'll never forgive her for what she did to Scott and how she upset his world. Hmmm, didn't much like her, anyway."
Josie remembered there had been a parade of women in and out of Scott's life and most of them looked like they could represent a different country for the United Nations. Then there was the odd one in terms of what he usually found attractive; that blonde thing: Adelaide something or other. Josie cleared her throat as the thought lingered.
"That young woman was too ahead of herself when they were teenagers in Boston and was around to cause problems for Scott when she wound up working for Tracy Enterprises New York headquarters."
Shaking her head she murmured, "I don't know where he found time to fit her into his schedule, but I'm glad Jeff put a stop to it. That situation was not a good thing and the sort of fraternization Jeff should've worried about."
Josie stroked Margo's cheek and felt a slight response to her touch. "Come on sweet child," she cajoled, "Scott and all of us are waiting for you. This family is on hold in more ways than you realize. I know you're trying but you have to try harder. Do it for Scott. Come on baby girl."
She sighed.
Nothing.
She tried to remain positive and continued to mull over a future that she knew was meant to be.
"They'll soar together, and not just in those Tracy jets, though she shares his passion for sky dancing as much as he does. They'll scale the heights of life together as one, stopping at nothing if they wish it to be. Margo will bring such joy and life into this family and I do hope she'll bring me grandchildren to fuss over as well. Scott said it would happen if it were to be. I pray every day it's meant to be."
A smile suddenly played across Josie's tired face as she envisioned a new generation of Tracy youngsters in their midst. Beautiful children tugging on her skirts, trying to beat their Dad to her apple pies, sitting in her lap, longing to hear adventurous tales of their Daddy Scott, running Jeff ragged but making him laugh all the more, and snuggling into her as she told them bedtime stories and tucked them in for the night.
Little versions of Scott and Margo.
That was what she longed for the most.
"I'm grateful Scott has found Margo," Josie stated aloud. "Her spirit is good for him and she put him in his place from the very first day. This is the kind of woman my grandsons need, someone who won't fall all over them because of who they are and what they have. Margo's indifference to Scott rattled his cage and shook up his ego. That sort of reality check set him straight."
"Ah ha," she managed a little laugh, "it's good for the Tracy Charm to fail now and then."
Josie moved over to one of the windows in the suite and stared at the on-going activity below on Lexington Avenue. New York had kicked into another gear at dusk, and it was not quite 8 o'clock. People were heading to the theatre, going to dinner, rushing from one deal to the next with aero-cells pressed to their ears.
"When does anyone in this world ever stop to reflect?" she wondered. "Why must everyone go out of their way to make life so complex?"
The insulated windows and the high penthouse level eliminated the traffic noise, but she still saw the congestion, the harried activity and the insanity of the city, a likeness of life within the Tracy fold, especially now.
"Complex!" Josie sniffed, "Now there's a word to describe this family."
As she continued to stare out the window, thoughts of her other grandsons add to her mental outline of the issues.
Virgil had spoken often of that young lady doctor friend of his. Repeatedly he tried to get days off so he could go to Chicago. There was a good possibility he was on the same path as Scott in terms of a commitment and the desire to settle down. To Josie that wasn't the least bit surprising.
Ever since they had been children, Virgil often mirrored Scott's actions. It had not been an intentional thing of the younger copying the older; the fact of the matter was the two of them were simply joined at the hip. What the eldest one did, the second eldest would often follow. They looked after each other, took care of each other and Scott had the added responsibility of the other boys and Tin-Tin, too.
Scott always appeared to stand firm, strong, and never wavered. However; in those rare moments when he needed a shoulder to lean on; Virgil stood by his side and counseled him. There was no doubt he had inherited their mother's gift of introspection. Virgil always had been and still was Scott's father confessor and it was doubtful that arrangement would ever change. Virgil understood Scott's complexity and very often was the only person who could work through the intermittent walls he tended to erect.
Josie bit her bottom lip, "If Scott settles down, there's a very strong chance Virgil will too. That's how it is with those two. Several beautiful portraits, paintings and photos taken by Virgil of Madison Logan adorn his suite. One can sense the depth, passion and love painted on those canvases and I can see it in the shadows of his black and white photography. Virgil's love for Madison and the desire of a future with her is pointedly evident and I don't think he'll listen to his Father if he tries to stand in hisway. "
Josie felt a chill run down her spine at the thought of how Jeff would deal with that one.
"There is no doubt Jeff will have to be prepared to make allowances so that relationship can blossom. At the moment, Virgil is the cool head in the group and is the most simpatico with Jeff and that's a boat Jeff cannot afford to rock."
Thoughts of John prompted Josie to return to the bureau and once again retrieve her liquid calm stored within the sterling flask.
The dreamer who finds comfort in the stars will be Jeff's big earthly challenge. Jeff and Lucy showered that child with so much love and adoration and then she was gone. She was the only person who would have nurtured John's genteel side, and make Jeff comprehend there are several paths to manhood. Lucy knew they did not all revolve around rough and tumble jock-type sports and behaviour and she would have made Jeff understand. John's sweet, shy manner would have been loved, and fostered by a mother who would have made his father see him for the young, benevolent boy he was and the kind, caring, compassionate, and strong man he has become. Jeff needed to realize John was and always had been a rose in a fisted glove. Where this one was concerned, outward appearances could be very deceiving.
Josie checked her watch. The conference was set to resume in approximately twenty minutes. Her musings returned to the middle Tracy son.
"John will be the one most likely to bring up Lucy too. I feel it in my gut he is going to stir the pot and Jeff will have to finally open up, face it and deal with it. Damn it, he owes them that much. They have every right to know of the great love he had for their mother and what life was like between them. I can't understand why he won't tell them. What they had was wonderful."
Her thoughts then moved to the other underlying concern she had.
"Alan and Tin-Tin," she sighed. "There is something going on with those two for sure and if it's nearly as serious as I think it is, there's another link in the chain of International Rescue that's going to erode, unless some leeway is given. I can't believe those two think their trysts are a secret. Please, nothing on that island is a secret, especially from me. If Jeff catches on to that one, all Hell will break loose, and I'll have to make damn sure it doesn't!"
SPINNING OUT
Tin-Tin paced from room to room in her penthouse suite at Tracy Towers. Vast as it was, she felt as though the walls of the spacious apartment were closing in on her. The lights of New York danced below her windows, beckoning her to become part of the city's pulse, but this time around, she was in no mood to play.
"How much did Alan actually tell Virgil about us?" she wondered as tears sporadically coursed down her cheeks. She took some comfort in Virgil's supporting gesture and kind words, but there were some things no one, absolutely no one could know about. Their commitment to each other went far beyond words and that was something neither of them was ready to share with the Tracys, her father or anyone...
Except, maybe Margo.
The discomfort in Tin-Tin's stomach worsened, the nausea rearing up again and the young woman concentrated very hard to keep the heaving feeling to a minimum.
"I have to get a grip on this stress," she admonished herself, breathing deeply and stretching out on her bed. "There is too much going on with Scott and Margo, Alan and me and now this conference. According to Alan the conference was supposed to be a good thing but only upheaval seems to be coming out of it."
Getting up from the bed, Tin-Tin padded into the kitchen area to brew some peppermint tea.
"This should help settle my stomach a bit," she murmured. "I really must be coming down with a bug. This has been going on for more than just a few days now. Funny, I don't have a fever."
Her mind became uneasy.
"No it has to be stress." she assured herself.
The whistle of the kettle caught Tin-Tin's attention. She ritualistically prepared her tea, pouring it into a mini teapot, adding a dollop of honey to her cup and waiting patiently for the leaves to steep. When the elixir was ready, she picked up her cup, ventured into the living room and leaned against one of the many panoramic windows.
Her large brown eyes gazed out towards the Hudson River. "It's early yet, just a few minutes past 8pm." she thought. "Funny, how I don't think in military time and phrases when I'm not on Tracy Island. It's good to think and feel just like any of the people walking the streets below."
A slight smile crossed her lips as the warmth of the tea and power of the peppermint began to calm her down.
"Yes something as simple as saying 8pm instead of 20 hundred hours makes a difference," she mused.
The peppermint tea coursed through her body and settled her stomach, but did not do much to settle her tumultuous thoughts.
"Standing here, stewing over this mess is not the answer!"
Placing her cup into the sink, she strode to her closet, collected her coat and headed towards the elevator bank.
Her thoughts grew more active and became more intrusive. She knew the one person who would understand and who would advise her if she could remained in a coma. The one person who could empathize and support her was the one fighting to surface to a life and to the loving man who waited for her.
"Margo is the only one I can talk to about this," she told herself. "She's been responding a bit to Scott and Grandma, so I know she'll be able to hear me. I simply have to share this with someone and I know Margo will listen and maybe give me some sort of sign as to what I should do before Mr. Tracy finds out. I have to vocalize to someone what's going on and at least with Margo I will be safe. Even if she could talk to me, I know my deepest secrets would still be safe with her."
Tin-Tin walked purposely through the lobby, garnering interested stares from several sharply dressed men waiting for the lift to another section of Tracy Towers. Their curiosity was piqued as the chic, exotic young woman emerged from the private elevator bank, the one that required a palm and retina scan to gain access, the one that led to the penthouse apartments of Tracy Towers. It didn't take long for Tin-Tin to hail a taxi for the short ride uptown to Lenox Hill Hospital.
There she intended to confess all to Margo and hope to get a glimmer of what to do next.
During the ride to the hospital, Tin-Tin thought it would be good to catch up with Grandma and offer to sit with Margo in case the elder woman had some errands she wished to take care of. This would give her a break and allow Tin-Tin some time to be with Margo.
Scott would also be gone so it would certainly be a good time to talk and do so without reservation.
Arriving at the hospital at about quarter to 9, Tin-Tin exited the lift and greeted the lone nurse who recognized her and granted her access to Margo's section of the floor.
Josie Tracy sat in a rocking chair she had asked to be delivered to Margo's room, knitting and gently singing to the deeply-sleeping young woman. Now and then, she would massage Margo's limbs, shoulders and back, turning her gently to keep her supple and prevent bedsores from forming. Josie had a hidden strength, gleaned from years of tending the Kansas farm with her late husband, Grant.
This strength, both physical and mental, allowed her to oversee her Tracy clan and then some. Tending to the young woman in front of her was not difficult for the elderly woman, just difficult in the realization of who she was and just how much she meant to her eldest grandson.
Josie had always liked Margo and loved what she had brought forth from Scott. It was a happiness and contentment she had never seen before. She had grown to love the beautiful young woman almost as if she was her own child and her lioness protectiveness overshadowed Margo as though she was Josie's own cub.
The door to Margo's room opened with a pneumatic swoosh, as Tin-Tin tentatively peered within. Josie looked up from her knitting and smiled.
"Tin-Tin dear, do come in. I take it you are here to keep Margo company for a bit?"
Smiling, and trying to hide her uneasiness Tin-Tin replied, "Yes, Mrs. Tracy. I thought I would sit with Margo and talk with her in case you may have some things you would like take care of, or at the very least go out and have a break for a while."
"Why thank you, dear. That is very thoughtful of you," Josie nodded and smiled but her astute eyes sensed Tin-Tin had a lot more going on within her than she was admitting.
"The child is looking a little pale," she thought and forced a small smile as her mind started to think about why.
"Well Margo would enjoy the company that's for sure. I know some may find it odd to say that because she's in such a deep sleep, but let me tell you Tin-Tin ...she does respond. Certain things seem to make her come more to the surface as far as I can see. She tends to react to situations requiring caring, understanding or support. I have seen her respond that way to Scott and she's absolutely no different now."
Josephine Tracy carefully watched the reactions of the young Kyrano girl. Tin-Tin and Margo had become the best of friends and sheknew if Tin-Tin had something on her mind she would more than likely share it with Margo.
"You and Margo are like sisters and I'm sure she would love to hear about the adventures you've gotten into while in New York. Tell her about what's going on with the fashion houses and the people you've seen. That will stimulate her mind and may help her continue to surface. She loves you Tin-Tin, and will want to know how you're doing. Talk with her as you always do, share the deep things only sisters share. It will help."
Josie noticed Tin-Tin's eyes lower every so subtly when she heard that last phrase.
"Yes," she thought, "the child has something very heavy weighing on her mind. I will leave and give her the space she obviously needs. She'll share whatever it is with Margo, but before the night is over she can rest assured she'll be sharing it with me, too!"
Tin-Tin walked over to Margo, kissed her gently on the forehead and squeezed her hand.
"Hey Big Sis," she whispered speaking the endearment she had taken to calling Margo, "I'm going to visit with you while Mrs. Tracy takes care of some errands, all right? I have so much to tell you I'm not sure where to begin. Let me see her off and I'll be back in a moment."
Josie gathered up her coat and purse. She too, walked over to Margo to kiss her goodbye.
"I'll be back shortly, child. You rest, listen to Tin-Tin's adventures and do your best to try to come back to us. I won't be gone long."
Turning to look at Tin-Tin, she continued in a firm voice, "Tin-Tin, if you need me you call me on the wrist-com without hesitation, do you understand?"
Startled by the firmness of Josie's tone, Tin-Tin glanced up quickly, "Why, yes Mrs. Tracy. I understand but I'm sure Margo will be fine while you're away. I will look after her very carefully and if she needs anything, the nurse isn't far away."
Josie cleared her throat and looked at her knowingly.
"I wasn't actually referring to Margo, but just as well. I will not be away for long."
That said, the old woman turned on her heel and was gone, thinking carefully about what could be wrong as she strode down the hallway. She knew it would involve Alan for sure.
"This little one and my youngest grandson are going to require some major spin doctoring when Jeff becomes involved. I just KNOW it!"
Spin Cycle:
Tin-Tin settled into a chair near Margo's bed and gently took her hand in hers. She looked lovingly at the unconscious young woman and thought of all she had endured and all that she would face in the days and weeks ahead.
A shiver ran through her as she recalled John telling her about the emergency call. Tin-tin tried to envision how that wall of water may have appeared to Margo and Cameron as their jet careened into it, totally out of control.
She could only imagine, as a fellow aviator, how that water may have looked, the fear of what was to come knowing there would be an impact, the necessity of maintaining composure to try and fly the jet until the very last moment and having the presence of mind to make the radio calls and commands. That took skill, strength and faith. On top of that, to realize she would very likely never see the man she loved again and to cry out to the strange voice on the other end of the radio to tell Scott Tracy she loved him...
How could she have kept it all together while the jet was falling from the sky?
Tin-Tin brushed some stray hairs away from Margo's face and paused when there was a slight response to her touch.
Squeezing her hand Tin-Tin sighed and said, "Margo, I miss you. I have so many things I want to tell you, so I'm going to pull this chair closer so we can talk girlfriend, just as we always have."
Tin-Tin leaned forward and forgot her troubles for a while as she continued.
"Of course you know how fabulous New York is and while the boys have been so busy, I have been trying to take it all in. It'snot nearly as much fun without you, but I thought I'd check out all the fashion houses and come back to tell you what is going on for the coming season. "
Tin-Tin animatedly told Margo of the latest haute couture that had hit the runways of New York and how Margo would have loved this show and that. She spoke of her shopping adventures, or "retail therapy" as Alan called it, and of the lovely things she had purchased for the boys and Margo too.
"Margo, you know I have always been responsible for Scott's wardrobe, and even though he now has you in his life, I still tend to pick things up for him when I am shopping."
The hold on Tin-Tin's hand intensified.
"He told me you never minded since I had been keeping him in the height of fashion all these years. I'm glad you don't mind, Margo, because I still love doing it. The good thing is, we have similar taste where that man is concerned."
Tin-Tin felt another slight squeeze of her hand. It was almost as though Margo laughed a bit, thinking of Scott on his own trying to put together his wardrobe. That indeed was fodder for a good laugh.
Tin-Tin continued with more adventures in and around New York and now and then she felt a slight squeeze of her hand, or noticed a flutter of Margo's eyes. There was definitelyrecognition of certain things Tin-Tin noted, and feeling confident about other matters, she decided to press the confidence of her own issues.
"Margo, there is something very important I need to talk with you about. It's something that must remain only between the two of us and I know you can hear me and would understand."
She paused for a moment and looked around the room...
"If you were able to talk with me this very moment, this is something I would share only with you. I really need your help and advice but I guess above all I just need for someone to know."
Her eyes flickered towards the doorway.
"I also feel that I am able to share my deepest secrets with you and they won't go any further."
Margo squeezed Tin-Tin's hand for a long while and it had strength to it. Tin-Tin immediately felt better. She was not alone and Margo was letting her know that.
Tears began to well in Tin-Tin's eyes.
It was hard for her to find her words, but eventually they came.
"Margo, you do know I work with Tracy Enterprises along with the boys and Brains." she began.
There was a silence as if Margo listened.
"Well, ever since I can remember, Mr. Tracy was adamant that we would always be like a family to each other. We interacted like siblings and nothing more. Mr. Tracy believed that if I were to become involved with any of his sons, it could lead to complications in the work force of Tracy Enterprises. Mr. Tracy's number one rule where we were all concerned is "absolutely no fraternization!"
Tin-Tin braced herself to continue and took a moment to get herself a glass of water.
"M…M..Margo. I am close with all of the boys as I know you've noticed ... but Alan and I ... Well we've been best friends since I was nine. We've grown up together, and done everything together."
Tin-Tin paused as if waiting for Margo to approve or somehow acknowledge her.
She didn't.
Tin-Tin's admission continued.
"Alan was nothing but a pain. He teased me relentlessly because I was a girl. Oh, he used to love to scare me with insects, chase me waving those big, gross green caterpillars and hide my dolls. Alan was a terror when we were children, but I loved him just the same. He was and still is my verybest friend."
There was still no sign from Margo.
No squeeze of the hand.
No acknowledgement.
Nothing.
"Margo we were cohorts in crime." she stumbled on blindly. "I always tried to stop him fromgetting into trouble. Grandma Josie knew I was the good guy out of the two of us, but sometimes we would still get into trouble together because I was guilty by association.
As we got older, we began to look at each other differently. Well, it was Alan who looked at me differently first and I remember that first flush of embarrassment when I realized what he was doing. That coincided with the time I had my first monthly experience and I was positively mortified by it. He was there when it happened and he has never let me forget it. I was so scared even though Grandma Josie had explained it all to me. I don't know why, but I reacted as though something horrible happened to me when I saw all that red."
Tin-Tin settled back into her chair at the memory and continued to hold Margo's hand.
"Margo, it was dreadful. Alan was nothing but a brat and kept teasing me in his singsong way, 'Tin-Tin can have a baby,' and he would go on for days and days and days about it. I hated it and hated him, but he kept on embarrassing me until Grandma got wind of it and told him to back off. I was so grateful when she told him to stop! Until she did I felt like the whole world knew about it."
Margo's eyes fluttered a bit, and much to her relief Tin-Tin took that to be an acknowledgement.
She continued with her story.
"Then a few years later when we were about sixteen, well…er…Alan was actually still fifteen. You know I'm nine months older than he is, but sometimes I used to feel like it was more like nine years! Anyway, we were at the beach in Rockport, just the two of us, and unexpectedly, he leaned forward and kissed me. Margo, he caught me by surprise and I actually slapped him, but once I got over it, I began to have such wonderful feelings"
Squeeze…gentle squeeze but a squeeze for sure.
Tin-Tin started to feel very confident Margo understood what she was saying and was definitely on her side.
"Once that happened, Alan got all antsy about it and began to act like the kiss meant nothing to him. It was brotherly affection he said and I was nothingspecial. He wouldn't admit he was un-nerved by it and because he wouldn't neither would I. However, I knew Alan began looking at me more as a young woman with whom he wanted some sort of relationship rather than a sibling, but he certainly knew better than to move in that direction with his Father around. "
Of course, as children, Tracy Enterprises was neveran issue. Mr. Tracy and hismother were adamant that Alan and all the boys were to be respectful of me and treat me like a lady. No-one seemed to have a problem with Alan and I beingfriends. But when we became a part of Tracy Enterprises as adults, the 'no fraternization' rule suddenly appeared from nowhere. I guess Mr. Tracy was worried about adult hormones and what might happen because of our isolated island living."
Looking downward from Margo, Tin-Tin paused to clear her throat and continued, "And Margo…I guess one would say the adult hormones have kicked in and…well…Margo…ummm…"
Tin-Tin felt a definitive tight squeeze of her hand. Believing Margo was getting the gist of her conversation she felt like she could go on.
"Margo", her voice was wavering, "I ran into Alan and Virgil just before coming here. All this time I thought our relationship was a secret and now I've found out Virgil knows about us. He says all Alan's brothers know. They've all suspected something was going on for a while."
Tin-Tin reached for some tissues, and as she sniffled a bit, Margo squeezed her hand once more giving the younger woman a sense of understanding.
"This conference of Mr. Tracy's is spinning out of control, Margo. Alan said good things were supposed to come out of it but it seems like everything will go pell-mell if he ends up telling his father about us. It can't happen! It just can't."
She reached up and wiped her eyes with her free hand.
"Why?" she shuddered. "Why does this have to be so complicated? All of the boys, well, all except Gordon have someone significant in their lives. I am sure it will surface at the conference and surely Mr. Tracy will feel he has to accept it to a certain degree. But I guess Alan and I are different. I know if our relationship comes up, he will be angry with both of us. He will feel we have violated a major rule, and perhaps we have, but …"
Her voice faltered.
"But Margo what is wrong with the fact that we love each other? We have never allowed our relationship to compromise our work, even if we are in the midst of a tiff or an argument. We are always professional in front of him."
She swallowed and her voice became no more than a distraught whisper.
"Always." she added.
Tin-Tin felt the gentlest squeeze of her hand and took that as full acknowledgement from Margo and an understanding of her situation. She knew she would have Margo's support even though it came from the deepest subconscious.
The machines in Margo's room continued to beep in an unobtrusive manner, and the soft glow of the lights provided Tin-Tin with a modicum of security. She felt safe within this special family oriented room, which thanks to Josie was no longer sterile and devoid of warmth. Grandma Josie had such a knack for making things seem like home. She decorated the space with beautiful, fragrant blooms, impressionist paintings and incandescent lighting. Why bother with fluorescent harshness when the doctors and nurses are not around. If it were not for the machines, one would think it this was a room in an apartment.
Josie was determined that Margo would awaken to a room of welcoming warmth. She would have her fill of medical personnel and environment on her road to recovery until she was able to go home to Tracy Island. But in the meantime...
Tin-Tin relaxed to the strange cadence of the beeping machines and thought about the depth of her relationship and commitment to Alan Tracy. That first kiss in Gloucester when they drove there from Boston, the first time he touched her the way a man touches a woman he desires, the jealousy he felt when she said she wasn't prepared to go home with him after graduating from college in London. She had challenged his feelings for her and he was too immature to admit them. As a result, she decided to take on a postgraduate program and enjoy the attention she received from the many men who vied for her affections. However, despite the attention from the other men she knew her heart belonged to Alan Tracy.
The formation of International Rescue scrapped her plans to stay in London, and gave Alan a second chance. The second time around, he knew better than to let her possibly slip away. That night on the beach when he took her hand and shyly declared his love; that romantic trip to San Diego where he made his commitment to her. It was a night she wished she could share with her extended family, but for now, it had to remain an almost shameful secret only the two of them knew about. Something wrong … something improper … something completely unacceptable.
Tin-Tin shuddered.
Jeff Tracy's call had changed her life. When he explained to her his need for her excellent math and engineering design skills to work as Assistant Engineer to a young Mr. Hackenbacker, she could not refuse. The day she came to live with the Tracy's, Jeff Tracy saw to it she received the finest education possible. The results were double degrees in math and engineering.
Tin-Tin felt she owed a great part of her life to the elder Tracy, but the truth is her education was repayment for her father's generous service, which helped the Tracy family thrive.
Alan could not contain his joy that his childhood friend would return home. He also wasted no time in making up for what he had nearly lost. Tin-Tin accepted him with an open and willing heart.
It was during a Tracy conference on the workings of International Rescue that Jeff Tracy dropped the F-bomb in terms of fraternization. He knew the boys were men with the infamous Tracy hormones. She still heard his strong and officious demands echoing in her head. She was indeed a beautiful woman and no matter what she was to be treated as the sister she had always been to them, and nothing more.
Alan's heart had sunk, but he was determined to work around it and unbeknown to Jeff Tracy so was she.
Margo was not stirring and Tin-Tin sensed she may have drifted off to sleep. Irrespective she wanted to confess her heart a little bit more. Talking with Margo, even though she could not talk back, was somewhat cathartic, especially with the responses she had received during key moments in her conversation. Tin-Tin couldn't help but feel Margo was indeed with her and in a surreal way, was actively listening.
"So hey Big Sis," Tin-Tin whispered, "My story gets worse yet and there's so much more I need to share with you. I so wish you could advise me and throw some ideas my way."
She sighed and looked at Margo's still features.
"But even though you can't speak to me Margo somehow I know in your own way you will."
Brushing a loose lock of hair away from her face, Tin-Tin once again took hold of Margo's hand, and wondered how to proceed. Though they were alone, she wanted to tread carefully with what she was about to reveal.
"Margo, Scott is a new man since you have come into his life. You have nothing to compare this to, but believe me when I say he has a fire within him that had flamed out a few years ago. He is driven other than by duty and there are things he desires that are now within his grasp and it is all because of you."
There was a gentle, butterfly-like flutter of Margo's eyes, she slowly turned her head towards Tin-Tin's voice and softly squeezed her hand. Tears once again began to sporadically course down the younger woman's face.
"Scott has a contentment about him that is punctuated by not being able to spend as much time with you as he would like. I know he is working very hard to change that. There was a time he would do anything possible to get out of having to do desk duty at Tracy Enterprises in New York. Since he has met you, he cannot get there fast enough. It took a while for Mr. Tracy to realize, a woman must be the reason for all these requests. It really was quite funny."
Sniffing a bit, Tin-Tin continued. "However, I guess you can tell I am procrastinating. Mr. Tracy had an idea Scott was involved with someone, but since it was not work related he was fine with it. "Just another woman" I heard him say. "Nothing major." On the other hand, Alan and I have been very clandestine about our relationship and it's been hard Margo, so very hard to keep up the charade. He wouldn't say "Just another woman" if Alan told him how he felt about me. He would become angry and point out I was International Rescue's Assistant Engineer and the two of us should know better than to fraternize."
Her head lowered and she unwittingly ran her hands through her long black hair.
"Fraternize is such a horrible word Margo. The stress of thinking about it is really taking a toll on me. I've felt sick to my stomach all day long."
She sniffled again and her lips trembled.
"And I'm not the only one feeling sick… I think Alan is too."
Tin-Tin rested her head against Margo's hand and began to cry, her words catching in between sobs.
"I don't know what to do Margo. I cannot stand living a lie right under Mr. Tracy's nose. In the beginning, Alan laughed and treated it all like a game, cocky in the way he thought we were getting away with things. All this time we both thought no one knew. When Alan confessed to Virgil, he said it was already old news amongst his brothers."
Her tears intensified.
"How could it be old news Margo? How? No-one could know about us I swear. No-one sees. No-one hears. We're so careful when we need to … umm … be together."
Margo did not react. Tin-Tin allowed the lack of reaction to alarm her.
"Margo, I know it will only be a matter of time now before Mr. Tracy and my father find out about us. But you see … it's not just them finding out that worries me. It's the fact that when they do they are going to find out all of it."
She paused and stumbled on.
"Things are much deeper between Alan and me than anyone realizes. I can't even tell you how deep Margo and I know I can always tell you everything. "
She looked up at the ceiling and then towards the bright diamond lights of New York before continuing.
"I'm lost Margo and I honestly don't know how to handle this."
Tin-Tin by now was crying uncontrollably and did not notice the tighter squeeze on her hand or the door opening to Margo's room.
"I love him Margo." she whispered. "Why is what we have together is made to feel so wrong?"
Grandma Josie bearing a few packages stood in the doorway watching the scene unfolding before her. She could see Tin-Tin's crying came from deep within her soul. Something out of the ordinary had been troubling her and Josie had sensed it before she left to take care of her errands.
Now she knew the reason why.
Shaking her head she sighed, "My grandsons are not the only ones with issues to chew on. This little girl has some big ones of her own it seems, and somehow, I don't believe they are hers alone. Time for me to get to the bottom of this once and for all and I certainly know now that young grandson of mine has something to do with it, if not everything!"