Chapter 29: Future Expansion
"Between Frances and Mildred, I don't imagine we'll have much trouble finding a babysitter when we're wishing for a bit of time alone, eh?" Remington mused, pressing his cheek to the side of Laura's head in the form of a hug.
"No, I don't think we will," Laura agreed, tracing his fingers with one of hers.
"I can't quite recall a time before when I was scolded even as I was being congratulated," he commented thoughtfully, bending down to grin at her and receiving an answering smile in return.
Frances and Donald had barely departed by the time Mildred arrived, prompt as always. She bustled through the door bearing several files in her arms, assuming the requested appearance at a specific time meant her bosses had finally found solid purchase and were ready to review the Agency happenings in the several days they were unavailable. What she received for her efforts was a queer look directed at her by the Boss.
"Mildred, surely as I lay barely on this side of death's doorway, you do not expect me to do paperwork today," he observed, a great deal of distaste reflected in his voice. The older woman looked to Laura, whose lips were twitching with mirth and decided there'd be no help from that direction.
"Sorry, Boss," she apologized. "I just thought when Mrs. Steele called and asked me to be here at two, that she meant—"
"Ignore him, Mildred," Laura finally stepped in. "I imagine in future days, Mr. Steele will use this little incident to try and get out of any number of things he finds unpleasant: paperwork, legwork. Actually, come to think of it, just about everything with the word work attached."
"Little incident?!" the man beside her sputtered while Mildred guffawed.
"Speaking of workload, we're going to need more hands on deck, sooner than later," she mused. She glanced at Remington, then returned her focus to Mildred, who shifted a legal pad to the top of the files on her lap and picked up a pen. "When you get to the office tomorrow, call your and Mr. Steele's Marvin T. Slottman Jr. and let him know he's hired." She felt Remington perk up beside her at the pronouncement. "He can start immediately. For now, he'll work exclusively with you: background checks, asset traces and the like, and he'll be responsible for covering the reception area when Bernice is out of the office." She gave her husband a pointed look. "And make it clear, should Mr. Steele ask for so much as a paperclip, it's to be cleared by me first." This was greeted by a man crossing his arms and displaying a full-blown pout.
"Really, Mrs. Steele, I thought we were partners. Equals." She patted his leg placatingly.
"We are. Think of it as a little payback for the days after Mildred first joined our midst," she answered smugly, earning another snicker from Mildred.
"If I want a file, she asks you first. If I want a paperclip, she asks you first."
"Awwww," he griped, half-heartedly, even as he smiled at the memory.
"Will do, Mrs. Steele," Mildred confirmed.
"Alright, Mildred, you have your trainee." She gave her full attention to Remington. "Graham and Burton?" she asked.
"I was impressed by both," he nodded. "But, unless I'm mistaken, weren't you hoping for a woman in one of those spots? Giving a hand up, so to speak?"
"Hoping, yes. But I eliminated one during the first round of interviews while you were in London, and the one that remains? I'd rank her fourth in the list of candidates who made it through to the second round of interviews." She pondered further. "If I were to give her the position over Burton, who has impressed both of us, would I be any better than those willing to give a man a job over a more qualified woman, on the basis of his gender, alone? I'm sure in the future, when we hire again, we'll come across the right female apprentice."
"Then, by all means," he waved his arm.
"Mildred, also call Brandon Graham and Zack Burton. Tell them we'd like for them to join the Agency, but it will be a month before training can begin due to… what happened." She looked at Remington again. "Who do you want working with you on the security side, initially?" He rubbed at his chin.
"Graham, I think. He's worked some on the installations with Monroe, so will have at least a rudimentary idea of that side of the business." She gave him a sharp nod of the head.
"Let Graham know he'll spend the initial part of his training period working with Mr. Steele. In the meantime, have him come by the hospital tomorrow afternoon at two. Call Monroe and have him join us as well. He can work with Monroe, learning some more of the basics until Mr. Steele returns to work."
"And Burton?" Mildred asked. Laura made an executive decision on that one.
"Have him go by the office, complete all the paperwork – it's on my desk where I left it last Monday. I want to wrap him up. I think he's going to be too good to risk losing. So, he'll be 'on call' so to speak, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Get him a pager so we can contact him. He may work very little the first month, but will receive his full salary." She paused, then added. "Have him here tomorrow at three."
"You got it," Mildred confirmed, setting the pen down when she finished scribbling.
"Now, there's one more thing," Laura added, reaching for Remington's hand and giving it a squeeze, indicating it was time. Mildred, oblivious to the news which was about to be imparted, picked up her pen again.
"Shoot," she answered.
"It appears we'll be expanding by one more come October," Remington hinted.
"And they may well be far more demanding… needy… than Mr. Steele on his worst of days," Laura added, suppressing a smile when Mildred's eyes narrowed on the couple.
"True, true," Remington agreed. "Won't get a bit of work done, we can be certain of that."
"Not to mention the messes I'm sure they'll create, but at least they'll be confined to their own space," Laura countered.
"Mrs. Steele, are you trying to say you've created another, lesser version of the Boss?" Mildred demanded to know. Remington flashed Mildred a smug grin while Laura tapped a finger to her lips.
"I suppose," she drew out the word, "You could say that I have, although Mr. Steele was integral to the process."
"Now why would you go and do that?" Mildred protested, then her eyes widened and she looked back and forth at the couple searching their faces. "Are you saying…" she stumbled, "Do you mean…" Her eyes locked on their joined hands, then flew to their faces. "Are you going to have a baby?" she finally blurted out.
"We are," Remington confirmed. Mildred clapped her hands against her face, as her jaw dropped open, then jumped out of her seat, grabbing Laura in a hug.
"Oh, honey, I'm so happy for you!" she proclaimed then rounded the bed to take Remington's face in her hands. "And you? Awwwww, Boss…" She touched her lips to his forehead. He felt heat suffuse his face at the unexpected affection.
"Thank you, Mildred," the couple said in unison, then grimaced that they had.
"I have to admit, I was wondering if the two you would ever figure out how to make this work. All the games, the avoidances, the pretenses…" She shook her head at the pair, as she moved towards the end of the bed. "I've known from almost the start," she hitched a thumb at herself, "That the two of you don't make sense without each other." She placed her hands against her cheeks again, unable to help the smile. "A baby!" she repeated, then scowled and wagged her finger at them. "Well, it can't happen anymore, do you hear me? If you two start playing those same old games again, you'll have me to answer to. Got it?"
"Yes, Mildred," they answered, in unison again, a baffled look on Remington's face and Laura left blinking in surprise at the lecture. Having reached Laura's side of the bed again, she reached for each of their hands giving them a squeeze.
"You've done good, kids. Real good," she praised. Releasing their hands, she swaggered away. "Oh, I can't wait. Let me tell you, this baby's gonna be spoiled rotten by his or her Auntie Mildred!"
Laura turned her head to look at Remington, now, her fingers toying with his ring.
"You might be right about having to find a larger house. I suspect Mildred and Frances are going to compete on who can possibly spoil Baby Steele the most," she observed.
"Ah, but you forget Elena and Melina," he reminded her. "I wouldn't be surprised if Elena, at this very moment, has knitting needles and yarn in hand given she no longer needs to keep our secret."
"I think you shocked the hell out of Christos," she laughed.
"I did," he agreed, smiling widely. "And I must admit, I enjoyed it."
The Androkus family had arrived en masse not long before noon. Thomas and Marcos exchanged handshakes, then crossed the room to the small seating area to converse, while Elena hovered over her son and daughter-in-law, making certain both ate the meals she'd brought for them. Melina perched on a corner at the end of the bed, so that she could talk with her favorite brother.
"Papa insists Zeth and I return home with him tomorrow," she pouted prettily. "I told him I can take time off more easily than Christos can, but you know Papa. He won't listen to me. Maybe he will if you ask, Xen?" she asked hopefully.
"Melina, enough harping on this matter,' Elena scolded her youngest. "Your father has spoken and given his reasons. Nothing will change."
"Because Christos is a man," she sulked. Elena lifted her eyes heavenward.
"Because he can assist Xenos when he returns home in ways you cannot," the older woman corrected.
"You could go home, and I could stay," Melina persisted. "I cook nearly as well as yourself."
"Melina, enough!" Marcos barked from across the room. "Act as the young woman you are instead of the petulant child you choose to imitate instead." Anger flashed through the young woman's eyes, but she wisely held her tongue.
"Yes, Papa." She caught the smile twitching at Remington's mouth. "What?"
"At times, Lina, I forget you can be as hard-headed as my bride," Remington answered, receiving a look of censure from the very bride of which he spoke. "I suppose in some ways you'll always be the little girl in pigtails following me about everywhere I go."
"I grew up a long time ago, Xen," she retorted, then sighed. "I just wish everyone would realize."
"If that is what you wish, you'd be wise to listen to Papa's advice," Zeth interceded. She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at her oldest brother, instead settling a disapproving frown upon him, which he merely laughed off.
"Helena's not going to be upset you're staying longer?" Laura directed the question at Christos.
"I stay with her full blessing. The needs of our family are always paramount," he explained. "Melina will assist Helena with the children when she gets home. My presence is required here more so than at home, at least for now."
Remington looked at Laura. At her nod, he sat down his fork and took her hand in his.
"Before you depart, Marcos, Zeth…" he caught the attention of each man, before leveling a look upon Melina and softening his voice, "Lina. Laura and I've some news." To their credit, neither Elena nor Thomas gave any indication of the news about to be imparted. Taking a deep breath, a cheeky smile lifting his lips, Remington announced, "We're expecting."
Melina squealed, and without thinking, threw herself in the direction of her adored older brother, only to find Zeth's quick reflexes resulted in his arm around her waist, and she lifted from the bed.
"Melina, need I remind you why we're here?" he chastised, as he sat her on her feet. For a moment, she looked appropriately apologetic, then squealed again, moving to Remington and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Congratulations, brother," Zeth said, holding out a hand. The two men shook hands. "Although, I seem to recall a conversation in which you stated children were not on the horizon."
"I never said any such thing," Remington denied, feeling Laura's amused smile on him, thinking she'd caught him at something. "I simply said Laura and I neither had plans to compete with yourself or Christos where children were concerned nor plans to start a family at the time."
"Yet, Laura is with child before your first anniversary," Christos called from across the room, winking at Zeth. "You may compete with us, after all, big brother."
"If he does, it will be with his second wife," Laura firmly corrected, drawing deep laughter from Zeth and Christos. "One… two, at the outside," she made a cutting motion in front of herself with a hand, "Once we see how we do with the first." She settled her eyes on Christos, leveling him with an intense look long enough that he shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Satisfied, she added, "Don't make me regret the next, Christos," she warned, then looked at Remington.
"Laura and I discussed it," he announced, "And we'd like you and Helena to be the baby's godparents." Zeth hooted with laughter.
"Christos? I think the bullet affected your head, brother," he joked.
"Are you serious?" Christos managed to mutter.
"Quite," Remington confirmed, simply, then seeing the doubtful look which continued to linger on the other man's face, expounded. "When we were children, tussle as we might between ourselves, there's no one I trusted more to watch my back. Would you do any less for my child? Would Helena?"
"Of course not," Christos frowned. "Should you even have to ask?" Remington raised a brow at him.
"Should you?" The question was all it had taken to settle the matter, Christos crossing the room and clasping Remington's hand in his.
"Speaking for Helena and myself, we'd be honored."
Releasing Remington's hand, Laura shifted to her side, nuzzling her head against his chest, just below the shoulder. Wrapping his arm around her, he slipped his hand beneath her shirt to stroke the bare skin of her abdomen, until she squirmed beneath the caress and he stilled his hand.
"All-in-all, a good day, wouldn't you say?" he asked. She hummed her agreement in part answer.
"A very good day." His sensitive fingers dared to journey over her stomach again.
"Laura?"
"Yes?" Her fingers loosened a few buttons on his pajama shirt so her hand could dart inside.
"How do you feel? Have you noticed any changes?" She pursed her lips and gave the question some thought as her fingers traced patterns against his chest.
"No nausea today, so that was a nice change of pace. My breasts are still tender, so no change there." His fingers swept over her abdomen again.
"Am I imagining, then, that you seem a bit… er… thicker about the middle?" Her fingers stilled, and after a long second, a corner of her mouth lifted upwards.
"I hadn't really noticed. But now that you mention it, my skirt did feel a bit snug at the waist today." She tilted her head back to look at him. "You can tell?"
"Ah, Laura, you speak as though I haven't devoted myself to memorizing every inch of your delectable little body," he scolded playfully. "You seem just ever so slightly… fuller," His fingers swept across her middle again. "Here." She brushed his hand aside, and replaced it with her own, but he was undeterred, laying his hand atop her own.
"I think you're right," she agreed, her smile widening before her lips pursed in amusement. "Better enjoy these days while you can, Mr. Steele, because it doesn't appear I'll look like this much longer." He reared back his head, for a better view of her face.
"Do you think I'll find you any less attractive than I do now?" he asked, bothered by the notion for some reason.
"I suspect…" she drew out the words, while gracing him with an impish grin, "I'll have more trouble keeping your hands off me than I already do." He laughed loudly at that.
"You act as though I'm the lone instigator." He flicked his hands towards his chest. "Case in point. Here I lie recovering, and my wife persists in partially disrobing me each evening."
"Well, I do have four years to make up for, Mr. Steele," she drawled. "I'm sure I could find the restraint I used all those years and reemploy it once—"
"The mere thought is so disturbing it may well set my recovery back weeks, Mrs. Steele," He interrupted laughingly, then sobered, voice quieting. "It means a great deal to me that you wish to keep me as close as I wish to keep you." Her hand left her stomach, and slipped beneath his shirt as her lips pressed against the side of his neck.
"I do… like to keep you close." He closed his eyes, savoring both the feel of her lips against his skin and the admission. Contemplative yet contented silence stretched between them for several minutes as they simply enjoyed each other's physical presence.
"I have to wonder, Laura, if I'll ever ceased being astounded by how much things have changed… for me… us," he pondered.
"What do you mean?"
"I was just remembering what I said to you in Acapulco…"
"I mean, I've never spent this much time in one place in my entire life! And it's not only because I enjoy playing detective. I mean, sometime… sometimes I look at myself and I say, 'What's happened to you, old sport? I mean, you've become positively domesticated.'"
"I probably shouldn't admit this to you, even now…" he bussed her on the top of the head, to dull words which might wound, "I must have packed my bags a half dozen times the first several weeks I was in LA, determined to leave, to keep my vow to never remain anywhere too long… to never risk getting too close." He shook his head. "But, I couldn't do it. I'd remember the look on your face when I got into the cab to leave LA or after our kiss on the dock, watching you sleep in the car when we were helping the little nebbish Albee. Then, of course, by the time that cretin Phillips happened along… the idea if I left someone else would have you? I couldn't live with that. An impossible situation, just as you were the impossible challenge," he laughed dryly. "If I believed then that staying in one place for longer than a few months, waiting out a single woman was domesticated, what am I now? A name, profession, wife, home, and a child on the way?"
"Regrets?"
"Not a one," he answered firmly. "You?"
"Not at all," she answered swiftly. "While you were unconscious, I realized something else…" she hinted, while walking her fingers across his chest.
"Oh, and what might that be?"
"If we hadn't met, I think I would have stayed true to my committed course. The Agency, never risking getting in too deep again. Twenty years from now, the Agency would be profitable, although not as enjoyable as it's been since you appeared in my life. I'd be in a pseudo-committed relationship which would allow me to… scratch my itch… when wanted. I've never been capable of a one night stand, it's not who I am, so such an arrangement wouldn't risk personal involvement, yet in most ways I'd remain to who I am." She shrugged. "I'd never have married or had children. I would have been satisfied, at least enough, but my life would be no means be as rich as it is now."
"No staid, reliable husband with the good old Protestant work ethic?" he challenged. She shook her head against his chest.
"At one time it may have held a certain appeal… on paper, at least. But when that opportunity presented itself before, I walked away from it. It would never have been enough to take the chance I might find myself left again," she admitted.
"I see. So you'd only succumb to a man with classically good looks, who possessed not only a keen intelligence, the ability to match wits with you, a certain –"
"Smarmy aura of mystery," she cut him off. "Just as my being 'the impossible challenge' kept your interest, the mystery surrounding you kept mine."
"That's it? I'm injured, Mrs. Steele," he feigned offense.
"I'm sure you are," she retorted drolly. "This? Us? By our natures and experiences alone, it should never have happened…"
"Yet, here we are," he finished, hugging her to him.
"Yet, here we are," she confirmed on a yawn.
"You'll stay?" he asked, as he had the night before.
"For now." He turned his focus to lulling her to sleep, but like the night before as only gossamer threads of consciousness kept her tied to the here-and-now, he couldn't help but try again.
"Laura?"
"Hmmmmm?"
"About the horse—" he asked, hopefully.
"Still not happening, Remington." He frowned at the immediate response.
"Awww," he groused. "But just imagine how convenient—"
"Goodnight, Mr. Steele," she bade firmly. With a huff and a smile, he settled in beneath her.
"Goodnight, Mrs. Steele."
