Thanks for all the fabulous reviews… I seemed to have gotten my mojo back and have been doing lots of writing, I meant to have this chapter up on Thursday, but our network was down until today… Sounds like an excuse to me too, but it's the truth, I have been able to read your reviews on my phone, but if I didn't get it before then I will reply soon
I got some good constructive criticism in the last batch of reviews, so know that I am working on it… this chapter was written before I got it and although I corrected a loof the tense errors there are more I missed… I have a few chapters still written and I will try and get them fixed before I publish them, but as I am writing new stuff, I am working really hard at keeping non-dialogue in the past tense… This is something I really struggle with… any suggestions to help me with this… it is something with I have been struggling with since my teachers started giving me a hard time about it… in elementary school!!!
Chapter 29
A few minutes into the car ride Logan opened his eyes and turned to look at Paige, she was watching the road, her eyes were dry and she had a small smile on her face.
"So you are okay to drive?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I thought I would get us out of the city and then down to I-5, if you want to drive after that you are more than welcome to." Paige looked at Logan and saw that he was anything but smiling. "Leaving's hard I know, but it won't be for that long. I believe we have a double date in twelve days and you can spend lots of time on the phone."
"Leaving sucked. How is it you are smiling? I believe there were tears in your eyes when we took off."
"True, but I left a surprise for Charlie, and he should be finding it any minute now."
"Charlie is a good guy Paige, you should have been with him all along."
"I won't argue with that, but there were some circumstances that made us take the long way, we'll get there."
"I still owe you an apology."
"Save it okay? We have a long drive and if you piss me off it will just make it seem longer."
"But you promise to let me apologize at some point?"
Paige smiled and nodded, keeping her eyes on the road. Logan was quiet while he played with his phone and checked it to see if he had any new emails.
They had just merged onto the 280 South when Paige's phone started going off.
'"Lying close to you
Feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever, forever and ever'"
Paige's small smile grew immensely as she heard the new song playing on her phone. Logan raised his eyebrows at the ringtone.
"Don't look at me, I didn't do it." Paige explained as she slipped her Bluetooth earpiece in and hit the button to connect the call. "Charlie, we left over twenty minutes ago, what took you so long?"
"What took me so long? What took you so long? The phone rang six times. I thought for sure I was going to get sent to your voicemail."
"Sorry, I was admiring my new ringtone, as much as I love Aerosmith, I think I like that song better when you sing it to me. Thank you, I love it by the way."
"You're welcome. I assume I have my own new ringtone to look forward to?"
"I'm not saying a word, but no peeking, you have to wait for me to call until you can find out. Are you at Kate's? Did you find your surprise?"
"What happened to my Patient Paige?"
"She went on vacation with Kick ass Barbie and now you are stuck with an anxious cry baby. It is only a six minute drive from the park to the house, by my calculations you should have been there fourteen minutes ago."
"We got stuck behind a muni train."
"Behind a broken down muni train, or just a stopped muni train?"
Charlie laughed as he pictured the wheels turning in Paige's head. "A stopped muni train."
"You shouldn't have taken Ninth, but even so, you should have been there eleven minutes ago."
"I was trying to show Mac the most direct route. We got back and I ran up to pack my stuff so I could just get my present and go home. I didn't want to risk having to share. But as I was putting everything in my bag, I couldn't find my 'If you choke a smurf, what color does he turn?' t-shirt. Any ideas where it might be?"
"You have an 'If you choke a smurf, what color does he turn' t-shirt?"
"I do, I was sure you would remember it. It's the one you had your hand under when I woke up this morning. Where is it?"
"When my hand was under your shirt, trust me, the last thing I was paying attention to was the shirt."
"Damn Paige, what did you do, take a class in avoidance tactics?"
"I did, you taught it. And next year, I'm teaching it."
"Okay, I'll let you get away with not paying attention to the shirt when you were distracted by my chest, but-"
"It was more like your hairy armpit. Once it got up there, there was no getting it out."
"We could do this all day."
"I have all day. I just started an eight hour drive."
"Where is it?"
"Where is what?"
"My 'If you choke a smurf, what color does he turn' t-shirt."
"You have an 'If you choke a smurf, what color does he turn' t-shirt?"
"Yes Paige, I do, and I know you remember it because last night you went through all the color possibilities for an oxygen deprived smurf."
"Huh, maybe it was a coincidence."
"Paige!—I love that shirt. I was counting on it smelling like you. And I'm pretty sure you drooled on it."
"I don't drool, and you have the one from the night before, and as far as things that smell like me, when I came out of the bathroom this morning my tank top was missing. Maybe our shirts ran away together!"
"Paige where is my shirt?"
"Can you describe it for me?"
"Paige I love you but-"
"I know, I think you must be nuts."
"My shirt… it's black… there is a big blue smurf on it… there are human hands wrapped around the smurf's neck… and it says, 'If you-"
"Oh that 'If you choke a smurf, what color does he turn' t-shirt, why didn't you say so in the first place, uummm, I might have accidentally put it in a ziplock bag and it might have accidentally found its way into my purse."
"I had no idea this shirt was so accident prone. Care to explain?"
"It was so soft, and it smelled so good, I thought maybe it wasn't you that helped me sleep. Maybe your shirt has magical powers, I thought it was worth a shot."
"I think the magical powers are all mine, but let me know how that works for you. So I get the rest of my stuff together and tell your parents goodbye, your mom keeps apologizing to me, want to explain that one?"
"Impatient and anxious Paige here remember? Besides, that falls under the 'I'll tell you later' category. So you say goodbye… and?"
"So I say goodbye and I go downstairs to Kate's, and sitting on the counter I find an updated 'to do' list and a couple boxes of your new shoes. I packed those shoes in the trunk myself yesterday, they fit just fine, want to explain that one, or are you going with another avoidance tactic?"
"Avoidance, but I can explain that one as soon as you get on with it."
"Okay, so I find all that and then I open the fridge and find your big stoneware baking pan and I pull it out… and I remove the foil…"
"Uh huh?" Paige smiled in anticipation of his reaction to her signature dessert.
"Okay, don't get me wrong here, I absolutely love your 'better than sex cake', it is amazing, it is by far the most delicious thing not only that you make, but it is by far the best thing I have ever eaten, some may even say it is orgasmically good, but I have a few issues with it."
"You do?" This wasn't quite the reaction she expected and it wasn't anywhere what she had been hoping for.
"Yes, two things actually, first, there is a huge chunk of it missing. So did your mom find it? Or did you sneak a piece before you left?"
"I packed it in an ice chest, which is why I needed the room in the trunk. I thought we could eat it together tonight on the phone."
"Okay, so that takes care of issue number one, I love that idea. Second, I think its false advertising, Paige this cake isn't better than sex, if you think it is, or if for you it was, then Logan was right. Payton was doing something very, very wrong."
***************************************
To: Sugarpuss
Funny thing, the other day
when u sent me the text from
SWAT it came from 'Veronica Mars'
but just now looking 4 ur #
I couldn't find it
Sun June 25 10:45AM
To: Sugarpuss
I looked in the V's and under
Ronnie I even tried Mars I was
ready to ask Paige when Sugarpuss
caught my eye.
Sun June 25 10:45AM
To: Sugarpuss
any other changes I should
be aware of? I didn't think u
liked this nickname. Do u miss me yet?
I miss u… lots
Sun June 25 10:46AM
From: Sugarpuss
I like all ur nicknames 4 me
Any & all changes are a
surprise, but no trackers &
I stayed out of ur call history
Sun June 25 10:46AM
From: Sugarpuss
I miss u more, at least u have
Paige 2 keep u company, Charlie
left, Mac is back on phone in her room
I'm all alone :(
Sun June 25 10:47AM
To: Sugarpuss
Paige on phone with Charlie
So I'm alone 2… u can go thru my
call history anytime u want. I have nothing
2 hide
Sun June 25 10:47AM
From: Sugarpuss
If the first 30 min with u gone
is this hard how am I gonna make
it 12 days
Sun June 25 10:48AM
To: Sugarpuss
We make sure u have lots of
minutes & unlimited text. I'll check with
Paige just heard her say CH is at kates &
cake was mentioned
Sun June 25 10:49AM
From: Sugarpuss
Gonna check that out
call me later XXOOXXOO
Sun June 25 10:49AM
To: Mac
Wanted to change V's
ringtone, but phone locked down
tighter than fort knox, can u help?
Logan
Sun June 25 10:51AM
From: Mac
I could. What's it worth 2
U?
Sun June 25 10:51AM
To: Mac
Fresh out of cash, who knew
P and V could eat so much at Ritz
could send some when I get replenished
Sun June 25 10:52AM
From: Mac
Not interested in cash
Can u do same 4 me when u
c Dick?
Sun June 25 10:52AM
To: Mac
Consider it done. Tell me what
u want and I will tell u
Sun June 25 10:52AM
******************************************
Keith waited in the room with Payton until his taxi came and then he walked him outside, and waited until the taxi drove away. He quickly checked on Kate, who was still surrounded by a tightly packed group of kids and then he went back outside, both to make sure Payton didn't double back and to make a phone call.
"-Derek Lamb."
"Derek, Keith Mars here."
"Keith, just calling to check on things? I know you were concerned about how Veronica would get along with Paige, but they seem to be good. They have a lot in common, as much as I'm going to miss my Paige, having both of them here together, I was afraid the city would start rationing food."
"Veronica told me that she really likes Paige, and I've heard from a few people about her ability to pack it away. I didn't think anyone ate like my Veronica. I know you said you didn't want any help with groceries and such, but let me know if it becomes too much." Keith laughed thinking about Veronica eating the poor Lambs out of house and home.
"Nonsense Keith, it's nice just to have the girls around, with six kids grown and gone, we are enjoying the house being filled again, and I know Kate will appreciate having more mouths to cook for."
"I'm glad things are going well there, but that isn't why I called. I wanted to fill you in on what is happening here and get your input on how I should proceed."
"I see, are you asking me in an official capacity, or as Don's dad?"
"Both, only this doesn't have to do with Don, it is about Paige, or actually about Payton Turner."
"I heard he was at Don's last night and that Don kicked him out, and I know he talked to Paige there on Wednesday. I take it there's more?"
"That is quite a bit more than I thought you would know. Did Don tell you all this?"
"No, Paige told me about Wednesday, and Charlie told me that Payton was there last night, the only details he knew were that Payton got thrown out, and that he had called Paige's grandparents."
"Then yes, there is a lot more. The situation seems to be escalating. When Don told Payton to leave, he gave him an hour to get off the porch or he was calling the sheriff. Don called me ninety minutes later, Payton was still there."
"Did you arrest his sorry ass?"
"I wanted to, but it was explained to me that, that would be more hurtful to Paige than to Payton. I talked to him myself, and made sure he left town. I did tell him that I would file a formal report and place him under arrest if he stepped back into Neptune in the next thirty days."
"You did the right thing, Paige didn't know he was there, she would have freaked out if she found out about it on the news. I heard Kate was going to tell her about it tonight."
"Yes, but there is still more, how much do you know about the Paige and Payton situation?"
"To be honest with you, I didn't know anything until Paige got here and told her mom and me everything Thursday night, but we are very close and she only waited so she could tell us in person. Her mom is very blunt in her questions and I am confident I have a pretty complete picture of what the bastard did."
"Payton seems to be selective in his memory of the events. When he talked to Don about what happened he admitted he messed up and wanted to try to make it right, as the night went on and Don got more details, Payton seemed less inclined to be so forthcoming, and started making rationalizations. By the time he told me what was going on he had completely shifted blame from himself over to Paige, blaming her not only for his cheating, but also for everything going wrong in his life. He also expressed a lot of contempt for Kate, and Don, and you and your wife for refusing to let him talk to Paige. He is quite adamant that he will work it out with her and that she will see things his way. He often contradicted himself, one minute saying she was being stubborn and unreasonable and the next minute calling her perfect and saying he was afraid if he didn't see her soon, someone else would see how perfect she is."
"Early signs of stalking…"
"That is how I see it too. There is still more. Kate had an event today. Payton mentioned it last night when I drove him to a taxi. I was concerned he would show up, so I insisted on accompanying her. Payton showed up a while ago. Kate asked that I let him go if he went of his own accord. She agreed that if he didn't she would petition for a restraining order. I told him this and he left. I'm not sure that was the best thing to do. Say the word, and I will file the paperwork. I can have him picked up at the airport when he leaves for Texas after the game today."
"You could really only get him for trespassing right?"
"Yes, I mentioned a stalking charge yesterday, but that was really just a bluff, it would be very hard to prove with what we have right now. Paige talked to him voluntarily on Wednesday, and she agreed to talk to him at the end of the season, so it isn't like she told him to completely get lost. I don't know what kind of messages he's left her, although he didn't deny calling her a lot."
"With the exception of Thursday and Friday, he's left several messages a day on our house phone and both my wife's and my cell. They are all extremely polite, inquiring as to our well being, and asking that we tell Paige he loves her and to please have her call him. I know Paige is having his calls blocked, they go straight to voicemail. I don't think she's listened to them, but I doubt she's erased them either. What do you think we should do?"
"Personally as the father of a daughter Paige's age, I would like to see him castrated and then make him watch as we feed his parts to the sharks. Professionally, I know the justice system won't see it that way. If I have him picked up, he will only spend a few hours in a cell, and then go on his merry way. He even told me an arrest might go a long way in showing Paige how far he was willing to go to prove his love. The media will latch onto it and we can follow his every move by watching Entertainment Tonight. Unfortunately, they'll start following Paige too, and he can keep tabs on her the same way. If we let him go, we know where he'll be, they are in Texas for four days and then they have a ten day home stand in Oakland, but Paige will be here."
"I agree. Even with his financial resources, the team really restricts a player's movements during the season. I can call in some favors and make sure he stays with the team. Paige is coming home for the weekend in a couple weeks, but hopefully we can have this settled by then and even if it isn't I'm sure we can keep her safe. Keith, I know Kate is going to tell Paige about his being there, but will you talk to her about the seriousness of this. If I do it she might just see it as me being her over protective dad."
"Yes, I'll talk to her, and I'll see if she'll let me listen to those voicemails."
"Thanks, I appreciate it, Keith, when Payton was telling you his side, was he still insisting that he just fooled around once?"
"Yes, he was very adamant about that. I take it that is not the case?"
"I don't have any solid proof but Paige mentioned she thought it might have not been the first time, and then yesterday Penny found what she believes to be evidence that it was happening for a very long time."
"That might make it harder for Paige to deal with, but I'm not sure it has a lot of relevance."
"I'd agree, but I just have this gut feeling… Paige didn't go into a lot of detail when she told us what she saw when she walked in on Payton, all she would say was that she had no doubt it was a sex act, and that it required a lot of trust. Sex isn't a subject that gets shied away from in this house, it is discussed often, and I've never seen Paige clam up when talking about it. At the time, I just thought she didn't want to say it because she didn't want to see the picture in her head again, but now, I have this nagging feeling it might be important."
Kate said she thought it was something kinkier than Paige was used to. "I have often relied on my own gut instincts, I will see if I can get Paige to open up, or maybe she will talk to Kate. I'm sure she doesn't want to dwell on it, but maybe once she talks about it, it will help her let it go."
"Speaking of Kate, she understands how serious this is too?"
"She does, I talked to her last night after I followed Payton to the city limits, and again this morning on the way to her book signing."
"Charlie mentioned Kate had asked Payton to come because she went out. Am I correct in assuming she was on a date?"
"Derek, if you want to know about Kate's personal life, I'm afraid you will need to ask her yourself."
"Fair enough. How about if I ask about your personal life? Am I correct in assuming that you were on a date… with Kate?"
"Derek-"
"And am I correct in assuming that none of our kids know about it?"
"We aren't planning on keeping anything a secret for long. Kate is going to tell Paige tonight. The only reason we have waited is because of Veronica. I've been separated from my wife for over three years. She left for good over two years ago. I haven't dated a lot in this time, but Veronica has had a difficult time with it the couple times I tried. We thought it would be a good idea for her to get to know Kate on neutral territory, namely your house before we said anything."
"You are separated? Not divorced?"
"I have filed for divorce, and I did so before I asked Kate out. Veronica had a major meltdown when I told her. I am trying to prevent another one."
"Does Kate know?"
"That my divorce isn't final? Yes."
"Keith, Penny and I are taking the girls this weekend to our house in Sonoma, Kate will be coming. You are welcome too. It is up to you and Kate what you tell Veronica, but Kate is family and I would like the chance to get to know you."
***************************
"Logan, can I ask you a personal question?"
"Will telling you 'no' stop you?"
Paige smiled at this, thinking Logan reminded her so much of the relationship she had with Don before he changed. "Probably not, but it might make me try to go about it in a more sneaky manor."
"Your dad warned me about how sneaky you can be. Ask away, but I reserve the right to refuse to answer."
"When you were dating Lilly Kane she cheated on you right? How did that make you feel?"
"Someone told you?" So much for us waiting to get closer to home before she gets pissed at me.
"About Lilly? No, I saw it on the news like everyone else. I might have heard bits from Don, but by the time this all came out he wasn't doing a lot of talking."
"No, not about Lilly, about what I said." Derek is right, she is sneaky.
"The thing you want to apologize for? No, no one told me anything. You don't have to tell me how you felt if you don't want. I just don't know anyone else who has gone through this. My parents have been together forever, I don't think any of my brothers have had this happen to them, even Don for all his faults had something great with Lana, Kate never even dates..."
"You're really lucky you know?"
"Because I'm the only one in my family who's been cheated on?"
"No, well yes, but that's not what I meant. Your family is awesome. People used to tell me all the time how great it was that my parents were still together, they would say that you just don't get marriages to last like that in show business, but they never really knew what it was like behind closed doors. I used to think that the Kane's had a great family, but the more I got to know them the more I knew they were phony too. Celeste was a cold hearted bitch and Jake was just as much of a cheater as Aaron was, actually his cheating was worse, his cheating wasn't just physical it was emotional. Your family is real though, they are exactly what I want. The way your parents still express their love after 43 years, I hope to have that someday. Your parents are easy to talk to, your brother is kind of an ass but you have four more that sound pretty great, and according to V, Don wasn't always such a jerk. I would kill for the kind of family you have."
"That just proves my point. There is something wrong with ME."
"You think it's your fault?"
"Isn't it? Obviously I wasn't satisfying him, so he had to find someone who would." Paige swore she was done with crying over Payton, but she feels the tears start to threaten.
"Were you satisfied?"
"You're asking about our sex life?" Tears effectively stifled.
Logan shrugged and turned to look out the window, thinking that Paige might be more inclined to open up if he wasn't staring at her. "You brought it up."
Paige sighed and considered her answer for a minute before she spoke. "I don't think I was unsatisfied. I never thought about being with anyone else. I just thought… I told you at Don's, Payton was always more interested in baseball than anything else. When we were together it was sweet, and tender. I wouldn't call it exciting, but he always made me feel loved, worshipped even. I thought he got his excitement on the baseball field."
"Paige, I don't like Payton, I think he's an idiot, and I know he's not the guy for you. But maybe he did just make a mistake. He screwed up one time, that doesn't mean-"
"It wasn't just one time, he's been cheating for years, and I was too blind to see it. There were times he would ask me to come over, my roommate would tease me about getting a late night booty call, I would rush over and he would just want to hang out and cuddle. Sometimes he wouldn't even want to do that. Sometimes I practically threw myself at him and…"
"Like I said, a complete idiot. After Veronica and I broke up the first time she got back together with her first boyfriend, I ran into her one night at a hotel. I knew they had sex that night, I was being an ass and I made a comment about how if 'the cuddling was the best part then he wasn't doing it right.' I said it because I wanted her to hurt like I was hurting, but there is truth to it."
"How did Veronica react?"
"Typical V, she put on a strong face and she lied. But that isn't why I'm telling you this, if that is how it was for you, then I guarantee you, it wasn't your problem it was his."
"I read Cosmo, and Marie Claire, I know that the woman has some responsibility too. I tried all their suggestions, or at least a lot of them. He was never interested. Why wasn't I enough for him?"
"Paige, you asked how I felt when Lilly cheated… I'll tell you, I felt the same way you are feeling. I felt hurt, I felt like I wasn't good enough, like I was doing something wrong. I tried to do more, I tried to do less. I tried to be more tender, and I tried to be more assertive. It didn't matter what I tried, nothing was enough for her."
"See it was me. I tried all that too."
"No it wasn't you. I don't know what his problem was, but it was HIS problem. I'd been carrying this around for years, blaming myself, wondering how long until Veronica figured I wasn't enough for her too. You wouldn't believe the lengths I went to, to build up my confidence in bed. I took stupid risks, and was with people I had no business being with. I had an affair with a woman I hated just because she was good in bed and I wanted to learn… And still, even after all that, I still blamed myself. It wasn't until I talked to your dad yesterday and he told me not only the problem wasn't with me, but he explained what Lilly's problem was that I saw it really was her all along. Maybe figuring out what his problem was will make you see it wasn't you at all."
******************************************************
Four hours after her event started and two hours after it was supposed to end, Keith led an exhausted Kate out of the bookstore and past the families still in line, and into his cruiser. He didn't say anything until they were a few blocks away and then he pulled into a parking garage and found an almost empty level. He knew she was tired but he unbuckled her seat belt and pulled her over to his side of the car. Kate didn't resist and instead helped the best she could. As soon as she was settled in his lap she attacked his lips with hers.
Kate broke away and settled down against Keith's chest. "Four hours is a long time to have to see you from across the room and not be able to do that."
"You were amazing Kate. The way you handled those kids, the way they fall in love with you instantly and then hang on your every word. I think your talents might have been wasted on Paige. Why didn't you have your own kids? At the very least you should have been a teacher."
"Paige was a handful, she required every bit of skill I had. I was in college when I started working for the Lambs. I continued taking classes, it took me a while but I finished my degree before Paige started Kindergarten. But rather than using it I started writing instead. I did however, home school Paige after she got kicked out of preschool, all the way until-"
"Paige got kicked out of preschool? Hard time with potty training huh?"
"No, Paige was a dream to potty train, she did it all herself. We didn't have any kids in the neighborhood her age, they were all older. Don and all his friends were always around, and so was Charlie. She saw all of them using the bathroom and started doing it on her own before she turned two. Now convincing her to pee sitting down, that was the challenge. Don't tell her I told you that, she'll kill me. She got kicked out of preschool for biting."
"Biting? And you couldn't get her to stop? Did you try biting her back? That is what we did with Veronica."
"She didn't do it at home. We didn't even believe she was doing it at school. You have to understand, Paige was just turning four at this point. She was the only girl in a house always full of boys, ranging from three years older than her up to age twelve, and that doesn't include her older brothers and their friends. She played with them constantly and they treated her like one of the boys. They rough housed and wrestled. They held her down and tickled her until she almost wet her pants. She would wrestle right along with them, never crying uncle, never giving up, and never resorting to fighting dirty. She never bit any of them. They would have these massive dog piles in the backyard. Paige would crawl out from the bottom, bruised and scraped, covered in grass stains, and she would be laughing harder than all the boys."
"So she didn't play so nicely with the girls?"
"Well with one girl in particular, Sarah Skiller. Sarah was Paige's age but had a sister the same age as Charlie and his twin. Sarah evidently spent some time at Charlie's house and decided she liked him. I'm not sure how much time she really spent with him, Charlie was at our house constantly even then. She would tell Paige about it at school and Paige didn't take too kindly to Sarah encroaching into her territory. The bites started out small and we got a few notes home, but it didn't seem like a big deal. We told Paige to knock it off and use her words. We didn't know the reasons yet. Then one day Sarah told Paige that she was going to Charlie's that afternoon and she was going to kiss him. I was called down to pick up an expelled Paige and Sarah got a tetanus shot and three stitches."
"Did Sarah ever get to kiss Charlie?"
"Unfortunately for Sarah no, Charlie got his first kiss a few months later at Paige's fifth birthday party."
"Damn, should I be worried? Do you think Paige will be as possessive of you as she was Charlie?"
"I think we'll be okay… as long as you never try to kiss Charlie."
"I'll try to control myself, but is he as pretty as you?"
Kate laughed that deep hearty laugh that made Keith's heart stop, and then she kissed him again. "Charlie is gorgeous. He looks like a greek god. He's six three, he works out constantly, he has this dark thick wavy hair, our dentist uses his smile for his advertising, and his eyes are the exact same color as Paige's mini cooper."
"Hmmph, then I don't think we have to worry about me, but I'm a little worried that Paige might try to bite you."
"Please, I used to change his diapers, he wasn't near as easy to potty train as Paige. Besides, while I can appreciate his beauty, that doesn't mean his are qualities I find attractive. And if I ever did try to kiss him, I would have to stand on a milk crate just so I could come up higher than his armpits. I like a man that I have easier access to. Do you know how hard it would be to carry a milk crate everywhere I went?"
"I can't argue with that logic, I've never been so happy to be vertically challenged. The Lamb's were lucky to have you."
"I was lucky to have them too. Things weren't going too well when I met them… I love sitting here with you like this. Talking, and sneaking kisses in between sentences, but do you think it's possible we could get some food. I'm not saying you need to take me out to lunch, it's my turn to buy, and we can go anywhere you want. But I'd be happy with a drive through and eating it on your couch. Where we can sneak kisses in between bites."
********************************************
Charlie was sitting in the big SWAT truck watching Veronica and Mac through the bakery's big plate glass window and staring at his iPhone wishing it would ring when it did.
"Cinderella said to Snow White
How does love get so off course, oh
All I wanted was a white knight
With a good heart, soft touch, fast horse
Ride me off into the sunset
Baby I'm forever yours
It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centrifugal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's, ah unthinkable"
This kiss, this kiss, unsinkable
This kiss, this kiss"
Just thinking about kissing Paige brought an even bigger smile to his face as he hit the answer button but there was no one there.
"Crap." Charlie started to call her back but then his phone started going off again.
"Cinderella said to Snow White
"How does love get so off course, oh
All I wanted was a …"
"Hi, gorgeous."
"Hi, Okay now who is admiring their new ringtone? So I take it that means you like it?"
"This Kiss by Faith Hill? It is totally worth the ribbing I will take from the guys just to know you are thinking about kissing me too."
"I'm glad, that's all I was calling you for. I just wanted you to hear it."
"You didn't think I would check it, even though you told me not to?"
"That's an impatient Paige thing, and I figure only one of us can be impatient at a time. I'll let you know when it's your turn."
"Thank you. Is everything going okay? Who's driving?"
"No one right now. We stopped for a snack, Logan is in the restroom. He will be driving when he gets back. Are you at your house now?"
"I never made it, I got ambushed in Kate's kitchen. Veronica got a text from Logan saying I was hiding cake. I know I'm right about your cake, it's awesome and all, but sex is way better. However, judging from Veronica's moans I would say Logan might be doing something wrong too."
Paige laughed so hard she choked on the last handful of nuts she had just tossed in her mouth. "Charlie, I hope you didn't tell that to Veronica!"
"I did. She said it's been so long she doesn't remember. She said she'll let me know later."
"We are all crazy. All of us. Each and every one of us should be committed. I can't believe you shared your special cake."
"I told her she could have a tiny piece, after some intense negotiations she agreed."
"She settled for a tiny piece? What did that cost you?"
"My afternoon off. I said I'd drive them down to Palo Alto so Mac could see how to get to Google."
"You realize that's a ploy right? Veronica just wants you to take her to Sprinkles so she can get more cupcakes."
"That is where we are now. But that is only half of it. Veronica sent Mac a text telling her to come down to Kate's too. Mac agreed to stay out of the cake if I would take her to Ikea, Dick is moving out and she wants to get a head start on his furniture shopping. Do you believe it? A Sunday afternoon at Ikea, as soon as Veronica eats her weight in pink frosting I am in for an afternoon of hell."
"I love you Charlie."
"What's that for?"
"Do I need a reason?"
"No, but I'm betting you have one."
"You are a good guy Charlie, a really good guy."
***************************************************
"How much longer do we have? When do you have to go home?" Keith broke the contact between his lips and Kate's neck, to ask her the question as he looked in her eyes. They were sitting at his house, on the couch, there was music playing and Back-up was curled up on the floor by their feet.
"Sheriff Mars, are you trying to get rid of me?" Kate looked at him coyly as she pulled him back to her neck.
Keith gave her neck some of the attention it wanted, and then pulled away again. "Absolutely not, I just want to make sure I am able to savor every moment that you are here. I don't want you to spring it on me that you are leaving when the time comes. I like to be prepared."
"I love it, it's like I have my own personal boy scout. Lefty has some work to do tonight, he said he needed to leave by six. Paige left a little after ten, she could be home as early as six, but I'm willing to bet it will be closer to eight, I'm sure they made plenty of food stops. I could leave Don by himself for a while but I'd really like to be there when Paige gets home."
"So I have you to myself until…"
"I can stay until seven… or so."
"That gives us two hours. Have you had enough to eat? I don't want to get accused of trying to starve you again."
"My goodness Keith, you make it sound like I am as bad as Paige and Veronica. I wouldn't mind one of those cookies though, assuming you didn't eat them all after I left last night."
"You mean after you left this morning… I think there are a few left." Keith got the cookies and glasses of milk for both of them. "Kate I have to tell you something."
Kate accepts the milk and waits until he sits back down beside her to set the plate of cookies down on the couch between them. "Okay, so tell me."
"I called Derek earlier, while you were in the bookstore."
"Does he see Payton's behavior as stalkerish too?"
"He does, but he didn't shed any new light on the situation, that isn't what I want to tell you about. He knows about us."
Kate takes in a swift breath of air that she holds for a second before she slowly exhales it. "You told him? Is he going to tell Veronica? Did he tell Paige?"
Keith shakes his head, "No, he said it was up to us when and how we tell the kids. I didn't tell him, he's a cop, a good one, he figured it out on his own. He asked point blank, I wasn't about to lie, and I didn't think you would want me to anyway."
"I'm glad you didn't lie. What did he say?"
"He said you're family, and that he wants to get to know me. He sounded very fatherish. I have to say it was a little intimidating. Here I am forty five years old, and I feel like I need the approval of your dad."
Kate smiles, setting her milk down she moves the cookies and crawls back onto Keith's lap. "You won't have any trouble getting his approval. Did he say when he would like to get to know you?"
"He isn't what I would call a procrastinator that is for sure-"
"That is a trait not allowed in the Lamb family."
"He said you are all going to Sonoma next weekend, and he wants me to come too."
Kate's face lit up as she thought about the possibility, "Can you do that? Are you coming?"
"I don't know yet, I would like to, but there is the murder investigation, and a small problem I have with the county prosecutor. He said you are all going up Thursday night. I don't think I will be able to go that early, but I could probably fly up Saturday morning, and then rent a car to meet you in Sonoma."
"You don't have to rent a car, just take a cab to the San Francisco house and take one of the cars in the garage. I'm sure we will be taking a SWAT truck, so you can use my Rover."
"You sound awfully excited about this."
"Keith, I'm leaving on Wednesday, it will be much easier to go if I know I don't have to wait very long to see you again."
"That only gives you a couple days with Veronica…"
"Sheriff Mars, is that the reason you are nervous about the idea, or are you afraid of the big bad, Derek Lamb?"
"The guy is huge, and even though I'm the Sheriff in these here parts, his gun cage is no doubt much bigger than mine."
Kate chuckled remembering that just yesterday Charlie said the exact same thing. "You don't need to be intimidated. I know it might seem kind of weird, but in a way, the Lamb's are like my parents. My mom died of breast cancer when I was in high school, and my dad died a year later, right after I turned eighteen. I met the Lamb's three years later and they became my family. Their oldest sons are my age, so I fit right in. They used to joke, that if I was their daughter, they never would have needed Paige, but then if it wasn't for Paige, they wouldn't have needed me. But Keith, Derek and Penny will love you. You've already met Derek, he isn't nearly as scary in person as he sounds on the phone."
"Will we really even get to spend any time together? Will we be constantly surrounded by Mac and Veronica, and by Derek and Penny?"
"I'm looking forward to spending time with Mac and Veronica, and Keith, so are you. And believe it or not, the Lambs are fun people. You will have a good time. And after we tuck the girls in, and the Lambs retire to their room, you and I, Sheriff Mars, can retreat to the privacy of my apartment at the back of the property."
"I love it when you do that. I don't even think you realize you do it, but I love it."
"What are you talking about? What do I do?"
"When you are being serious, or we are just talking you call me Keith-"
"Well that is your name!"
"I wasn't done yet, when you are serious you call me by my name, but when you are being playful, or flirting, you call me Sheriff Mars."
"And you love it? Sheriff Mars, why don't you tell me what else you love that I do?"
************************************
An hour from Neptune, Paige asked Logan if he minded a quick stop at Target before they got home. Logan took his eyes off the road for a split second and raised his eyebrows at her.
"You want to go shopping? You realize there is no room in this car anywhere? I am not sacrificing any more of my possessions so you can buy more shoes."
"I just want to grab something real fast, and it's small. It will fit in the glove box. Neither of us will have to sacrifice anything. Please Logan, there is a Target right at the next exit."
"There is a nicer one a couple miles down. We can go to that one. Paige, can I ask you something?"
"Ummm, let's see, we've already discussed the weather, sports, my cheating ex boyfriend, my sex life, my family, how much you hate my brother… is there anything left?"
"I see your point. It's about Don, or I guess about the car. Don't get mad okay. Veronica got curious when you showed your dad the registration. She snuck down to the car last night to see what it said. We were both totally confused by what she found."
"Am I not supposed to get mad because Veronica is nosy and looked in the glove box, or because she was also hoping to find whatever it was that was freaking me and Charlie, and when I say me and Charlie, I mostly mean Charlie, out?"
"All of the above I guess."
"I am not mad. I am every bit as nosy as Veronica. I'm surprised it took her until last night to check the registration. Do you want me to tell you about that first or what we left in the car?"
"That went better than I thought it would. Tell me what you left in the car first."
"Charlie freaked out, I know, it seems to be a habit of his, after my doctor's appointment yesterday. He did a little diagnosing of his own after he heard I was getting sick and not sleeping and he decided I must be pregnant. He bought out the entire selection of pregnancy tests at the local Walgreen's so we, and by we, I mean he, could know for sure. I'm not. I didn't need to take the tests to know and that is what my mom and dad found last night."
"I don't blame Charlie for freaking out. I would have freaked out too. You are positive?"
"Completely, and my doctor ran a test anyway, it was negative, just like I said."
"As for the registration…It says Donald Lamb, but when your dad saw the paperwork, he said, 'Who the hell is that?'"
"His name isn't Donald, it's just Don."
"So the DMV, made a mistake. Don't they do stuff like that all the time?"
"I don't know, they've never made one for me. But you don't understand. Do you remember my other brothers' names?"
"Some of them probably, they were normal names, Michael, Benjamin, Matthew… there's one more right, I don't remember his name. Three out of four isn't bad."
"Actually you are oh for four. The twins were Mike and Mark, then came Jeff and then Ben. Those are their actual names, nothing is short for anything. Don is just Don. My mom hates nicknames. When she was growing up her parents called her everything but her name. When she complained about it they made it a point to call her Penelope, which she also hated. She had her name legally changed to Penny and swore she would never do that to her kids. We all have simple, one syllable names, and none of us ever got nicknames. There is a family joke that one of the nannies before I was born got fired for calling Ben, Benji. My mom would cringe whenever Payton called me Catch, he stopped doing it front of her, the only time he ever used my name was when she was around. She gives my dad a dirty look anytime he calls me Little Bit."
"So the DMV still could have made a mistake."
"No, none of us would be able to handle it. If it was just a simple mistake, all of us would have had it fixed immediately. Have you heard me shorten anyone's name since we met?"
"I haven't, but V, said you called her Ronnie, when you did your little charade for Piz."
"I was playing a part, I used your name for her to sell it. You and Mac do it all the time, V or Ronnie… I always call people whatever name they introduce themselves as, that is the only reason I can call Mac, Mac. If I would have heard Cindy or Cynthia first, I would totally struggle with it. If Don got the registration and there was a mistake he would have had it changed. He's almost as bad as my mom."
"What do you mean, 'if Don got the registration', didn't Don have to get the registration?"
Paige opened the glove box and pulled out the black folder organizing all the Lamborghini's paperwork. "Going through this, everything says Donald. Even the hand written stuff for the maintenance. I'm not sure Don has ever even looked at this stuff, and if he has, he has no control over any of it."
"What exactly are you saying?"
"Don didn't buy the car, someone else did, and that someone is still paying for its upkeep."
Paige practically flew out of the car before Logan finished parking it in the Target lot.
"Paige wait, can I come in?"
Paige sighed and opened her large green custom Kathy Van Zealand bag, pulling Don's worn Giant's baseball cap from it. "Logan, you really have to be careful. I know you hate hats, but you should at least try and make an effort to keep yourself hidden."
Logan took the cap and pulled it down low. Hunching his shoulders he followed Paige into the toy section of the store. He watched with mild interest as Paige decided on her purchases, but he kept glancing down to a large display at the end of the aisle they were on. Pulling his phone from his pocket he set it to its camera function and tried to hand it to Paige. "Can I ask you to do something really strange for me?"
"I am not taking naked pictures of you."
Logan laughs nervously and then swallows, "I promise to keep my clothes on, but you are kind of on the right track." Logan tells her what he has in mind, he starts to explain, but Paige tells him there is no need. She tells him she won't do it in the store, but if he purchases the needed items, she will happily do it outside, around back, where they will have some privacy, and he can take off the hat. No longer nervous, Logan smiles, glad that Paige is onboard and sees the humor in what he is about to do. He makes the needed purchases, thankful that Charlie had fronted him a hundred bucks until he saw him in two weeks.
************************************************************
Charlie called the Lamb residence on their way back from Palo Alto, and offered to pick up Chinese food before he dropped the girls off. Penny said that Chinese food sounded like a great idea, but suggested she and Derek meet them there, and they can eat at the restaurant.
They all crowded into Xiou Loong and placed a large and complicated order. They talked for a while, waiting for their food. Charlie, Veronica, and Mac all seemed to be paying a lot of attention to their cell phones and Derek and Penny teased them about it. Dinner came and Charlie and Derek teased Veronica and Penny about the noises they made as they ate the delicious food. Veronica was getting anxious, she hadn't heard from Logan for a while and it was getting close to when she thought he should be getting home. She smiled when she finally felt her phone buzz in her back pocket and she pulled it out, her smile grew when she saw that it wasn't just a text but a picture message. She hit the button to download the photo and popped a large piece of spicy dry fried chicken in ginger and garlic sauce in to her mouth. The phone beeped to let her know the picture had loaded and Veronica glanced down expecting to see Logan's smiling face. Instead what she saw caused her to start choking on the delicious piece of chicken. Charlie whacked her on the back and the large piece of meat when flying out and landed across the table.
Penny frowned and looked down at the phone Veronica seemed to suddenly be guarding with her life. "I hope you kids aren't sending naked pictures. I don't care how intimate you are with someone, you should not be sending pictures like that on your cell phones."
Derek sticks his hand out for the phone. "Veronica, I don't think you understand how dangerous that could be. One accidental forward and that picture will be out in the open forever. We have rules in our house-"
Veronica glanced nervously from Derek and down to her phone, and then at Derek's outstretched hand. "I know Mr. Lamb. And we didn't mean to break any of those rules, I know Logan explained how innocent it was, we just fell asleep. Except for that one time, we haven't broken any of your rules…" Veronica took a deep breath and smiled before she handed him the phone, "Actually, this might help prove that."
Derek looked at her sternly and then glanced down at the phone, seeing the picture he started laughing hysterically and offered the phone to his wife, who had a similar reaction. She was still laughing when she handed the phone over to Charlie.
Charlie looked at it and sighed, "I know exactly how he feels…"
Mac grabbed the phone and grinned, "Veronica this so better go up as your wallpaper!"
Mac handed the phone back to Veronica who looked at the picture again. A Fully clothed Logan was standing in front of a beige cement block wall. He had a very fake pout on his face, and in his hands, held down low over his crotch were two very large and very blue children's rubber playground balls.
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