CHAPTER 36: SUNDAY
Before retiring for the night, Cam's parents had informed him that he could sleep until seven the next morning—on condition that he promised to bring Didi over for dinner on Sunday evening prior to his leaving for the airport. And, since it was his last day home (probably until the wedding), they didn't want to make him spend it doing chores—especially before going to church with Didi.
He awakened on Sunday to the smell of fresh-brewed coffee and frying bacon. He would get one last down-home, farm-style breakfast before he had to return to Colorado. He got out of bed quickly and then took time to pray—even mentioning how grateful he was that Didi had, by her example, taught him to do so. He then put on a pair of jeans and hurried downstairs to the kitchen.
Didi wakened at around the same time Cam did, but she chose to lie in bed awhile, gazing at the ceiling and thinking.
Everything would change after today: Cam would be returning to work, which meant 'gate travel. He could be in danger at any time; get stuck off world somewhere—or even contract an alien disease of some kind. Her heart and throat constricted at the thought.
God had told her to have faith—that she and Cam were in His hands. This universe is where they had chosen to come because the Cam and Didi who belonged here had died unjustly on an alien world. She didn't believe that God would be so cruel as to allow one or both of the clones to die as well—unless it was a part of His plan that the Steadmans and/or the Mitchells suffer such a terrible loss so that they could learn and grow from it.
Whatever the case might be, the time was now at hand when they would have to face the possibility of peril in the future. . . Feeling the need to seek for comfort and reassurance again, Didi climbed out of bed, sighed heavily, and got to her knees.
She began by thanking the Lord once more for the privilege of having Cam in her life; for the love they had for each other; for their respective parents, and for the time they had had to spend together with them; for the fact that their parents got along so well and had accepted them as a couple. She then prayed for her family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins—particularly those who were far away and those in the military. Next, she prayed for Cam's parents, whom she very dearly loved.
Finally, with all the courage she could muster, she dared to address the Lord in regard to Cam and his safety, once he returned to active duty at the SGC. She made it clear that she didn't expect him to be kept completely from harm: that would be asking a bit too much. Even people with desk jobs got paper cuts, banged their knees on their desks, or got a digit caught in a drawer. . . There wasn't a job in the universe—no matter how simple—that wasn't hazardous in some way. She only asked that Cam be returned home safely—and in one piece—after each trip through the 'gate. As long as she possessed the Chak-tuk Power, she could heal him of any injuries he might receive. . ..
She had envisioned using holographic projections each night after she got home from work to see where Cam was and what he was doing. If she found he was in trouble, she would cloak herself, teleport to him and assist him—along with the rest of SG-1—if it was necessary and within her power to do so. She timidly asked if she might be permitted to do that. She expressed understanding that it might not be fair, since no other SG-1 anywhere in the multi-verse had a Didi with the Chak-tuk Power to assist them in any way, but she couldn't bear the thought of just sitting by and doing nothing if there was, indeed, something she could do.
The feeling came to her—very strongly—that interfering in that way was forbidden. She had her agency and could do as she chose, but if she did, the Power would be taken away. It would be better for her to have faith in SG-1. They had, after all, survived for many years without her and could continue to do so. Believe, the Voice said. You and they are in my hands.
After ending her prayer, she lay back down on her bed and sighed. Why was it so much easier on Planet Max and at the decommissioned SGC to have complete and utter faith in God than it was now that she was here, on Earth, with her family and friends around her?
"Maybe," she said aloud, "it's because my friends and family are here. The life we lived together on Planet Max and at the decommissioned SGC was, in a way, out of time and space for us—particularly since we went back in time to come here. . ..
"Back then, it was just the six of us: we didn't have anyone else. We depended on each other and, in my case, on the Lord. But, now that we're here—and I'm surrounded by people that I know and love—real, down-to-earth, everyday life makes depending on God less . . . crucial, I guess. It shouldn't,though. . . especially since I still have the Chak-tuk Power to prove to me that everything we went through wasn't just a dream or my imagination. I was given this Power for a reason: to save the clones and to find new lives for all of us." She sat bolt upright.
"That's the whole point, though, isn't it? I fulfilled my purpose. I was only planning to keep the Power so that I could undo the Binding after Cam and I were married. And, even though I already had to remove the Binding—and was planning to relinquish the Power because of it—once I found out that Cam was coming to Kansas for the week, I decided to keep it so that we could spend more time together. . ..
"But . . . if it's going to tempt me to do things I shouldn't—like trying to save or protect Cam and the others—maybe I should relinquish it now, tonight, after I take it from Cam. It would mean that we couldn't spend any time at all together for about a week and a half . . . which really wouldn't be too bad, would it? Once I move in down the hall from him, spending time together won't require teleporting.
"So, the question is: Should I relinquish the Power tonight, after Cam leaves, so that I won't be tempted to misuse it over the next ten days? Or should I keep it, so that I can spend time with Cam in the evenings and on the weekend, and try my hardest not to give in to the temptation to help SG-1? . . .
"I mean, if I used it to help them even once God would take the Power from me and I'd never be able to use it again, so . . . would it really be worth the risk?" She sighed again and closed her eyes.
"Daniel, it's Didi. Can you hear me?"
"Yeah, Didi, I hear you. How're things going?"
Didi told him all that had happened over the last couple of days.
"So, you two are officially engaged already, huh? That was unexpected—although probably a tremendous relief to the two of you."
"It is. But now I have another problem." She then explained her dilemma.
"I can't tell you what to do, Didi," Daniel said. "The choice has to be yours . . . although you might want to talk with Mitchell about it and see how he feels. I have a pretty good idea what he'll say, though: that you should keep the Power so that you can teleport to him after work every evening, but to try not to help him or SG-1, no matter how much trouble they get into. He wouldn't want you to risk your life—or the permanent loss of the Chak-tuk Power—to save them. And if I were there on that SG-1, I'd concur. If the only reason you're keeping the Power is so you can spend time with Mitchell in the evening, why throw it away too soon by being reckless with it? The members of SG-1 are generally pretty capable of taking care of themselves. But, if they do get into hot water, General Landry will send another team after them. . . Don't borrow trouble, Didi. It's entirely possible nothing will happen to them during those ten days, anyway."
"You're right. I just needed an outside opinion again. Thanks for your input, Daniel. You always help me to see things more clearly."
"Glad I could help. I'd better let you go so you can get ready for church. I'd love to see how Mitchell takes to that scene."
"Oh, I have a feeling he'll take to it a lot better than you think he will."
"For your sake, I hope so. Talk to you later, Didi."
"Bye, Daniel."
By the time Didi finished her telepathic conversation with Daniel, eight-thirty was approaching. She had to eat breakfast and get ready for church. Cam would be arriving in less than an hour.
(*)
It was 9:17 when Cam knocked on her door. She opened it and her face lit up, as it did every time she saw him in uniform. As far as Didi was concerned, Cam was always handsome—but most especially when he was wearing his uniform.
"Every woman in the congregation is gonna envy me today," she said to him as he slipped inside and closed the door behind him.
"And every man is gonna envy me," he returned, putting a hand on her face and drawing it to him so that he could kiss her lips. "You look beautiful," he said. "And that dress is perfect with those earrings—even more so than the pantsuit you wore on Wednesday night."
She was again sporting the earrings he'd given her for her birthday on Tuesday, and the lightweight, polyester sheath she was wearing was of a shade of blue that came as close to matching both the earrings and her eyes as was humanly possible. The dress—which came to just below her knees—had slender, three-quarter-length sleeves and a square neck. White, toeless shoes—with narrow, buckled straps across the back and low, ¾ inch heels—adorned her feet. Around her neck she wore a fine gold chain with a heart-shaped pendant on which was etched the letter D.
"Are you ready to go?" Cam asked.
"Almost," said Didi. "Just let me get my white church purse and my cellphone."
Didi stretched out her arm and used her Power to send for her purse, which was in her bedroom. The bag appeared in the blink of an eye, hanging by its strap from her wrist.
"Didi's cellphone," Cam ordered, holding out his hand in front of him with the palm up. The requested object materialized. "Here ya go, hun," he said, handing it to her.
"Thanks, love," Didi said, smiling. She turned the phone off and slipped it into her purse. "Now we can go." She opened the door and left the apartment ahead of Cam, closing and locking it behind him. "I keep a spare key to my apartment in this purse," she said, "so that I don't have to move it every week."
"Good idea," Cam said as he trod down the outside stairwell ahead of her, prepared to catch her if she tripped and fell. When he reached the ground below, he asked, "Have I told you lately how beautiful you are?"
"You tell me at least once every day," Didi replied. "If I told you how handsome you are every time the thought entered my mind, I'd be saying it constantly."
Cam opened the door of his rented SUV for Didi and helped her to climb inside. He then shut the door and went around to the driver's side, got in, fastened his seatbelt and started the engine. "Where to, hun?" he asked.
Didi gave him directions on how to get to the church house. As he drove, he told her about his parents' invitation to Sunday dinner. She smiled. "I'd love to spend time with your parents again, dinner or no. . . What time are they expecting us?"
"Around five," Cam replied. "That's early for them; but, since I have to be at the airport by eight-thirty at the outside, they know we can't really do it any later."
As Didi had said, it didn't take long to get to the church. In fact, they arrived a good four minutes before the meeting was scheduled to begin, giving the reverend Mr. Prescott ample opportunity to effusively welcome the locally-famous Cameron Mitchell to his humble chapel, to express his pleasure that the Kansas-grown hero had become a national one as well and that he was taking an interest in Didina Steadman. "A lovelier and more humble young woman you'll never find anywhere," he stated.
"I couldn't agree with you more, Reverend," said Cam, smiling. The pastor then allowed the duo to take their seats and welcomed others who were arriving just in the nick of time.
After greeting the congregation at large, Reverend Prescott openly conveyed his delight at having Cameron Mitchell in their midst. At least he saved Cam from the discomfiture of having to stand up and be recognized, opting instead to indicate his position with an outstretched palm and saying, "He's the handsome man in the Air Force uniform who's sitting with Sister Didina Steadman today."
"You were right, Dee: wearing the uniform spared me some embarrassment," Cam sent to her.
The topic of Rev. Prescott's sermon for the day was "Doing the Right Things for the Right Reasons." Much of what he said struck cords inside of Cam and Didi. They had both been wondering since they'd made the decision to come to this world whether they were doing the right thing for the right reasons. By the time the sermon was over, they were pretty much convinced that they were. None of what they had said or done had been for purely selfish reasons. Along with wanting to find a place that they could call home, they had wanted to spare the families and friends of the other Cam and Didi the agonizing pain of losing them. Now that they were here and had spent time with their loved ones, they felt even more that they had, indeed, done the right thing.
When the meeting ended, nearly everyone in the congregation gathered around the couple, the women asking questions about how, when and where they met, when they were planning to marry, how their respective parents felt about the two of them being engaged, etc. The men, on the other hand, asked Cam about football and the Air Force.
After some minutes of this kind of questioning, Rev. Prescott intervened and reminded the group that Didi had a standing engagement for Sunday brunch with her parents, and that it would be rude of them to make her late. They apologized profusely and moved out of the way to allow the handsome couple to leave the building.
"Wow!" said Cam as he started the engine of the SUV. "You were right! If I'd known it was going to be that bad, though, I would've worn my tweed jacket, arrived just in the nick of time and snuck on to the back pew."
Didi laughed softly. "I'm sorry, love. I knew they'd make a fuss, but I didn't expect it to be quite that big of one."
"It's not your fault," Cam pointed out. "You did warn me . . .."
"Cam, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about . . ."
"The tone of your voice tells me you've been putting it off for a reason. What is it, hun?"
"Those four friends of mine I went out to dinner with on Thursday night? They all want to meet you before you leave town. I told them I'd talk to you, but I wasn't promising anything."
Cam sighed. "We're not going to have a lot of time, Dee. We're going from your folks' to my folks' to your place . . . I don't know when we can squeeze them in."
"Let's just wing it, shall we?" said Didi. "If we end up having a free hour or two sometime this afternoon or early evening, I'll call them and have them come to my apartment and do a meet-and-greet before you leave for the airport. I'll kick them out when it's time to go."
"Sounds good to me. . . You know, it's been years since I've had this much fuss made over me."
"Enjoy it while you can. Since the Stargate is a secret, the only reason you're getting this attention is because this is Kansas and you were a football hero."
Cam sighed. "Yeah, I know. But at least I'll still have you cheering for me even when I'm not in Kansas."
"That you will, love . . . always." She kissed him on the cheek.
They had arrived at her parents' house. Cam parked at the curb, behind what he guessed to be the vehicle belonging to Theresa and her family. After they had both gotten out of the SUV, Cam locked it securely, slid the keys into his pocket, and took Didi's hand.
"There you are!" said a golden-haired woman with a broad smile and a voice that was lower and huskier than Didi's. This, Cam mused, has to be Theresa. Her eyes, he noticed as they drew closer to the porch, were the same shade of blue as Melinda's. In fact, Theresa resembled her mother quite a bit, with only the huskiness of her voice and the shape of her ears resembling those of her father.
"Hi, Thé," said Didi. She had explained to Cam the night before that, because Theresa's name had an H in it, her parents had decided long ago to call her by the French word for "tea," since it had an H in it, too. Being pronounced "tay" rather than "tee" made it confusing to many people. However, already knowing how Didi had come by her name—and the fact that she was often called simply "Dee"—Cam good-naturedly accepted this second evidence of the mild eccentricity of Didi's parents.
"So, introduce us . . . please!" said Theresa, her blue eyes wide with excitement.
Didi smiled. She was well aware that her older sister had had nearly as big a crush on Cam as she herself had done, and Theresa was closer to Cam's age. When Theresa was in high school, however, she had had a boyfriend who played football on her own high school team. She could not, therefore, publicly acknowledge the crush she had on Cameron Mitchell; but she and Didi had drooled together over the pictures of him that appeared in the newspaper on a regular basis.
"Thé, I'd like you to meet Colonel Cameron Mitchell of the United States Air Force—my fiancé and soon-to-be neighbor in Colorado Springs—facts of which I'm certain Mom and Dad already informed you. Cam, this is my big sister, Theresa. She's almost as much a fan of yours as Dad and I both are."
Cam smiled amiably and held out his hand. "I'm pleased to meet you, Theresa. Didi told me a little about you last night, since she knew we'd be meeting today. . . I understand your husband works for the city zoning commission?" He expressed it as a question just in case he got it wrong.
"Yes," sighed Theresa, "and it has to be about the boringest job in the universe! Please don't make me talk about that!"
"Just making polite conversation," said Cam.
"Do you think we could go inside now, Thé?" Didi asked.
"Oh . . . oh, yes, of course. I'm sorry. I've just never met a celebrity before!"
"I'm hardly a celebrity," said Cam modestly.
"In this house you are," Theresa replied. She moved out of the way and allowed Didi and Cam to enter. "Dad wants you to go to the rumpus room, so he can show you his exercise equipment," she told the colonel. "Didi and I are supposed to help Mom set the table. Come on, little sister."
"Rumpus room's downstairs," Didi said as she headed in the direction of the kitchen. "Just follow the male voices and the smell of testosterone."
She heard Cam guffaw as they went their separate ways.
"Oh, Dina, thank goodness!" said Mrs. Steadman. "We were starting to get worried. Your father was afraid you and Cameron might have been in an accident or something."
Didi smiled indulgently. "Cam's an experienced Air Force pilot, Mom. He's more likely to get killed in aerial combat than on a Sunday morning drive."
"Don't be so sure," her mother replied, looking across at her daughter seriously. "People seldom die in the manner others expect them to." She turned around and picked up the pile of plates that was sitting on the countertop in front of her and handed it to Didi. "Put these on the table, would you, Dee?"
"Sure." Didi took the plates to the table and began to lay them out. While she was doing that, Theresa's twelve-year-old daughter, Maria—who'd been helping her grandmother ever since she'd arrived—followed Didi around with napkins and silverware.
"So, why were you so late?" Melinda asked, as she set goblets above the knives her granddaughter was placing on the table.
"We were besieged by nearly everyone in the congregation after the service was over," said Didi. "The women all wanted to know about us, as a couple; most of the men asked Cam about his uniform and what he does in the Air Force; a few people wanted to talk football. Fortunately, Reverend Prescott intervened and got us out of there after a few minutes, or we would've been even later than we were."
"I don't blame any of them one bit," said Theresa. "Cameron was always handsome, but in that Air Force uniform . . . mm-mm-mm. Delicious!"
"Don't let Jeff hear you say that!" Didi warned her sister as she set butter dishes at each end of the table.
"Jeff already knows I had a crush on the man," Theresa replied with a shrug, as she poured water into the goblets from a pitcher. "But I fell in love with and married him—not Cameron Mitchell—and I gave him two beautiful children. . ..
"Anyway, Dad's absolutely drooling at the prospect of having him for a son-in-law, and he wants you to be ecstatically happy. And . . . just so you know, I'm happy for you already."
"Thanks, Thé," said Didi.
"Well," said Mrs. Steadman, "everything's ready to go. Dina, run down to the rumpus room and fetch the men while Thé and I put the food on the table."
"Yes, Mom," said Didi. She traversed the living room quickly and then went down the wide but shallow stairs into the rumpus room, where she saw her father demonstrating the numerous ways in which his exercise machine could be used to tighten, tauten, strengthen and tone various muscle groups.
"Dad, guys . . . Mom sent me to get you. Brunch is ready."
Greg said, "Next time you come to visit, Cameron, wear something old and beat-up and I'll let you try it out."
"Will do. I'll make a point of it."
The three men and one fifteen-year-old boy headed up the stairs and toward the dining room. As they entered, Maria said, "Oh wow!" She was staring at Cam.
"He is handsome in that uniform, isn't he, dear?" said Melinda.
"I think he looks as handsome as the prince in Cinderella," Maria replied.
"No kidding!" said her brother, Gregory Jeffrey. "Maybe I should join the Air Force, too."
"You could do worse, Geej," said Mr. Steadman to his grandson, who was also known as "G. J."
"Thanks," said Cam, "—both of you." He was smiling softly at the two siblings.
"Grandma, am I gonna hafta sit at the little kids' table forever?" asked G. J.
"Yes," Grandpa Steadman replied, "—until we get a bigger table and more chairs."
The "little kids' table" was a card table that was set up in the eastern corner of the dining room. It was close enough to the big table to make serving easy, but far enough away to keep the adult diners from tripping over the legs of either the table or the folding chairs that went with it.
Mr. Steadman sat at the head of the table again, with his wife at the opposite end. Theresa and her husband Jeff sat on the east side of the table, close to their children, so that they could monitor them and keep them from fighting. Cam and Didi were on the west side, with Didi directly across from her big sister.
Greg Steadman said grace, after which the picking and choosing of food began. The "breakfast" part of the brunch consisted of crepes and Belgian waffles, with various toppings (including berries) to choose from; and cinnamon toast. The "lunch" menu included the remains of the potato salad from last night's barbeque, a plate of deviled eggs, both white and whole wheat bread, a variety of cold cuts and cheeses, and various condiments and spreads for sandwiches. Without standing on ceremony, everyone began reaching for what they wanted.
Melinda started the conversational ball rolling by telling the men why Cam and Didi were late in arriving.
"It appears," said Theresa with a catty smile, "that you're a celebrity to other folks besides us, Cameron."
"Yeah, it does seem that way," Cam acknowledged, "—though I really don't know why."
"He's so self-effacing," said Didi with a soft smile. "I love that about him."
"I know you ladies are going to be annoyed with me for doing this," said Greg, "but . . . tell me, Cameron: what do you think was the most important play you ever made during your football career?"
"Oh, man, that's hard!" said Cam. He thought about it for a few minutes, a look of concentration on his face as he reviewed several different plays in his mind, trying to choose the one he believed was most important. He decided it was a "quarterback sneak" he'd pulled when it was fourth and goal and his Air Force Academy team was down by six points during the last minute of the fourth quarter in a pivotal game against a conference rival. It was an all or nothing play.
He had faked a handoff of the ball to the biggest of the running backs, who had bent over with his arms clutched to his abdomen (as though he were carrying the ball) and had charged the defensive line. The linemen all went after the decoy while Cam ran around the outside of the mass of bodies—protected by his own front line—and scored the touchdown. The game was tied and the point after was good. Air Force won the game by only a single point, but they won it . . . and Cam was a hero.
"I wish I'd seen that one," said Greg wistfully, "but I believe I was at a seminar that weekend. I heard all about it when I got back, though."
"It was a great game," said Jeff. "I remember watching it and thinking, 'Cameron Mitchell's still got what it takes. He's got a good arm, a good head on his shoulders, and a pair of strong, fast legs.'"
"I appreciate that; thanks," Cam said. "But I wasn't always allowed to call the plays. I tend to be a bit . . . reckless sometimes," he admitted. "In that game, though, since the clock was running out and we'd been stopped in our tracks with only a couple of feet to go—and since a field goal would've done us absolutely no good at all—running it in myself seemed like our best option. No one was expecting it, so it worked. It was a big win, even though it was only by one point. It put us on top of our conference."
"So," Theresa said, changing the subject, "are you and Didi planning to go house hunting after she moves to Colorado Springs?"
Cam shook his head. "Not right away. My lease expires at the end of the year, so Didi's going to move into my apartment with me after we're married—for a couple of months, anyway."
"What can you tell us about your job, Cameron?" Greg asked. "Your father told me that a lot of what you do at Cheyenne Mountain is classified—which I can understand, since NORAD is located there . . . But isn't there anything you can tell us?"
"Not much, I'm afraid, Greg. I travel a lot to very exotic places, and I fly new, experimental, and highly classified aircraft from time to time. I frequently go on covert ops missions, too."
"It sounds dangerous," said Melinda with concern.
"It can be, but the people I work with are the best in the world. They're gifted people—good at what they do. And my C.O.—General Landry—is a great man. He gives us some leeway, but he doesn't take crap from anybody—especially the bureaucrats. There's no place on Earth I'd rather work and no other people I'd rather work with."
"That's certainly high praise," commented Greg. "I wish I could say that about my job."
"You're the one who chose to go into the retail sales business, Greg," his wife said.
"I know, I know. . . When I was young, being a store manager sounded so . . . impressive, important and interesting. Little did I know what a headache it was going to turn out to be . . ."
Melinda changed the topic again by asking her grandchildren how school was going, now that it was finally in full-swing. It was Maria's first year in junior high, and she had admitted to being daunted by it all when her family had come to brunch two weeks before. She was settling in nicely now, however, and had a crush on a boy in her math class.
"He is so cute and so smart!" she said. "That doesn't happen a lot: the smart ones aren't usually all that cute, and the cute ones are usually . . . stuck-up. But Jake is . . . really, really nice."
"Good luck with that," said Cam, "but be careful. Sometimes a guy who seems really nice turns out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"That's what Mom said," Maria told him. "Anyway, I'm too young to date yet. Mom and Dad are making me wait 'til I'm in high school."
"At least," said Jeff, "and you're never going on a date alone with a boy. I know what goes on in teenage boys' brains," he told his daughter, "because I was one once. Until you become a dad and have a little girl of your own, you don't appreciate or understand why fathers are so protective of their daughters. You look back on the way you acted yourself, and it makes you wonder how you could not have seen that the girls you treated so . . . cavalierly were some other men's daughters."
"I'm glad I didn't know you then, Jeff," said Theresa. "If I had, I probably would've knocked your block off for acting that way."
"I grew up, Thé," he told his wife. "By the time I married you, I was ready to settle down. I've never looked back, and I've never had any regrets—about marrying you, I mean. I have plenty of regrets about my past."
"Well," said Greg, "I'm glad you regret the mistakes you made in the past, Jeff. If you didn't, you'd be a sorry excuse for a man. I just hope you never give me cause to regret allowing you to marry my daughter."
"I won't, Dad, I promise," said Jeff sincerely. "I love Thé and I love the kids. I wouldn't change anything about my life if I could."
"I sure would," said Cam. "If I could change one thing about my life, I'd want to've met Didi a lot sooner."
Didi smiled at him softly and said, "Thank you, Cam."
"You're a good man, Cameron Mitchell," said Greg. "I wish you could've met her sooner, too." Turning his attention to the entire group, he then said, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm full. What say we move this party to the front room and entertain our guest with some home movies?"
"Oh, Dad, please . . . don't!" Theresa and Didi both said, although not quite in unison.
"There's one thing I'd really like to see, if you have it," said Cam, following Greg to the living room. Jeff, the ladies and the two children got up and went after them.
"What might that be?" Greg asked.
"Didi's performance in South Pacific when she was in high school."
"She told you about that?" Melinda queried.
"Oh, yeah. I've been trying to picture it in my mind ever since."
"Well, picture it no longer, Cameron," said Greg. "I'll go get that tape right away."
"We don't have all day, Dad," Didi called out to her father as he went from the living room to the rumpus room. "Cam's parents want us to come to dinner at five."
"It's only a little after one," Greg called back, as he searched the rumpus room. "We have plenty of time. If we watch the entirety of South Pacific, it should end sometime between three and three-thirty. What time does your flight leave, Cameron?"
"Ten-thirty. I should be at the airport by eight-thirty at the latest, and I'll need to take Didi back to her apartment before I go. . . I'd like to spend a little bit of time alone with her at some point, too."
Greg returned to the living room, videotape in hand, nodded and said, "Understandable. After we finish watching the videotape of the play,you can spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with Didi and your parents." He slipped the tape into the VCR and said, "Now, let's get started."
Cam sat beside Didi on the loveseat and held her hand while she rested her head on his shoulder. He watched with mixed emotions as a younger version of the woman he loved sang and acted with her infamous ex. He cringed during the couple's first kissing scene—especially when he saw the way young Didi looked at Tad before he kissed her.
At the point in the play where Didi sang "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" Cam said to her telepathically, "You lied. When you sang that song for me back on Planet Max, you said you performed it just like you did back in high school. Actually, you did it better when you sang it for me."
"You were trying to get me to confess my feelings for you," she sent back. "I wasn't ready to do that yet. Back in high school, I didn't really know what love was. I thought I was in love with Tad . . . and I did love him, just not . . . the way I love you."
Having received that message loud and clear in his brain, Cam wasn't nearly as upset as he might have been by the evidently loving gaze with which Didi graced Tad during the closing scene. Instead, he squeezed her hand tighter and said telepathically, "I love you, Dee." He then released her hand and began to applaud as the curtain came down and then went back up again for the final ovation.
"You were great, Didi," he said aloud. "You should've gone into show business."
She looked at him earnestly. "I thought about it when I was young . . . Who doesn't? I think most people feel that they need some sort of vindication, and a lot of them believe that becoming rich and famous will give them that. . . But, when I saw what being in show business did to some people, I decided I didn't want any part of that dog-eat-dog world. Life is difficult enough without adding complications like fame, fortune and the paparazzi to the mix."
"That's certainly true," said Cam, nodding. He then got to his feet, helped his fiancée to hers, and said to the assembled company, "I think we'll head over to Didi's apartment for a while. We have a few things we need to talk about before we go to the farm for dinner." He shook hands with all of the men—including Geej—and gave each of the women a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I hope to see you all again sometime before the wedding. . . Greg, I'll be seeing you the day Didi moves to Colorado Springs. . . I'd persuaded General Landry to let me have the entire day off, but since Didi won't hit town before four in the afternoon, I may go ahead and go to work and then just take off an hour or two early, so I can be there when she arrives."
"Your General Landry really does sound like a good man," Greg commented, "and an understanding one: he must be if he's willing to give you a day off to help someone he's never met move in down the hall from you—especially if he doesn't know yet that she's your fiancée."
Cam realized then that he shouldn't have mentioned the fact that the general had given him the day off to help Didi move in. The Steadmans didn't know that General Landry had already met Didi and had taken quite a liking to her—as everyone with any decency always seemed to. "He believes in helping people wherever and whenever the opportunity arises," Cam said. It was an honest answer, at least. He had no doubt that, even if his commanding officer hadn't already met Didi, he would've given Cam the day off, anyway . . . as long as there wasn't something going on that required his particular skills.
The couple said their final goodbyes and then left. As Cam drove to Didi's apartment, he said, "So, have you made up your mind yet?"
"About what?" she asked.
"Whether or not you're going to keep the Power."
"How did you know I'd been debating the issue?"
"Jackson told me."
"He contacted you?"
"Yep. He told me all about the conversation he had with you. He wasn't sure you'd say anything to me, and he was concerned about your state of mind. I really did misjudge him. He cares about you a great deal, but he's certainly not in love with you. As far as I can tell, he just wants you to be happy."
"I know," she said; then she sighed and shook her head. "No, love, I haven't made up my mind yet. As much as I'd like to spend an hour or two with you every evening, I'm afraid I might be too busy packing and staying after hours to finish training Lori to really spend any quality time with you. I just don't know."
"Then don't rush into making a decision. If you ultimately choose to relinquish the Power, we could talk to each other by phone, as you suggested last week."
Didi nodded. "Yes, we could. It's not a perfect solution, but we wouldn't be any worse off than any other couple that's trying to carry on a long-distance relationship . . ."
"And at least it'd only be for ten days," said Cam. "After that, once you're moved in, we'll have to do the best we can to rein in our horses whenever we're alone together."
"Yes, we will." They had reached Didi's apartment complex. Cam parked the SUV, and, after he had locked it, the couple headed up the stairs to Didi's apartment. Didi quickly unlocked her door and ushered Cam inside.
After the door was closed, Cam gathered her into his arms and kissed her passionately. "As much as I love your family," he said huskily into her ear afterward, "and as much as I hate to flirt with temptation, I seriously need some alone time with you."
"I love you, Colonel Mitchell."
She gazed into his eyes and ran her fingers through the hair behind his ear. He smiled and said, "Woof." She smiled softly back at him. He was still her lap/watchdog.
She took him by the hand and led him to the sofa. They spent the next hour or so kissing, nuzzling, gazing into each other's eyes, and occasionally whispering words of love and affection.
"You know," said Didi after awhile, "I could've called my friends and had them over here . . ."
"I told you I needed some time alone with you," Cam replied. "I only have a few hours left."
"I'm all too well aware of that," Didi replied. She then sighed and said, "I'm going to miss you, Cam. I sincerely hope I can find some time to teleport to you next week—even if just to be in your arms for a few minutes and get a good night kiss."
"Does that mean you've decided to keep the Power?"
Didi reddened slightly. "I think so. If there's any way at all that I can spend a little time with you over the next ten days, I want to. I think it's worth keeping the Power a little while longer—just in case."
"I couldn't agree more." He placed his lips on hers and kissed her once again. "Maybe," he said afterward, touching his forehead to hers, "when we come back here after dinner, you can call your friends and I can meet them then."
"If you're really willing. You don't have to, you know."
"They're your best friends, Dee. You've known them a long time. They deserve to meet the man you're going to marry, don't they?"
"Yes, they do."
"Then plan on calling them later. For now, though," he said, looking at his wristwatch, "it's time we left. We'll get there a little early, but it might be kind of nice if you helped Mom out a little bit . . ."
Didi nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
(**)
Frank greeted the pair at the door—having seen them through the screen door since the inner door was open—and he ushered them into the house. "So, how was brunch at the Steadmans'?" he asked, as he led them into the living room and motioned for them to sit down.
"Interesting," said Cam.
"I'll let you two talk," said Didi, "and go see if Wendy would like some help. That way, Cam can say whatever he wants to about my family without worrying about my feelings getting hurt."
"Dee—"
"It's okay, really," she said back over her shoulder. "I know they can be a bit much sometimes." She entered the kitchen and Cam could hear her greeting his mother.
"Tell me what happened, son. You've obviously got a few things on your mind," said Frank.
Cam first told his father about what had happened at church after the service was over, and then he went on to give a detailed account of his visit with the Steadmans.
"Theresa's family sounds like an interesting group," said Frank.
"Oh, they are."
"Do you think we could see that videotape of South Pacific sometime? At least it would give us a chance to hear Didina sing. . . ."
"You could always ask, Dad," said Cam.
"Maybe now that you and Didi are engaged, we'll invite the whole family over for a big Kansas-farm-style dinner."
"I'm sure they'd love it," said Cam, "—and it'd be an interesting experience for you and Mom."
"Maybe we could persuade Greg to bring the video that night. . ."
"There ya go! —a perfect opportunity to get what you want."
"So, have you met the entire Steadman family, then?"
"No, I haven't yet had the opportunity to meet Didi's brother, Mike. But she tells me that he and Greg are going to help her move, so, I'll probably meet him then."
"If you boys are ready," said Wendy from the entrance to the dining area, "so's the food. Come and get it before it gets cold."
"So, what've you two ladies been talking about?" Frank asked as he took his seat at the head of the table. His wife was at the other end, while Cam and Didi sat across from each other on the two sides.
Wendy and Didi looked at one another in the cryptic way that women have, both of them smiling a Mona Lisa smile. "Just girl talk," said Wendy with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders.
"Uh-huh," said Frank dubiously.
"Before we dig in," said Cam, "I'd like to offer a blessing on the food—for Didi's sake."
"You don't have to stand on ceremony for me," Didi protested.
"Yes, Dee, I do," Cam replied. "You're our guest—and an honored one, at that. It's what you're accustomed to and what you deserve."
"Thank you, Cam," she said. He smiled. Then he bowed his head, closed his eyes and said almost the same things he'd heard her father say before, varying only slightly due to current circumstances.
Afterward, as each person grabbed the nearest bowl or platter of food and began to dish it out, Frank asked, "Are you two planning to get married here in Kansas?"
"Yes, we are," Cam replied, "—right here in Auburn."
"Since I already had a big church wedding the first time around," said Didi, "I'd like a small, intimate, family-only wedding this time. The reception will have to be huge, though, since my parents will want to include anyone who isn't invited to the wedding: they're going to want to show Cam off to everybody they know. It'll be a real feather in my dad's cap to have Cam as a son-in-law."
"And I want to show Didi off to everyone in Auburn," said Cam. "I've waited a long time to get married, and Didi is the prize package I've spent a lifetime looking for. I want everyone to know that."
"Despite the fact that you've known each other for little more than a week, it's obvious you've put a great deal of thought into this," said Frank.
"We've talked about it a bit," Cam agreed, "—and since we both know this relationship is right, we're ready to commit ourselves to it heart and soul—forever."
"That beautiful ring you gave Didina last night is evidence of that," said Wendy, "and we're very happy for you both. We'll do everything we can to facilitate matters. It's going to be wonderful having Didina as a daughter-in-law."
"It certainly is," agreed Frank. "Make sure you treat her well, son."
"He always does," said Didi with a soft smile.
"That's good to hear," Frank said.
"So, how much family do you propose to invite to the wedding?" Wendy queried.
Cam shrugged. "Our immediate family members, of course; any grandparents who are still alive; our favorite aunts, uncles and cousins . . . no more than twenty-five to thirty people total. Is that good with you, Dee?"
Didi nodded. "I was thinking along those same lines, yes."
"The only problem with inviting 'favorite' relatives is that those who don't get invited will feel slighted and may not show up at all—even to the reception," Frank pointed out.
"That's true," said Cam. "I hadn't thought about that. It's just . . . I really don't wanna see Uncle Henry at the wedding: he always says the most inappropriate things at the worst times . . . He'd probably speak up when the minister asked for objections, just to be funny."
"Why don't we just invite the immediate families, then?" suggested Wendy. "The grandparents we can allow. As long as no aunts, uncles or cousins are invited, no one will feel left out."
"I have an idea," said Didi. "If we have a small, intimate wedding here in Auburn (like we said), we could do something a little different at the reception: We could put on the invitations that at, say . . . eight o'clock? . . . Cam and I will speak our own vows to each other in sight of the entire company. That way, those who don't get to attend the wedding will still be able to see and hear something meaningful."
"And," said Cam, "if the reception were to start at seven and end at nine, the vows would be right in the middle, so those who come early won't have to stay the entire two hours if they don't want to; and those who don't come early will know they have to be there by eight if they want to witness the exchanging of the vows."
"It sounds like a good idea to me," said Wendy. "I'll give Melinda a call tomorrow and discuss it with her. We'll need you to choose the invitations you like best before you move, Didina."
"Before we worry about invitations, don't you think we oughta decide where we're going to have it?" asked Frank. "Now, I know Greg and Melinda may have some ideas of their own, but . . . when push comes to shove, it's you two who need to decide."
"Well, Dad," said Cam, "if it weren't for the fact that it's going be November first and probably a bit chilly, I'd ask to have it here, in the front yard. If the house were bigger, we could do it inside, but . . . the rooms are just too small."
"Unfortunately, that's true," said Wendy.
"Aren't the bride's parents supposed to arrange and pay for the wedding?" Frank asked.
"Yes, they are," said Didi, "—and pay for it, I'm sure they will. . . But Cam and I have already decided to have the wedding here in Auburn and the reception in Topeka; so, I'm not going to let my parents change my mind about that. . . Since getting married here at the farm is probably out of the question . . . Is there a smallish church somewhere in town that we could use? If we're only going to invite grandparents and immediate family, that's all we'll need."
"Oh, yes," said Wendy. "There's a lovely little church a few miles from here where Cam was christened when he was a baby. I don't know who the minister is there now, but . . . you probably have one of your own that you'd like to have perform the ceremony. . ."
"We'll take a ride over there one of these days soon," said Frank, "and talk to the current pastor about using his church for the wedding . . . see if he'd mind loaning it out for a fair price."
"I don't care who performs the ceremony," said Didi, "and I wouldn't feel right about displacing a minister from his own church. . . Why don't we just ask the current pastor if he'd be willing to do it?"
"Are you sure about that, Dee? The Reverend Mr. Prescott seems very fond of you . . . but then, you seem to have that effect on people—good people, anyway."
"I'm sure," Didi replied.
"But—"
"Never argue with a woman when her minds made up, son," said Frank to Cam.
"We'll drop by the church next Sunday and talk to the pastor then," said Wendy. "By hook or by crook, we'll get that church house—and its minister—for your wedding on November first."
"I love you two," said Didi smiling.
"And we love you, too, dear," said Wendy. "You're exactly the kind of woman Cam needs in his life."
"Yes," Cam agreed, "she is."
"And he's exactly what I need," Didi returned. "I love him totally and completely—even after as short a time as we've known each other."
"Didi," said Frank, "you'll have to take care of getting the marriage license, since Cam's leaving tonight and probably won't be back until the week of the wedding itself. Under current Kansas law, I believe at least one of you has to go to the courthouse and make the application."
"Really?" said Didi. "I don't remember much from when Tad and I got married, as far as what we needed to bring or what we needed to do to fulfill the requirements for the application . . . and we did it together. But, as you say, Cam's leaving tonight, so . . . if I'm allowed to do it on behalf of both of us, I will."
"You might want to call ahead," Frank advised, "and find out exactly what the requirements are now. It just needs to be done before you leave Kansas, so you won't have to come back and do it later."
"I'll try to take care of it on Monday," said Didi. "Now that I have Lori pretty well trained, I can probably take a long lunch break and go to the courthouse then. . . I'll call on Monday morning before I leave for work to find out what I need. That way, I can take everything to work with me . . . that is, if I have everything I need. If not, I'll call you on Monday night, Cam, and tell you what to send to me."
"All right," said Cam. "If you need something, I'll fax it to you at your office, or send it overnight delivery. Would that work for you?"
"Yes, it would, love. Thanks."
Wendy then asked, "When do you intend to tell the people you work with that you're engaged?"
"Monday," Cam and Didi said together. "Jinx!" they called out and then laughed.
"Enough already!" Frank said in a mildly scolding manner, wearing a barely-there smile.
Cam and Didi endeavored to sober up. "Sorry, Dad," said Cam.
"Now," said Frank, "if we're through talking about the wedding, how about we finish eating? The food's probably ice cold by now. . ."
(***)
At six-thirty Cam and Didi left the farm. They were lighthearted and at peace despite the fact that Cam had to leave for the airport in less than two hours, at which time they would have to say their goodbyes. They held hands on the gearshift as Cam drove, smiling softly at each other from time to time.
As they neared Didi's apartment complex, however, the reality of the situation set in and her eyes began to fill with tears. "I'm going to miss you, Cam," she said wistfully.
Cam gazed at her lovingly as he parked the SUV and said, "I'm gonna miss you, too, Dee."
"I hope I'll have the time and energy to come and see you at night," Didi declared.
"I hope so, too," Cam stated as he got out of the vehicle. He then walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for Didi. As she alit from the SUV, he continued, "But if you are too busy getting things packed and staying after work to finish training Lori to have time to visit me, I'll understand."
"You always do," Didi said as they climbed up the stairs.
"Isn't that one of the things you love best about me?" Cam asked in a vaguely teasing manner as Didi unlocked her apartment door.
She nodded and said, "Yes, it is." She then entered the apartment, closed the door, put her purse on the wall shelf by the door, and took out her cellphone.
"Isn't it time you called your four friends? It's getting late and I don't have much time left."
Didi walked over to her sofa, plopped onto it and said, "That's what the cellphone is for. I want to be a good friend, but . . . I'd like to spend some more time alone with my fiancé."
Cam put a hand to her cheek, caressed it with his thumb, and said, "I love you, hun—more than anything in the multi-verse—you know that. But you made a promise to your friends. Don't renege, Dee. That's not who you are."
Didi sighed. "All right, I'll call them. . . But you'd better get ready for the ride of your life, Cam, 'cause if you thought Thé was something, just wait until you meet my friends. . ."
While Didi was making the four calls, Cam took a seat next to her on the sofa, waiting patiently for her to close her cellphone and set it on the coffee table. Once she did, he put his arms around her and kissed her. By the time the ladies arrived, Didi was a bit worse for the wear. Cam helped her to fix her hair and makeup before answering the door. Shannon, once again, had brought the entire group.
It didn't take long for Cam to discover that Didi had been right about her friends. They were an interesting bunch and absolutely loved Didi's engagement ring. They were thrilled for her. Didi allowed them to stay for forty-five minutes and then told them Cam had to leave for the airport soon—that she had only a few minutes to say goodbye . . . in private.
The ladies gave their respective farewells effusively, saying how much they were looking forward to the wedding reception. They all planned to go home and mark November first on their calendars.
After the four women had gone, Cam asked Didi, "How in the world did you end up with such a diverse group of friends?"
"When we first started hanging out together in grade school," said Didi, "we actually enjoyed doing a lot of the same things. As the years went by we developed different interests, but we still had a few things in common that we liked to do, so we continued hanging out with each other. It wasn't until we graduated from high school and followed five completely different paths that we changed into the people we are now. . ..
"Shannon has changed the most, I think. She was always the ringleader, but . . . after having become a successful businesswoman, she had two failed marriages and is obviously unhappy, even though she pretends she's having a wonderful time. I wish I could find a way to help her, but . . . people are what they are; they make their own choices and have to live with the consequences. I still love Shannon, though, and I hate to see her so miserable."
"Yeah, I know how you feel. I have a few friends who've kind of . . . fallen by the wayside, too."
Cam's watch beeped right about then. He looked at Didi dejectedly and she sighed, saying, "Guess it's time for you to go, huh?"
"Afraid so," Cam replied.
"I need to take the Power from you first," she reminded him.
"That's right," he said. "I forgot."
She wrapped her arms around his middle, laid her head against his chest and said, "Stop Cam's brain from producing the enzyme that gives him the Chak-tuk Power and strip him of the Power completely. Make it so."
"I'd say 'thanks,' but it's not something I really wanted to have happen—even if it is necessary."
"A lot of what's going on in our lives right now is necessary but unwanted."
"That's certainly true," Cam averred. He sighed, got to his feet, pulled Didi to hers, wrapped his arms around her and said, "I'm glad you've decided not to relinquish the Power, Dee. I have a feeling you may need it before you move to Colorado Springs—and not just for coming to visit me at night. I think you're going to need it for something really important."
Didi looked up at him and shook her head. "I've been forbidden to use it to help out or interfere in any way. . ."
"No, not in any way—just in certain ways. You can't be sure of what is and isn't forbidden until something arises and you actually ask."
"Do you have any idea of what it might be that you're feeling?"
Cam's brow furrowed. "Jackson's been doing some research about Janus recently . . . you know: The Ancient scientist who turned a puddle-jumper into a time machine? I could be wrong, but my gut tells me that something's going to happen in regard to the particular research he's doing now that could get our favorite archaeologist into a whole heap o' trouble."
Didi looked pensive. "I hope not, but . . . keep me informed if something does happen and I'll pray about it when the time comes. If I'm allowed to help in any way, you know I will."
"Yeah, I do."
"Cam, if I don't have the time to come and see you—"
"I told you: I'll understand. Just . . . call me at least, would ya? I need to hear your voice every night, anyway."
"Of course I will, love."
Cam sighed again as he gazed at her and said, "I really gotta go."
"I know. I love you, Cam."
"'Bye, Dee. I love you, too." He kissed her forehead, then turned and left her apartment without a backward glance. Didi sank back onto her sofa and contacted Daniel Jackson. It was time, once again, to share her news.