The Children's Corner

Chapter 25

Kate would love to float in the afterglow of Rick's "demonstration." But she can already feel him moving beside her as a demand issues from the baby monitor. Summoning a burst of energy, she pushes herself out of bed.

Rick rolls over, propping himself on his elbow. "You want me to come with you? I can take diaper duty while you refill empty tummies."

Kate starts to shake her head. "It just sounds like Jake so far. Ooh, no, he woke Reese."

Rick trails her to the nursery. "It was inevitable. I'll try to amuse Reese until Jake's had his fill. But, you know, humans just aren't constructed right for nursing duty."

"Men aren't. I don't know why you even have nipples. They can't deliver." Kate gazes down at her milk-laden breasts. "But I think I'm put together pretty well."

"The nipples break up our chests," Rick protests. "And you are put together magnificently. What I meant was that a dog or a cat or even a sow can just lie peacefully while a whole litter suckles."

"But cows and horses have to do it on their feet," Kate argues. "I'll take my rocking chair, and you can stand in front of the changing table and walk the floor."

Rick bows his acceptance. "Mother knows best – you, not the Belle of Broadway."

Kate settles herself with Jake as Rick occupies himself with Reese. "That reminds me, isn't the family's newest star of the stage opening at Hudson U. tonight? Weren't you planning on setting off roaring applause at her curtain call?"

Rick automatically checks the fit of Reese's diaper. "Hmm. I think these guys are about to move up another size. I have to order a couple of cases. But as to Mother's newest protégé, yes, she is. I have tickets for us third-row center. Mother and Craig are coming too. And Cindy said she's free to do duty with our junior merry band.

"The production isn't Broadway, but it is the theater. And it's been a long time since we've seen a play – even one I know by heart. Alexis wasn't the only one treated to Mother's practice renditions. And I'll be interested to see how the professor directing the play stages it. The version Mother was in had some naughty bits. She ended up having a fling with the actor who played Tartuffe. But I'm not sure how far the school will let a production stretch things."

"If it's like any of the student productions I saw at Stanford and NYU, pretty far. And those were good. Some of the students actually ended up as working actors. So I'm looking forward to seeing what the students at Hudson can do. And I'll bring the house down for Alexis with you. You start the applause. I'll whistle."

"Sounds like a plan."

Ryan surveys the offerings at Butler's Buffet. "Castle was right about this place. The shrimp smells toxic."

Esposito waves around the room. "They're not the only thing that stinks. The customers here are doing more eating than talking. If they're not shoving food in their faces, they're up getting more. And the tables aren't that close together either. I don't see anyone overhearing anything. Truman sent us on a wild goose chase. But the fried chicken doesn't look bad. We could eat before we go."

Ryan defensively crosses his hands in front of his face. "Jenny wants us to go visit her grandmother tonight. The old lady can't smell anything anymore, so she wears enough perfume for half the hookers in the city. That makes me sick enough. I'm not risking putting anything from this place in my body. But Murphy's Pub is right around the corner. I'll spring for the fish and chips."

"Right there with you, Bro."

So far, Tori Ellis has tracked four vans across the city. None of them met up with a semi or, for that matter, unloaded cannabis. Two of them were delivering vegetables to restaurants. The third one picked up a wedding cake, and the driver of the fourth dug into recycling bins for aluminum cans. Maybe the fifth will be the lucky charm. She hopes so. But if it isn't, when Ryan returns, she'll dump the job back on him. It looks like the van is headed to Brooklyn, the borough with the most cameras. So if there's anything to see, Tori stands the best chance of picking it up there. Unfortunately, the newest and most active cameras are in school zones, an unlikely place to park something the size of a semi. But anything is possible. She watches as the van pulls up across the street from a school and just stops there.

That early in the morning, the school zone is deserted, and a school parking lot would have space for multiple yellow buses. No school staff or neighbors would see a large truck pull in for a few minutes. With the angle of the camera, Tori can't see one pull in either. But she sees one approach. And she doesn't pick it up again until it's near the freeway. By the time it hits the on-ramp, vans have had plenty of time to drive aboard. It won't take her much effort to run the license plates of the van and the semi. Then, Ryan and Esposito can take on the chore of chasing them down.

"Did they burn it?" Dana inquires as Alexis grimaces at the hamburger he brought from the student union for her pre-performance supper.

"No. Whoever was on the grill did a good job. But now I know why Gram always claimed she was fasting for clarity before an opening night. She probably couldn't eat anything. I know I can't. My stomach is in knots. I was never this way when I was a stage manager."

"That's probably because nobody could see you were there. You were just a name at the bottom of the program. Now you have to face your audience. That's terrifying. When I defended my dissertation, I thought I was going to hurl. But I was starved afterward. And if you're hungry after the play, it might work out. Your Dad will probably want to take the family out someplace anyway."

A smile tweaks the corners of Alexis's mouth. "He did say something about Christine putting together a unique celebration snack at Imagination Patch. And with Kate there, it will have to be more than a snack. Right now, she really does eat for three."

"OK, then. What time do you have to be at the theater?"

"An hour before performance for costumes and makeup, especially since I'm playing a guy – and an older one. At least I don't have to worry about my hair. The hat and the wig cover that. But I think we'll be getting last-minute notes, too."

Dana glances at his watch. "That still gives you an hour. You can do your breathing, say your mantra, or whatever else your grandmother told you to do. I'll get everything put away and answer any dorm emergency calls."

"Oh, God! What if you have to fix something? I need to know you're in the audience."

"If it happens, I'll work fast or just call maintenance. You're always there for everyone. One way or another, I'll be there for you."

"I love you."

"I'll remember that if I have to stick a closet auger in a toilet again."

"My hero."