Family and other surprises by Kakie
Chapter 5
Ally joined Larry in the kitchen. He was loading the dishwasher.
"How are things going out there?"
"Great. Maddie is thrilled to meet her Uncle David." She wrapped her arms around him and leaned against his back. "I can't tell you how happy I am right now. David is back, I have this baby, Maddie, Sam, my career and most of all I have you."
Larry wiped his hands off and turned around. "And I have everything I ever wanted." He put his arms around her and they kissed.
"Hey Ally, do you have those. oops" He grinned. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt."
Maddie bounced in. "What did she say? Aw, jeez, my other friends parent's don't behave like this. Why can't you two be normal?"
Ally and Larry looked at each other.
"We never claimed to be normal, Maddie. Just in love," remarked Larry.
Maddie rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Mom, where are your old photo albums? Uncle David said there are some must-see pictures in there."
"They are in the attic."
"Great, I'll go get them."
Ally shook her head. "No, you won't. I'll go get them." Ally stepped out of Larry's embrace and headed towards the stairs. Maddie pulled David out of the kitchen, leaving Larry alone with his dishwasher. He started it and walked outside. He pulled out his cell phone and made a call.
"Hello."
"Tom? It's Larry."
"Larry, how are you?"
"I'm okay. How's Helena?"
"She's great."
"Tell her I said hello. I need a favor."
"Name it."
"I need to know what you can dig up on David George McBeal. He's Ally's brother."
Tom chuckled. "Isn't it the family that digs up dirt on the husband?"
"Not funny, Tom. The man has not been seen or heard from in 16 years. He seems nervous and jittery."
"Well, hell, after 16 years, anyone would be nervous. But seriously, what are you feeling?"
"That this guy is hiding something. Whenever someone asks him where he's been or what he's done, he changes the subject. He is defiantly hiding something. I'm not sure what but the idea of him bringing whatever it is near my family is making me nervous and jittery."
"Have you discussed this with Ally?"
He watched Ally look for him in the kitchen. "No. She can't see past the fact that he's back. I don't want to tell her my feelings until I have something to back them up."
"I'll get right on it."
"I appreciate it. Call me on the cell phone. Thanks again, Tom." Larry hung up and went back in the house. He found the three of them on the couch looking at old pictures of Ally in high school.
Maddie pointed to one. "Where was this taken?"
Ally smiled at the memory. "That was Billy and me at the prom. My mom took that picture. Gosh, I can't believe how young we were that night. After that night, my life was never the same."
"What do you mean?" asked Maddie.
Ally's eyes jerked to Larry, who had an amused look on his face.
"I just meant that a girl's prom night is one she never forgets. It was one of the best nights of my life."
Maddie looked down at the picture and then up at Larry. "Did you go to your prom too?"
Larry winked at Ally. "I did but I didn't have as much fun as Ally apparently did."
She scowled at him.
Much to the chagrin of Ally, David insisted on staying in a hotel and not at the house. But he came by each evening and he and Ally spent time catching up, although it was very much one sided.
"Why won't David talk to me about where he's been? It's been three days since he returned and I know nothing more than I did that day in my office. Why do I get the feeling that whatever it is he is hiding, it's not good? " Ally remarked to Larry in bed.
"Because you are very intuitive." He began to stroke her hair.
"Maybe I can hire a PI to do a little digging for me. No. What am I saying? I'm not going to investigate my brother." Ally realized that Larry had stopped playing with her hair and was tense. She had a bad feeling. "Larry, honey, did you do something?"
Larry briefly thought about lying to protect her but he couldn't do it. "I've had my suspicions from the beginning so I asked someone to check him out."
Ally sat up in the dark. "You hired someone to investigate my brother? How could you do that?"
Larry sat up. "What do you mean? You were thinking about it yourself."
"That's different."
"Why?"
"Because he's my brother."
"And you're my wife and Maddie is my daughter and I will do what I have to do to protect my family."
Ally was silent for a minute. "Do you think we are in need of protection from David?"
Larry thought back to a conversation he had with Tom the previous day.
"Larry, your brother-in-law is a dead man."
"Literally or figuratively, that does not sound good. What did you find?"
"A death certificate for a David George McBeal in Cape Hattaras, North Carolina."
"Are you sure about this?"
"A copy was faxed to me today. I'm leaving tonight for Cape Hattaras to investigate further. I don't like this, Larry."
"I don't either."
"Keep a close eye on your family. And don't leave them alone with David until I learn more."
"Don't worry, I have no intention of taking my eyes off of them."
Larry debated on telling her everything but decided to wait. After all, it could be another David McBeal. "I hope not but we don't know anything about where he's been or done. We should be cautious until Tom tells me something." He lay back down.
"Who's Tom?" asked Ally, still sitting up.
"A friend. Can we get some sleep now? Sam will be here tomorrow."
"You have never mentioned this Tom before."
"Why all the questions about him?"
"Because this person you have trusted to get information on my brother is a friend who wasn't at our wedding and whom you have never spoke of."
Larry groaned. "Ally, our wedding was last minute. There were several people I would have liked to invite but couldn't. Why is getting info on Tom so important to you?"
"Because for some reason not telling me is important to you."
"Fine, fine." Larry said and he sat back up. "Who needs sleep, anyway? I'll tell you all about Tom. He's a good friend who happens to be married to Helena."
"Your ex-wife Helena?"
"One and the same."
"How come I didn't know this?"
"Because it's about Helena and I know how you feel about the exes in my life."
Ally giggled and lay back in the bed. "Honey, it's Jamie I don't like. That's because she tried to come between us, twice if you'll recall. And it would be a little hypocritical of me to object to you being friends with your ex when I was not only friends with Billy but also his wife."
Larry lay back down. "So, you are okay with me being friends with Helena?"
"Larry, I'm fine with it. Also, it helps that she's happily married. She is happily, right?"
"Very happy. But a little jealousy wouldn't hurt."
Ally laughed into her pillow.
"Other women find me attractive. I'm a great catch."
"Good night, Larry."
Larry's office phone rang just before noon the following day. He took his eyes off a contract he was reviewing. "Larry Paul speaking."
"Larry, it's Tom."
Larry forgot about the contract. "What did you find?"
"I'm faxing you a picture right now of the man tied to the death certificate. Is he Ally's brother?"
Larry watched as his fax machine began to print out a picture. He only had to see the eyes to know. They were Ally's eyes. They were Maddie's eyes. When the fax finished printing, he picked up the piece of paper. "It's him."
Tom swore under his breath. "I was afraid of that."
"So the guy faked his death. But why? His own family doesn't think he's dead. Who is he suppose to be dead for?"
"I'm faxing you an article about McBeal's drowning."
Larry waited until the fax finished and snatched it up. "It says he died October 20, 1992. Ally said the last time she saw him was in the spring of 1987. Something happened in those five years to cause him to pretend to be dead."
"Did Ally mention any thing about him being involved in the government?"
"Tom, she was a teenager when he left and he hasn't said a word about where he's been since he returned. Do you think the government has something to do with this? Maybe like a witness protection program?"
"It's possible. Here's a scenario I've been tossing around. For whatever reason, David is put under the government's care. The threat ends and he is able to return to his life, which in this case is returning to his sister."
Larry stared at the picture of him and Ally taken while in Hawaii. They both had on coconut bras and grass skirts but the outfit looked better on her. "So why all the secrecy? Why not just tell us what happened?"
"I don't know that one. You may need to ask David himself."
"I plan too. Are you heading back?"
"This afternoon."
"Good. Have a safe flight and send me the bill here."
"I will. Good luck."
The phone disconnected and Larry replaced it. He picked up the article and began to read. He was nearly done when the phone rang again.
"Larry Paul speaking."
"Mrs. Larry Paul calling."
Larry put the article down. "Hi, Honey. What's up?"
"Two things actually. Jamie called a few minutes ago. She said she was able to get Sam on an earlier flight so he would be here a couple of hours earlier."
"She called you? Why didn't she call me?"
"She said your line was busy."
Larry remembered the fax machine. "It was. I was on the phone and using the fax. I'll take care of Sam. You said two things."
"Yeah, David left to go see my parents. He should be back Sunday. Did Tom call?"
Marissa walked in and signaled him. "I got to go. I have a client that just arrived. I will fill you in tonight. Love you."
"You too."
Sam's arrival, as always, brought chaos. He and Maddie were thrilled to see each other and immediately went upstairs to catch up and to see if they could destroy each other in one of their new computer games. Ally picked up his bag from the door and began to carry it upstairs.
"Stop." Larry said as he came up behind her. "Let me."
"Larry, I'm perfectly capable of carrying this bag up those stairs."
"Sorry but your bag carrying days are over. You have enough to carry." He took the bag from her. "You think it's time?"
"No time like the present."
"I'll go get them."
A few minutes later Sam and Maddie joined Ally and Larry at the kitchen table.
"So what's the urgency?" asked Sam.
"Yeah?" chimed in Maddie.
Larry looked at Ally and took her hand. "We have some news to share."
Ally smiled at him and turned to the kids. "Some very big news. Sam, Maddie, how do you feel about having a baby brother or sister?"
Maddie and Sam looked at each other and then to Ally and Larry.
Larry chuckled. "That's right, guys. We are having a baby."
Excited, the kids began asking questions at once and Larry and Ally tried to answer them. Satisfied and pleased, they returned to their game.
Ally laid her head on the table. "Is that what a cyclone feels like?"
The next day was kids day and Larry and Ally geared up for a day of noise and junk food. Ally noticed the same man watching her several times during the day. At first she chalked it up to nerves. Larry had told her the previous night what he had found out. He showed her everything he had. She was furious, angrier than she had ever been in her life. She wanted to call her parents and speak to him but Larry convinced her to wait. What if he didn't go there after all? She would be opening a can of worms she couldn't handle. He would be back Sunday and then she would give her big brother a few choice words.
Ally had all but forgotten about the man when they returned that evening. Two movies, an arcade, and a host of other activities had worn out the kids and Ally. The kids were asleep very quickly. Larry massaged her feet.
"That feels so good."
"Maybe you over did it today."
Ally grinned. "I'm only a little bit pregnant."
"I think the kids were pleased about the baby."
Ally pulled her feet back and stood up. "I think they are more than just pleased. Sam wants to be my coach and Maddie wants to be in the delivery room." She disappeared into the bathroom and reappeared in her nightclothes. "As much as this is a family event, the only member of my family I want in there with me is you." She climbed into bed.
"Did you tell her that?" asked Larry as he undressed and climbed into bed.
"No, I figure if she persists, I'll figure something out."
Larry fixed his pillow and laid back. "When Jamie was pregnant, she made me watch one of those delivery tapes. It gave me a new appreciation for child birth."
Ally laughed. "Freaked you out that bad?"
"Let's just say Maddie won't ask again."
Ally cleared her throat. "How do you think Jamie will react?"
"For Sam's sake, she'll handle it like a pro."
"Are you going to let Sam spring it on her when he gets home?"
"Ally, I'm not going to coddle her through this. Her feelings about my life are not my concern. I told her about us getting married because that was sort of a surprise but this isn't. Besides, she may be over me and be pleased for us."
"Fat chance." Ally mumbled under her breath.
"I heard that."
Chapter 5
Ally joined Larry in the kitchen. He was loading the dishwasher.
"How are things going out there?"
"Great. Maddie is thrilled to meet her Uncle David." She wrapped her arms around him and leaned against his back. "I can't tell you how happy I am right now. David is back, I have this baby, Maddie, Sam, my career and most of all I have you."
Larry wiped his hands off and turned around. "And I have everything I ever wanted." He put his arms around her and they kissed.
"Hey Ally, do you have those. oops" He grinned. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt."
Maddie bounced in. "What did she say? Aw, jeez, my other friends parent's don't behave like this. Why can't you two be normal?"
Ally and Larry looked at each other.
"We never claimed to be normal, Maddie. Just in love," remarked Larry.
Maddie rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Mom, where are your old photo albums? Uncle David said there are some must-see pictures in there."
"They are in the attic."
"Great, I'll go get them."
Ally shook her head. "No, you won't. I'll go get them." Ally stepped out of Larry's embrace and headed towards the stairs. Maddie pulled David out of the kitchen, leaving Larry alone with his dishwasher. He started it and walked outside. He pulled out his cell phone and made a call.
"Hello."
"Tom? It's Larry."
"Larry, how are you?"
"I'm okay. How's Helena?"
"She's great."
"Tell her I said hello. I need a favor."
"Name it."
"I need to know what you can dig up on David George McBeal. He's Ally's brother."
Tom chuckled. "Isn't it the family that digs up dirt on the husband?"
"Not funny, Tom. The man has not been seen or heard from in 16 years. He seems nervous and jittery."
"Well, hell, after 16 years, anyone would be nervous. But seriously, what are you feeling?"
"That this guy is hiding something. Whenever someone asks him where he's been or what he's done, he changes the subject. He is defiantly hiding something. I'm not sure what but the idea of him bringing whatever it is near my family is making me nervous and jittery."
"Have you discussed this with Ally?"
He watched Ally look for him in the kitchen. "No. She can't see past the fact that he's back. I don't want to tell her my feelings until I have something to back them up."
"I'll get right on it."
"I appreciate it. Call me on the cell phone. Thanks again, Tom." Larry hung up and went back in the house. He found the three of them on the couch looking at old pictures of Ally in high school.
Maddie pointed to one. "Where was this taken?"
Ally smiled at the memory. "That was Billy and me at the prom. My mom took that picture. Gosh, I can't believe how young we were that night. After that night, my life was never the same."
"What do you mean?" asked Maddie.
Ally's eyes jerked to Larry, who had an amused look on his face.
"I just meant that a girl's prom night is one she never forgets. It was one of the best nights of my life."
Maddie looked down at the picture and then up at Larry. "Did you go to your prom too?"
Larry winked at Ally. "I did but I didn't have as much fun as Ally apparently did."
She scowled at him.
Much to the chagrin of Ally, David insisted on staying in a hotel and not at the house. But he came by each evening and he and Ally spent time catching up, although it was very much one sided.
"Why won't David talk to me about where he's been? It's been three days since he returned and I know nothing more than I did that day in my office. Why do I get the feeling that whatever it is he is hiding, it's not good? " Ally remarked to Larry in bed.
"Because you are very intuitive." He began to stroke her hair.
"Maybe I can hire a PI to do a little digging for me. No. What am I saying? I'm not going to investigate my brother." Ally realized that Larry had stopped playing with her hair and was tense. She had a bad feeling. "Larry, honey, did you do something?"
Larry briefly thought about lying to protect her but he couldn't do it. "I've had my suspicions from the beginning so I asked someone to check him out."
Ally sat up in the dark. "You hired someone to investigate my brother? How could you do that?"
Larry sat up. "What do you mean? You were thinking about it yourself."
"That's different."
"Why?"
"Because he's my brother."
"And you're my wife and Maddie is my daughter and I will do what I have to do to protect my family."
Ally was silent for a minute. "Do you think we are in need of protection from David?"
Larry thought back to a conversation he had with Tom the previous day.
"Larry, your brother-in-law is a dead man."
"Literally or figuratively, that does not sound good. What did you find?"
"A death certificate for a David George McBeal in Cape Hattaras, North Carolina."
"Are you sure about this?"
"A copy was faxed to me today. I'm leaving tonight for Cape Hattaras to investigate further. I don't like this, Larry."
"I don't either."
"Keep a close eye on your family. And don't leave them alone with David until I learn more."
"Don't worry, I have no intention of taking my eyes off of them."
Larry debated on telling her everything but decided to wait. After all, it could be another David McBeal. "I hope not but we don't know anything about where he's been or done. We should be cautious until Tom tells me something." He lay back down.
"Who's Tom?" asked Ally, still sitting up.
"A friend. Can we get some sleep now? Sam will be here tomorrow."
"You have never mentioned this Tom before."
"Why all the questions about him?"
"Because this person you have trusted to get information on my brother is a friend who wasn't at our wedding and whom you have never spoke of."
Larry groaned. "Ally, our wedding was last minute. There were several people I would have liked to invite but couldn't. Why is getting info on Tom so important to you?"
"Because for some reason not telling me is important to you."
"Fine, fine." Larry said and he sat back up. "Who needs sleep, anyway? I'll tell you all about Tom. He's a good friend who happens to be married to Helena."
"Your ex-wife Helena?"
"One and the same."
"How come I didn't know this?"
"Because it's about Helena and I know how you feel about the exes in my life."
Ally giggled and lay back in the bed. "Honey, it's Jamie I don't like. That's because she tried to come between us, twice if you'll recall. And it would be a little hypocritical of me to object to you being friends with your ex when I was not only friends with Billy but also his wife."
Larry lay back down. "So, you are okay with me being friends with Helena?"
"Larry, I'm fine with it. Also, it helps that she's happily married. She is happily, right?"
"Very happy. But a little jealousy wouldn't hurt."
Ally laughed into her pillow.
"Other women find me attractive. I'm a great catch."
"Good night, Larry."
Larry's office phone rang just before noon the following day. He took his eyes off a contract he was reviewing. "Larry Paul speaking."
"Larry, it's Tom."
Larry forgot about the contract. "What did you find?"
"I'm faxing you a picture right now of the man tied to the death certificate. Is he Ally's brother?"
Larry watched as his fax machine began to print out a picture. He only had to see the eyes to know. They were Ally's eyes. They were Maddie's eyes. When the fax finished printing, he picked up the piece of paper. "It's him."
Tom swore under his breath. "I was afraid of that."
"So the guy faked his death. But why? His own family doesn't think he's dead. Who is he suppose to be dead for?"
"I'm faxing you an article about McBeal's drowning."
Larry waited until the fax finished and snatched it up. "It says he died October 20, 1992. Ally said the last time she saw him was in the spring of 1987. Something happened in those five years to cause him to pretend to be dead."
"Did Ally mention any thing about him being involved in the government?"
"Tom, she was a teenager when he left and he hasn't said a word about where he's been since he returned. Do you think the government has something to do with this? Maybe like a witness protection program?"
"It's possible. Here's a scenario I've been tossing around. For whatever reason, David is put under the government's care. The threat ends and he is able to return to his life, which in this case is returning to his sister."
Larry stared at the picture of him and Ally taken while in Hawaii. They both had on coconut bras and grass skirts but the outfit looked better on her. "So why all the secrecy? Why not just tell us what happened?"
"I don't know that one. You may need to ask David himself."
"I plan too. Are you heading back?"
"This afternoon."
"Good. Have a safe flight and send me the bill here."
"I will. Good luck."
The phone disconnected and Larry replaced it. He picked up the article and began to read. He was nearly done when the phone rang again.
"Larry Paul speaking."
"Mrs. Larry Paul calling."
Larry put the article down. "Hi, Honey. What's up?"
"Two things actually. Jamie called a few minutes ago. She said she was able to get Sam on an earlier flight so he would be here a couple of hours earlier."
"She called you? Why didn't she call me?"
"She said your line was busy."
Larry remembered the fax machine. "It was. I was on the phone and using the fax. I'll take care of Sam. You said two things."
"Yeah, David left to go see my parents. He should be back Sunday. Did Tom call?"
Marissa walked in and signaled him. "I got to go. I have a client that just arrived. I will fill you in tonight. Love you."
"You too."
Sam's arrival, as always, brought chaos. He and Maddie were thrilled to see each other and immediately went upstairs to catch up and to see if they could destroy each other in one of their new computer games. Ally picked up his bag from the door and began to carry it upstairs.
"Stop." Larry said as he came up behind her. "Let me."
"Larry, I'm perfectly capable of carrying this bag up those stairs."
"Sorry but your bag carrying days are over. You have enough to carry." He took the bag from her. "You think it's time?"
"No time like the present."
"I'll go get them."
A few minutes later Sam and Maddie joined Ally and Larry at the kitchen table.
"So what's the urgency?" asked Sam.
"Yeah?" chimed in Maddie.
Larry looked at Ally and took her hand. "We have some news to share."
Ally smiled at him and turned to the kids. "Some very big news. Sam, Maddie, how do you feel about having a baby brother or sister?"
Maddie and Sam looked at each other and then to Ally and Larry.
Larry chuckled. "That's right, guys. We are having a baby."
Excited, the kids began asking questions at once and Larry and Ally tried to answer them. Satisfied and pleased, they returned to their game.
Ally laid her head on the table. "Is that what a cyclone feels like?"
The next day was kids day and Larry and Ally geared up for a day of noise and junk food. Ally noticed the same man watching her several times during the day. At first she chalked it up to nerves. Larry had told her the previous night what he had found out. He showed her everything he had. She was furious, angrier than she had ever been in her life. She wanted to call her parents and speak to him but Larry convinced her to wait. What if he didn't go there after all? She would be opening a can of worms she couldn't handle. He would be back Sunday and then she would give her big brother a few choice words.
Ally had all but forgotten about the man when they returned that evening. Two movies, an arcade, and a host of other activities had worn out the kids and Ally. The kids were asleep very quickly. Larry massaged her feet.
"That feels so good."
"Maybe you over did it today."
Ally grinned. "I'm only a little bit pregnant."
"I think the kids were pleased about the baby."
Ally pulled her feet back and stood up. "I think they are more than just pleased. Sam wants to be my coach and Maddie wants to be in the delivery room." She disappeared into the bathroom and reappeared in her nightclothes. "As much as this is a family event, the only member of my family I want in there with me is you." She climbed into bed.
"Did you tell her that?" asked Larry as he undressed and climbed into bed.
"No, I figure if she persists, I'll figure something out."
Larry fixed his pillow and laid back. "When Jamie was pregnant, she made me watch one of those delivery tapes. It gave me a new appreciation for child birth."
Ally laughed. "Freaked you out that bad?"
"Let's just say Maddie won't ask again."
Ally cleared her throat. "How do you think Jamie will react?"
"For Sam's sake, she'll handle it like a pro."
"Are you going to let Sam spring it on her when he gets home?"
"Ally, I'm not going to coddle her through this. Her feelings about my life are not my concern. I told her about us getting married because that was sort of a surprise but this isn't. Besides, she may be over me and be pleased for us."
"Fat chance." Ally mumbled under her breath.
"I heard that."