CHAPTER 14—CLEANING HOUSE
"So, do you ever miss it at all?"
"Nope. Not a bit. I haven't looked back, and I'm perfectly happy."
Loralei sat in the park enjoying a nice warm spring day. Rachel, who was almost a hearty six months old, rested comfortably in the crook of her mother's arm. She was a happy child and often giggled. Just like her mommy, Donovan had said dozens of times. Her hair was as black as coal, and Loralei realized that she was beginning to look like her father more and more. The baby was growing up so fast, and she had gurgled something that had made a nodding acquaintance to "da." Of course, her husband was thrilled. I think she's trying to say 'Da Da.' Wishful thinking, you jerk, she's trying to say 'Ma Ma.' When breaking from her studying, Loralei often brought Rachel out to the clean, green park. It was a nice change from the grittiness of the city. Alex had met her here for a brief lunch, and of course, to share gossip as well. She hadn't seen much of Alex since Director Casey was carried away, cursing, bleeding, and limping the entire time. What she hadn't done to him, Donovan had. She often thought back to how she had stood and watched Donovan beating the director. She had no idea why it disturbed her. The bastard had absolutely deserved it. Every now and then, those thoughts bothered her to the point of keeping her awake at night. What she couldn't deal with on her own, she dealt with through therapy and a very supportive husband. She hadn't realized how much shit she had to work out.
With the FBI up in arms over the mental breakdown of their director, Loralei hadn't been able to resign as quickly as she wanted. She had had to travel all the way to D.C. to testify in front of several stoic FBI head honchos, and would also have to go to trial. Yippie, more court testimony in another psycho murder case. When does the fun end? After she was grilled to the letter by the upper echelon of the Bureau, she was offered a heart-stopping deal. Since Casey would obviously lose his position, Lee Fielder was promoted and became the new director. Loralei was offered Fielder's old job. She gave it perhaps four seconds of thought before spitting, 'thanks, but no thanks.' She had walked out and flew back home to be with her daughter and husband. As she had told Alex, she hadn't looked back since. She wanted to focus her energies on her old life.
Loralei gave Alex a sideways glance. "So, I heard that you and Farron split up. What about Jake? What's up with that?"
Alex laughed and shook her head. "Give it up, will you? It didn't work out with Farron, and maybe Jake was a little right about him, but so what? Jake is a friend, Loralei, stop bugging me about it. We made up and we're playing nice, but nothing more."
She smiled a little. "He is adorable, you know. I'd love to see you together, I really would. You gots that special chemistry. Come on, just between us girls, don't you think he has a cute ass?"
"Oh my God. Here we go again," Alex said incredulously. "If your old man could hear you talk…Jesus, drop it already. You have been harping at me for months now." She sighed and then laughed quietly behind her hand. "His ass is cute."
"Ah ha," she cried triumphantly. "I knew it. Come on, Alex, let me play cupid. Try it out, see if you like it."
She groaned. "Oh shit, you have a dirty mind. He's a man, not a car."
"Who's not a car? Please don't tell me you're calling me a machine again."
Loralei looked up as she saw Donovan approaching. "Your ego is at work again, dear husband," she said as she handed Rachel over to him. "We weren't even thinking about you," she said with a smile.
He smiled a little before placing a gentle kiss on Rachel's cheek. She returned the favor by smacking her daddy on the nose. "Ow," he said as he caressed his hurt nose. "I think you two have her plotting against me."
"First a egoist and now you're paranoid."
He stuck his tongue out at his wife and Rachel tried to grab it. When she missed, she spat out an infuriated 'uh' before promptly smacking her daddy's nose a second time. Both Loralei and Alex were in hysterics by that time. "Glad you find my discomfort funny," he said, not unkindly. Actually, Rachel's swats were no more than gentle taps, but it amused her to no end to slap his nose.
When Alex calmed down a little, she stood up suddenly and stretched. "Well, looks like I need to get back to the grind."
"Glad you could make it, Alex. Remember what I said. Try it, you might like it."
"Shut up," she called comically before walking away.
Donovan took Alex's vacated seat beside Loralei. Rachel suddenly decided she'd rather lie quietly against Daddy instead of continuing her nose slapping game. He leaned toward Loralei and placed a soft kiss on her mouth. "What was that all about," he asked with a lifted eyebrow.
"Nothing, just a little girl talk." Rachel was trying to nod off to sleep. "If she starts doing that eyebrow thing when she gets older, you will never procreate with me again," she teased.
"Are you finished for the day," he asked suddenly as he shifted his arm to support his sleeping daughter.
"Yeah. This is my short day. Why do you ask?"
He smiled a little. "I thought of playing hooky for the rest of the day. There's something I'd like to show you."
She grinned wickedly. "I like the sound of that."
"No, not that. Maybe I'll do that later. This is something else, something I've been planning for a few days. Are you up for it?"
"You're such a tease, Frank Donovan. I suppose you'll drag me along regardless of what I say, won't you?" She sighed dramatically. "Okay, baby, whatever. Let's go."
* * *
Loralei and Donovan rode in silence for what seemed like a dry age. Every now and then, Loralei glanced toward the back. Rachel had fallen asleep in her car seat. She turned back around in her seat and took Donovan's free hand into hers. "So, what's the big mystery?" They had driven totally out of the city and appeared to be heading toward the 'burbs.
He caressed her hand with his thumb. "You'll see when we get there," he said with a grin. "I just hope you like what you see."
"Well," she said smiling, "if I see you in it naked some time or another, I'll like it fine, I'm sure."
"Now who's the tease?" Checking his mirrors, he pulled over to the side of the road and put the car in park. He leaned toward his wife and kissed her forehead. "Here comes the 'surprise' part of this. What I'm about to do will freak you out, but trust me."
She gazed at him curiously. "Freak me out? What are you going to do? Turn into a werewolf?"
He shook his head. "Nope." He opened the console between them and dug out a black silk mask. He held it out to her. "You must put this on first."
With a wry smile dancing upon her lips, she reached out and took the mask. "Kinky. What else do you have? Whips? Chains?"
He sighed in mock annoyance. "Put on the damn mask, LD, or we stay right here."
She laughed. "Oh, you're breaking out the secret code names now, huh FD?" She giggled uncontrollably as she slipped the mask over her head and pulled it down over her eyes. He cut off her giggles with an unexpected kiss. "Oooooh, what a turn on! The next time we make love, can I wear this?"
He shook his head incredulously and put the car in gear. "Jesus, Loralei." He pulled the car out into traffic again. "If you want to experiment a little, I don't mind."
"Didn't think you would."
She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. She hated it when she couldn't see where she was going. They traveled for what seemed like an eon before the car came to a halt. She listened as Donovan left the car to retrieve Rachel from the car seat. He then approached the passenger side and opened the door.
"Give me your hand and I'll lead you in."
"FD, this is weird," she said. "If you make me fall, I'll never forgive you."
He laughed. "My love, you won't fall, I promise. Give me your hand."
Uncertain, she placed her hand in his and he helped her get out of the car. Slowly, he led her forward and told her when to stop, step up, and so on. Her shoes clacked on what appeared to be hardwood floors. She smelled cleaning fluid, furniture polish, and glass cleaner.
"Okay, you can take off the mask."
Loralei reached up and removed it. She stood in the middle of a huge room with glistening hardwood floors. Surrounding her on each side was a series of ceiling to floor windows. A spiral staircase led to the second floor and she noticed that it had an open ceiling appearance. She turned and saw a large kitchen with brand new appliances. On the other side of her was another gigantic room that was probably a den. It was lovely and bright.
"Frank, what is this," she asked, stunned.
"It could be our house if you want it," he said with a smile.
"Oh my God," she whispered. "It's gorgeous."
"There is a bathtub on the second floor with hot tub capabilities."
She looked over at him and noticed his eyes were gleaming wickedly. "SOLD!"
* * *
THE END!!!!! Next on the agenda is a fluff fic related to this last chapter. I appreciated the feedback, and I thank all of you for following yet one more Donovan adventure!!!!