Chapter 2
Rick thought things had gone too smooth, as he told his brother while they did paperwork the next day. "I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, A.J. I talked to George, Laurie's lawyer this morning. He thinks she's ok on legal grounds, but that the Chicago booksellers may claim that they would lose too much business if she cancels the one appearance they scheduled for her. At least she's protected there, she has no legal contract with them."
A.J. shook his head. "Rick, I can't believe Linden House never bothered to cover her security or her personal arrangements. At least she can get the word out on what went down on Temple's show today!"
Scarcely had he gotten the words out of his mouth when the phone rang. Picking up the extension, he answered, "Simon & Simon Investigations."
Finishing his notes, Rick looked up to see a worried look cross his brother's face, then his tone deepened. "Honey, it'll be all right, did you talk to George?" There was a moment of listening, then he handed the phone to Rick. "It's Laurie, she's upset, Rick. Just stay calm."
Concerned, Rick took the receiver. "Sweetheart, I'm here. What happened at Temple's show?" "Rick, the Chicago bookstore representatives came to the taping; they said they were going to sue me and Linden House for my last minute cancellation. When I got a hold of George and he came down, he told them I had never originally agreed to the date and had no contract with them.
That's when they pulled out the arrangements they had made already, with a charity to sell tickets and everything. George told them how I was threatened and that there was no security arrangements made, so they said they had hired people and didn't know why Linden House didn't tell me." Laurie paused. The older Simon knew without saying what she was going to say.
"I have to go to Chicago on Friday, they had people in the audience already who were going to make a fuss if I don't. George says I had grounds to refuse, but the publicity and trouble, I couldn't put everyone through that, Rick."
Rick scowled, "Laurie, we have to talk, I don't care what those people threatened, you said you weren't going to go!"
"I know, darling, Temple even brought up my reasons for canceling originally, but I told the audience I was attending just the one event for charity. The only good thing is that Temple's going to go with me, she already spoke to Towne." she added.
Rick knew he should feel relieved, he trusted Temple and knew Laurie would have someone to back her up. But all he could see was his wife giving in to a threat of bad publicity, and it burned him up that he wasn't consulted before she decided.
"All right, you made your decision, I guess you're doing what you have to do. I have to finish this paperwork, I'll see you tonight." he finished, ready to hang up.
"Rick?" he heard her voice, quavering. "What, Laurie?" "I'm sorry. I love you and I've never broken a promise before to you, and I never will. I'll see you at home." she sniffed.
His heart sank; there was no way he would end the call on her being so upset. "Sweetheart, I know you're sorry, we'll talk about it at home, ok? I love you too." he managed.
He heard her sniff again, then she said softly, "Thank you, darling, I'm ok now. Give my love to A.J."
Replacing the phone on the receiver, he looked up to see a proud look on his brother's face. "What?" he asked, then realized he had tears in his eyes.
"You, big brother, you came through in the clutch. Laurie kept saying you were going to be angry, that she's never broken a promise to you. She was sandbagged, Rick. I can't believe someone would do that to her, but you made her feel better." A.J. smiled at him, then handed him a Kleenex.
"A.J., I couldn't stay angry with her in a million years, I just don't like her giving in to emotional blackmail like that. I know she's not afraid of bad publicity, it's the fact that she decided without calling me first that bugs me. We'll talk it out tonight." he told him, wiping his eyes.
"Well, just for that I'll buy lunch!" A.J. beamed, then laughed as his brother replied, "Gee, it's a good thing Laurie and I hardly ever fight, otherwise I'd never have to open my wallet around you!"
"Why do I feel like this is the prelude to "The High and The Mighty?" Rick pretended to grumble, a couple days later.
"Because you hate airport goodbyes, darling!" Laurie smiled, then hugged him as they stood in line at the gate. Because of icy conditions, her flight had been delayed an hour now, so Rick was glad he had decided to wait with her.
Heck, he was glad about a lot of things now that they had talked about her trip to Chicago. When Rick had gone home, he was unprepared for the depth of her feelings about having been forced into going to the Windy City. Taking her in his arms, she had clung to him and told him how the so-called fans had acted.
"Rick, I've never seen anything like it-I must have been dreaming to think anyone had ever gotten anything out of Grandmother's stories!" she said, despairingly. "Darlin', maybe you've been lucky, but most authors have lots of times like this; people are funny that way.
I'm angry that they blackmailed you into this. I didn't realize my girl was up against so much, I would have gone with you!" he had replied, comforting her.
She had taken a deep breath, then gazing at him, finally smiled. "I love you, I'll be ok, just didn't expect to get treated like this!"
Then and there Rick had decided to make the trip as positive as possible, so at least she wouldn't go into it miserable. While she was gathering eggs in the barn that morning, he had stuffed her tote bag with her favorite snacks, plus an early Christmas present, a transmitter pendant that Chief Joseph had designed with Rudy's help.
He had even gotten up early to make her tea, as she wouldn't have anything to eat until after they landed. "Mr. Simon, I think I'll keep you!" she had laughed when he surprised her in bed with the hot drink.
"Flight 182, ready to board, Gate 5, first call." the announcement broke into his thoughts. Looking around, he saw Temple Brown rushing down the corridor, then realized it was time to leave.
"Sweetheart, you call me when you and Temple check in, all right? I'll be at the office, then I'll have lunch with Robin and make sure she has her ticket for tomorrow." Rick reminded her. Stroking her hair, he softly said, "I love you, you be careful and stay with Temple until Robin meets you tomorrow, capice?"
Laurie's eyes were wet, but she still grinned at him, "And you behave yourself, remember Oscar and Rudy will be home tonight; Steve's going to fly them in. Robin's going to lay in a bunch of dinners for you and the guys, I expect to see them eaten, sir, when I get home Monday!"
Exchanging kisses, he released her to pick up her carryon, then turned to greet Temple. "I could have stood here for a year before either of you noticed me!" she complained, laughing.
"Oh, I'd have noticed, hon, you look like a model!" Rick smirked, as Laurie hugged her. "Flattery will get you anything, Mister!" the broadcaster returned, then looked at his wife. "Don't worry, Rick, I'll take care of my buddy. You just call Towne when you get to the office. Come on, sweetie, time to go!" she nudged Laurie, who was clinging to his hand. "Ok, Temple." she managed, then turning to her husband, kissed him, saying, "I love you, darling, I'll call you in a couple of hours!" Nuzzling her neck with his kiss, Rick whispered, "I love you too, Laurie, talk to you later, gator!"
"In a while, crocodile!" she giggled, then let go to walk to the gate behind her friend. Stopping at the doorway, she whirled and blew him a kiss, then disappeared down the hall.
Watching as the plane backed away then went down the runway, Rick felt for his handkerchief and pulled it out to blow his nose. As he went to put it away, he felt something inside it, and opened it to find a little note.
Unfolding the paper, he teared up when he saw that Laurie had drawn a "do you love me, check yes or no" note like he'd seen in school.
She had marked the yes, then underneath had written, "Always." Staring down at it, he figured out she had folded it inside when they'd gotten up this morning.
"Pop?" Rick realized a familiar voice was calling him, then he turned and saw Robbie coming toward him. "Hey, son, you just missed your mom!" he returned, then hugged him.
"Yeah, I know, but I figured you might want to have some breakfast before you went to the office?" the young deputy suggested. His father looked at him, then smiled. "Sure, Robbie, us men need to stick to get when the women leave town!"
Rick thought things had gone too smooth, as he told his brother while they did paperwork the next day. "I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, A.J. I talked to George, Laurie's lawyer this morning. He thinks she's ok on legal grounds, but that the Chicago booksellers may claim that they would lose too much business if she cancels the one appearance they scheduled for her. At least she's protected there, she has no legal contract with them."
A.J. shook his head. "Rick, I can't believe Linden House never bothered to cover her security or her personal arrangements. At least she can get the word out on what went down on Temple's show today!"
Scarcely had he gotten the words out of his mouth when the phone rang. Picking up the extension, he answered, "Simon & Simon Investigations."
Finishing his notes, Rick looked up to see a worried look cross his brother's face, then his tone deepened. "Honey, it'll be all right, did you talk to George?" There was a moment of listening, then he handed the phone to Rick. "It's Laurie, she's upset, Rick. Just stay calm."
Concerned, Rick took the receiver. "Sweetheart, I'm here. What happened at Temple's show?" "Rick, the Chicago bookstore representatives came to the taping; they said they were going to sue me and Linden House for my last minute cancellation. When I got a hold of George and he came down, he told them I had never originally agreed to the date and had no contract with them.
That's when they pulled out the arrangements they had made already, with a charity to sell tickets and everything. George told them how I was threatened and that there was no security arrangements made, so they said they had hired people and didn't know why Linden House didn't tell me." Laurie paused. The older Simon knew without saying what she was going to say.
"I have to go to Chicago on Friday, they had people in the audience already who were going to make a fuss if I don't. George says I had grounds to refuse, but the publicity and trouble, I couldn't put everyone through that, Rick."
Rick scowled, "Laurie, we have to talk, I don't care what those people threatened, you said you weren't going to go!"
"I know, darling, Temple even brought up my reasons for canceling originally, but I told the audience I was attending just the one event for charity. The only good thing is that Temple's going to go with me, she already spoke to Towne." she added.
Rick knew he should feel relieved, he trusted Temple and knew Laurie would have someone to back her up. But all he could see was his wife giving in to a threat of bad publicity, and it burned him up that he wasn't consulted before she decided.
"All right, you made your decision, I guess you're doing what you have to do. I have to finish this paperwork, I'll see you tonight." he finished, ready to hang up.
"Rick?" he heard her voice, quavering. "What, Laurie?" "I'm sorry. I love you and I've never broken a promise before to you, and I never will. I'll see you at home." she sniffed.
His heart sank; there was no way he would end the call on her being so upset. "Sweetheart, I know you're sorry, we'll talk about it at home, ok? I love you too." he managed.
He heard her sniff again, then she said softly, "Thank you, darling, I'm ok now. Give my love to A.J."
Replacing the phone on the receiver, he looked up to see a proud look on his brother's face. "What?" he asked, then realized he had tears in his eyes.
"You, big brother, you came through in the clutch. Laurie kept saying you were going to be angry, that she's never broken a promise to you. She was sandbagged, Rick. I can't believe someone would do that to her, but you made her feel better." A.J. smiled at him, then handed him a Kleenex.
"A.J., I couldn't stay angry with her in a million years, I just don't like her giving in to emotional blackmail like that. I know she's not afraid of bad publicity, it's the fact that she decided without calling me first that bugs me. We'll talk it out tonight." he told him, wiping his eyes.
"Well, just for that I'll buy lunch!" A.J. beamed, then laughed as his brother replied, "Gee, it's a good thing Laurie and I hardly ever fight, otherwise I'd never have to open my wallet around you!"
"Why do I feel like this is the prelude to "The High and The Mighty?" Rick pretended to grumble, a couple days later.
"Because you hate airport goodbyes, darling!" Laurie smiled, then hugged him as they stood in line at the gate. Because of icy conditions, her flight had been delayed an hour now, so Rick was glad he had decided to wait with her.
Heck, he was glad about a lot of things now that they had talked about her trip to Chicago. When Rick had gone home, he was unprepared for the depth of her feelings about having been forced into going to the Windy City. Taking her in his arms, she had clung to him and told him how the so-called fans had acted.
"Rick, I've never seen anything like it-I must have been dreaming to think anyone had ever gotten anything out of Grandmother's stories!" she said, despairingly. "Darlin', maybe you've been lucky, but most authors have lots of times like this; people are funny that way.
I'm angry that they blackmailed you into this. I didn't realize my girl was up against so much, I would have gone with you!" he had replied, comforting her.
She had taken a deep breath, then gazing at him, finally smiled. "I love you, I'll be ok, just didn't expect to get treated like this!"
Then and there Rick had decided to make the trip as positive as possible, so at least she wouldn't go into it miserable. While she was gathering eggs in the barn that morning, he had stuffed her tote bag with her favorite snacks, plus an early Christmas present, a transmitter pendant that Chief Joseph had designed with Rudy's help.
He had even gotten up early to make her tea, as she wouldn't have anything to eat until after they landed. "Mr. Simon, I think I'll keep you!" she had laughed when he surprised her in bed with the hot drink.
"Flight 182, ready to board, Gate 5, first call." the announcement broke into his thoughts. Looking around, he saw Temple Brown rushing down the corridor, then realized it was time to leave.
"Sweetheart, you call me when you and Temple check in, all right? I'll be at the office, then I'll have lunch with Robin and make sure she has her ticket for tomorrow." Rick reminded her. Stroking her hair, he softly said, "I love you, you be careful and stay with Temple until Robin meets you tomorrow, capice?"
Laurie's eyes were wet, but she still grinned at him, "And you behave yourself, remember Oscar and Rudy will be home tonight; Steve's going to fly them in. Robin's going to lay in a bunch of dinners for you and the guys, I expect to see them eaten, sir, when I get home Monday!"
Exchanging kisses, he released her to pick up her carryon, then turned to greet Temple. "I could have stood here for a year before either of you noticed me!" she complained, laughing.
"Oh, I'd have noticed, hon, you look like a model!" Rick smirked, as Laurie hugged her. "Flattery will get you anything, Mister!" the broadcaster returned, then looked at his wife. "Don't worry, Rick, I'll take care of my buddy. You just call Towne when you get to the office. Come on, sweetie, time to go!" she nudged Laurie, who was clinging to his hand. "Ok, Temple." she managed, then turning to her husband, kissed him, saying, "I love you, darling, I'll call you in a couple of hours!" Nuzzling her neck with his kiss, Rick whispered, "I love you too, Laurie, talk to you later, gator!"
"In a while, crocodile!" she giggled, then let go to walk to the gate behind her friend. Stopping at the doorway, she whirled and blew him a kiss, then disappeared down the hall.
Watching as the plane backed away then went down the runway, Rick felt for his handkerchief and pulled it out to blow his nose. As he went to put it away, he felt something inside it, and opened it to find a little note.
Unfolding the paper, he teared up when he saw that Laurie had drawn a "do you love me, check yes or no" note like he'd seen in school.
She had marked the yes, then underneath had written, "Always." Staring down at it, he figured out she had folded it inside when they'd gotten up this morning.
"Pop?" Rick realized a familiar voice was calling him, then he turned and saw Robbie coming toward him. "Hey, son, you just missed your mom!" he returned, then hugged him.
"Yeah, I know, but I figured you might want to have some breakfast before you went to the office?" the young deputy suggested. His father looked at him, then smiled. "Sure, Robbie, us men need to stick to get when the women leave town!"