Chapter 2
"Sure you don't want another pancake, Pop!"
Rick grinned and sat back from the table, "Honey, I'll bust if I have one more, they are so good! Laurie, do you want another one?"
"Oh, Robin, much as I'd love to, four is my limit", her mother laughed.
Immediately a whimpering sound was heard from under the table, and Robin giggled. "Here Mikey, your Dad didn't want it!"
Flipping the treat into his dish, she insisted on picking up her folks plates, then teased, "Mom, somebody left you a love letter, wonder whom it's from?"
Puzzled, Laurie glanced at her daughter, then at her place, where an card-shaped envelope rested.
"What? Rick, is this for me?" she questioned. Smiling at her, he nodded, "Go on, darlin', open it up!"
Slitting the envelope, she looked inside to find a colored certificate, and brochure. "Santa Barbara Ocean Inn? Oh Rick, you didn't, the bridal suite!"
"Yes, sweetheart!" he said, then opened his arms, as she went into his embrace. "I can't believe it, you booked us a second honeymoon!" she exclaimed, beaming at her husband.
"I didn't want to wait until our next anniversary, Laurie. I wanted to go away with my bride before we got involved with all the hoopla for the cultural center." Rick said, kissing her.
"Well, Pop, I think it's very romantic, Santa Barbara has so much stuff to do and see. When you guys go on your trip, I'll go stay with Uncle A.J. and Auntie Linda, I can help take care of the baby." Robin offered, as she kissed her parents.
"Thank you, honey, you think of the nicest things!" her mother answered, giving her hand a squeeze. As their daughter vanished into the kitchen, Laurie slid onto Rick's lap. "Darling, thank you for thinking of this!
I've always wanted to go to Santa Barbara and see the Mission, watch the dolphins play out in the surf."
She kissed him, as he replied, "I didn't know you've never been, but I love you, darlin', you do so much for everybody, it's my turn to take you some place special!"
Unfortunately the moment of togetherness was interrupted by the ringing of the telephone. Ignoring Rick's broad hint to let the machine pick up, Laurie picked up the extension. "Simon Residence, hey, A.J., how's Linda!" "She's fine, Laurie, listen, I need to talk to Rick, is he still there?" the younger brother asked.
Handing the phone to her husband, she took her certificate and went to put it in a safe place, as Rick said, "A.J., what's up?"
"Plenty, Rick, that scumbag Matthews got himself a parole hearing, he's supposed to be in for twenty to life, only he claims he's born again and wants a new start. Some bleeding heart attorney claims he should be heard, so they scheduled a hearing for next month!" the younger Simon told him angrily.
Uttering a few choice words, Rick paused to see where his wife was, then lowered his voice. "Listen, A.J., I was going to take Laurie on a second honeymoon next month to Santa Barbara, I think I'll move it up to right before the hearing. That way she's out of harm's way and we get our minds off the case!
Letting out a deep breath, his brother agreed. "That's a good idea, Rick. This way she won't be dreading the appearance. I'll get all the particulars from the Attorney General's office, plus I'll call Oscar and Rudy. Rick, we also have to let Robbie know, since he helped bust the creep!"
Ok, you take care of that and I'll take care of Laurie!" Rick snickered, then laughed when A.J. said, "Oh, that's hard duty!"
"Listen, little brother, whatever you do, don't tell her, I'll figure out a way to let her know so she'll be careful, without making her worry!" he added.
Just then Laurie and Robin came into the room, Robin all ready to go to work. Bidding her father and mother a quick goodbye, she yelled a hello to her uncle then went out the front door.
"Ok, A.J., Laurie and I are starting for the office in a few, so we'll see you there." Rick hurriedly signed off. Hanging up the phone, he gazed at his girl, busy filling Mike's water dish, then felt a shiver go through him.
Impulsively he put his arms around her, as she straightened up, and holding her close, whispered, "I love you, my angel."
"I love you too, darling!" Laurie returned, moved by his words. Turning in the circle of his arms, she was startled to see worry in his eyes. "What is it, Rick, has something happened? Please tell me, I don't want you holding everything in!"
Realizing he couldn't withhold the danger posed by the upcoming parole hearing, Rick walked her to the living room, then sitting down, pulled her into his arms and told her of the court appearance.
"Oh, no, Rick, that's not right!" she gasped, then held tight to him as he stroked her hair. "I know, sweetheart, but it's going to be ok. We just have to be careful, he's not stupid enough to try another killing, but just in case!"
Letting out a sigh, Laurie kissed him, saying, "You're right, darling. We'll be ok, now let's go to work and make sure he doesn't win by changing our lives around!"
"Is that a request, Mrs. Simon", he grinned, letting her stand up.
"You better believe it, Mr. Simon!" she giggled, letting him lock up the house then walk her out to the truck.
Just as they were about to pull out, a honking noise was heard, and Laurie spotted Oscar's jeep coming down the road.
"He's back, Rick, I wonder what's up?" she said, surprised that her uncle was back from Washington, having been scheduled to testify before Congress.
Waiting until he pulled up next to them, Laurie was concerned by the worried look on his face as he got out. "Oscar, you're back early, is anything wrong?"
"Honey, nothing's wrong, just anxious to see my girl!" he smiled, waiting until she got out of the truck then embracing her. Rick climbed out, then hugged the big man. "Well, I'm glad you're back, but I have a feeling something's up?"
Oscar sighed, "You're right, things are going on! Did you get a call from A.J. about that Matthews hearing?"
"Yes, Oscar, A.J. called this morning. It's ok, we're just going to be careful for a while, that's all!" Rick assured him.
Seeing how Rick was downplaying the seriousness of the threat, Oscar nodded. "You're right, I just don't like surprises and this was not the kind I like my family to have to worry about!"
"Oh, Oscar I love you!" Laurie beamed, then kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry you had to come back early, but I did miss you! Robin even forgot and made extra pancakes, Mike ended up finishing them off!"
"How do you like that!" he groused, poking his nephew. "Beaten to the best pancakes in town by a dog!"
"Sure you don't want another pancake, Pop!"
Rick grinned and sat back from the table, "Honey, I'll bust if I have one more, they are so good! Laurie, do you want another one?"
"Oh, Robin, much as I'd love to, four is my limit", her mother laughed.
Immediately a whimpering sound was heard from under the table, and Robin giggled. "Here Mikey, your Dad didn't want it!"
Flipping the treat into his dish, she insisted on picking up her folks plates, then teased, "Mom, somebody left you a love letter, wonder whom it's from?"
Puzzled, Laurie glanced at her daughter, then at her place, where an card-shaped envelope rested.
"What? Rick, is this for me?" she questioned. Smiling at her, he nodded, "Go on, darlin', open it up!"
Slitting the envelope, she looked inside to find a colored certificate, and brochure. "Santa Barbara Ocean Inn? Oh Rick, you didn't, the bridal suite!"
"Yes, sweetheart!" he said, then opened his arms, as she went into his embrace. "I can't believe it, you booked us a second honeymoon!" she exclaimed, beaming at her husband.
"I didn't want to wait until our next anniversary, Laurie. I wanted to go away with my bride before we got involved with all the hoopla for the cultural center." Rick said, kissing her.
"Well, Pop, I think it's very romantic, Santa Barbara has so much stuff to do and see. When you guys go on your trip, I'll go stay with Uncle A.J. and Auntie Linda, I can help take care of the baby." Robin offered, as she kissed her parents.
"Thank you, honey, you think of the nicest things!" her mother answered, giving her hand a squeeze. As their daughter vanished into the kitchen, Laurie slid onto Rick's lap. "Darling, thank you for thinking of this!
I've always wanted to go to Santa Barbara and see the Mission, watch the dolphins play out in the surf."
She kissed him, as he replied, "I didn't know you've never been, but I love you, darlin', you do so much for everybody, it's my turn to take you some place special!"
Unfortunately the moment of togetherness was interrupted by the ringing of the telephone. Ignoring Rick's broad hint to let the machine pick up, Laurie picked up the extension. "Simon Residence, hey, A.J., how's Linda!" "She's fine, Laurie, listen, I need to talk to Rick, is he still there?" the younger brother asked.
Handing the phone to her husband, she took her certificate and went to put it in a safe place, as Rick said, "A.J., what's up?"
"Plenty, Rick, that scumbag Matthews got himself a parole hearing, he's supposed to be in for twenty to life, only he claims he's born again and wants a new start. Some bleeding heart attorney claims he should be heard, so they scheduled a hearing for next month!" the younger Simon told him angrily.
Uttering a few choice words, Rick paused to see where his wife was, then lowered his voice. "Listen, A.J., I was going to take Laurie on a second honeymoon next month to Santa Barbara, I think I'll move it up to right before the hearing. That way she's out of harm's way and we get our minds off the case!
Letting out a deep breath, his brother agreed. "That's a good idea, Rick. This way she won't be dreading the appearance. I'll get all the particulars from the Attorney General's office, plus I'll call Oscar and Rudy. Rick, we also have to let Robbie know, since he helped bust the creep!"
Ok, you take care of that and I'll take care of Laurie!" Rick snickered, then laughed when A.J. said, "Oh, that's hard duty!"
"Listen, little brother, whatever you do, don't tell her, I'll figure out a way to let her know so she'll be careful, without making her worry!" he added.
Just then Laurie and Robin came into the room, Robin all ready to go to work. Bidding her father and mother a quick goodbye, she yelled a hello to her uncle then went out the front door.
"Ok, A.J., Laurie and I are starting for the office in a few, so we'll see you there." Rick hurriedly signed off. Hanging up the phone, he gazed at his girl, busy filling Mike's water dish, then felt a shiver go through him.
Impulsively he put his arms around her, as she straightened up, and holding her close, whispered, "I love you, my angel."
"I love you too, darling!" Laurie returned, moved by his words. Turning in the circle of his arms, she was startled to see worry in his eyes. "What is it, Rick, has something happened? Please tell me, I don't want you holding everything in!"
Realizing he couldn't withhold the danger posed by the upcoming parole hearing, Rick walked her to the living room, then sitting down, pulled her into his arms and told her of the court appearance.
"Oh, no, Rick, that's not right!" she gasped, then held tight to him as he stroked her hair. "I know, sweetheart, but it's going to be ok. We just have to be careful, he's not stupid enough to try another killing, but just in case!"
Letting out a sigh, Laurie kissed him, saying, "You're right, darling. We'll be ok, now let's go to work and make sure he doesn't win by changing our lives around!"
"Is that a request, Mrs. Simon", he grinned, letting her stand up.
"You better believe it, Mr. Simon!" she giggled, letting him lock up the house then walk her out to the truck.
Just as they were about to pull out, a honking noise was heard, and Laurie spotted Oscar's jeep coming down the road.
"He's back, Rick, I wonder what's up?" she said, surprised that her uncle was back from Washington, having been scheduled to testify before Congress.
Waiting until he pulled up next to them, Laurie was concerned by the worried look on his face as he got out. "Oscar, you're back early, is anything wrong?"
"Honey, nothing's wrong, just anxious to see my girl!" he smiled, waiting until she got out of the truck then embracing her. Rick climbed out, then hugged the big man. "Well, I'm glad you're back, but I have a feeling something's up?"
Oscar sighed, "You're right, things are going on! Did you get a call from A.J. about that Matthews hearing?"
"Yes, Oscar, A.J. called this morning. It's ok, we're just going to be careful for a while, that's all!" Rick assured him.
Seeing how Rick was downplaying the seriousness of the threat, Oscar nodded. "You're right, I just don't like surprises and this was not the kind I like my family to have to worry about!"
"Oh, Oscar I love you!" Laurie beamed, then kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry you had to come back early, but I did miss you! Robin even forgot and made extra pancakes, Mike ended up finishing them off!"
"How do you like that!" he groused, poking his nephew. "Beaten to the best pancakes in town by a dog!"