Chapter 1

"I know what you're thinking, Rick, and she'll be here any moment." Rick started up guiltily, then grinned as his younger brother tossed him a soda. "What made you think I was thinking about her, huh? I could have been thinking about, oh, the nice check we're picking up today!" he teased, popping the tab and guzzling his drink.

"Yeah, right, that smile all but had drool attached!" A.J. snickered. Rick stretched and leaned back in his chair, a wicked smile on his face. "If you must know, I got an invitation to our class reunion, it's going to be next month in San Diego. I'm thinking about combining it with our anniversary weekend and taking Laurie to the Del."

"Rick, that is a great idea, she'll love it! Plus you'll get to see all your friends and, well maybe even Mr. Torres, I hear he's retiring as Superintendent." A. J. replied, then saw his brother bolt straight up from his chair, as if startled. "What is it, Rick, what'd I say?"

"Uh, that's weird, little brother, I was just remembering Mr. Torres, the time he stood up to that creep Stu Reiner and his stooge. That's what I was smiling about, when Laurie was staying with us that time, just before, well, before those people took her away." Rick shook his head.

"Must just be a coincidence, you remembering that." A.J. said, then smiled. "I thought about that week, it was the year after Dad died and Mom was so lonesome sometimes. I really think Laurie being there helped her, especially when it was so soon after that she disappeared."

"Well, nothing like that is ever going to happen to my girl again, not if I can help it!" Rick asserted, dismissing that dark time. Suddenly his ears picked up the sound of footsteps, and he flashed a grin at A.J..

"Right on time, A.J.." he stood up as the door opened and his wife came in, beaming at the two Simon brothers.

"Hey, little brother!", she gave him a hug. "How's my sis?" he smiled, as she produced a sack lunch and plopped it on his desk. "Hungry, watching Robin make these I almost stole a bite!" she needled, waltzing over to Rick as he embraced her.

"I could use a bite right now, but I'll wait for my sandwich!" he teased, kissing her then pulling out a chair for her. Sitting down, she handed him his meal as A.J. passed drinks around.

As they ate, Laurie filled the guys in on seeing their daughter-in-law Ramona having a check-up at the local clinic. "Doc had her come in, seeing as she hasn't gained much weight, but he didn't seem concerned. Robbie's picking her up so she won't have to walk home."

"Good, I don't like her working with those kids all day then walking home afterwards, especially in this heat." Rick noted, then winked at his brother.

"By the way, sweetheart, I got a letter from one of the guys in my class. Next month is my class reunion, I was thinking we could go and then stay over with Mom, what do you think?"

"Oh Rick, I think that would be fun, I'd love to see some of the kids, I mean, people we knew from high school. Who's in charge?" she asked, reaching for the other half of her sandwich.

"Some girl I don't remember, she's a CEO now or something. I think Doug Sherman and a couple of the others are on the committee. Maybe we'll even see Mr. Torres, A.J. says he's retiring this year." Rick finished his lunch then pulled out another soda.

"I hope he comes, darling, he always tried to help me when, well, when those two tried to stop me from participating in things." Laurie answered in a quiet voice. She looked over at A.J., then smiled. "I even remember the time he caught Rick sneaking in late to school one day, he told Mom he was on special assignment when you were really serving detention. Mr. Torres didn't want to put extra worry on Mom, but he wanted to make sure he wasn't late again!"

"Yeah, I'd forgotten that, darlin', I owe that guy, maybe I'll talk to Doug and see if we can't honor him or something for his help!" her husband decided, then noticed Laurie looking at his worn office chair. "Rick, that chair all but has springs busting through, we should get you a new one!"

"It'll last another year, Laurie, then I'll go ahead and retire it, ok?" he promised, just knowing she was thinking of his anniversary gift. Meeting her eyes, she laughed and blushed. "Not fair, my love, you know me too well!

"What, Laurie, are you two playing mental hopscotch again?" A.J. ragged them, aching to know if Rick had fallen for the red herring about his chair.

Just then the phone rang, and seeing the caller id, Laurie picked it up. "Robbie, it's Mom, how are you?"

Rick was finishing his soda when he saw her face go white, as she said "We'll leave now, darling, she'll be all right, just hold on!"

"What is it, Laurie?" he mouthed, then took the phone from her as she turned to A.J. "Son?" He barely recognized Robbie's quavering voice. "Pop, it's Ramona, she got sick at work,.... Pop, we might lose the baby."

"Oh no, Robbie, no." Rick felt his stomach drop then tried to remain calm. "We're on our way, son!" Hanging up, he faced his stricken brother and wife, then taking Laurie's hand, headed for the doorway. "A.J. can you....?"

"I'm coming too, I'll leave a note on the door, go ahead and I'll catch up with you!" his little brother replied ,grabbing a piece of paper.

As they raced toward Silver Rock, Laurie told Rick how their son said it seemed it was just the heat bothering Ramona's stomach. "Then Robbie said she called him at the station, that she was feeling funny. When he got to the school, Ramona came outside then passed out in his arms.

He practically ran the whole way to the hospital with her, and thank God Dr. Lindstrom was visiting, he took her right away!"

Rick was silent, "How could this happen to our son, to our grandchild; it's not fair!", he raged inside. He felt Laurie's eyes on him, she too was quiet. As he drove, he stole a look at her and saw that she was praying, a single tear on her cheek. Touched, he raised his hand and wiped it away with the back of his hand, then caressed her cheek. "It'll be all right, my sweetheart." he assured her. She caught his hand to her lips, "Thank you, darling, you give me strength. I promise, I'll be calm for the children."

He managed a smile. "You always are, Laurie."

Later, he marveled at how supportive everyone was to their family. As soon as they arrived, Robbie met them at the door of the hospital with reddened eyes. He took one look at his father then hugged him, saying "Thank you Pop, I knew you'd come!"

"Where else would I be for my son and daughter-in-law?", Rick choked, then moved for Laurie to hold her son in her arms.

As they entered the lobby, they saw Rudy and Oscar all ready there, with Cecilia and Robin. Sheriff Rob and the Chief were just sitting down when they caught sight of Rick and Laurie, then came over to greet them. Just then A.J. came in, and hugged his nephew, then perched next to his mother.

As Rick sat next to his daughter, he watched Laurie talking to her son, as he paced back and forth, unable to settle down.

"She's giving him what he needs right now, son, she's listening. That's what a mother does." Cecilia remarked, seeing his gaze focused on his wife.

"I know, Mom, you've done the same with me, it's just, Laurie only had you as an example, yet she instinctively knows what to do with all of us!" Rick marveled. "Pop, that's cute, us!" Robin smiled, then put her head against his shoulder. 'Yes, us, honey, just when I think I've got her figured out, she surprises me! I've got her fooled for our anniversary this year, though, I'll tell you and your brother about it at a better time!"

After a while, Angelina, Ramona's mother reappeared with Dr. Lindstrom and Doc. Laurie went at once to the two doctors.

"Is Ramona all right, how's the baby?" She asked point blank. Doc grinned at her, "She's going to be just fine, honey. Where's Robbie?"

Hearing his name, the young deputy handed his grandmother a cup of tea, then stepped forward. "Doc, how's Ramona, what about the baby?"

"Ramona has a slight case of the flu, son, and it developed into a mild infection. Fortunately we were able to knock it down with some strong antibiotics, but we won't know if there's been any harm to the baby for the next few weeks." Doc told him honestly. Rick moved in back of Laurie as they listened to the diagnosis. "I don't think at 13 weeks there's much chance of the medications affecting its' growth, but we'll monitor the baby's progress for a month or so."

"Your wife'll be bedridden for the next couple of days, then she can probably return to work on a part time basis next week. No more walking home in the heat, though, I'll give her a sheet with some exercises she can do at home to keep flexible, but she's to take it easy, Robbie, understand?" Dr. Lindstrom sternly added.

"Yes, Doctor, whatever you say!", Robbie answered, then relaxed perceptibly as the normally poker faced doctor smiled. "Now go see your wife, she's worried that you're worried!" "Yes, sir, sirs!", he replied, hugging his parents then tearing down the hall.

Relieved, Rick and Laurie thanked the two doctors, then went to their family and friends and gave them the news. Oscar watched with pride as his niece covered her own emotions and reassured Cecilia and Robin. A.J. volunteered to take his mother home so Robin could go home and rest before reporting for an early morning breakfast occasion at the hotel.

'Thanks, Uncle A.J., just for that I'll send some brioche to work with Pop on Monday!" Robin beamed. "For fresh brioche, I'll take Cecelia to A.J.'s " Oscar teased.

"Oh, really, Oscar, am I reduced to the value of French bread?" she tossed back at him, then laughed at his red face. "Mom, ragging you, Oscar? Now we know you're family!" Laurie giggled.

Just then Robbie came smiling down the hall. "Guys, Ramona's feeling better and Doc says you can take turns seeing her for a little while."

"You and Robin go first, darlin', I'll wait!" Rick told Laurie. She kissed him, "we won't take long, my love." Waving at her brother-in-law, she followed her children.

As A.J. made his goodbyes, he pulled a white envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Rick. "Almost forgot, this was in the mail for you. Maybe it's about the reunion!"

"Great, wonder what else they've planned for the weekend?" the older Simon grinned, opening the envelope. Scanning the pages, his face turned white with anger. A.J. stopped in his tracks. "Rick, what is it?"

"I don't believe it, you know who this is from? That punk Reiner. It seems he wants to let bygones be bygones, that he's changed. He wants Laurie and I to come to the reunion as his guests!

The old man even put in a postscript, that since "we're all adults, it's time to put the past behind us!"