Chapter 1
"I baptize you Andrew Roger Joseph Simon in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Father Nick blessed the wriggling bundle in Ramona's arms, as Robbie wiped his eyes with his sister's Kleenex. His Uncle A.J. Simon was torn between searching for a handkerchief and laughter at his godson's reaching for the priests' hand. Keeping his hand on the baby's shoulder, he and Chief Joseph both watched the family friend who had baptized each of the Simons. As he ended the blessing, he let little Andy grab his hand, then Father looked at the assembled family and friends and told them, "he knows what he wants, you'd better let him have it, he's strong!"
Amid the laughter, Father looked at Robbie and Ramona, then at Laurie and Rick and Cecilia, standing in back of them "I'm depending on you to make sure that what he wants is the best in life, not the worst. Knowing this family and the way that you are, I'm sure you're not going to let me down."
Robbie choked "Thank you, Father Nick, we won't, especially with our folks here." Rick squeezed his son's shoulder in a silent thanks, then looked at his wife and mother, busy trying not to cry.
"Hey, grandma." He teased, taking Laurie's hand. She smiled at him, then twined her fingers in his as they took turns hugging and thanking the priest who'd seen them through so much.
As Rick let his wife go to help serve lunch, Father Nick quietly said, "Rick, I need to talk to you about something, can we go somewhere private." Seeing the serious look on his face, he nodded, then led him into the study he was setting up for Laurie. Closing the door, he pulled forward a seat, then sat down himself.
"Rick, I want you to know I care about you and your family more than anything, I've watched you grow up and take care of everyone around you. That's why I may be breaking a rule of the Church, I may not, but, well.." he sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "There's no way I can let anything happen to any of you."
Startled, Rick leaned forward. "Father, what is it, I promise not to ask you to do anything you shouldn't, but.."
"It's nothing you can help with, son. I received a call yesterday morning, just before celebrating Mass. A very edgy sounding man asked for me by name, then said he had to confess to something. I tried to dissuade him from doing it over the phone, but he said he had to tell me. Then he said he wanted to confess to something he was going to do." Father Nick added, then took a deep breath.
"He said, "I'm going to kidnap some friends of yours, I won't hurt them, but I'm going to use them to get back at my former boss. He's put me through hell and they're going to suffer unless he pays." I felt physically sick when he said that, Rick. I said, "why are you going do this, I don't know anyone who deserves this. Can't we talk about this, I promise not to call anyone." The man just got more agitated and said, "he put me through hell in prison and he's going to do the same. I promise I won't hurt her, pray for me" then he hung up."
Rick had a very cold feeling in his stomach. "Father, was this man talking about us, about Laurie?"
The priest shook his head. "I don't know, son. I do know his name though. A number was on my phone when he called, and I called the phone company and found out whom it was registered to. This is my dilemma, Rick. Am I breaking the seal of the confessional if I tell you his name, so you can protect your family? I spoke to my bishop, and he felt I was justified in telling you about the threat, but not in identifying the person. However, if I don't tell you about this, I feel like I've left the door open to something terrible happening."
Rick stood up then paced around the room. He wanted to tell Father to give him the information, but he realized he'd be opening a whole can of worms when he did.
"Son, sit down, I know what I must do. This is the name of the man who called me." Father Nick said firmly, passing a piece of paper to Rick.
Unfolding the note as he took his seat again, he saw a name from the past on the paper.
ALLEN CARR
(818) 555-0107.
"Father, thank God you showed this to me." Rick told him, upset. "Allen Carr was one of Oscar's main people at the OSI, then he betrayed us to that Aaron Caperelli whose brother tried to kill Laurie and I on our wedding day. Carr took Rudy and A.J. and Linda and Steve and Jaime all hostage to get the two of us for Caperelli. If Carr hadn't slipped when he lured my girl into the trap, he'd have gotten away with it!"
The priest sat back, relieved. "Then I did right, only how did this Carr get out of prison?" "I don't know, But I'm going to find out. Don't worry, Father, you may have just saved us all. I'm going to get Oscar."
Rick went to the door, only to hear a knocking and Laurie's voice, "Rick?"
Opening the door, Rick saw a concerned look on his wife's face. "Darling, aren't you and Father Nick going to eat, Robin's going to awfully disappointed if you pass up her fish fillets."
Managing a smile, he kissed her cheek and said, "we'll be right out, sweetheart, Father and I had something to talk over. Now don't look, you know this is supposed to be a surprise!"
Laughing, she backed up, as Father Nick came to the door. "Laurie, I think we can take a quick break to honor Robin's cooking." He gave a look to her husband, who decided discretion was the better part of appeasing his wife. "All right, you two, hide your handiwork. I do like surprises!" Laurie teased, as she went along with them and dished up lunch.
"Here's Pop, I was afraid you'd miss my new creation!" Robin giggled, then as Father Nick savored the fish, he leaned over and kissed the chef on the head. "Mademoiselle, cest' magnifique!"
"Merci!" Robin bowed, as Rick took a bite of the stuffed fillet, then winked at her. "Honey, this is the best recipe yet!"
Once everyone was fed and Laurie was occupied with baby Andy, Rick pulled Oscar aside and gave him the frightening news. Infuriated, Oscar talked with Father Nick, then disappeared into the main bedroom with the extension.
As Cecilia was leaving with Robin's recipe cards in hand, Rick had a word with A.J. and Linda who were taking her home, then Rudy Wells. As Laurie turned away from hugging her mom goodbye, she saw a worried look pass between her husband and Oscar, and decided enough was enough. Starting toward them, she was waylaid by her daughter, who asked "Mom, where's Mike, I was going to give him a treat, but he's not in the patio."
"Oh that bad boy, he's probably in the trash can again; it's his new vice!" she groaned. "I'll go get him, you say good night to Father Nick and I'll be right back."
As Laurie went out the back door, a shadow followed her, and then as she entered the patio she called "Mike, here, Mike". A frantic barking sounded from the barn, and shaking her head, she opened the door and went in.
"There you are, you stinker. What were you doing in here?" she scolded the playful dog, who bounded into her arms. Opening the barn door, she was about to set him down, then suddenly felt a presence behind her. Abruptly she heard her grandmother's voice "go to Richard, right now!"
Frightened, she called "Rick?" then not stopping to look behind her, Laurie ran outside the barn, setting Mike down then went straight into her husband's arms.
"Laurie, darlin' what is it, what happened?" he demanded, feeling her trembling in his embrace.
"Mike was in the barn, Rick, I went looking for him. I felt like someone was watching me, then Grandmother told me to go to you." she gasped, leaning against him.
"Sweetheart, don't ever do that, don't go outside without telling me, please, Laurie." he told her firmly. Seeing the look of fear in his eyes, she nodded, then put her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"I love you, my prince, thank you for coming when I called." she whispered. Relieved that his wife was safe, Rick kept an arm around her as they came back into the house. Seeing Oscar waiting, a puzzled look on his face, he explained, "It's okay, Laurie went to find Mike and thought she heard someone in the barn. Grandmother Kasey told her to find me. Darlin' did you hear or see anything in there?"
"No, just a feeling. It's silly, but it scared me. Grandmother must have known something, though." Laurie added.
"Rick, we have to tell her, honey, you go into the living room and stay with Father Nick. Your husband and I have to go check out something." Oscar said, giving his girl a kiss on the cheek.
Worried, Laurie nonetheless obeyed and left the kitchen.
Going outside, the two men hurried to the barn then opening the door, carefully entered and put the lights on. Rick surveyed the chicken coop, then one by one he and Oscar cleared the stable area, checking each of the four colt's stalls and the two holding Brick and Fire, his and Laurie's horses.
Just about ready to leave, Oscar suddenly spotted something on the ground near the barn door, then picking it up, glanced at it then uttered a few cuss words. "What is it, Oscar?" Rick asked, then Oscar showed it to him. It was a picture of Rick and Laurie, with the words "which one", written across the bottom.
"I baptize you Andrew Roger Joseph Simon in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Father Nick blessed the wriggling bundle in Ramona's arms, as Robbie wiped his eyes with his sister's Kleenex. His Uncle A.J. Simon was torn between searching for a handkerchief and laughter at his godson's reaching for the priests' hand. Keeping his hand on the baby's shoulder, he and Chief Joseph both watched the family friend who had baptized each of the Simons. As he ended the blessing, he let little Andy grab his hand, then Father looked at the assembled family and friends and told them, "he knows what he wants, you'd better let him have it, he's strong!"
Amid the laughter, Father looked at Robbie and Ramona, then at Laurie and Rick and Cecilia, standing in back of them "I'm depending on you to make sure that what he wants is the best in life, not the worst. Knowing this family and the way that you are, I'm sure you're not going to let me down."
Robbie choked "Thank you, Father Nick, we won't, especially with our folks here." Rick squeezed his son's shoulder in a silent thanks, then looked at his wife and mother, busy trying not to cry.
"Hey, grandma." He teased, taking Laurie's hand. She smiled at him, then twined her fingers in his as they took turns hugging and thanking the priest who'd seen them through so much.
As Rick let his wife go to help serve lunch, Father Nick quietly said, "Rick, I need to talk to you about something, can we go somewhere private." Seeing the serious look on his face, he nodded, then led him into the study he was setting up for Laurie. Closing the door, he pulled forward a seat, then sat down himself.
"Rick, I want you to know I care about you and your family more than anything, I've watched you grow up and take care of everyone around you. That's why I may be breaking a rule of the Church, I may not, but, well.." he sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "There's no way I can let anything happen to any of you."
Startled, Rick leaned forward. "Father, what is it, I promise not to ask you to do anything you shouldn't, but.."
"It's nothing you can help with, son. I received a call yesterday morning, just before celebrating Mass. A very edgy sounding man asked for me by name, then said he had to confess to something. I tried to dissuade him from doing it over the phone, but he said he had to tell me. Then he said he wanted to confess to something he was going to do." Father Nick added, then took a deep breath.
"He said, "I'm going to kidnap some friends of yours, I won't hurt them, but I'm going to use them to get back at my former boss. He's put me through hell and they're going to suffer unless he pays." I felt physically sick when he said that, Rick. I said, "why are you going do this, I don't know anyone who deserves this. Can't we talk about this, I promise not to call anyone." The man just got more agitated and said, "he put me through hell in prison and he's going to do the same. I promise I won't hurt her, pray for me" then he hung up."
Rick had a very cold feeling in his stomach. "Father, was this man talking about us, about Laurie?"
The priest shook his head. "I don't know, son. I do know his name though. A number was on my phone when he called, and I called the phone company and found out whom it was registered to. This is my dilemma, Rick. Am I breaking the seal of the confessional if I tell you his name, so you can protect your family? I spoke to my bishop, and he felt I was justified in telling you about the threat, but not in identifying the person. However, if I don't tell you about this, I feel like I've left the door open to something terrible happening."
Rick stood up then paced around the room. He wanted to tell Father to give him the information, but he realized he'd be opening a whole can of worms when he did.
"Son, sit down, I know what I must do. This is the name of the man who called me." Father Nick said firmly, passing a piece of paper to Rick.
Unfolding the note as he took his seat again, he saw a name from the past on the paper.
ALLEN CARR
(818) 555-0107.
"Father, thank God you showed this to me." Rick told him, upset. "Allen Carr was one of Oscar's main people at the OSI, then he betrayed us to that Aaron Caperelli whose brother tried to kill Laurie and I on our wedding day. Carr took Rudy and A.J. and Linda and Steve and Jaime all hostage to get the two of us for Caperelli. If Carr hadn't slipped when he lured my girl into the trap, he'd have gotten away with it!"
The priest sat back, relieved. "Then I did right, only how did this Carr get out of prison?" "I don't know, But I'm going to find out. Don't worry, Father, you may have just saved us all. I'm going to get Oscar."
Rick went to the door, only to hear a knocking and Laurie's voice, "Rick?"
Opening the door, Rick saw a concerned look on his wife's face. "Darling, aren't you and Father Nick going to eat, Robin's going to awfully disappointed if you pass up her fish fillets."
Managing a smile, he kissed her cheek and said, "we'll be right out, sweetheart, Father and I had something to talk over. Now don't look, you know this is supposed to be a surprise!"
Laughing, she backed up, as Father Nick came to the door. "Laurie, I think we can take a quick break to honor Robin's cooking." He gave a look to her husband, who decided discretion was the better part of appeasing his wife. "All right, you two, hide your handiwork. I do like surprises!" Laurie teased, as she went along with them and dished up lunch.
"Here's Pop, I was afraid you'd miss my new creation!" Robin giggled, then as Father Nick savored the fish, he leaned over and kissed the chef on the head. "Mademoiselle, cest' magnifique!"
"Merci!" Robin bowed, as Rick took a bite of the stuffed fillet, then winked at her. "Honey, this is the best recipe yet!"
Once everyone was fed and Laurie was occupied with baby Andy, Rick pulled Oscar aside and gave him the frightening news. Infuriated, Oscar talked with Father Nick, then disappeared into the main bedroom with the extension.
As Cecilia was leaving with Robin's recipe cards in hand, Rick had a word with A.J. and Linda who were taking her home, then Rudy Wells. As Laurie turned away from hugging her mom goodbye, she saw a worried look pass between her husband and Oscar, and decided enough was enough. Starting toward them, she was waylaid by her daughter, who asked "Mom, where's Mike, I was going to give him a treat, but he's not in the patio."
"Oh that bad boy, he's probably in the trash can again; it's his new vice!" she groaned. "I'll go get him, you say good night to Father Nick and I'll be right back."
As Laurie went out the back door, a shadow followed her, and then as she entered the patio she called "Mike, here, Mike". A frantic barking sounded from the barn, and shaking her head, she opened the door and went in.
"There you are, you stinker. What were you doing in here?" she scolded the playful dog, who bounded into her arms. Opening the barn door, she was about to set him down, then suddenly felt a presence behind her. Abruptly she heard her grandmother's voice "go to Richard, right now!"
Frightened, she called "Rick?" then not stopping to look behind her, Laurie ran outside the barn, setting Mike down then went straight into her husband's arms.
"Laurie, darlin' what is it, what happened?" he demanded, feeling her trembling in his embrace.
"Mike was in the barn, Rick, I went looking for him. I felt like someone was watching me, then Grandmother told me to go to you." she gasped, leaning against him.
"Sweetheart, don't ever do that, don't go outside without telling me, please, Laurie." he told her firmly. Seeing the look of fear in his eyes, she nodded, then put her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"I love you, my prince, thank you for coming when I called." she whispered. Relieved that his wife was safe, Rick kept an arm around her as they came back into the house. Seeing Oscar waiting, a puzzled look on his face, he explained, "It's okay, Laurie went to find Mike and thought she heard someone in the barn. Grandmother Kasey told her to find me. Darlin' did you hear or see anything in there?"
"No, just a feeling. It's silly, but it scared me. Grandmother must have known something, though." Laurie added.
"Rick, we have to tell her, honey, you go into the living room and stay with Father Nick. Your husband and I have to go check out something." Oscar said, giving his girl a kiss on the cheek.
Worried, Laurie nonetheless obeyed and left the kitchen.
Going outside, the two men hurried to the barn then opening the door, carefully entered and put the lights on. Rick surveyed the chicken coop, then one by one he and Oscar cleared the stable area, checking each of the four colt's stalls and the two holding Brick and Fire, his and Laurie's horses.
Just about ready to leave, Oscar suddenly spotted something on the ground near the barn door, then picking it up, glanced at it then uttered a few cuss words. "What is it, Oscar?" Rick asked, then Oscar showed it to him. It was a picture of Rick and Laurie, with the words "which one", written across the bottom.