"So you'll be at your table both Friday and Saturday, Mrs. Simon?" The convention coordinator asked as the ushers milled around.
"Yes, so I will need security from 10 am to 1pm and then again from 3 until 5 pm on Friday and, James, what time is the luncheon on Saturday?" Laurie turned to the Book Guild president, who looked at his clipboard.
"At 1:15 pm, Laurie. We listed you being at your table from 10am to 12:45pm on Saturday, is that cutting it too close?" the bespeckled man asked.
"No, that should be fine, James. Thanks for handling those arrangements for me." Laurie smiled at the quiet man. He had been one of the first booksellers to carry her works. Now he was the owner of the Archer book chain and had volunteered to handle her final promotional appearance, although no one other then her family was aware of that yet.
"No problem, my dear. Uh, one thing we could mention in your introduction is if you're going to have another book out on BraveKnight Press." he added, surprising her with his hopeful tone.
"Well, I need to talk to you about that, James. Mr. Prescott?" she halted the jovial chairman of the Speakers Bureau as he rushed past.
"Yes, Mrs. Simon?" he stopped in mid-step.
"My children will be attending the Saturday afternoon lunch, will it be possible to get them each two seats?" Laurie picked up all her notes and put them in the bag Archer had provided all the speakers..
"Why, yes, Mrs. Simon. It will be nice to see them again. What brings them, if I may, to this years event?" Prescott asked.
"Well, I guess I can tell you and James at the same time." Laurie smiled at the puzzled expression from both men.
"I've decided this is my last Book Fair. I don't have anymore of Grandmother's stories to tell, and with the problems that I've had the last five years, well, I just don't enjoy traveling a lot anymore." she explained. "
"Oh no, Mrs. Simon, it's the end of an era." the chairman groaned, then apologized as he realized what it sounded like.
"That's all right, Mr. Prescott" Laurie smiled, then winced when she saw a white-faced James Archer staring at her. "James, I'm sorry, I've enjoyed working with you and your comments and suggestions have been a great help."
"I'm sorry, Laurie, but I just can't see you not writing or talking to groups anymore, you have such a gift." Archer pleaded with her.
Embarrassed, Laurie put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, James. I know it must seem sudden, but I've been planning on teaching a new writing class in the spring and this was a good stopping point. Besides, my family gets too nervous with me doing store appearances and I really hate to be by myself when I travel. With my daughter getting married soon, I won't have anyone with me to look out for my interests and security."
Archer opened his mouth as if to contridict her, then closed it, flushing as he said, "I'm sorry, Laurie, your stories have come to mean a great deal to me, I mean to people. I'll make sure everything goes well for your last engagement."
"Oh, you make me want to cry, James. If you and Mr. Prescott weren't there at the beginning, well, I intend to make sure everyone knows of your help when I give my talk before the luncheon on Saturday."
Laurie impulsively hugged both men, then turned to pick up her things, not seeing a tear roll down the cheek of the bookstore owner's face .
As she left the meeting room of the convention hall, Rick was waiting outside for her, lost in thought.
He'd dropped off his wife earlier then had found himself driving to the hospital to check on the little boy shot in the holdup the week before.
Ron had been keeping him up to speed on the child's condition, but he had to see how he was doing himself. As he rounded the corner of the waiting room, he saw Dr. Allan standing outside the pediatric wing talking to a group of students. Waiting until the Chief of Staff was done, he called out, "Doc?".
"Rick?" Allan turned, then smiled and held out his hand. "Good to see you, bud. Are you here to see Jimmy Reid?"
"Yeah, if I can, I didn't know if it was okay or not, you know..." Rick fumbled in his pocket and brought out a small hand-held video game.
"Oh, I think you'll be welcome with that." the doctor grinned, then led Rick to a room filled with posters of baseball stars and rock stars. In a hospital bed was a thin boy, his head bandaged, busy watching a basketball game on television while his mother fussed over him.
"Mrs. Reid, Jimmy, Mr. Simon came to see how you were doing." At once the boy took his gaze off the television, then grinned.
"Hey, mister, did you really shoot that guy who shot me and nearly got Mom?"
"Uh, sure did, son. I'm sorry he hit you, how do you feel?" Rick was flustered at the kid's friendliness.
"Oh, I'm okay, Doc here says I don't have to go to school for a couple of weeks, but I'll be ready for baseball next month. Hey, is that a Double Play game?" Jimmy eyed the gift in Rick's hand and relieved he handed it over.
"Yeah, my nephew has a good time with it, I hope you like it." At that Mrs. Reid shot a look at her son, then cleared her throat.
"It was very nice of you to come by, Mr. Simon. Jimmy knows now not to skip out of school again."
"Yeah, big time." the boy rolled his eyes, then added, "My coach says no school, no play, so guess I can forget anymore candy runs."
Rick snickered, then caught a warning look from the mother. "Well, I just stopped by to see how you were." he said, then was surprised at the hand offered by Jimmy.
"Seriously, thanks, Mr. Simon, your brother too. Maybe you can come see me play one of these days." he asked.
"Sure, Jimmy, I'd like that." Rick replied, then nodded to Mrs. Reid. "Ma'mm."
As they went outside, Rick let out a deep breath. "Allan, he's going to be okay, isn't he?"
Startled, the doctor answered, "How did you know something was wrong?"
"He didn't move his legs once while I was there. Is he...?" the older Simon stopped at the nod from his friend.
"Yes, his legs are partially paralysed, but he's gaining more movement everyday. He actually may walk out of here in a couple of weeks like he says. You saved his life, Rick, and his mother's, so I don't want to see that look on your face again." Allan sternly told him.
Rick stared at him, then reluctantly smiled. "Yes, Doctor. Now I'll leave you to your patients, I have a lady to pick up."
"Oh, well, don't keep her waiting!" Allan winked.
"Hey, mister, wanna have fun?" A familiar voice interrupted his train of thought.
Startled, Rick looked up and saw Laurie, standing coyly at the exit of the convention hall.
"Sure do, girly, whatcha have in mind?" he teased, striding toward her then picking her up in his arms.
"Oh, a couple of burgers and shakes, and you." she whispered, then his lips answered hers.
"Let's start with the you part." Rick smirked, then opened his mouth to hers, reveling in her sweet breath.
As they kissed, neither saw that eyes were watching them with jealousy, but suddenly Rick had the sensation of being stared at.
Immediately Laurie raised her head then looked wonderingly in the direction of the hall. "Rick, did you feel that?" she asked, puzzled.
"Like someone was watching us, yeah, probably a tourist wondering who this beautiful girl in my arms is." he answered, looking in the same direction and not seeing anyone.
"Oh, you say such pretty things, you sweet talker you."she giggled as he put her down then led her to his truck.
As he buckled her in, she suddenly felt cold, then put her arms around Rick, shivering.
"Sweetheart, what is it?" Rick stroked her hair soothingly until she calmed down.
"I don't know, love. I just got a chill. It's gone now, I'm okay." she sighed.
"Well, just in case we'll go through the drive-in and go home, darlin'." Rick reassured her.
"Yes, love, I'd rather neck with you at home anyway." Laurie said, trying to make him smile.
"Neck, huh, you fresh girls are all alike." he laughed, climbing in the driver's seat and putting his arm around her.
"Just have to keep up with you wild Simon boys." she beamed, then put her head against his shoulder as they drove off.
The days before the Book Fair Convention were busy ones for both Rick and Laurie, and he was grateful for his and A.J.'s reduced schedule. Somehow word had leaked out that Laurie was ending her public appearances and she was deluged with media requests and fan requests to change her mind.
"Darlin', I'm glad Robbie will be there on Saturday, I hope it doesn't get ugly." Rick worried as he fielded another call from a reporter. A.J. looked up from proofreading his sister-in-law's speech as Laurie came into the living room. "This looks fine, sis, but I wish we'd both be back in time to hear it."
"It'll be all right, guys, Mr. Prescott has security lined up and he's going to have a route available to us if there are any problems." Laurie reassured him. A.J. added, "Oscar and Rudy will be here too, Rick."
Seeing his anxious look, Laurie put down the pitcher of ice tea she was carrying and came over to where Rick was sitting in his easy chair.
"Darling, I love you, please don't be upset, I'll be okay." she slipped into his lap and he put his arms around her.
"I love you, too, Laurie. I can't help but worry about you and these people." he indicated the stack of letters asking her to continue her stories about Grandmother Kasey. "If we didn't have to be at that hearing tomorrow, I can't believe there are no flights back from San Diego on Saturday."
"Rick, I know. But you need to tell the parole board how important it is that Fitzpatrick's accomplice remain locked up, after what he did to you and A.J. Tell you what, why don't I call Steve, Rudy cleared him for flying last week. Maybe he can bring you home." Laurie suggested, then giggled as Rick kissed her neck then her lips. A.J. shook his head. "What you won't do to keep this guy happy!"
"Well, A.J.. I married a smart woman!" he chuckled. "But I'll call Steve, sweetheart."
Friday morning dawned cold and bright, and Rick was glad for the wool outfit Laurie was wearing to the opening day of the convention. "Here, Rick, you can't subsist on peanuts and soda." she came out of the kitchen with a brown bag of bacon burritos.
"Hmmm, thanks, angel." he sipped his coffee as she handed him the parcel, then setting the cup down, he drew her into his arms.
"Promise me you'll be careful, Oscar and Rudy will be nearby today if you have any problems." Rick told her, holding her tight.
"I promise, darling." Laurie tried to smile, then put her face in his chest. "Don't mind me, I just don't want you to go. I'm only letting you leave so we'll be protected from that creep getting out."
"I know, I know." Rick rocked her in his arms, stroking her hair, then noticing the time.
"We need to go, Laurie." Rick reluctantly releasing her from his embrace, then picking up their suitcases. As their mom was visiting her sister in San Diego, A.J. was going to stay over and fly home with her on Monday, so it would be just him and Steve.
Just then a beep sounded at the gate, and Rick saw that it was Chief Joseph.
"Hey, Chief, I'm glad you came, we were just leaving for the airport." Rick was relieved to see him, then his spirits plummeted as he saw the serious expression the elder was wearing.
"I'm going to drive you, Rick, that way you can leave your truck here. Light, I'll take you to the convention center, but first I have to tell you two some bad news." he began.
After making sure Mike was safely in the house and locking everything up, Rick and Laurie got into the Chief's jeep and headed to Phoenix.
"What happened, Chief." Rick asked once they were on the road.
"Last night there was a break in at the Cultural Center. Someone took some of your writings, Light. Fortunately they were interrupted in mid-break-in, but the thief still got away with the copies of your notes, some of your Grandmother's journals, as well as a first edition of "Rainbird."
"Oh no, that's awful. Why would anyone break in to steal copies, thank God I always keep Kasey's originals in a safe place." Laurie shook her head in disgust.
"I'm afraid you underestimate the value of your work, Light." Rick saw a faint smile from their friend. "We may get lucky, of course, someone may have taken them to sell to someone at the convention." the Chief added.
"I'll call Ron, Chief; maybe he can have a couple of men at the convention on the lookout for Laurie's things." Rick said, then gave his wife a reassuring squeeze.
"That's a good idea, darling. I'll feel better when we find out who did this of course, but still..." she sighed as Chief Joseph reminded her, "You are not to get involved in this, Light. We will handle it. I'll let you know if anything shows up, all right?"
"Yes, Chief." She groaned.