I'm hoping the adage better late than never works here! I wanted desperately to finish this before Black Angus' birthday but I didn't quite make it. Hopefully she'll like it just the same.

Wrap Up

Dusk was starting to set when Pete turned off the main road, heading to the two lane that would take them home. Glancing over at his riding partner, Edie Hart was sound asleep, her head tilted at an angle that would give her a sore neck in the morning. He called her name softly but she only murmured in response. Well, they were almost there anyway.

They had left her parents home six hours before, and he had to admit he was somewhat sorry to leave.

Although she hadn't had a miraculous change of heart concerning him, Mama had smiled at him when he came over for breakfast the next morning and had actually call him Pete at one point. He had spent several minutes wondering if she meant to or had it just slipped out.

After a rousing breakfast of cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, circus potatoes ( so named because they were a speciality among circus folks), orange juice and coffee, everyone had said goodbye to Ben, Lisa and the girls who gave Pete and Edie pictures they had drawn and showered everyone with hugs and kisses.

As he helped Ben carry out the families' suitcases, the professor apologied for his behavior towards the PI. " I do tend to be overprotective of the Kid and some of her boyfriends haven't exactly been winners so when Mama told me what was going on I'm afraid all kinds of ideas went through my head.

And when I came to visit this summer I know I wasn't on my best behavior concerning you and I was kind of rude and um, look what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry. What you did for mygirls; finding Maggie's doll and letting Emmy pay you like a real client. You didn't have to do that and it was great of you. I'm still not completely happy with how you and my sister are living but I know you love her and her family and that means an awful lot in my book. "

Pete had shaken the offered hand and told him not to worry about "the kid. "

"I do love her and her family and I will take care of her and that's a firm promise. "

After they had left; Peg and Iris fell on the dishes, shooing the men and Edie out of the kitchen. "Max and I thought we might take your Pop fishing. " Mike told Pete as he gave Macy some treats. " So why don't you two get into some trouble? Henry has the route today and he'll take you wherever you want to go. "

"Sounds like fun to me. " Edie had almost squealed. "I'll be right down. "

It didn't take long for Edie to come down the stairs and they walked out into the sunny day hand in hand Two little kids were playing in the yard on the right side of the Hart home and the couple returned their waves "That's where the Holtons' used to live. " she indicated the home. "They moved here the year June and I started first grade. Barbara was two years younger. " He nodded thinking of her good friend June who he had met on a case after the death of her sister and was now seriously dating Emmett, the piano player from the club. "After the Holtons passed on, the place stood empty for a couple years then was bought by a family named Bishop. Mama and Papa really like them. "

The house on the other side he knew was owned by Robbie McDonald, the guy Mama had tried to make him believe Edie was cheating with a few months back when she was here helping with her cousin's wedding. He hadn't believed it for a minute, well maybe half a minute but he'd not been in well. He had however been curious about Mr. McDonald since.

"Robbie isn't here. " she had said as though she could read his mind. "Mama says he's in Florida visiting his daughter for the holiday. " He'd done something dumb like shrugged his shoulders or shook his head as if to say he could care less. Edie had laughed and squeezed his hand.

Mrs. Wilhelm, lived two doors down from the bus stop and was out checking her mail when they went by She told Edie she had grown up well and certainly knew how to pick 'em.

Her neighbors the Schultzs' saw Edie and her 'young man' talking to Beatrice Wilhelm and insisted they all come in for coffee. The older couple asked Edie a million questions about her club and living in the city while the women stared at Pete with undisguised curiosity.

"Heard you were trapped at the Schultzs. " Henry's eyes twinkled as they finally made it to the bus. "Gloria Schulz can talk the hind leg of a mule!" He laughed Pete had met Henry when Mike and several of his fellow bus drivers had been in Pete's town for the transportation convention and they had spent some time together. The driver insisted the couple ride for free, and he didn't want to hear otherwise

The first stop had been Morningside Elementary, where Edie had gone up to 6th grade. As luck would have it they found a side door open, the blonde exclaiming at how hardly anything had changed.

"Mr. Stevens is still here!" She touched the door knob as they walked past the principal 's office, a giggle escaping. "He was such a patient man. "Miss " Hart. " He'd say. "Are you sure Benjamin is your brother?"

She took him down the hallways pointing out several of her old classrooms; Miss Reed's First Grade, Miss Albright 's 2nd. Mr. Henshaw 's third grade class room, "he was one of the very few men teachers and most of the girls had mad crushes. "

They entered the auditorium that had reminded Pete very much of the one at his elementary school and he wondered if they were all the same. "I sang my first solo on that stage when I was six years old. " Edie had cut into his thoughts. "I sang Jingle Bells in the Christmas program and was dressed like an elf with a bell on my hat. "

He chuckled as he watched her sleeping now, thinking that she'd still look cute in that outfit.

Afterwards they had gone to Sts Peter and Paul Catholic High School an imposing building that she assured him hadn't changed at all. "I bet you were real cute in one of those parochial uniforms. " He'd remarked as they headed towards the front entrance.

"I guess I probably was. " she grinned. "At least the boys used to think so."

"Not just a girl's school then?"

"No. That was something Papa and Mama "discussed " a lot when they thought Ben and I were sleeping. He had gone to a regular co-ed school and he thought it would be better for us but Mama insisted on a Catholic education so they compromised. Catholic but co-ed. "

A harried looking man had been coming out the front door and he let them in without question. The halls were unusually clean probably due to the Thanksgiving break but were typical of high-school. Posters hung on the walls advertising clubs of different kinds, an upcoming dance and the last football game of the season.

Most of the classrooms were locked but they peaked in a couple windows and she pointed out where she had sat and some other details. They were going around a corner when they almost collided with a well dressed woman who was carrying a grade book and a tambourine and muttering to herself. Her stern features and speech about how strangers weren't allowed in the building faded away when she recognized Edie and threw her arms around the singer.

"Edie Hart! I can't believe it's you! Oh my. I had heard you were in town a few months ago but I never got over to your parents house to see you. I'm glad it worked out I got to this time. "

"Thank you Miss Anderson. " Pete noticing his girl had looked for a ring that might indicate a name change. "It's so good to see you. May I introduce Mr. Peter Gunn?"

He'd shaken hands with the attractive woman noting she had a strong grip despite her full hands. "I'm sorry. " she gave the tambourine a shake. "I had to get it mended after one of the boys accidentally put his fist through it last week. When he returns I'll be switching him to the triangle. "

They had lunch with Celia Anderson, who had taught music and voice at Morningside for 20 years and said she'd never had a student as talented and driven as Edie.

"I always knew you'd go far in singing but when I ran into your father awhile back and he told me you now owned your own club it didn't surprise me at all. " 'She was one of my best pupils." the woman had addressed Pete. " I always knew she'd accomplish great things. "

They'd come home to an early supper, then took Macy down to the park before coming back to a Scramble tournament with Papa, Max, Pop, Aunt Iris and Mama.

He and Edie had shared several kisses before he made the trip across the street to the Nolan's one last time, thinking even this wasn't too bad. (Not that he'd want to make a habit of it!), watching her until she closed the door behind her

Pop had left early that morning to take the train to Atlantic City to meet his girlfriend Lou's daughter and he and Edie had left the Harts' much later than he had planned

It was completely dark as he pulled into his parking spot at the apartment building they called home and he leaned over and gave her a soft kiss.

"Wake up little girl, we're home. "

With eyes still closed she gave a half smile and reached for his hand. "It was nice to be gone. "

"It was. "

"But home is best. "

Yes indeed.