§ § § -- May 10, 1997: Fantasy Island
Brian Knight and Drew Rainsford let themselves into the main house without bothering to knock, both men wearing impatient scowls. "Okay, Mr. Roarke, it's almost four in the afternoon," Brian announced. "High time Lauren and Kylie came back."
Roarke eyed them askance and made a bit of a show of checking his gold pocket watch. "I appreciate your anxieties, gentlemen, but on the contrary, your wives' fantasy has not yet reached its conclusion."
Leslie, who was printing outgoing letters, regarded them from the computer. "Before I start," she said to Roarke, "do you mind if I speak candidly, Father?"
"Be my guest," Roarke said humorously, clearly anticipating his daughter's coming rant. He wasn't disappointed.
"Look, you two," Leslie said, "I don't want to sound like I'm being rude or anything, but you have to be the two worst wet blankets I've ever met. Especially you, Brian Knight. I mean, at least Drew did his best to distract himself from worrying about Kylie, and he made an effort to really enjoy his vacation here while Kylie was having her own good time. But you…just wait till I tell Lauren exactly how much grief you've given me all weekend! I've told you over and over again that Lauren isn't ignorant of the universe she's visiting, and more than one person has demanded to know if you think Father's competent. And every time, you insist that you do. But your attitude says otherwise. If you love Lauren as much as you claim you do, then for heaven's sake, prove it! She went into this with open eyes and all the knowledge she can reasonably be expected to have, and she was really looking forward to an enjoyable experience. From where I stand, it looks like you're begrudging her that experience. What'd I tell you yesterday at the hotel?"
When she finished, Brian stepped back as if the ensuing silence had pushed him. His face reddened noticeably and he peered at Drew, who was grinning and not making much of an effort to conceal it. "Have I really been that big a pain in the butt?" Brian asked weakly.
"Yes," came the emphatic reply—not just from Leslie, but from Drew as well.
Roarke, laughing, arose from his chair and rounded the desk. "I apologize, but Leslie has a very valid point," he said. "If you need corroboration, you might check with Lauren as soon as she returns—which, if you will excuse me, will be in just a few more minutes." He gave a polite nod to the men and crossed the room, shutting himself into the time-travel room while Brian and Drew watched with disbelief.
"I thought he wasn't bringing them back for ages yet," Drew said.
Leslie grinned. "When you came in, it wasn't time for the fantasy to end," she said simply. "Now it is." With that, she returned her attention to the computer, while Brian and Drew gave each other bemused looks and shook their heads in defeat.
About ten minutes passed, during which Drew and Brian began to shift their weight back and forth repeatedly, then fidget and mutter back and forth between themselves. Leslie took care to ignore them, gathering together the newly printed letters and readying mailing labels for them. Then Brian started pacing the floor, and Leslie sighed to herself. "Guys," she said, "you can sit down anytime. You don't have to wait to be invited."
"She's talking to you, mate," Drew said and grinned again. Brian blew out his breath, and both men sat down, only to immediately get up again when the time-travel-room door opened and Lauren and Kylie emerged, followed by Roarke.
"Well, look here…a welcoming committee," Kylie said with gentle sarcasm.
"Are you two okay?" Brian demanded anxiously, meeting Lauren halfway across the room and examining her as if for damage. "Everything went well?"
"We did fine," Lauren said, peering up at him with a jaundiced eye, "and we had a very good time. What the heck are you looking for?"
"Paper cuts, presumably," Kylie offered, and everyone laughed. Drew pulled her into a hug, which she returned with enthusiasm. "Good to see you again, love. What've you been doing all weekend, besides wondering if a Romulan ran me through?"
"Wondering if a Klingon ran you through," Drew said, and Brian nodded vigorously while the others laughed again. "At least, that's what he was doing."
"There weren't any Klingons in our fantasy, honey," Lauren said, patting Brian's shoulder as if he were a little boy. "Look, no phaser burns, no bruises from fistfights, no cases of the trots from Romulan wine, no stubbed toes—not even a broken fingernail."
Brian gave her a dirty look. "That's the appreciation I get for being concerned over the well-being of the woman I love. I sure hope it was worth it."
"Every second," Lauren assured him cheerfully.
"Let's hope so," Drew suggested, "because I'd like to think this is the end of the Star Trek adventures, once and for all."
Kylie grinned evilly at him. "Don't count on it." She snickered at his long-suffering look and turned to Roarke. "Mr. Roarke, I just want to say thanks a million for letting us go back again. Hardships or no, we had a fabulous time, and we even made an unexpected friend into the bargain."
"Wonderful," Roarke said, smiling. "I am very gratified to hear that. I do hope you and Mr. Rainsford will enjoy the remainder of your visit with the Knights, and by all means, let them show you around the island."
"That we will," Drew said. "How about some dinner?"
"I can go for that," Lauren said and hugged Brian. "We could take Drew and Kylie out on the Jenny and bring a picnic-style supper from the hotel."
Brian, finally at ease now that his wife was safely back from her fantasy, nodded placid agreement. "Sounds like a good deal to me. I'll check on it. Drew, y'wanna help plan the menu?" Drew nodded and accompanied Brian out.
Leslie cleared her throat, stopping Kylie and Lauren as they were about to follow. "Just out of curiosity, was it really as smooth as you implied to the guys?" she asked.
The two women looked at each other, then grinned reluctantly at both Leslie and Roarke. "Between the four of us and whatever lampposts may be in the vicinity," Lauren confessed, "I think from here on out Kylie and I'll be happy just to be devoted Trek fans, and leave the dirty work to the characters." With that, she and Kylie murmured goodnights and plodded out of the house with weary demeanors, making their hosts surmise drolly that both women would be asleep before they ever finished their meal aboard the sailboat!