Steele Dreaming
By Tanya Reed
Disclaimer: Remington Steele does not belong to me.
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"Thanks, Fred," Mr. Steele said as he and Grace stood on the sidewalk.
The limo driver, who had been working for the Steele's for as long as Remington could remember, nodded and pulled away from the curb. Mr. Steele and his tiny daughter watched it go down the dark street.
"I like Fred, Daddy," the little black-haired girl announced.
Steele smiled as the two turned and started toward their large white house. "I'm rather fond of him myself."
Grace's tiny hand squeezed his. "I'm glad I get to be with you without Mom or the babies around. I like being with you."
"I like being with you, too."
"Thank you for taking me to see the movie instead of making me go to Aunt Frances's with Mom and them. I love movies."
They reached the door, and Remington let go of Grace's hand to search through his pockets. After a few moments, a puzzled look went over his face.
"Is something wrong, Daddy?"
Remington searched some more. "I don't seem to have my key. Your mother and I left together, and I must have forgotten to check to see if I had my key with me."
The little girl's face broke into a beaming smile. "Don't worry."
Saying this, she took the pin her grandmother had given her for her last birthday off of her coat. Her father watched curiously as she approached the door. Swiftly and expertly, her little fingers inserted the sharp end of the pin into the keyhole. In no time at all, she was turning a now unlocked doorknob.
Steele looked at her in amazement. "When did you learn how to do that?"
"It's not hard. I saw Mom do it with her set, and it looked easy, so I tried it."
Suddenly, a laugh burst from Steele. It was joyous and full of love and something the young Grace could not catch. Her father lifted her up in his strong arms and gave her a breathtaking bear hug.
Through his laughter, Grace heard him say, "If there was ever any doubt, there's none now. You're certainly my daughter."
