Pathways to Parenthood
Foreword: This is my first "Hunter" fanfic, originally conceived as a 6-7 page bit of fluff, which soon blossomed to 28 pages. It's still fluff, but hopefully with a heart. Since most of this story centers around a cute kid, I consider this fic "Hunter Lite."
One scene of this story is set in a church. It's not my goal to proselytize here, but there are by necessity certain religious elements in it. If that sort of thing bothers or offends you, please feel free to skip to the next story. Also, as a non-Catholic, I had to do some research for this scene. I endeavored to be respectful and accurate. Please let me know if I missed the mark.
Chapter One:
"It was an accident."
"What?!" Captain Charlie Devane glared up at Detective Sergeant Rick Hunter, who towered over his superior.
"The M.E. revised the cause of death," his partner, Dee Dee McCall explained, handing their boss the finished police report. "Willie Scranton, AKA 'The Weasel,' died as a result of a sequence of mishaps that resulted in the blow to his head that killed him."
"Sort of a random, life-sized, Rube Goldberg device," Hunter added, unable to hide a wry smile.
"That's right," McCall added. "Good thing we happened to spot the danger when we went into that abandoned warehouse or the big guy here"—she gestured at Hunter—"might've gotten clunked in the head, too."
"A rather colorful ending for Willie's not-so-illustrious criminal career," Hunter concluded.
Still incredulous, Devane skimmed over the freshly completed report. Finally he heaved a heavy sigh and regarded his two best detectives. "Well, all right then. Good work. You two go on home and enjoy your weekend."
"Thanks, Charlie," they both called over their shoulders as they turned to leave the captain's office. They returned to their respective desks to gather their personal belongings.
Hunter watched his partner thoughtfully, as if he were trying to decide how to broach a new subject. Finally he said aloud, "Got any plans for the weekend?"
"Yeah," McCall answered, slipping on her coat and slinging her purse over her shoulder. "My parents know by now that I never make it to Thanksgiving dinner on the actual Thanksgiving, so we're having our 'Turkey Day' tomorrow," she told him. "So, I'm gonna go over to their house and stuff myself, then OD on football on their big console TV."
Hunter smiled at her description. "Sounds like your kind of day," he joked. "Any plans for Sunday?"
McCall looked up, mildly surprised at his acute interest in her personal life. "No, nothing specific. Why? You got something going on?"
"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do. I've been invited to a certain event and I was wondering if you might like to accompany me?"
"Really? What kind of event?"
Hunter glanced around at the crowded, bustling squad room, then replied, "Look it, I'd rather not discuss it here. You wanna go grab a pizza?"
"Sure, I'm starving. We missed our lunch break today," she lamented. Then, lowering her voice, she added, "And I'm eager to hear all about this big, mysterious 'event' of yours!"
He grinned, then stepped over to open the exit door for her.
Chapter Two:
Marinelli's was an intimate little dining establishment in South Pasadena, combining the charm of Old Italy with comfortable seating, and whose fare featured both traditional and contemporary dishes.
A waiter handed them menus and took their drink orders. Hunter started to ask for his usual club soda with lime, then paused. "On second thought, make it a glass of Riesling." When McCall eyed him with surprise, he added, "I feel like celebrating."
She chuckled. "Okay, then, forget the cola. Make mine a California red."
The waiter nodded and rushed off as McCall pored over the menu, stopping when she reached the list of specialty pizzas. "Don't tell me, let me guess—you wanna order the veggie pizza with that bitter-tasting crust and the non-fat cheese," she said with a grimace.
"Low-fat," he corrected her. "And I'll bet you want the carnivore addicts' cholesterol-saturated, cardiac arrest special," he shot back with a crooked smile.
"Hey, I'm still kickin', Big Guy," she retorted with a grin of her own. "Besides, incisors weren't made for eating lettuce." She paused for a moment, then ventured, "Hey, why don't we each order our own pie? That way, we both get what we want, with plenty of leftovers for later."
"Sounds good."
Their waiter returned presently with their wine. The two detectives placed their dinner order, and then McCall raised her glass of merlot."To Willie 'The Weasel' Scranton: Rest in peace," she toasted.
He clinked her glass against his, adding, "Better luck in the next life."
Dee Dee chuckled as she took a sip, then leaned forward and clasped her hands. "Okay now," she began, "What's this big, secret event happening on Sunday?"
He gave a small shrug, saying, "It's not really a secret, but I do consider it a private matter. I've only spoken about it to my mother and my closest friends. So naturally, that means letting you in on it, too."
McCall smiled, appreciating that he felt comfortable enough to confide in her about damn near anything; he, too, was her trusted confidant—an ever-ready ear to bend or shoulder to cry on.
He took a sip of his Riesling before continuing. "Do you remember Amelia Ressell?"
She thought for a moment, then recalled the bubbly, curly-haired toddler who had been left miraculously unharmed at a brutal murder scene. "You mean the little girl whose birth mother kidnapped her from her adoptive parents? The one that you took home with you that night because you were afraid to leave her at Juvenile Hall?"
Hunter nodded. "Yeah, that's the one."
"That was maybe four or five months ago. Yeah, I remember. She was a real cutie-pie. And she was totally nuts about you!" she added with a grin. "It was almost like you were her long-lost big brother or something."
"Or something," he echoed, smiling softly.
"Well, what about her?" she prompted.
"Her baptism is this Sunday," Hunter stated. "I've been invited to participate in the ceremony."
McCall frowned. "Wait a minute. She's got to be two-and-a-half or three years-old by now. Don't they usually baptize babies shortly after they're born?"
"Yeah, usually," Hunter answered. "But the Ressells only recently started attending church again. You see, they were both born and raised Catholic, even had a Catholic wedding, and they wanted to start a family right away. But when nothing happened after five years of trying, I guess they had sort of a crisis of faith.
"But after Amelia came into their lives, they started thinking about going back again. Then after all the close calls they had this past summer, it really sealed the deal for them. They've been going regularly since then."
Dee Dee gave a heartfelt smile. "I'm glad things worked out for them. They seemed like such a nice couple…"
She was about to question him further when their pizza order arrived: mushrooms, onions and peppers on a whole-wheat crust for him; and sausage, pepperoni and extra mozzarella for her.
She leaned over her pan, inhaling deeply. "Oh, that smells fantastic!" she declared, pulling off a slice and taking a big bite. "So," she began, talking around a mouthful of meat and cheese, "you said you were going to participate in the baptism. What are you gonna do? Hang onto little Amelia's feet while she gets dunked in the river?"
Hunter laughed at her colorful description. "No, immersion is more of a fundamentalist tradition, I think. In a Catholic ceremony, you simply hold the baby while the priest sprinkles holy water on their head."
"And the Ressells picked you to hold Amelia?" she asked, surprised.
"Yeah," he replied with undisguised pride. "The thing is…I'm going to be Amelia's godfather."
McCall stopped in mid-chew to gape at him. "When did all this happen?!"
"Well, we've been talking about it for a while, but it was finally decided a couple of weeks ago. I've kept in close touch with the Ressells since we first met them. They were completely shaken up by the murder, the kidnapping and all the malevolence surrounding it all."
She nodded. "Well, I can't say I blame them. That had to be a pretty terrifying experience for them."
"Yeah, it was all pretty disturbing. I think they appreciate having a cop for a friend. I look in on them every couple weeks or so; it gives them some reassurance. And I like knowing that they're all safe. Also…it gives me a chance to see Amelia."
McCall marveled at seeing this new, paternal side to her tough-as-nails partner. "You're really fond of her, aren't you?"
He nodded, smiling. "Just between you and me? I love her to death…ever since the first night I saw her. Here was this pretty little angel, oblivious to the bloodbath that took place in that hotel suite…" He looked down at his plate, reminiscing about the details of the dark and bizarre case and shook his head. "Over the years, a few crime scenes have stayed with me, and one of them was seeing Donna Rawlings viciously bludgeoned to death while her little daughter lay sleeping in the next room."
He looked back at his partner. "It's hard to explain, Dee Dee. But I took Amelia away from a gruesome murder scene, only to discover total chaos at Juvenile Hall. So I picked her up and held her, and I knew right at that moment that I was meant to protect her."
McCall reached over and squeezed his hand. "I know that feeling perfectly." As Hunter well remembered, she had once begun the adoption process on the newborn daughter of a Jane Doe who was killed in a case of mistaken identity, only to have the baby taken away from her when the infant's blood relatives had been located.
She blinked back unbidden tears, then forced a smile. "So, um, am I invited to the baptism?"
Hunter smiled back at her. "Even better than that. If you'd like, you can be the official witness."
She regarded him with surprise. "Is that proper and everything? I'm not Catholic."
"It's all right," he assured her. "You don't have to be. They only ask that you've been baptized at some time in your life."
Dee Dee thought for a moment. "Well, my mother once told me I was baptized in a church—Presbyterian, I think it was. I was about two or three months old." She smiled and shrugged. "But naturally, I don't remember that. Does it still count?"
"Sure it does."
"And what about you? Aren't there certain rules about becoming a godparent? Do you have to be a Catholic in good standing and all that?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, you're supposed to be. I'm one of those people that goes to church about twice a year—Easter and Christmas. But I didn't want to have to lie to a priest, so I've been trying to go a little more often. I took the sacrament and went to confession, the whole deal."
She snorted. "Your confession must have taken about a day and a half."
Hunter laughed. "Well, not quite. But it had been a while since my last one, so Father Timothy sure got an earful."
"I'll bet," she giggled. "I'd love to have been a fly on the wall for that one."
Hunter set his slice of pizza back on the plate and leaned closer to her. "So what do you say? Would you like to come to the baptism and be our official witness?"
"Oh, absolutely!" she piped up enthusiastically. Then she raised her glass, and in a perfect imitation of a New York accent, she said, "Heah's to Rick Huntah, takin' ovah Don Corleone's territory as da new godfathah."
Hunter laughed at her performance and raised his glass to hers.
McCall took the last sip of her wine, then leaned back in her seat with a groan. "Man, I'm stuffed. What do you say we grab a couple of doggie bags, pay our bill and head on home?"
Hunter nodded, then motioned to the waiter for the check. Dee Dee reached for her wallet, but Hunter stopped her, saying, "Huh-uh…my celebration, my treat."
She stared at him in surprise. "Who are you, and what have you done with my partner?"
"Hey, remember what they said about the gift horse," he replied with a tolerant grin.
She smiled back at him. "Seriously, thanks for dinner. It was great. I really appreciate it."
As they strolled out to the parking lot to their respective cars—their carefully wrapped leftover pizza slices in hand—Hunter said, "The Mass starts at eleven a.m. How about I pick you up at nine?"
"I'll be ready," she promised. "Uh, anything special I should wear?"
"Well, something dressy, but not formal. Conservative; church clothes…you know."
She threw him a wicked grin. "So I better forget about the fuchsia mini-skirt and five-inch heels then, huh?"
He flashed a boyish smile. "No, bring those along. We'll go back to my place and you can model them for me."
"Ha!" Dee Dee laughed him off, calling back to him as she stepped over to her car. "Better watch yourself, Hunter, or you'll be back for another marathon session in that confession booth."
"Good ni-ight," he called back to her in a comical, sing-song tone.
Chapter Three:
Hunter watched her climb into her car and wave to him as she left the parking lot. He tried to shake the image of his very attractive partner dressed in a neon pink mini-skirt and five-inch heels. He forced himself to focus on the drive that lay ahead of him. His mind shifted back to her joke about his becoming a godfather and her funny little New York moment, and he smiled. That woman had a gift for mimicry, he mused as he unlocked his car and climbed into it, firing up the motor. If she wasn't such a brilliant detective, she would have made one hell of an actress. Or a singer, a high fashion model, or even a rocket scientist.
Well, the rocket scientist may be a bit of a stretch, he admitted, chuckling to himself as he pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the beach. But she had so many talents that she would have landed on her feet no matter what profession she had chosen.
Of course the occupation he knew that she wanted most was to be a mother. On this point, he was torn. One part of him wanted her remain single and childless so that she could continue in the years ahead to serve as the dedicated and trustworthy partner he'd come to rely on. But the part of him that cared for her—as much if not more than he'd ever cared for anyone—wanted her to be happy and fulfilled.
The most difficult aspect of it all was watching her wait around for a perfect stranger, some ideal man, to come along to provide that fulfillment. Even worse was the steady parade of wimps she'd been dating these last few years; by his judgment, not a single one of them was worthy of her. He purposely steered his train of thought away from his partner's disastrous love life and back to Amelia.
He had surprised himself at how quickly he had developed a strong, paternal affection for the little toddler. Amelia had felt like a surrogate daughter to him almost from the moment he'd met her. There was something deeply gratifying about the way she looked up to him (and not just because he towered over her by several feet). He was as grateful to the Ressell family for their friendship towards him as they had been to have him as a strong and dependable godparent for their daughter.
He was also glad that they seemed to like Dee Dee when they'd met her on two previous occasions. He only hoped that she might get closer to the Ressells over the upcoming weekend. Maybe if she, too, could spend some time with Amelia, she would feel a little less lonely. And perhaps it would make her own ambitions of parenthood seem a little less far away.
Hunter pulled into his garage and parked, then trotted up the stairs to the main floor. He detoured to the kitchen, popping the leftovers into the refrigerator before heading to the bedroom. The night air had brought a bit of a chill blowing down from the mountains, and he briefly considered starting a fire in the fireplace. Thinking the better of it, he went to clean himself up to prepare for bed.
As he slipped under the covers, his mind suddenly flashed back to Dee Dee in a hot pink mini-skirt and heels. He tried to put the image out of his mind; it had been a long day and a long week, and he just wanted to sleep. But the visions of her in a short hemline, those gorgeous legs propped up on high heels, played over and over again inside his head.
"Damn," he said aloud. He reached over to the nightstand for the remote control and flicked on the TV, surfing channels until he found a mindless action film to distract him. A few minutes later, he lay back against the pillow and shut his eyes. Eventually, the noise from the movie numbed his mind to the point that he could relax again. Finally, he drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Four:
McCall saw the light turning yellow just ahead of her and stopped, heaving a big sigh as the last two hours played over in her mind. The food and drink had been wonderful; Marinelli's was a little-known local treasure, and she was glad that Hunter had discovered it last month. And as always, she enjoyed her partner's company, particularly when they were free from the stress and the intensity of the job. But she was still incredulous at the news that Hunter was going to be a godfather.
He'd always had a good rapport with the kids he'd encountered on the job, but never as much as he'd had with little Amelia. She remembered the first time she saw him with the toddler. It was late in the evening and he had called her with an urgent request: "Bring a box of diapers that would fit a two year-old and meet me the lab. Oh, and don't breathe a word of this to anyone, especially Charlie!"
She found him a short time later, tossing Amelia into the air as the little tyke giggled with delight. As Dee Dee entered the lab, the little girl called out a cheerful, "Hi!" While McCall stood and stared, Rick changed her diaper with practiced hands as Amelia gurgled and cooed at him all the while. He then explained how he'd found the baby at the crime scene, but flatly refused to leave her to Juvenile Hall as required. Instead, he planned to take her home until he knew for certain that she would be properly cared for. And oh yes, would she please cover for him?
With that he dashed out the door, Amelia snug in his arms and babbling happily at him, leaving Dee Dee holding the bag…or rather the dirty diaper, which Hunter had unceremoniously thrust into her hands.
Over the next few days, she marveled at how fiercely protective he became towards the Ressells, and particularly toward Amelia. She knew better than to patronize Rick by advising him not to get personally involved. Instead, she gave him a gentle warning that despite the LAPD's best efforts, there was only so much that they could do to protect the family. Fortunately those efforts proved to be enough. They identified and arrested Donna's killer the next day. At last the Ressells would be able to breathe again.
The last time she saw Hunter and Amelia together was when they returned to the Ressell home the day after the arrest to bring them closure on the case. As Rick held the baby, speaking softly to her, she leaned over and gave him a kiss. Even now, the memory of that tender moment left her awestruck.
What was it about her partner that the little girl had become so at ease with him so quickly? Most small children were shy around strangers, but she had gravitated toward Hunter immediately. She wondered if that innocent child had ever had any perception of the danger that she had been in. Had she been aware, on a purely instinctive level, that there were human monsters stalking the night? Had she then sensed that Hunter would be her stalwart protector, the storybook prince who would slay all the dragons lurking about? Or maybe it was much simpler than that—just the pure affection that came naturally between a child and a parental figure. Or perhaps she saw Rick as nothing more than an oversized playmate.
But the bigger surprise was Rick's fatherly attachment to the tiny stranger who had unexpectedly come into his life. Though he had come close to marriage more than once, he'd never actually tied the knot, let alone started a family. She wondered if this new role of guardian had suddenly filled a void inside himself that he never knew existed.
Whatever the reason, she couldn't help feeling a little pang of envy. Of the two of them, it was she who was eager to begin the journey into parenthood. But without the prospect of a compatible life partner on the horizon, that dream seemed ever more elusive. At this rate, she and Hunter would remain single and childless, partnering on the job into their old age—two geriatric detectives chasing down perps in their wheelchairs. The outrageous mental imagery made her laugh out loud.
She arrived home soon afterward. Her first thought was to put away the leftovers and go straight to bed. But strangely enough, she didn't feel as tired now as she had before. She impulsively took one of the pizza slices out of the bag and set it on a plate, then brought it upstairs to her bedroom. She quickly washed up and changed into her pajamas, then hopped into bed to read another chapter in her book while she nibbled on her midnight snack.
But within minutes she drifted off to sleep, the reading lamp still lit, the open book face-down in her lap and the empty plate perched majestically on top of her bedcovers.
Chapter Five:
On Sunday morning, Hunter pulled into McCall's driveway promptly at nine. Dee Dee was watching for him and stepped out her front door, clad in an ivory-colored satin and lace blouse and a calf-length gray wool skirt. Her dark tresses were pinned up at the neck. As she stepped closer, he could see that she was wearing make-up, but it was applied with more restraint than usual. Her outfit was accented by simple gold jewelry. All in all, she reminded him of an old-fashioned school marm. Although it was a decidedly different look for her, she was as beautiful as always…strikingly so. And in spite of her modest attire—or maybe even because of it—the overall effect was unexpectedly alluring.
She climbed into the car with a bright, "Good morning!"
"Morning," he replied reflexively, not realizing he was staring.
"Do I look all right?" she asked anxiously.
"You look fine," he answered quickly. "I don't think I've ever seen you in that outfit before."
"Well, it's a little too dressy for the job; I wouldn't be comfortable working the street like this," she explained. "But I brought some casual clothes for later, just like you suggested." She tossed a small tote bag into the back seat and looked him over, taking in the finely tailored navy blue suit and burgundy red tie. "I don't think I've ever seen that suit before, either."
He shrugged. "I bought it when I first made detective to wear to court appearances. But I soon realized that my everyday suits were sufficient for that, so I saved this one for special occasions."
McCall grinned. "I hope Amelia doesn't drool all over that nice material."
He chuckled. "Well, she's got all her baby teeth now, so she doesn't drool too much anymore."
She sighed. "It'll be fun to see her again. And Mary and Dave, too. It's not often we meet people like them in our line of work."
"Yeah, they're terrific. Real salt-of-the-earth."
The partners made small talk on the rest of the drive, discussing their recent cases, the surprisingly light holiday weekend traffic and the ever-changing city landscape along the way. Finally, St. Michael's Cathedral loomed into view. The façade of the West Los Angeles landmark was dominated by towering Gothic-Revival spires and an enormous rose window.
Hunter pulled into the parking lot and drove toward the back until he saw the familiar light blue station wagon. It looked as if the Ressells had only just arrived themselves; they were exiting the car as he drew abreast of them. He pulled into an open spot a few spaces down.
No sooner had he and Dee Dee stepped out of the car when little Amelia jumped out of the station wagon and rushed toward them. "Uncle Rick!" she shouted as she ran up to him. He grinned at her, crouching down to scoop her up in his arms.
"Hi, baby girl," he greeted her as she threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him. He stood up with Amelia still clinging to him and turned toward his partner. "Do you remember my friend, Dee Dee?"
"Yes," she answered, although whether she actually recalled meeting the woman detective was anybody's guess.
"Hi, Amelia," McCall said sweetly. "It's so nice to see you again!" Gesturing to the girl's snow-white ensemble, she said, "You look very pretty today. Is that a new dress?"
The toddler nodded. "Mommy bought it for my 'bat-tism.'"
Just then, her parents came running over breathlessly. "Sorry, Rick," Mary began. "We didn't realize she would go running across the parking lot by herself."
Hunter laughed softly, assuring her, "It's all right. She's okay."
"She's just like the weather—completely unpredictable," Dave added.
Mary then turned to a surprised McCall and hugged her, gushing, "Dee Dee, I'm so glad you were able to come!"
McCall recovered quickly and hugged her back. "I wouldn't have missed it," she replied.
As Mary drew back, she went on, saying, "Rick told me you're going to act as witness, and we're really grateful. This whole day is really coming together nicely, especially being the first Sunday of Advent. It's going to be a beautiful Mass!"
"I'm sure it will, "McCall replied amiably.
Mary stepped back over to Hunter and took Amelia in her arms. She gently scolded the girl for running away from them, then reminded her to sit still and speak only in a whisper while they were in church. The Ressells then led the way down the sidewalk toward the front entrance of the cathedral, Hunter and McCall lagging a little behind them. Dee Dee grinned up at her partner, mouthing, "Uncle Rick?"
He shrugged, pointing to the young mother just ahead of them. "Mary's idea," he mouthed back.
She threw him a sardonic look, as if to say, Sure it was. But she could tell he didn't mind the honorary title one bit; in fact, he seemed downright proud of it. She couldn't hold back a smile.
The huge oak doors at the church entrance were propped wide open, adorned with Christmas wreaths. As they stepped into the ornate narthex, the Ressells made their way to the votive table, which held several rows of prayer candles. Dave picked up a new candle and lit it, then turned to his wife and child with a gentle smile. Hunter then followed suit, lighting a fresh votive and setting it down amongst the tiers of glowing lights. He leaned down to McCall, whispering, "That one's for you and me."
Rick's remark puzzled her. She wasn't sure if the candle was meant to symbolize their own hopes and prayers for Amelia or if he was speaking about something entirely different. Thinking quickly, she whispered back, "Good; we need all the help we can get."
The Ressells led the way through the nave until they reached the second row from the front. Mary set Amelia down so that she genuflect, dropping to one knee and crossing herself. Dave copied the gesture after her and McCall watched as Hunter performed the ritual as well. She was unsure of what to do, not being Catholic herself, so she simply bowed her head in a show of reverence.
Dave ushered McCall into the pew first, followed by Hunter, then Mary and Dave himself, who took the first turn at holding Amelia on his lap. Dee Dee looked around at the glorious interior with its soaring, ribbed-vault ceiling, marble statuary, and stone walls brightened by exquisite stained glass windows. The massive pipes of the organ lined the back of the altar and a masterfully crafted Renaissance-style painting of the Ascension hung suspended just above them.
Taking in the stunning architectural beauty, she suddenly remembered that the Ressells had been married here about eight years ago. What a lovely place for a wedding, she mused.
They had arrived early, so as the four adults of the group settled into their seats, they began to relax a little. Hunter leaned down to McCall and said softly, "If you're not sure of what to do, just follow my lead."
She nodded, replying, "Well I know that as a non-Catholic, I'm not supposed to take Communion."
"Right, but you can still go up and receive a blessing."
She affected a pout. "So…you get a wafer and I don't?"
"Well…yes. But they don't come in chocolate, so you wouldn't like 'em anyway."
McCall was about to poke him in the ribs, but remembering that she was in church, she stopped in mid-jab. Hunter was watching her reaction and chuckled softly.
A short time later, the air was suffused with the rich music of the entrance song. Seated in the relative proximity to the immense organ pipes, the Ressells and their guests felt the deep reverberations of the lower notes moving right through them. The melodic strains from the choir floated down to the parishioners from somewhere up above. Dee Dee turned around to see where the singing was coming from and realized that there was a balcony above the rear of the nave where the choir was perched. As a musician and a lover of all music, she marveled at the ethereal effect of those lyrical voices drifting downward toward her.
To her delight, the congregation sang several Christmas carols during the Mass. It was the first time she had heard holiday music this season. They sang other hymns as well, some of which were not familiar to her. Hunter opened the hymnal for her each time so that she wouldn't have to fumble through the book herself. As she was able to read music, she picked up the melodies quickly.
It occurred to her just then that aside from "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall," she'd never really heard Hunter sing before. He was no Luciano Pavarotti, but she decided he had a very pleasant singing voice. Watching him stand next to her singing hymns in church, she couldn't help but think, "If only the guys at the precinct could see him now!"
During the various liturgies, Hunter opened up a Catholic handbook for her and pointed to the correct passages so that she could follow along, joining in the prayers and recitations with the other congregants. She had felt like a fish out of water when she had first entered the cathedral, but over the course of the Mass, she felt that awkwardness slowly slip away. Following Hunter's lead made the whole experience much more comfortable for her.
St. Michael's parish priest, Father Andrew, delivered the homily. In keeping with the beginning of Advent, his message conveyed that anticipating the birth of Jesus was a time of hope, and a time of new beginnings. Dee Dee smiled as he spoke, enjoying not only the upbeat message, but the lovely lilt of Father Andrew's Irish brogue.
For much of the Mass, Amelia had sat in relative quiet on her father's lap. But a few minutes into the homily, she began to grow restless. Mary took a turn holding her, but shortly afterward, she began to squirm and fuss. Rick noticed Mary's distress and offered to hold the child. He lifted her over and lightly jostled the little girl on his knee, all the while softly whispering, "Shhhhhh…"
Amelia looked up at him with an impish grin, her enormous blue eyes twinkling. A few minutes later, she scrunched up against him, laying her head against his chest while he lightly patted her back. Two minutes later, the toddler was sound asleep.
Dee Dee looked at him with disbelief. He caught the expression on her face and cocked an eyebrow, as if to boast, Of course I can handle this. I'm an expert.
Chapter Six:
Father Andrew wrapped up the homily with a reminder that this was the start of Advent, and to think of this time as an invitation to begin anew. "It's never too late to start again. And so, as you go forth from this place today, show kindness to one another: right a wrong; forgive an enemy; befriend a stranger; extend a hand up to someone in need; and express your love to those closest to you, in both word and deed."
Hunter caught the gaze of the priest at that moment. Am I being self-conscious, he wondered, or was Father Andrew looking right at me just now?
Before he had a chance to ponder the issue, the good father was gesturing toward the second pew, announcing, "In recent months, we've been truly blessed here at St. Michael's. Dave and Mary Ressell have returned to the flock. Your fellow parishioners and I missed you dearly, and we welcome you back."
At that, the congregation broke decorum and clapped their hands for the young couple.
"Secondly," the priest continued,"Dave and Mary have been most fortunate and blessed with the addition of their beautiful little adopted daughter, Amelia. At this time we invite them, along with their friends Richard Hunter and Dee Dee McCall, to come forward for the holy rite of baptism."
As the four adults slid out of the pew, Amelia finally stirred. Her tiny brow furled as she opened her eyes and looked around. She apparently recognized her surroundings right away, and as she caught a glimpse of Dee Dee, she offered a sleepy smile. McCall returned it warmly and gave the toddler a little wave.
As they stepped in front of the congregation, Mary detoured over to the chair where Jason, one of the older altar boys was seated, and handed him her camera. The boy nodded and gave her a thumbs-up sign, and Mary joined the others at their place in front of the good father.
"What name have you given your child?" Father Andrew asked.
"Amelia Elizabeth Ressell," Mary replied.
Hunter suddenly realized that he'd never actually known Amelia's middle name before. Amelia Elizabeth, he repeated silently. What a beautiful name!
"And what do you wish of the church?" the priest asked them.
"We want her to be baptized," Dave responded.
"Very well, then! David and Mary, do you fully and freely accept the responsibilities of raising Amelia in the ways of our faith?"
They smiled back at him, stating together, "I do."
Father Andrew continued, turning to Hunter and asking, "And do you, Richard, fully and freely accept your responsibilities as godfather, assisting David and Mary in raising Amelia in the ways of our faith?"
"I do," Hunter vowed. Just then, he caught Dee Dee looking at him and gave her a smile that he hoped reflected the confidence he felt inside. Then, looking down at the tumble of gold-brown curls just below his chin, he thought, One of the best damn things I've ever done.
He watched as the child patiently sat in his arms. Father Andrew traced the sign of the cross on her forehead, then read a passage from the book of Matthew. He then asked that they be good witnesses, made intercessory prayers, and asked that the saints intercede and assist them. Then he prayed over Amelia, beseeching God to fill her with grace.
With that, he led the way to the baptismal font at the rear of the nave. The priest filled the basin with warm water and blessed it.
"Okay," Hunter whispered to the child. "Here we go, just like we practiced." He gently tipped the little girl back until her head was directly over the basin. Mary and Dave each laid a hand on their daughter and beamed at her, and at each other.
Father Andrew announced, "I baptize thee, Amelia Elizabeth Ressell, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." With that, he gently sprinkled water over her head. Amelia flinched slightly, but remained calm. Watching the age-old ritual, Hunter felt a part of something larger than himself.
Father Andrew gently blotted the water from Amelia's face and hair with a small towel, and Hunter snapped out of his reverie. "Good girl," he whispered to her, lifting her back upright. Amelia smiled up at him and at her proud parents.
The priest lit a candle and handed it to Mary. Then he led the congregation in a recitation of the Lord's Prayer. At its conclusion, Father Andrew raised his right hand. "May God's blessing be upon the Ressell family, and upon godfather Richard and upon their friend, Dee Dee."
McCall was standing right next to Mary, her lovely face bathed in the candlelight. Under that golden flame, clad in her pearl-colored, lacy blouse, she almost seemed to glow from within. She could have been a blushing bride on the day of her nuptials. McCall met his gaze just then and eyed him curiously. He wondered if she was somehow reading his thoughts. He carefully averted his eyes downward toward his charge and noticed that Amelia had busied herself toying with his necktie.
Father Andrew turned back to the congregation one last time, saying, "Mass is now ended. Go in peace."
As the parishioners began to rise from their seats, Jason, the young man who had photographed the ceremony, handed Mary's camera back to her. "I think I got some good ones!" he told her, grinning. Mary thanked him graciously, and the congregants began to file out. Some of them stopped to greet the young family and their friends and give them their best wishes. By then Amelia had had enough of church and the attention of strangers and began to whimper. Mary stepped over to Hunter and took her daughter back in her arms as Dave led them outside to the parking lot.
"You're coming back to the house, right?" he asked the two detectives. "We've got a great little party planned for us."
"Absolutely," Rick answered.
"Of course," Dee Dee responded.
"Great!" Mary replied. "We'll see you over there."
Chapter Seven:
The noonday traffic had picked up considerably from the relatively quiet morning. The green Dodge Monaco followed the Ressell station wagon northward as it weaved its way through the traffic on the 405 and back to their Encino home. McCall smiled, remembering with fondness the picture-perfect little ranch house with the white picket fence.
Dave pulled into their driveway and Mary hopped out, then took Amelia out of her car seat. This time, she held the toddler firmly as Hunter parked the car in front of the house. Its occupants gathered their belongings and stepped out and crossed the lawn. Dave slid out of the driver's seat, holding Mary's camera in the air. "Hey," he called to the detectives, "we've got a few shots left on the roll. Before everyone goes in to change clothes, let's take a few pictures out here in the yard."
Hunter and McCall smiled obligingly and joined the three of them in front of the house. Dave directed everyone to stand under the big oak tree, right next to the lamppost, each of them taking a turn holding Amelia. Mary took the final shot, then announced, "That's it!" She rewound the film, then removed it from the camera and handed it to her husband.
"There's a 60-minute photo place right around the corner," Dave explained. "Go ahead in and make yourselves at home."
Mary opened the front door and ushered her guests inside, saying, "Please come in."
She led them down the short hallway, pointing to the baby's room. "Dee Dee, you can change in here; Rick, you can take the bathroom. Amelia and I will be out in a few minutes," she finished, heading toward the master bedroom. "I'll meet you in the kitchen."
Dee Dee closed the door and quickly removed her blouse and skirt, then tugged on a pair of casual slacks, a lightweight sweater and slip-on shoes. She carefully folded her good clothes and slipped them back into her tote bag and stepped out of Amelia's room just as Hunter was about to pass her in the hallway. He was clad in jeans and a T-shirt, his good suit draped on a hanger. He smiled broadly, then gallantly waved his arm, inviting her to proceed ahead of him. Dee Dee chuckled and headed for the Ressell's homey kitchen.
Mary and Amelia joined them moments later, the mother in a comfortable pantsuit and the toddler in play clothes and tiny sneakers. The hostess set Amelia into her high chair and laid out a small lunch for her, then removed several trays of appetizers from the refrigerator and spread them out all along the kitchen countertops. "Help yourselves," Mary invited them. "We've got chips and salsa, veggies with ranch dip, fruit, devilled eggs, cheese-and-crackers..."
"Oh, where do I start? It all looks so good," Dee Dee remarked, loading up a small plate with snacks.
"And how about drinks? Dee Dee, we have cabernet and Chablis, light and regular beer as well as iced tea and soda."
"I'll take a cabernet, thanks," she replied.
"And Rick? Bottled water or light beer?"
"I'll take a beer," he told her. At McCall's surprised look, he added, "I'm still celebrating."
Noting her partner's largely agreeable mood the last three days, she cracked a smile and said, "You should celebrate more often." She took a big sip of her wine.
Little Amelia, meanwhile, had finished her lunch. She was all wound up and looking for an outlet to expend all that energy. "Uncle Rick! Gimme a piggy-back ride!" she begged her godfather.
"Say 'please,'" Mary corrected her.
"Please?" Amelia repeated.
Hunter grinned affably at the little girl and at his hostess, then started toward the door, Amelia right on his heels. "Just keep that beer cold, Mary," he called back to her. He paused at the doorway, pointing an accusing finger at McCall. "And you: don't eat all the veggies," he warned her in a mock-serious tone.
"You're outta luck, Big Guy," she shot back. McCall turned back toward her hostess, grinning. "He's such a kidder," she explained.
Mary smiled at her. "Maybe so. But you know, he thinks the world of you, Dee Dee."
McCall nodded, saying, "Well, we've known each other a long time. And we've worked together for…" she paused to think. "Wow, it's been five and a half years now! After all that time, you either become very close to your partner, or you can barely stand each other." She sighed. "I guess you could say we're two of the lucky ones. We've become very good friends, both on and off the job."
"He's a good man," Mary asserted. "He's been a great friend to both Dave and me. And Amelia just adores him! I can't tell you how grateful we are that he bent the rules to make sure she was safe after Donna Rawlings was killed." She paused to take a sip of her Chablis. "I don't think I could have handled it if something had happened to our baby." She stared out the window at Hunter, Amelia perched on his shoulders, trotting around the yard as the little girl was non-stop giggles.
McCall was rather surprised that Hunter had confided to them that he had taken Amelia home with him the night of the murder. He could have gotten suspended (or worse) for having done that; indeed, Charlie almost tore his head off for flouting the rules so brazenly. She herself had been on the receiving end of a pretty thorough chewing out just for her complicity. Aloud, she simply said, "Hunter has always preferred to do things well than to do things right."
Mary nodded. "He's a very dedicated detective." Then she quickly added, "You both are!" She watched her daughter at play outside, now sitting on a swing as Rick pushed her, the toddler shouting, "Higher! Higher!"
Mary went on. "In the months since the kidnapping, he's done everything to make us feel safe and secure. He helped us install a security system in the house. He's had some of his police buddies give us one-on-one self-defense classes…and I'm getting pretty good!" she added with a grin, balling up her fists as McCall chuckled. "Oh, and he helped us change out all those weird doorknobs we had in the house so Amelia can't lock herself into a room anymore."
McCall nodded, remembering that frantic day when Dave had to break a window to get Amelia out of the bathroom. She prompted, "Didn't Hunter also take you guys to the firing range?"
"Yes he did," Mary answered. "Dave went and got himself a pistol, and he's becoming a pretty good marksman. Me, I used to be terrified of guns, but I'm gradually getting more and more comfortable with them. Once I'm a little more proficient, I'm going to buy my own pistol, and Rick is going to help me get a concealed carry permit."
McCall grinned. "I pity the poor burglars who try to break into your place," she said with a laugh.
Mary laughed too, adding, "They'll either get clobbered or come face-to-face with the business end of a gun barrel!"
The two women shared a laugh, and Mary looked back out the window at her little daughter and the lanky detective, who were now playing their own version of tag—Amelia happily running full-tilt while Hunter chased her on his hands and knees. McCall couldn't help giggling at the outrageous sight of it. "Well, I think I'm finally seeing my partner in his true light."
"He's her big pal," Mary explained. "I think she sees him as some giant-sized kid rather than an adult."
McCall smiled, remembering her thoughts from the other night about Amelia perceiving Hunter as an oversized playmate. She once again felt a little pang of envy, seeing all the fun they were having together and the look of adoration in Amelia's eyes.
Mary continued. "I'm so relieved whenever he comes to visit. He keeps her occupied so I can cook dinner or do housework or run a few errands. Once he even babysat her so I could go get my hair done. It may not sound like that big of a deal, but being a mom to a lively two-and-a-half year-old means having zero free time."
Then she quickly added, "But don't get me wrong; I love my daughter with all my heart. I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's in the world. But she constantly gets into mischief! When she was only a year and a half old, she learned how to climb out of her crib. Dave and I have had to watch her every single minute. So it's such a blessing when Rick comes and takes her to the park, or to the Santa Monica Pier, or plays with her in the backyard. Now that she's almost three, things are a little better because we can explain things to her, and she's beginning to understand why there are certain things you can and can't do. But Rick has made everything so much easier for us. I don't know how we ever got along without him."
McCall was stunned as she learned more and more about the secret life Hunter had kept from her. Aloud, she heard herself say, "I didn't realize he had such a strong paternal side to him."
Mary watched as Hunter alternately tossed Amelia in the air and flipped her upside down, to the toddler's sheer delight. "He's lonely," she stated. "He hasn't exactly come right out and said it to Dave or me…but I think he'd like to find a nice girl to settle down with and start a family of his own."
McCall shook her head. "Ah, I don't about that. He's got a lot of girlfriends out there…an endless supply of busty, long-legged blondes."
"And all of them dumb as a box of rocks—his words, not mine," Mary added quickly. At McCall's stunned look, she said, "He told me that the girls keep getting younger and younger as he just keeps getting older. He can't find any woman to carry on an intelligent conversation with…except for you." She looked at McCall, then looked away with a little smile. "No, if you'll pardon me for saying so, I think his type leans more towards petite brunettes."
At that McCall fell silent. This day had been an eye-opener for sure. After all these years, she thought she knew Hunter as well as she knew herself, but the things Mary had told her left her open-mouthed with amazement. Before she could even begin to formulate a reply, Dave came in the front door, elatedly waving the package of photos. "Ta-da!"
"Ooh, let's see them!" Mary urged him.
Dave happily obliged her, pulling the envelope out of the bag and spreading the photographs out over the kitchen table. "Have a look," he said. "I'm going to go change."
"Did you get double prints?" Mary asked.
"Triple," Dave called back, heading toward the bedroom. "Some for us, some for Rick and Dee Dee and others to send to friends and family."
The first few prints were of everyday domestic life in the Ressell household—Amelia playing with her toys and their Thanksgiving dinner a few nights ago. McCall giggled, pointing to a particularly funny one of Amelia with cherry pie filling all over her face.
The baptism photos had turned out especially well. Young Jason had managed to shoot the pictures in the existing light of the cathedral's interior without the added distraction of a flash. Overall, they were well-composed shots of Father Andrew with the group. Most of the prints were well-centered and properly focused, although the soft focus in a few of the pictures rendered an artful touch to them.
The young parents, as well as Hunter and McCall, were all smiles at the baptismal font. Amelia, too, was smiling in most of the pictures, although she shut her eyes when the water was sprinkled onto her head, a rapt expression on her face.
The photos taken in the yard were especially crisp and clear, the Ressells and their friends bathed in the afternoon sunlight. "Oh, Rick just has to see these," Mary gushed happily.
"I'll go get him," Dee Dee volunteered, climbing to her feet. "And I'll keep Amelia occupied in the meantime."
"You won't have to entertain her for long," Mary advised. "She'll be coming in for a nap in a little while."
McCall nodded and stepped out into the backyard, interrupting Amelia's little gymnastics session. "Trade places, partner. Dave's back with the photos. Go on, take a look. I'll keep an eye on our little rascal here."
"Be my guest," Hunter replied, setting Amelia gently on the grass.
The tot started to follow him inside, but McCall stopped her, calling out, "Amelia, have you ever been on an airplane ride?"
At Hunter's urging, the tyke walked back to Dee Dee. "Airplane ride?" she echoed.
"That's right, only you're gonna be the airplane. Here, sit on the ground…that's it, now give me one arm and one leg."
Amelia looked confused; she'd never played this game before. McCall reached down and clasped one of the girl's wrists and one of her ankles. Then she pulled her up and spun her around, the motion sending Amelia airborne in a circle around her. Amelia's uncertainty dissipated in a squeal of delight. Dee Dee imitated the sound of an airplane engine, sending the little girl into a fit of giggles.
She twirled her around until she felt herself starting to get dizzy. She gently slowed to a stop and set the girl back down. "Do that again!" Amelia urged her.
"In a minute," McCall told her, catching her breath. "Would you like to go down the slide?"
Amelia nodded and ran toward the little backyard playground. She easily climbed the stairs by herself, and McCall rushed over to the bottom to catch her. The little girl flew down the incline, grinning from ear to ear.
"That looks like fun," McCall told her. "Let's try sliding down together."
Amelia climbed back up the ladder, McCall right behind her. Amelia waited for her as she positioned herself at the top, and then pulled Amelia into her lap. "Okay, here we goooooo!" They slid down a little faster with Dee Dee's added weight, and Amelia erupted in a burst of giggles. McCall planted her feet securely at the bottom to stop their forward momentum.
She turned around and eyed the trapeze bar, saying, "Hey, I'll bet you could do this, too." She climbed up onto the bar, then slid back until she was hanging by her knees. Then she flipped her legs over her head and hopped back onto the ground.
"Lemme do that!" Amelia begged her.
The girl was too short to reach the swing from the ground, so McCall gave her a lift. She grabbed onto the trapeze bar, but she kicked her legs aimlessly; she couldn't figure out how to get her feet up and over the top. McCall lifted her up so that she was now sitting on the bar. Then Dee Dee held her tightly while she slid back and hung on by her knees.
"There you go! I knew you could do it," she told Amelia, who looked up at her from her upside-down position and laughed with delight.
McCall carefully helped her flip backward off the trapeze and gently set her back on the ground. "How about the teeter-totter next?" she suggested.
Amelia eagerly ran over and climbed on one side of the swing as Dee Dee hopped on the other. "Uncle Rick is too big to ride this with me," she remarked.
Dee Dee laughed. "Yeah, he probably outweighs me by about a hundred pounds. He'd probably wind up tipping over the whole swing set." She imitated a slide whistle, followed by the sound of a loud crash.
Amelia laughed in response. Dee Dee wasn't sure if Amelia understood what she was joking about or if the little girl was simply amused by her mimicry. The child tipped her head back, clearly relishing the swinging motion of the ride.
Just then, Mary stepped outside and came over to the backyard playground. "Nap time," she announced.
Amelia started to sniffle. "I don't wanna take a nap," she informed her mother. "I wanna 'nother airplane ride."
As Dee Dee brought the swing to a stop, she said, "We can do that right after you wake up."
But Amelia was not consoled by Dee Dee's promise and began to cry. Mary smiled haplessly at McCall. "Well, they can't always be a bundle of joy," she joked, pulling her tearful daughter off the swing and into her arms.
"Don't worry, Amelia," Dee Dee called after her as Mary carried her back inside. "Uncle Rick and I will still be here when you wake up." She looked around at the now-empty backyard and ambled back toward the house. Inside, she found the two men were involved in an animated discussion about their exploits at the firing range.
"…the whole clip, dead center!" Dave was saying enthusiastically.
"I know; I can't believe that neither you nor Mary ever fired a gun before four months ago," Hunter replied.
Dave nodded. "Yeah, Mary wasn't crazy about the idea at first. But the last time out, her confidence was up and her aim was about ten times better."
"And I hear she's doing great on those self-defense lessons, too."
"Yeah! She's even started talking about us joining a gym."
"Good for her," Hunter replied. "But let me know before you sign any contracts. There's a gym here in the valley which is run by Ron Stapleton, a friend of mine. He's a retired cop and an amateur bodybuilder. He'll cut you a great deal on a couple of memberships."
"Ah, that'd be fantastic," Dave replied. "Mary and I, we try to stay in shape; we go for walks with Amelia and all that, but we're both ready to take it to the next level."
"Then you two will love Ron's Gym—very clean, good equipment, really well-maintained. And they have a great little nursery there so you don't ever have to worry about finding a babysitter."
Dave grinned. "Perfect. Sign us up!"
Hunter chuckled, and McCall quietly sat down in front of her wine glass.
Dave went to get himself a second beer, asking, "Want another, Rick?"
"No, thanks, I'd better hold off. But I will take one of those bottled waters."
Dave nodded. "You got it. How about you, Dee Dee? Are you ready for a refill?"
McCall smiled, answering, "No thanks, I'd better just nurse this one glass, especially if I'm going to give Amelia any more 'airplane rides' this afternoon."
Hunter cringed. "You see, that's one thing I can't do—spin around in tight little circles like that. I just get dizzy and nauseated as hell."
"That's probably because you're so tall," Dave observed. "I recently read a news article about fighter pilots, and it seems that the taller men had more trouble adapting to the G-forces than the shorter guys."
Dee Dee grinned. "Well, Rick, I finally found your Achilles Heel! I'll bet you couldn't handle the Mad Tea Party at Disneyland."
Hunter grinned back. "It would do me in. I can handle a roller coaster just fine; in fact, Amelia and I have a standing date to go on her first roller coaster ride at Pacific Park as soon as she's tall enough. But anything that twirls you around in tight little circles, I have to beg off or I'd be tossing my breakfast."
Dave chuckled. "Well, thank you both for keeping Amelia entertained this afternoon. She has boundless energy and just loves the attention from you two."
Mary returned to the kitchen at that moment, heaving a deep sigh. "I finally got her to sleep. She didn't want to take a nap; she just wanted to stay in the backyard with her Uncle Rick and 'my new friend, Dee Dee.'"
"She said that?" McCall asked. Mary nodded, and McCall gave her a sheepish smile. "Well, now I've gone and done it; I corrupted a two year-old."
The group shared a laugh together, then Dave stood up and put an arm around his wife. Mary raised her glass of wine. "Rick, Dee Dee…Dave and I have an announcement to make. Last week, we signed some legal papers, and yesterday, we received a call from our lawyer, telling us it was official now."
Hunter and McCall exchanged puzzled glances, then looked at the Ressells expectantly. Mary hung onto the dramatic pause as long as she could, then a huge smile spread across her face. "We're going to be adopting a baby boy!"
Rick and Dee Dee's eyes widened, then both of them grinned and jumped to their feet. "That's great!" McCall exclaimed.
"Congratulations!" Hunter offered, shaking Dave's hand and giving Mary a hug.
"How did this all come about?" McCall wanted to know.
Mary looked to her husband, who answered, "Well, we'd actually been thinking about it for a while, but we were still a little skittish after what happened with Donna Rawlings. Then one day, out of the blue, Amelia asked us when we were going to give her a baby brother or sister. Well, as it turned out, there was a high school girl in a neighboring parish, and she'd gotten herself into trouble, and…"
"…and Father Andrew heard about it," Mary finished. "He remembered that we wanted to expand our little family, and the next thing you know, we're researching adoption lawyers again."
Dave went on. "The expectant mother is a really sweet girl, very warm and bright, and being Catholic, the idea of an abortion was out of the question. She's eager to go to college next year, and she thought that giving the baby up for adoption was her best choice."
"That sounds ideal," Hunter told them. "The perfect solution, for you and for her."
"Does Amelia know yet?" McCall asked.
"No, not quite yet," Mary replied. "Abby has had a healthy pregnancy so far, but you have to leave a little room for the unexpected."
"So we'll let her know right after the birth," Dave informed them. "After that, hopefully, there won't be any unpleasant surprises."
"When's the little fellow supposed to make his appearance?" McCall asked.
"Abby's due date is just after New Year's," Mary answered. So this will be our last Christmas as a threesome."
McCall grinned. "Then maybe the big guy here had better give notice at the LAPD, because you guys are probably going to need a full-time babysitter in a few weeks."
Mary and Dave shared a laugh, and Hunter responded with a patient smile. "Hey, I never charge for my services."
"But things will be a little wild and crazy for a while," Mary admitted. "Dave is going to take a couple weeks off from his computer business, or at least until we get used to our new routine. But we'll take all the help we can get."
"Well then, count me in," McCall volunteered. "Amelia is a fun kid, and I'll be eager to meet her baby brother. In fact," she began, reaching for her glass of wine and raising it for a toast, "Here's to the next Ressell baby, and to a family of four."
"Hear, hear," Hunter added. "And to a lifetime of love and joy." With that, wine glasses were clinked together, along with a bottle of beer…and one plastic water bottle.
Chapter Eight:
Amelia napped for a couple of hours, then woke up eager and excited to see her big buddies. She came tearing into the kitchen and launched herself straight into Hunter's lap. Dee Dee giggled at his resultant "Oof!" as thirty pounds of pure energy impacted against him. Looking at Amelia's amused parents, he observed, "I think you have a future track and field star in the making here."
"Or an Olympic gymnast," Dee Dee suggested.
Amelia turned toward McCall and asked, "Can I have another airplane ride…please?" she added after noting her mother's stern look.
McCall turned to Hunter. "What d'ya say, partner? You think between the two of us we can handle this little dynamo?"
"Let's give it a whirl," Hunter encouraged her.
Mary smiled. "It's still very mild out there. We can just move this whole party outdoors for a little while."
Dave nodded, then said, "And if we're going to have steaks tonight, I'd better go fire up the grill."
Hunter led the way to the backyard, Amelia rushing after him, with McCall and the young parents close behind.
Rick felt very gratified, seeing how quickly Dee Dee hit it off with Amelia. She seemed happy and relaxed and very much at ease. He'd wanted this to be a well-deserved break for her. Police work took a heavy toll on all those who served, even someone as strong and resilient as she was. Days like today, when a pair of hardened detectives could leave the job behind and enjoy the simplest of pleasures, were few and far between. They had to grab hold of them and savor them when they could.
Amelia started the fun with a game of hide-and-seek. Dave and Mary rocked with laughter, watching two of LA's finest pretend that they couldn't find their daughter hiding in plain sight behind their rose bushes.
As promised, Dee Dee offered Amelia another "airplane ride." Afterwards, she picked up the little girl and tossed her into the air and Rick nimbly caught her.
"Now there's an idea," Hunter suggested. "How about a game of flag football?"
"With Amelia as the football?" McCall asked, incredulous. "I don't think so!"
He chuckled at her reaction and gently set the girl back on the ground.
By this time, the steaks were on the grill and Mary had gone back inside to set the dining room table. The sun was slipping low on the western horizon and the air had already begun to chill. Hunter and McCall collected their little charge and headed back indoors. Dee Dee went to assist their hostess while Rick helped Amelia wash her hands and face for dinner.
The Ressells put out a delectable spread for their guests. Besides the perfectly grilled steaks, they set out a tossed salad, baked sweet potatoes, broccoli and cheese, and sweet rolls and butter.
Dave led the group saying grace before the meal, after which McCall added, "And bless us sinners while we eat our dinners," sending everyone into a wave of laughter, the first of many throughout the meal.
For dessert, Mary presented them with chocolate cake, topped with swirls of snow-white frosting. When McCall accepted the offer of a second piece, Mary remarked, "Dee Dee, you're amazing! How do you stay so slim?"
"That's what I want to know," Hunter added with a grin.
Dee Dee laughed in response. "I don't know. Must be my metabolism, or something. Rick says that I eat like a high school football player, but I must work it all off, I guess. Besides, I wouldn't want to let a single morsel of this fabulous meal go to waste."
"You won't have to worry about that," Mary assured her. "I'll pack you both some leftovers."
"And thanks for yet another great meal," Hunter added. "This is better than even the best restaurant."
"We buy most of our groceries from a little farm store out toward Moorpark," Dave told him. "They raise grass-fed livestock and grow a lot of organic fruits and vegetables. It costs a little more, but we figure we'll reap the health benefits in the long run."
"I couldn't agree more," Hunter replied. "It's hard sometimes to maintain a healthy diet when you're on the go as much as we are, but most of the time I manage."
"Chocolate cake notwithstanding," Dave said with a grin.
"Well, you have to treat yourself sometimes," Mary added. "Besides, today's a special day."
"Yes, it is," Hunter agreed. "And that reminds me, I've got to go get something out of the car." He motioned for McCall to come with him.
She shrugged and followed him out the door. "What's out here?" she asked him.
"Baptism gifts for Amelia; don't worry, I've got you covered." He popped the trunk of the car and took out two small packages. "Cow or sheep?" he asked.
"Uh…sheep?" McCall answered tentatively.
He pressed the smaller package into her hands and led the way back inside to the dining room. By then Mary had set two other packages on the tray of Amelia's high chair. The tot looked from the gifts and back to all the adults in the room and asked, "Birthday presents?"
Mary laughed. "No, sweetie, it's not your birthday yet. Remember your baptism ceremony this morning?"
The little girl frowned, then ventured, "Church presents?"
"That's right," her father answered.
Amelia eagerly tore away the gift wrap. Her parents, appropriately, had bought her a small picture book of the first Christmas and a tiny gold cross necklace. "Ooh, pretty!" she exclaimed.
The child opened Hunter's present next and a grin spread across her face. She apparently recognized the animal and blurted out, "Mooooooo!"
Her mother and father applauded her, and the girl turned to the final gift, quickly tearing off the paper. She smiled again, but mistook the animal for something else: "Woof, woof!"
"That's a sheep," Hunter gently corrected her, opening the picture book to illustrate it for her. "See? At the first Christmas, there were cows and sheep in the stable."
It was Dee Dee who provided the correct sound effect, rendering a very realistic "Baaaaaa!" Amelia gave her an amused smile, cuddling the little stuffed animal tightly against her.
McCall leaned in close to Hunter and murmured, "I want one of those for Christmas."
Hunter turned to her, feigning exasperation. "You already have an entire zoo on top of your bed."
"…But not an entire petting zoo," she countered. "You're getting me a sheep for Christmas."
"I have a better idea. Why don't I just take you to a petting zoo?"
Dave and Mary chuckled; as always, they enjoyed the banter between the two of them.
Mary leaned down to Amelia to prompt her. "What do you say to Uncle Rick and Dee Dee for the presents?"
"Thank you!" Amelia responded enthusiastically.
"Well then," Mary began, "it's bath time for our little one, then story time. Dee Dee, why don't you help me with that, and we'll leave the kitchen clean-up to the fellas?"
"It works for me," Dee Dee quipped, throwing Hunter a sassy smile as she parodied his favorite expression.
"Careful, Mary," Hunter called out. "Next thing you know, Dee Dee will have your daughter taking bubble baths and you'll never get her out of the bathroom."
Dave laughed softly, then turned to the mess in the dining room. "Let's get to work," he said as he began to stack the dishes.
Between the two men, the cleanup proceeded quickly. As promised, Dave wrapped some leftovers for their guests, then they went to check on the women's progress.
Amelia had already finished her bath and was sitting up in her bed, her new toys cuddled in her arms and Dee Dee sitting by her side. A big storybook was spread across her lap as Mary watched from a rocking chair across the room. Hunter wasn't sure which story McCall was reading, but he could see that she was truly in her element, telling the tale with excitement and flourish. Amelia gazed up at her, mesmerized, a tiny smile on her face.
Watching Dee Dee with the baby girl, Hunter felt his heart clench inside his chest. He let out a long breath, not realizing he was holding it. In that enlightened moment, he fully understood that he had been selfish to want to keep McCall partnered on the job with him. Taking in this beautiful scene in front of him, he realized that this was where she truly belonged. It wasn't enough for her just to babysit someone else's children, or to be some kind of surrogate mom. Her best destiny was that of wife and mother. He smiled as he thought of her reading bedtime stories and playing with her own children, and rare tears stung his eyes.
Dee Dee finished the story and closed the book. She looked down to meet the enchanted stare of the little girl.
Mary broke the spell, saying, "Tell Aunt Dee Dee goodnight, and give her a hug."
The little girl reached up and squeezed McCall tightly, then planted a big kiss on her cheek. Dee Dee laughed with delight. "Thank you, Amelia."
"Are you coming back tomorrow?" the tot asked her.
McCall smiled and gently ruffled her hair. "No, not tomorrow. But soon, I promise."
"Is Uncle Rick coming back soon?"
McCall turned toward the door, noticing Hunter in the doorway for the first time. "Why don't you ask him?" she suggested.
Hunter, lost in thought for a long moment, quickly came back to the present. "Of course I will," he answered, his voice sounding thick and hoarse to his own ears. McCall seemed to pick up on it and eyed him curiously. Then she slid off the bed and got to her feet, blowing a kiss to Amelia.
Outwardly, Hunter seemed to regain his cool. "We got an early day tomorrow, partner," he announced.
Mary spoke up, saying, "Well, don't leave just yet. Amelia has to say her prayers, then we'll be right out."
Dave and Rick traded places, and the two guests went back to the kitchen to wait for their hosts.
"Good job in there," Hunter praised her, smiling softly. "You were really at the top of your game."
McCall looked up at him. "Thanks for today," she said quietly. "You don't know how much I needed this." She squeezed his arm.
"You're welcome," he told her.
McCall, who had seen his emotions run the full gamut over their five-plus year association, quickly noticed that something was churned up inside him. "Hey…are you okay?"
He managed a weak grin. "I'm all right. It's just the sugar crash."
She studied him for a long moment, then she gave him a doubtful look. She patted him on the shoulder, her expression telling him, It ain't the sugar, Big Guy, but I'll give you some space if you need it. You'll tell me when you're ready.
Dave and Mary returned presently. Mary spread her arms, saying, "Rick, Dee Dee…what can I say? Thank you for everything you did for us today."
"Thank you for inviting us," Hunter replied, leaning down to give her a hug. He drew back and shook Dave's hand, saying, "Congratulations on the new addition to the family."
"Ah, we can't wait!" Dave replied. "We'll let you both know as soon as we have all the details."
Mary saved her biggest embrace for McCall. "Please come see us again soon, Dee Dee. You're part of the family now, too."
McCall laughed happily. "Yeah—'Aunt Dee Dee!'" she exclaimed, hugging her tightly. "I feel really honored."
Mary stepped over to the refrigerator where she pulled out two sizeable Tupperware containers. "Here you go. Enjoy."
McCall grinned, saying, "This is great! Between Marinelli's pizza, Thanksgiving turkey and Steak à la Ressell, we're going to be eating like kings all week long."
Dave reached over to the end of the counter where Mary had laid two envelopes with their names written on them. "Here—we set aside some of the photos for you both," he said as he passed them to the two guests.
"Hey, thanks again," Hunter said. "I should be able to pop in sometime before Christmas, but just in case…Merry Christmas ahead of time."
"And enjoy the holiday season with Amelia," McCall said. "It's probably the first one she'll be old enough to really appreciate."
"We will," Mary promised. "Have a wonderful holiday season you two, and please come back soon."
"And get home safely," Dave added.
Chapter Nine:
As they pulled out of the Ressell's driveway, heading back to the 405, McCall leaned back in the passenger seat and sighed. "Well, those folks are by far the nicest people that we've ever met on this job," she declared.
"No argument here," Hunter agreed.
McCall smiled at him, saying, "When you first invited me to the baptism, I never imagined we were going to have so much fun."
He glanced over at her. "I know. I'm glad you had a chance to enjoy yourself."
"And I did—thanks," she replied. "But I was wondering, since it was this close to Christmas, why they didn't just wait a little longer and have the baptism then?"
He chuckled. "Because they're probably going to baptize fifteen or twenty babies on Christmas Eve. Dave and Mary thought that the beginning of Advent would be much more unique and memorable."
McCall nodded. "Oh, it was. The Mass, the ceremony…it was beautiful. You know, I've probably driven by that cathedral twenty or thirty times. I always wondered what the inside of it looked like. It's absolutely magnificent. I really enjoyed it."
Hunter smiled at her. "I'm glad to hear you say that, because you'd better be prepared for an invite from Dave and Mary to go to Christmas Eve Mass."
"I'd love to," McCall answered. "Except we might be in the middle of a case by then."
"Probably not," Hunter countered. "Christmas Eve and Christmas Day both fall on a weekend this year."
"Really?" she asked hopefully. "I hadn't looked that far ahead." She giggled. "Well in that case, I guess 'Aunt Dee Dee' had better go and buy her little niece a Christmas present." She thought for a moment, then added, "Hey, if we have any kind of luck at all, maybe one of our crime scenes will be right next to a mall or a Toys R Us."
He chuckled, replying, "It would be awfully nice of the perps to provide us that convenience."
She looked over at him. "I'll bet that being a godfather means you're expected to be a real Santa Claus when it comes to Christmas gifts."
"Yeah, it's all part of the package," he answered. "I don't mind, though. I love seeing her little face light up whenever I bring her something."
"What about Dave and Mary's families?" McCall wondered aloud. "I never did get a chance to ask them about it."
"Mary has two sisters," Hunter answered. "They're both back on the east coast. One sister is married, and she and Mary have kind of grown apart. The other sister is a nun at a convent in Connecticut. They're still very close and they keep in touch with letters and phone calls.
"Dave has three brothers. One is in the Navy, serving abroad somewhere. The other two live in the Midwest—Illinois or Indiana, one of the two."
"So…Dave and Mary are kind of alone out here," McCall realized aloud.
"That's right," he said softly. "All they have is each other."
"And a daughter. And pretty soon, a baby son."
"And us," Hunter added.
At that, McCall suddenly remembered the envelope of photos she was holding. She lifted the flap and took the pictures out, looking them over one by one. She smiled, thinking back on the lovely morning, and on the bonds of friendship that had been strengthened that day.
The last photo, taken in the front yard, was one she hadn't remembered seeing back at the house. In the picture, she held a cheerful Amelia as they both grinned happily for the camera. Hunter stood by her side, one arm curled snugly around her. His attention and his smile were focused solely on her. The look in his eyes in that ephemeral moment, captured forever in the image, was the very definition of love and of all that it promised: Safe haven. Warmth and comfort. Tenderness and affection. The yearning for home and family.
Everything Mary had told her today was true. How had she not seen it before this? She felt her breath catch in her throat.
"Something wrong?" Hunter asked her.
McCall shook her head and managed a smile. "No, it's just…these are some really nice photos."
Hunter arched an eyebrow, his expression reading, Okay, now it's you hiding something from me. But he didn't press her any further on the issue.
The Sunday night traffic was starting to thin out and before long, the green Monaco pulled off the freeway and turned toward McCall's residential neighborhood.
She looked back at Hunter. "Tell me something," she began softly. "What else does being a godfather entail?"
"Nowadays, it mostly means setting a good example for the child," he replied. "But of course in years past, it meant that if something ever happened to the parents, then the godparent would become the child's legal guardian."
"Well," she sighed, "that's one roundabout pathway to parenthood."
He chuckled. "As I said, that was the way things used to be."
She looked over at him. "And how are they now?"
"Now?" he echoed. "I'm 'Uncle Rick.' The Ressells have become like a second family to me." He sighed. "And now I have a little nephew on the way. I'm really looking forward to that."
Just then, he pulled into McCall's driveway and shut off the motor. She stepped out of the car, then went to retrieve her tote bag and leftovers from the back seat. Hunter slipped out of the driver's seat and followed her to the front stoop. McCall slid the key in the lock, but paused before opening the door.
Hunter leaned on the doorframe, his face just inches from hers. She looked up at him and offered a teasing smile. "You know, Hunter, there are other ways to go about this."
"What do you mean?" he asked innocently.
"I mean that if you're so keen on the idea of fatherhood…" She paused, taking a deep breath. "…you could always find some nice girl to settle down with and start a family of your own."
"Hmm," Hunter responded, straightening up and rubbing his jaw, pretending to be deep in thought. "'Find a nice girl, settle down and start a family of my own,'" he repeated. "Gee, you know, I never thought of that before."
She rolled her eyes. "Good night, Hunter," she muttered, opening the door and shutting it firmly behind her.
He stood frozen for a long moment, leaning back against the outside wall. "Oops, I guess I blew it," he said to no one in particular. Then, very slowly, a big grin spread across his face.
"Hey, McCall," he shouted back to her through the door. "What are you doing next weekend?"
*~* FIN *~*
Afterword:
For my longtime friend Nita Dee, who gave me my first (live!) feedback—thanks so much!
And for my mom, who got me hooked on "Hunter" to begin with. How I miss you and all those golden evenings together back at Chartwell!