Norbac Chapter 10

by Simahoyo

A/N I must prostrate myself and plead for your mercy. I'm sorry this took so long. I absolutely hate to type. Can you tell? The only upside is more Maura, for those who have been missing her on the TV show. PS, I posted chapter 9 also.

Jack looked up at me and slowly grinned, "I don't know, Molly, with all you've got in your closet, I'm scared to open the door."

I immediately got that old radio show reference. "Yeah Fibber, don't open the closet..."

Jack mimed opening a closet and everything falling down on him.

"...door."

"Changed your mind, did you?"

"Yes."

"Was it something Jane said?"

"She called me a goofball and reminded me that Paddy Doyle has a long, long prison sentence ahead of him."

"What is the best way to thank her?"

"Red Sox tickets."

Then we sat down to call our families. Jack's sister entertained us with stories about their childhood. His parents were a bit reserved, but very kind. I called Cailin, who hooted and gave me a loud, "Atta girl", then begged me not to tell Hope because Cailin wanted to play little sister and be the first to tell her the news.

"Jack, I have too many called to make to Canada, and I may need a chart to explain who is related to who. Why don't we call it a night?"

I still don't know how I wound up ring shopping with Jack and Allie—but we had fun. I'm so used to Jane whining and complaining when we shop together, but Allie has excellent taste, as does her father. I made a joke about her having the shopping gene, and she actually laughed. All too soon I was headed back to Toronto.

On the way to Logan Airport

"Show me that ring again, Maur'."

"Keep both hands on the wheel, Jane. There is a lot of snow on the ground."

"Put your hand on the steering wheel. I'm only soing ten miles an hour."

"Considering the conditions, it's still too fast."

"Calm down, Maura. See, I'm driving seven miles an hour. How's that?"

"Okay, Jane. My left hand is on top of your steering wheel."

"It's a great ring. Real Spak."

"I resisted the urge to listen to the inner voice of my long dead grandmother. "Allie picked it out. And Jack approved it."

"The kid has good taste. Hey, no steering, Maur'. How are you getting home from Pearson airport? I heard Toronto got dumped on hard."

"Mayko has a jeep. I'll probably have to shovel my car out, if I can find it."

"Lots of luck with that. The news said pipes are bursting and the train system is down."

"I have lots of blankets and long underwear."

"You might have to walk to work."

"I've done it before. Maybe I

ll have to go to Africa and check things first hand."

Jane turned and pinned me with a look. "No way. Me jumping off a bridge was bad enough, you exposing yourself to Ebola is just –whacked!"

"I promise I won't unless I absolutely have to.

"You can wear one of those space suit thingees."

"I will."

Jane gave me a raised eyebrow, "Seriously."

Toronto—Pearson Airport

It was unbelievably cold inside the jetway. I could see out the windows that snow was piled high where the runways and Tarmac had been cleared. I got my luggage and found Mayko, who was dressed like an arctic explorer. Alarm bells were going off in my head.

"Oh no, how cold is it?"

"Pipes bursting all over the city, mass transit is dead. I check on your apartments—pipes burst, no heat."

For someone who likes to talk so much, Mayko can be terse with bad news. "No heat? I came home to no heat?"

"Bass called to say he would like you to stay with us. He told me to invite you."

"I laughed, "Fortunately, I'm already packed. Do we need to stop at a grocery store?"

Mayko grinned, "No, I know how you eat and I stocked up. Rachel is already there—so we have lot's of variety. Oh, and David is still camping out at his place—stubborn sot. I hope he gets frostbite."

She grinned to show she was joking.

TCB