Chapter Three

And So It Begins

Saturday Morning

"Coffee smells good." He says as he walks into the kitchen. He gently rubs his sons forehead. "Good morning little guy." He pours himself a cup and leans against the counter as he takes a sip. "What time do you want to leave?"

She watches his reaction. "Well mister coffee, how is it this morning?"

He leans forward and kisses her cheek. "It's good," he takes another sip. "Yes it's good; I think you've got it."

"Yes, finally," she says after a sip. "It does taste good this morning."

He takes another quick sip. "Well, when do you want to leave?"

"I have to call my sister to see what time she is available to watch Robby, be right back."

"Hey Laurie, it's me."

"Hi me, what's up?"

"Bobby and I are heading into the city to pick out an engagement ring." She speaks low, "He doesn't know it yet but we might as well pick out the wedding bands………….I still have trouble believing all of this sometimes. Considering how fast it all happened."

"It may have been fast but you've got yourself a great guy, I am so happy for you."

"I feel happy for myself. Is that being selfish?"

"No not at all, its wonderful Alex you deserve it."

"Thanks………….damn……….Oh now I remember why I called. Would you be able to watch Robby for a few hours this afternoon?"

"Yes, what time?"

"What time is convenient for you?"

"Anytime after twelve, but Philip and I are going to dinner with some friends from his work, but that won't be until seven."

"We'll be back way before then, thanks again. See you soon."

When they were partners, she always drove but things have changed. "I was wondering," he says as he finally finds a place to park the car. "How much is all of this going to cost?" He turns off the ignition. "Any idea?"

"We have to plan it, so that we can afford it."

"What?"

She smiles, "We have to see how much we can spend and plan it that way." She opens her car door, "I'll take care of that, don't worry."

He walks around the back of the car, don't worry about it, she must be kidding.

"Bobby did you hear me?"

"Yes, yes I did." He walks to the left she walks to the right. "Alex it's this way." He points.

"No it's…oh yeah you're right."

He waits for her to catch up and then takes a hold of her hand. "So you need to know how much money I have?"

"Yes, but after awhile it won't be yours. You know that ole saying. What yours is mine and what's mine is mine." She laughs but he suddenly stops and lightly pulls her close, "No," he shakes his head. "That's not right."

"Bobby I know that you can be a very serious man sometimes but gees, it was a joke." She pulls his arm, which makes him look at her. "What's the matter?"

He begins walking, shaking his head. "Oh man it's a mess; it's not working out at all."

Her heart skips a beat and she stays silent, he looks down at her and her face is white. "No, no not this," he lightly touches her cheek. "I'm sorry." He pulls her close and they embrace.

"Oh my God for a second I thought." She pushes him away. "Your new partner? Come on it can't be that bad."

"Wanna bet? Some people just don't get along."

"You got along well with Bishop."

"I know, but this one is………….I knew you were coming back."

"Finish your sentence, this one is what?"

"She's like a sponge she just sits and watches."

They continue walking. "Because you're overbearing and you're alienating her." He stops and she looks up at him, "Oh don't give me that sad puppy dog face, who me? Yes you, you did that very thing to me."

"I did? Yeah I did, didn't I?"

Nodding her head, she says, "She's your partner Bobby not your gopher. Talk to her; ask her, her opinion. Even if you think you know the answer. Make her a part of the investigation." She tugs on his arm. "Because believe it or not sometimes you are wrong," He leans down and kisses her cheek.

"Thanks. I like this, just having someone to talk to, it's nice." He pulls her close and places his arm around her shoulder as they walk the three blocks to the jewelry store.

He, always the gentlemen, opens the door and lets her enter first. Alex walks up to the counter with Bobby close behind, he looks over her shoulder and whispers. "If those numbers are not the stock numbers, we are looking in the wrong section."

She nods her head and in a low voice, "I agree." Grabs his hand and they walk to the next section, she looks up at him and he shakes his head ever so slightly, they move on to the next section. Once again, she looks up, he nods.

"May I help you?" says a female clerk.

"Yes, please an engagement ring."

The clerk opens the back of the cabinet and pulls out two trays of six rings. Alex is engrossed in the glittering diamonds while Bobby's attention is being draw to two young people who have just entered the store. "I have always liked the princess cut diamond," she glances over to her right. "What do you think, Bobby?"

He has moved to the front of the store glancing out the window and then keeping a close eye on the young couple. "Bobby!"

He turns quickly, "Sorry, why don't you bring the ring over here so I can look at it in the light."

She shrugs her shoulders and walks toward him. He turns to face the window. In a low voice, so he won't be heard by the young man, "Behind us, check them out."

She casually turns around and speaks softly. "They're high and I think they have something stupid planned."

He nods his head; Alex says, "You hold onto that one and I'll get the round cut one to show you." She moves away from the window and then positions herself behind the woman who has started to walk toward the counter. While Bobby puts his hand on the young man shoulder, Alex grabs the young woman's arm and pins it behind her back. The man shudders and Bobby reaches in his pocket and holds up his gold shield placing it in front of the young mans face. "Do I need to say anything?"

The man just shakes his head, Alex lets go of the woman's arm and pushes her forward, "I'll call it in."

"You can't."

Alex looks up, "What?"

"Alex you can't call it in."

"Damn I forgot."

Bobby orders the couple to sit on the floor. He stands over them as he calls the station. The woman hits here friend on the arm, "I told you it was a stupid idea."

The clerk has been watching, with a puzzled look on her face she asks, "What was that all about?"

Alex turns back to the woman, "They were planning on robbing the store."

Her eyes widen, "Oh my God, how did you know that?"

"Experience," Alex says boastfully and casually.

The clerk smiles, "You two are cops?"

Nodding his head as he walks back toward the counter, "Yes." Bobby says as he picks up a round cut ring, "I like this one."

Within ten minutes, a police cruiser has arrived and two officers exit the vehicle. Bobby greets them at the door. "We stopped them before they could go ahead with their plan; just get them the hell out of the neighborhood. I'm not in the mood for any paper work."

"Not a problem." The officers escort the young couple into the police cruiser.

For the next fifteen minutes, Alex slips both rings on her finger and glances at them from every angle possible. "Alex how many times are you going to do that?"

"I………..I can't decide." She holds her hand up. "You have that look on your face that my Dad always gets when he takes my Mom shopping."

"Oh yeah, what look is that?"

"Boredom."

The clerk laughs, "Almost every guy that comes in this store has that look on his face. It's either that or panic." They all laugh at the comment.

"Ok I've made my decision."

Bobby whispers, "Thank God."

Alex hits his arm, "Knock it off, this one. I like the round cut one." Bobby has left her side once again, "You know while we're here we might as well pick out the wedding bands."

The clerk looks up and smiles and Alex feels a sense of pride as she returns the gesture, "That's a great idea."

That Night

Working together in the kitchen, they decide on a simple dinner of burgers and a salad. "That was fun, in the jewelry store." She says and she makes three hamburger patties. "We always were a good team, weren't we?"

He tosses the salad in the bowl, "Weren't we? You mean we're not anymore."

She chuckles, as he says, "Maybe not in the beginning but we, you worked it out."

She reaches up and kisses his cheek, "Boy and I'm so glad I did."

After dinner, Alex sits down next to him on the couch. The Yankee game is on. She sits with her legs tucked under and starts writing. "What are you writing?"

"I'm starting a list of things to do for the wedding." About fifteen minutes later, she fires up the laptop and begins researching wedding planning sites on line. Clicking and printing throughout the evening.

"Bobby I've found six places that we can check out to hold the reception. I have been to two of these places. The cost per head for each of these is between 125 and 150 dollars a head."

He does not respond. "Bobby are you listening? Turn off the game, come here and look at this."

"I'll be right there," he says as he clicks off the ball game. It was only tied in the bottom of the ninth with two on, but…

He peers over her shoulder, "I've been to two of those places, they're very nice. This one," he points to the name on the screen. "Has excellent food." He straighten ups. "Is that what we're doing tomorrow?"

She takes a sip of soda, "Yes." She prints out the name and addresses of the six potential Goren and Eames reception sites.

"Bobby I need your financial statements." He gestures with his hand for her to remove herself from the chair. He logs onto his bank and prints out his savings portfolio and his money market account. Alex places her hands on his shoulders and begins to massage them. He smiles and hits the print key. "I'm impressed, you've defiantly been saving your money." He nods his head in agreement. "I'm not a spender." He gets up from the chair and she takes his place. He kisses her cheek, "If you're planning on staying on any longer I'd hook up the AC adapter." She does not respond she just nods and smiles. "Yeah, yeah," he says, "I'll get it."

He leaves her in front of the computer as he returns to the TV and is pleasantly surprised that the game is still on. He sits and watches while she continues clicking, surfing and printing.

The game finally ends. He tosses the remote on the coffee table. "Waste four hours of my time watching that freakin' game and they lose." He checks the time and is surprised, "Shit, Alex it's almost midnight. What are you…?" He picks up one of the printed papers. "Alex your list keeps getting bigger and bigger.

"Ok. I have put our finances together. I have included the cost of the rings. Now I am going to borrow my sister's gown because it is not only gorgeous but she's only worn it once."

"Very funny."

She puts her feet up on the empty chair, "I thought so. Anyway, with the five grand that my parents have offered, we have a budget of twenty five thousand.

"How many people?"

"I don't want a big reception, maybe fifty to sixty people."

"How many do I get to invite?"

"Thirty? Is that enough?"

"Sounds fine," he says as he sits down next to her and picks up a wedding list-planning guide. He reads aloud;

Decide on location

Choose officiate

Pick attendants

Legal issues:

Marriage license

Name change

Reception:

Choose site of reception select the menu plus the cake.

Guest list

Select invitations

Verify addresses

Place cards

Music: DJ or Live Band

Photographer and Video

Flowers

Favors

Transportation

Wedding attire

Wedding dress

Grooms attire

Choose attendants attire

Beauty appointments

Rehearsal dinner

Gift registry

Purchase gifts for attendants

Accommodations for out of town guests

Honeymoon

Select location

Post wedding

Thank you notes with enclosed wedding picture

He takes a breath, "All this for one day." He sets down the list. "I had no idea."

Alex sits back in the chair and clicks off the computer, "Me neither." She says sounding very disillusioned.

"Didn't you help your sister with her wedding?"

"Yes I did but it's different when you're the bride." She stretches and then stands up.

"Have you changed your mind?" She hesitates; he takes her hand, "You didn't answer quickly enough."

She tugs on his hand and he stands up. "No I haven't, like I said before I'll have a lot of help." She leads the way out of the kitchen and up the stairs, "You'll help right?"

He smiles, "Of course anything for you." She kisses his cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Oh God what have a gotten myself in to…..stop it….. just keep telling yourself that she's worth it………… and she is.

TBC