Chapter 7

"So how is he?"

Peggy was startled out of her reverie by Stan who was watching her with concern. He had come into Peggy's kitchen and noticed her sitting at the table studying several sheets of paper with tears in her eyes.

"Who, Stan?"

Stan gave her a knowing look and he pointed to the tear stained pages in her hand. "Peggy, I know that's a letter from Don. How is he doing?"

Peggy sighed and wiped her eyes with a Kleenex. "He's okay."

Stan sat down across the table from Peggy. "Did he say something to upset you?"

Peggy shook her head. "No, it's just been so long since I've seen him and I miss him. It's been almost eight months. The only other time we went this long without seeing each other was when I quit and went to CGC and we weren't on good terms at all then. I just really want to see him again and I have no idea when that will be." Peggy said sadly.

"So why don't you go visit him?"

"Are you serious?" Peggy asked incredulously.

Stan nodded. "Totally. You can take a little time off and fly out there. We'll manage without you."

Peggy considered this idea for a second. "Would you come with me? I don't think I should be traveling alone in my condition."

Stan grinned. "Absolutely."

"WHITMAN! YOU HAVE A VISITOR!"

Dick sat up from his bed in confusion and saw the guard standing impatiently at the doorway to his cell. Dick got up and the guard opened the door and swiftly put Dick's hands behind his back and cuffed him. The guard escorted him to the "living room," a place where he rarely spent any time because he figured the less time he spent among the other criminals the better. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw who was waiting for him.

Peggy had been sitting at the table in the center of the room but she stood up awkwardly when she heard them approach. A patch of light from the window caught her at just the right angle and she looked radiant. She was wearing a short-sleeved dark blue empire waisted dress that came to just above her knees, showing off her shapely legs. The color brought out her eyes and showed off her pregnant belly quite well. Her hair had grown out quite a bit, falling to just below her shoulders in chestnut waves and her face had a distinct glow about it. She looked absolutely beautiful.

Peggy felt her breath catch when she saw the prison guard escort Dick in. She was taken aback by his appearance. Dick was gaunt and he looked exhausted. He hadn't shaved in a while and his hair was a disheveled mess. But what was the most jarring to her was seeing him in his orange prison garb.

Dick's face lit up when he saw Peggy and she immediately relaxed and smiled. The guard un-cuffed Dick and Peggy walked briskly up to him and threw her arms around his neck. Dick put his arms around her waist and pulled her as close to him as her pregnant belly would allow. They held each other for a few moments, then he pulled back slightly and took her face in both hands and kissed her briefly on the lips. Dick ended the kiss and then he reached over and placed both of his hands on Peggy's swollen belly, eliciting a disapproving grunt from the guard, though he immediately looked away to give the couple a little privacy.

Peggy was pleased when after a few moments of touching her stomach, that she felt the baby begin to kick. Dick felt it too and he began to tear up. Peggy's eyes filled with tears as well and he placed her hand over one of his and held it in place over her stomach.

"The baby knows who you are Dick. She never does this for anyone else." Their eyes met and Peggy reached up and touched Dick's face and he smiled sadly.

"I don't know how it is that you are here right now. It almost feels like a dream. It's amazing to see you Peggy. You look beautiful. I've always liked that color on you. It brings out your eyes."

Peggy blushed. "Thank you. You look well too."

Dick chuckled. "You are a terrible liar, Peggy. I know I look like hell. If I would have known you were coming I would have shaved or at least combed my hair."

Peggy reached up and tousled Dicks hair and attempted to arrange it as normal, earning another disapproving grunt from the prison guard.

"It has all grown back, but there is a lot of grey now. I look like my old man." Dick said wryly.

"I think it looks good. You look distinguished. You look even more like Cary Grant, as if that was possible."

Dick laughed. "Thank you sweetheart, you are very kind." Dick took her by the hand and pulled out one of the chairs at the table. "Here, let's get you off of your feet."

Peggy sat down and Dick sat across from her and immediately took her hand and held it.

"How are you feeling? You really do look great. Pregnancy clearly agrees with you."

Peggy laughed. "I'm feeling pretty well actually. A little tired...the flight out here was uncomfortable but it was totally worth it to see you again."

"What made you decide to come all the way out here all the sudden? You didn't fly here all by yourself did you?"

"No, Stan came with me. He's the one who suggested that I come visit you. He saw how sad I was after reading your last letter."

"Yet another thing I need to thank him for when I get out of here." Dick squeezed her hand once again. "I wasn't sure you would want to have anything to do with me after what I revealed in that last letter."

Peggy sighed. "I'm not going anywhere, Dick. You need to get used to that. I'm in love with you, and you are going to need to make me an honest woman when you get out of here."

Dick's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

Peggy nodded. "Yes, really."

Dick smiled and he took her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it tenderly.

Peggy's heart fluttered and she smiled warmly as they gazed at each other for a few moments.

"Oh, before I forget," Peggy said suddenly, "I have something for you." She reached into her bag and produced a familiar red bakery tin. "I know you love these brownies so I made a special trip to the store before we left. It looks like it's not a moment too soon. We need to get some meat back on your bones. Don't they feed you in here?"

Dick laughed. "They do, but the food is terrible." He opened the lid revealing the tin half-full of brownies.

"I may have had a few brownies on the plane...as did Stan." Peggy said sheepishly.

Dick chuckled and he grabbed a brownie and eagerly took a bite, moaning happily. "Peggy, thank you for this. You shouldn't have to go to all this trouble."

"It was no trouble at all I promise you." Peggy said sincerely. She then produced a couple of envelops from her bag. "I called Sally and told her I was coming to see you and she begged me to come see her at school so that she could give me these."

Sally had given Peggy a letter from herself to give to her father, as well as notes from Bobby and a drawing from Gene. Dick felt his heart clench when he looked at the items from his family all spread out in front of him and his eyes filled with tears again.

"They all love you very much." Peggy said as she squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"Gene barely knows me. He thinks Henry Francis is their father. It's probably better that way."

Peggy frowned. "Sally told me that you were well on your way to fixing that before you left. It's never too late.".

Dick sighed. "I hope you're right. I can't thank you enough for bringing me these Peggy." Dick said sincerely.

"It's my pleasure. Sally wanted me to make sure to tell you that you need to write to the boys separately."

Dick chuckled. "That I can certainly do."

Dick and Peggy continued their visit, talking about her new agency and their clients, some of which Dick was very familiar with. He beamed when Peggy was describing some of their new work.

"You've done amazingly well for yourself. I couldn't be more proud of you."

Peggy grinned. "I learned it all from you."

Soon it was time for their visit to be over. Dick reluctantly stood up and he walked over to a Peggy and held out his hand and helped her out of her seat. He pulled her into a warm embrace and he kissed her neck. He then stood up to his full height and gazed down at her.

"I am so glad that you came today Peggy. You have no idea how happy this made me."

Peggy smiled, "I think I have a pretty good idea."

"Please let me know the minute the baby comes."

"I will."

Dick took Peggy's face in his hands and kissed her for longer than was appropriate on the lips.

"I love you Peggy." Dick said after he pulled away to look at her, quickly becoming emotional.

"I love you too Dick." Peggy said as tears began to fall once again.

The prison guard came over and took Dick by the arm and escorted him out of the room leaving Peggy to sob quietly.