Sep 1, 2003, Harvard University:
Walter sighed as Paige walked away after kissing him before her first class. He turned and made his way across the campus to catch a bus. He had considered his options but it seemed inefficient to go home and get his car when his destination wasn't that far from the college and a short bus ride could suffice. He was a bit disgusted at the conditions on the bus. Something sticky on the floor was bad enough but the smell that wafted up from the back of the bus each time the door opened nearly drove him off the bus on the third stop. But he held on until he reached the harbor and made his way to the Horizon Edge's Casino Cruise ship.
Walter walked the casino as the ship made its course out to international waters when the gambling could begin. As long as the ship stayed on schedule he should be back at Harvard to meet Paige with over twenty minutes before her last class was out.
Once the ship passed that imaginary boundary the casino came alive and was flooded with clients all bent on making a fortune. Walter's brilliant mind had already calculated so many different possibilities. He settled on Blackjack as his foray into the field. The casino only used a three deck shoe which made it even easier for him. He spent several hours the day before watching videos on Blackjack. Not for strategies per se, but he wanted his gambling to look legitimate. He was quite convinced he could win every hand but that would be suspicious and he needed a good algorithm to simulate general play. The crux would come down to the hands that really mattered without getting kicked out and barred from playing again.
During his second hour of play he noticed a slight shift in personnel on the floor started happening. One woman was clearly a manager of sorts. She'd moved over from one of the Texas Hold'em tables. Walter was up over thirty grand and he decided now would be a good time for a big loss to help diffuse the situation. He got just what he had predicted he'd get…a pair of aces. Odds were highly favorable for him to split them. But instead he kept them together and doubled down. He drew a ten, which gave him a hard twelve. He sighed as if realizing his mistake, so he had no choice but to motion for another card and he got a queen. Walter sighed again while shaking his head and flipped the second card and the dealer gave him a slight smile of encouragement as he raked in three thousand from the bet.
Walter noticed the tension in the various people seemed to relax so he played it easy over the course of a number of hands. In the process winning the three thousand back slowly in small amounts. A couple of the people moved positions away and he decided he needed to try for another big hand. By the odds he was sure if he stuck with whatever he got dealt the dealer would end up drawing and would bust. Walter moved five thousand dollars worth of chips into the betting square and the dealer slid his first two cards.
The woman paid close attention to him.
Walter smiled as he had a natural twenty. He slid another five thousand over and motioned for no more cards as he flipped his second card to reveal his king-queen combo.
The dealer flipped his cards revealing a six and an eight. He flipped one card over and it was a nine. Walter grinned as the dealer slid ten thousand dollars worth of chips over to him before collecting the cards. Putting all of his chips on a carry tray Walter took one five hundred dollar chip and slid it to the dealer, as a way of saying thanks. He stood and looked at his watch noting he had thirty minutes left to gamble. He decided he'd pushed his time gambling as far as he should today and went to collect his winnings.
Walter walked to the teller cage and placed the tray down and gave the woman a bank number to their bank account for Scorpion they'd created the other day so she could just transfer the cash to their account.
"Well, Sylvester Dodd, I'm Dr Toby Curtis. How are you today?" Toby asked the young man that he'd been assigned to work with.
Sylvester carefully pulled his sweater down over his hand before shaking Toby's hand.
"I'm okay. I don't know why I'm here though." Sylvester told him as he looked about the room nervously.
Toby gestured to the couch as he sat down and took a moment to note that Sylvester was a germaphobe.
Sylvester looked at the fabric of the couch and then at a hard chair opposite of Toby and he stepped over and after wiping it down with a tissue from the box on the table he sat down.
"You're welcome to call me Toby." Toby told him as he scribbled. "How long have you been obsessed with germs?"
"Since I was three and began reading about all the diseases that can be passed by animals." Sylvester said nervously.
"Really?" Toby looked surprised even as he took in his clothes. "I've got to say you are dressed very smartly. Your parents must pay a great deal of attention to your clothes when they are cleaned."
Sylvester shook his head.
"My aunt makes me care for them." Sylvester told him weakly.
"Did you know your math teacher is concerned about you? And he asked that you be interviewed to determine if something was wrong?" Toby asked.
Sylvester shook his head.
"So why do you live with your Uncle and Aunt?" Toby asked.
Toby sighed after the door closed behind Sylvester as he went back to his class. He picked up the phone from the desk and called the principal.
"Yes, I'm afraid Mr Webb's fears about Sylvester are valid. He's being abused badly. I'm not sure why the parents have allowed this, but CPS needs to intervene. Yes, I'll have it written up in about ten minutes. You're welcome, I'm just sorry I had to be called in." Toby said before he hung up the phone. "Damn, I could use a drink."
Paige rolled her eyes as one of the other freshmen girls seemed to latch onto her since they had the same last class. Paige figured she had to be intelligent to get into Harvard but Becky either was a complete airhead and her parents got her in there or maybe she was an undercover officer of some kind playing a role.
"So anyway I was telling Jeanie, do you know Jeanie? She's short with red hair, you'd love her. Never mind, it doesn't matter. I was telling her I was going to try out for cheerleader. With your killer legs and looks you should come with me. You must work out with your legs a lot to have such great muscle tone." Becky told her.
"Sorry, I'm meeting my boyfriend and going back to our place. As for my legs, we used to walk two miles to school every day." Paige told her as they exited the class room.
Walter froze as he approached the intersection of the hall and heard Paige's voice and then some other woman's voice.
"Really? Two miles? Gosh, I don't think I've walked two miles in the last four weeks, let alone a day. I love your killer accent, what are you like from the deep south? And your boyfriend, he's the one on your phone's screen? I mean he is a cutie, but seriously, there are some major hunks in this school. So what is up with you and this guy? I kicked my high school boyfriend to the curb after I graduated. You're young, you're hot. You could be doing any of the guys around here. You should be living it up, not acting like an old married woman." Becky whined.
"Look amadán aineolach tú, if you want to go partying, then go. I'm with who I want to be with, everyone and everything else be damned." Paige told her angrily.
Walter smiled at her for calling the other woman an ignorant fool.
"Well, fine, be that way Ms Priss." Becky hissed and walked off in a huff as Paige rolled her eyes.
Walter stepped up behind her as one member of the detail nodded to him. Walter quickly slipped his hands around her head covering her eyes.
"Guess who." Walter smiled.
"As if my detail would let a random stranger get this close to me." Paige smiled.
She turned and then opened her eyes wide.
"Oh my, I thought you were my boyfriend." Paige grinned even as she slipped her arm around his neck. "But you are much more handsome than my boyfriend." Paige told him before she closed her eyes and pressed her lips against his.
Walter smiled at her as they broke their kiss.
"I suppose you probably heard that?" Paige asked.
Walter nodded.
"You know, if you are wanting to experience more of college life, like cheerleading, it is okay." Walter told her softly even as his heart cracked.
"Like I told the amadán aineolach tú, I'm with who I want to be with Mister. Let's go home." Paige told him as he took her books from her. She smiled and linked her arm around his before leaving.
"How was your day?" Paige asked him as they walked out of the building.
"Not bad at all, all things considered. But that bus, it is really gross." Walter shuddered as Paige giggled.
"So you didn't lose then? Break even?" Paige asked while hoping he did better than that.
"I did a little better than break even. I took them for just over forty-five grand." Walter told her.
Paige stopped and pulled against his arm and stared at him.
"Are you serious?" Paige asked with her eyes open wide.
Walter nodded with a grin as he pulled out the voucher and showed her.
Paige took the voucher and stared at it while shaking her head.
"This is remarkable Walter. When I agreed to let you take that five thousand dollars to gamble I honestly thought you'd lose and it would be a one time thing. But, you really did this. You can use the system to build up the equity we'll need for Scorpion." Paige beamed at him even as a tear ran down her face. "Our dream is really coming true."
Walter nodded as he felt the warmth in his heart at her including his dream as her dream too. He reached up and wiped that tear of hers away and then kissed Paige tenderly.
Paige and Walter spent the rest of the afternoon making love before joining their family upstairs in the main house for dinner. While Paige and Happy were playing with their little brother, following dinner, Walter gestured in the direction of Ralph's den. Ralph nodded before getting up and walking with Walter to the den.
"What's up Walter?" Ralph asked as he gestured to the chairs and Walter stepped over with him and sat down.
"Dad, I was wondering, should I insist that Paige take a more active role in college extra curricular activities?" Walter said while sighing.
"What brought this up? Did Paige say something?" Ralph was concerned and more than curious.
Walter shook his head.
"A classmate told Paige she should live more, she was like an old married woman. She got mad at the girl for it." Walter told him softly.
Ralph nodded as he sat there thinking.
"Walter, the best I can say is, just let Paige know you are okay with her doing other things and leave it there. Paige is crazy about you and I don't see that changing. Not every couple who gets together in high school makes it. Ronnie and I were fortunate in that regard and I believe you and Paige will be as well." Ralph smiled.
Walter nodded slowly.
"In that case, I'd like your permission to ask Paige to marry me, not right away, that would be up to her." Walter told him.
Ralph grinned.
"Walter, nothing would make me happier than for the two of you to marry and make a family. If that is what you both want, of course you have my permission." Ralph told him as he stood up.
"I've still got to get a ring though." Walter said as he stood and shook Ralph's hand before Ralph pulled him in for a hug.
Ralph just nodded before they walked back into the living room. Walter saw Veronica walking into the kitchen so he walked after her since Paige was still intent on her baby brother and little sister.
"Mom?" Walter said softly by the door.
"Walter, I'm just getting a piece of cake, would you like some?" Veronica looked back with a smile.
Walter shook his head.
"I asked Dad and I wanted to ask you for your permission to ask Paige to marry me." Walter said softly after looking back to see that Paige was still busy.
"Oh Walter, of course you have my permission." Veronica cried as she turned and walked over and hugged him.
"I've still got to get a ring to ask her though." Walter smiled.
Veronica shook her head as she wiped at her tears. She pulled her engagement ring off her finger and held it out to Walter.
"Ralph gave this to me when we were freshmen in college. It was his Mother's and she wanted him to give it to me. And I want you to give it to Paige." Veronica grinned happily.
Walter swallowed as he nodded. The weight of the ring as she put it in his hand seemed far greater than the small amount of metal and gemstone could possibly weigh.
"Thanks Mom." Walter smiled before he bent over and kissed her cheek.
"You are very welcome Walter, I couldn't be happier about the two of you. Are you going to ask her now?" Veronica asked excitedly.
Walter nodded and Veronica grinned and walked back out to the living room with him, the cake forgotten. Veronica gestured to Happy and Ralph. They both seemed to understand and while Happy grabbed Emmett up and twirled him real quick, causing him to giggle, Ralph turned to the entertainment center.
Paige was too busy grinning and laughing at Emmett's excitement to notice what was going on behind her.
"P-Paige." Walter said unsteadily.
Ralph pulled out the camcorder and started recording.
Paige looked over and saw Walter looking a little pale.
"Walter?" Paige said with concern and she stood quickly to step over. Her hand came up and felt his forehead. "Are you feeling okay?" She asked worriedly.
Walter nodded even as he got down on a knee. Paige's eyes went wide and Happy let out a little shriek.
"Paige, mathematically speaking, we don't make sense. How I resonate with you so that you could and continue to overlook my inadequacies is unquantifiable. I only know when I look at you I see perfection. When I look into your eyes I'm completely lost in the moment. The world of possibilities opens up wide to me. I can see how happy I will always be with you. My only fear is I won't be enough for you in the long run. But I am saying no to that fear, it can not have me, it can not hold on to me. I am yours forever, whatever it is you want to do, wherever you want to go, whatever you want in your life, I'll do everything within me to make it possible. You are forever within here." Walter touched his chest. "And in here." Walter touched his head. "You are part of everything I do or think forever. Will you marry me?"
"Yes." Paige said as tears ran down her face as she nodded with a large grin. Walter stood as she pulled on his hand and they embraced.
Veronica blew her nose and dabbed at her eyes even as Ralph wiped his eyes with one hand.
Walter pulled back and after removing the promise ring slipped Veronica's ring on Paige's finger. Paige grinned as she looked at it.
"Isn't this your ring Mom?" Paige said, shocked as she looked at it.
"Your Grandma Clara wanted your Dad to give it to me. It had been the ring Grandpa Emmett asked her to marry him with. And I wanted Walter to give it to you." Veronica nodded.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
Railman - Well you know something he's doing now. LOL That's an idea I hadn't really thought of...I'll see if the scene moves me anymore and if it does I'll write it up and do that.
Pearliegirl - So happy you are glad to be back! "Callan" has a special place in my heart, sadly it doesn't get as much attention as modern day stories, but more than the Knight stories so that's something. No, I have no clue what the chapter count will be. This leg will take the story to chapter 72 which will end the end 2003. I definitely want to see Ralph born, so hopefully the story will continue at least to 2006...I've heard whisperings of what happens the year following Ralph's birth so...who knows?
Margaret - So happy you are glad to see it again! Yes, last chapter really had a lot of things happen in a few short words, a real whirlwind. But the story will be a bit slower pace now. lol Good thoughts and prayers for your eye doctor visit!
LouBe - Oh man...it is too easy to lose track of a baby...and Emmett is no exception. A very crucial scene in chapter 54 and after I had finished writing it I went back and was like...wait...where's Emmett? Dang it! lol Had to go find him and get him written into the chapter...after all, it was his birthday for crying out loud! lol *sigh* Billy's car accident...that was a fight between me and the muse. The muse said he died...And it gutted me, I was like, look Megan's been given a crappy deal already with the MS, we don't need to add more pain on her...begrudgingly the muse gave ground and settled for just ruffing him up. Conner really grew up in this story...rather proud of him! Yep...fortunes for everyone seems to have gotten better...Happy's advice to Toby about going to the hospital's psychiatrist for help with his problems leading him to drinking really paid off! Ahhh...poor Sylvester and as you asked...you receive a little...LOL
Susan - So glad you are happy it is back! So far Toby seems to be doing a much better job! I don't blame you for going back a few chapters..."Callan" (along with the Knight stories) is a "guilty pleasure" of mine to reread from time to time.
To the Adventure! -Tim