Walter and the Dineens sat in the large exposition room waiting on the judges' decision. The morning had been nerve wrecking for Walter as everyone examined each entry and then the judges came around. Slowly the entrants were dropped as others moved up the ladder towards first place. Walter nearly puked five times as the entrants that didn't make each cut off were dismissed. And almost like a favorite nightmare Walter's sculpture had made it to the top five.
Paige sat next to him holding hands with him. If it hadn't been for her own nerves she might have seen Walter wasn't well.
"Even though I have complete faith in your sculpture, I'm actually a bit nervous." Paige whispered to Walter. Now it was the moment of truth.
Walter barely understood what Paige said and then he felt her tug on his arm. He stood up with her as the other four entrants rose up while the announcer stepped up to the podium.
"Well ladies and gentlemen, sorry it has taken so long. We had some truly amazing pieces entered. This show has made it very difficult for our judges this year, coming to a unanimous decision as to the winners. It didn't help that our trusted sculpture judge had to recuse herself from judging this year at the last minute. Thankfully Jill Williams was able to fill in. I tell you truthfully I thought we were going to have some actual fist fighting for a while! But, the judges came to an agreement and we finally have the ranking!" The announcer excitedly called out over the speaker system as he held up a piece of paper.
Paige squeezed Walter's hands ever tighter.
Walter was almost terrified. Emotions were not his strong suit and while he was grateful that his bust of Paige had done so well, far greater than he thought, except for the last five years, he was never accepted emotionally by anyone but his sister. Just like the string art, he'd poured all his heart into this for Paige and now having it sit in judgment by strangers was almost more than he could stand. He'd never imagine it going out before people, just to Paige and their family. Was this going to be another failure of his emotional state? If so, was he strong enough to bear another failure to it?
His eyes were closed as he tried to calm the rolling in his stomach. His thoughts and feelings were blocking out all the rest of his senses. Beads of sweat were all over his forehead. He felt an unnatural chill as well as dizziness. He hadn't heard a sound since the announcer moved up to the podium. How long had he been like this? Five minutes? Twelve hours? Why was it so quiet? Had everyone already walked off in disgust because he didn't place better than fifth place? Where was Paige? Where was his Dad and Mom? Where was Happy? His anxiety was soaring with each passing moment. This was horrifying him, he couldn't understand how he made the mistake of letting this happen. He should have stayed home at the very least. But Paige wouldn't let him. She'd been instrumental in getting him there and he knew it was all her fault. He felt the urge to scream at her as he felt like he was coming apart at the seams.
Suddenly the scent of Paige's perfume invaded his awareness and then he was aware of pressure against his lips. His lips were forced apart as something warm, soft and wet, but strong pushed into his mouth. Then he felt the pressure of being hugged and finally his eyes were able to open and he saw it was Paige kissing him deeply and passionately. He felt the impacts from Ralph's hand against his back…slowly his ears caught words and sounds. Most notably was Veronica's cries and then Ralph's booming voice, was it full of congratulations?
"You did it Walter!" Happy was screaming loudly at him, it had been the first real words he understood.
Walter felt a rush of relief, if not for Paige he'd have collapsed. And then he broke, as his emotions swept over and out of him and he began crying. Ralph stepped up and helped to support him in the moment.
"So Mr O'Brien, first congratulations on first place." The reporter told him before moving the microphone over in front of him.
"Thank you, but Walter is fine." Walter said nervously.
Paige hugged his arm tighter to her, trying to give him a measure of comfort. She had to work with him for several long minutes in a side room following the reveal that he had won.
"I have to ask you, for one of my producers, are you the same Walter O'Brien who won the Irish national chess tournament in 1999?" The reporter asked as she brought the microphone back to her.
"I am." Walter nodded.
"Is this still your girlfriend Paige Dineen?" She asked.
"Paige is now my fiancée actually." Walter told her firmly. "But yes."
"Oh how wonderful, well congratulations to you both. Have you set a date yet?" She asked.
"Thank you." They both replied.
"We've tentatively set a time for after she gets her associates degree from Harvard." Walter told her.
"Oh that is exciting. Are you going to Harvard as well?" She asked.
"No, the Dean of women had met with me and Walter once and she was duly impressed by Walter's computer abilities. She actually arranged for Walter to take a placement exam. And then she set it up so Walter could challenge their computer science course and he has his masters now. And he's considering getting his doctorate." Paige proudly answered for him as Walter blushed.
"That is very impressive Mr O'Brien." The reporter smiled.
"Walter is fine." Walter told her again. "But, thank you."
"So, chess, computers and now sculpting. Is there anything you can't do?" The reporter asked.
"Of course there are many things I can't do. But I also have a very large range of interests. Things that rely on brain power I excel at. My hand to eye coordination is very good as well, which helps in different things. Such as piano playing. My brain is able to process what is involved and reproduce what is desired thanks to my dexterity. While technically unflawed, according to Mom, well Paige's Mom that is, my playing is rather mechanical." Walter explained.
"Piano playing as well, you are truly gifted. Well let's talk a moment about your foray into art. Just like you won your very first chess tournament here you've won your first art competition. Your teacher, as you know, had to recuse herself as a judge but she is very impressed and excited about you. She told us that you came to her just over a month ago as a novice, and just by watching some videos and reading some, you produced an amazing piece. And now it has won the state championship." She told him.
"Thank you. I didn't realize she had to step down as a judge. All of the rest is true. With the exception of a piece of string art I did for Paige's fifteenth birthday, I had never worked in any other art medium before I touched the clay that I turned into 'Ange Dineen'." Walter told her with a smile at Paige.
"Well obviously Dineen is in reference to your beautiful fiancée, is Ange a pet name?" She asked.
"No, it is French for Angel." Walter grinned at Paige as her cheeks blushed.
"Angel, how sweet. So what is next for you Walter? Will you allow your piece to move on to the national show?" She asked.
"Right now I am working on securing the finances we'll need to open our company. Hopefully by the time Paige has her associates in business and psychology, we'll have the money and we can make a decision on which direction to go. I'm not sure about submitting it to the nationals. This alone was almost more than I could bear. And it also could endanger the piece, by being damaged as it is handled. But Paige has been encouraging me to allow it. I probably won't try to attend that show though." Walter said as he squeezed Paige's hand.
"I can certainly understand your concerns, but I am grateful she's encouraging you to allow it to go to the national show, it really deserves to be seen more. But that sounds exciting as you try to get ready for your company." She tapped her ear. "One of my producers just asked, are you going to try and use your Teen Beat magazine article to help create the assets you need for your company?" She asked as Walter blushed.
"I think someone is trying to score some kind of cheap points by embarrassing Walter with this trip down memory lane." Paige said a little forcefully.
Walter smiled at her before answering.
"Not in any context that I know of. Right now I am working with the Elia corporation on a contractual basis. I'm also working with my dear friend, Paige's sister Happy. She wants to develop a rover to be used on Mars or other rock based planets, moons or asteroids." Walter explained.
"Well that sounds exciting. So is that what your company wants to do? Build scientific devices?" She asked.
"No, we are going to be problem solvers. The rover is more akin to a hobby or desire of Happy's. Like me she has lots of ideas and works on them constantly. She'd been designing the rover and a number of other projects for a little over a year. She actually designed and built an exoskeleton that helps my sister. She has MS and the exoskeleton can help her by taking some of the strain off of her body as well as protect her if it detects an attack. She's fallen a few times since she was diagnosed and has suffered a few broken bones. Happy's professor had wanted her to be involved with his team that was working on a rover, but the other students foolishly rejected her. Happy is truly a marvel when it comes to engineering. So much so that at thirteen she received a full scholarship through MIT for it. But we're taking the rover to the next level to hopefully turn it into a tool to be used in even greater space exploration. Either through NASA or business." Walter told her.
"Thirteen? That's truly extraordinary. Well all I can say is, Walter, with the brain power you possess I can't see how you won't be successful solving problems. On behalf of WBZ-TV we wish you both a long and happy life together and with much success for your business." The reporter ended the interview.
"Thank you." Walter and Paige said together.
"Are you okay now Walter? We were a little concerned when you started crying." Ralph said quietly.
Walter nodded as he held Paige's hand as they were all walking.
"Before you guys entered my life, people never accepted me based on my emotional side. And that is what the bust represents, my emotions for Paige. Having it judged so publicly, by people who don't know me, was more stress than I have ever felt." Walter sighed. "I almost couldn't handle it."
"Oh, I never thought about it like that." Paige said as she pulled on him to stop and kissed him. "I had just thought you were being shy. If I had I wouldn't have pushed for us to come to this. We could have just waited. I'm so sorry Walter, forgive me."
"It's okay, nothing to forgive you for. It helps to stretch the boundaries of my emotions." Walter smiled before he gave her a quick kiss and they kept walking.
"Well I'm proud of you son." Ralph said as he patted his back walking beside him.
"Do you think it was wise to mention our rover?" Happy asked as they walked back to the SUV.
Walter frowned.
"Is there a reason I shouldn't have?" Walter asked.
"I hope not. My professor was upset I wasn't helping with their rover but he said he understood that the other students didn't want me. But I think if he hears about us making our own he'll really get mad." Happy explained. "I'm just glad I don't have access to any of their ideas and plans so they can't try to say I stole something."
"How'd you like them bringing up Teen Beat magazine?" Veronica laughed.
Walter blushed as he shook his head and everyone else laughed.
"To be honest, there actually was a purpose for me to bring the rover up." Walter told her. "Depending on how that interview makes it out into the public, this will generate interest in the rover. Not just from scientific communities but business ones as well. I've thought many times of mentioning it to Richard but I don't want to use my relationship like that. But if he hears about it from the interview, and is interested in it; well that is a different story."
"That's my boy!" Ralph grinned.
Ralph sat in his office in the house as he pondered the situation with Happy and Toby. She was so unhappy that Toby couldn't go with them to Callan for Christmas. He liked Toby, a bit more now than he did originally meeting him. But he was still worried about the age difference. Nearly eight years was a lot of time and he really didn't want them getting too comfortable with their friendship. Talking with Veronica hadn't helped, she was a little more willing to give them some more freedom.
Ralph picked up his rolodex and looked up a number before grabbing his phone and dialing. Ralph sat there listening to the ringing.
"Hey Bob, Ralph Dineen." Ralph said with a smile. "I'm doing well, thanks. Bernie said things are looking really good with my heart. He said Toby did an amazing job for a heart specialist while not being one." Ralph laughed. "Yeah, Toby is why I called. Look, I hate to ask for a favor but I could use one. Our family is going back to Ireland for Christmas, part of my responsibilities I can't get out of with the Embassy there. And we would really like to take Toby with us, but he said as a junior doctor he has to cover the time at the hospital. Is there any way to switch things so he could serve another time?"
Ralph slowly nodded his head.
"No, I get that it has to be one of the hardest periods to cover." Ralph told him as his hand came up to his eyes and rubbed them. "Oh?" Ralph said curiously as his hand fell from his face. "I know some people that can make that happen. So if I can get you the donations to replace your MRI you'll give Toby the two weeks around Christmas and New Years off?" Ralph grinned. "Bob, consider it done." Ralph said happily. "No, you and Christine should come over for dinner soon. I'll mention it to Veronica and she can call Christine to set it up then." Ralph continued to grin. "No Bob, thank you. Have a good day." Ralph said before he hung up.
"Which Christine do you want me to call to set up what?" Veronica asked as she walked into his office with Emmett.
"Bob and Christine, from Massachusetts' General Hospital, invite them over for dinner. Bob's going to do us a favor, provided I can get the donors for the hospital's new MRI machine." Ralph told her as he lifted Emmett from her arms.
"That's odd, I didn't hear your phone ring. What favor is he doing for us?" Veronica smiled at Emmett.
"No, I called him. He's going to switch Toby's schedule so he can go to Callan with us if I can get the money for him." Ralph smiled.
"Do you know how sexy you look right now Ralphie?" Veronica purred.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! Hard to believe there are only 4 more chapters to this leg of the story. And I am so behind in getting things written! lol Trying to get Callan 2004 written (1 more chapter I think), 2005 is coming along nicely as well. Anyone have a preference for what to post next? The 2 chapters of "Elizabeth of Caranth" ("Knight's Tale" storyline) or "Lycosidae"? I got to get the Muse to whisper a bit more as that gives me just under a month of stories to post with nothing else finished. *yikes*
Railman - Is it wrong I just can't stand Drew and always write him in bad light? lol You are right there, if he did stay behind he'd be trying to buy a ticket that day to follow on a plane right behind them. lol Well as you can see Toby was truthful, he had to work, but looks like Ralph is going to fix that. lol
LouBe - hehe It had to be a sight for sure! And yep, sometimes friends in low places is a good thing too, just in case taking the high road won't fix it. lol I would hope that no program & school would allow for such a thing, but I tell you...what does get reported sometimes makes me wonder just what doesn't get reported. I'll do my best to find something for Paige to shine with. hehe Walter's injury was a mimic to one I had sustained once. No where close to heroic on my part, more closer to stupidity. LOL You thought Happy was angry and Walter stayed cool? hehe Did we read the same chapter? lol Yes, Walter & the Dineens have all been in contact with the O'Briens, I didn't see much need to mention it so the story could contain more "interesting" happenings. And he does want to see his family, he's just not that interested in Callan. Sorry if I led you astray there. hehe
Pearliegirl - And here you have the art contest! hehe Looks like your prediction came true! Aww...Ralph said "Thank you."
Susan - lol Richard definitely had a nasty shock and definitely I am thankful he trusted Ralph. So glad you enjoyed the date night! I don't think there is anything Walter can't do...given enough prep time I think he could handle nearly anything. Goodness, you are so far behind! hehe You got to take it at your own pace!
To the Adventure! -Tim