Chapter Twenty-One

All The Cats Are Finally Out Of The Box

"Good morning…" I said against her hair when Carolyn finally stirred against me and yawned.

"Good morning…" she replied sleepily, opening one eye to the bright daylight as she stretched along my naked body on a soft groan of satiated repletion.

"I need to get up soon…" I whispered, settling her more comfortably against the side of my chest. "Or I will be very late indeed for my own exhibition."

"Blast…" She sighed slowly, making no move to move away or get up. "I wish we could stay here all day and just make love again like we did in Sedona."

"Please don't tempt me. As it is, we didn't get much sleep last night," I reminded her as I pressed her engagement ring to my lips. "We made up for lost time with some new memories."

"Yes, we did…" She chuckled, moving to press a line of slow, sensual kisses to my chest. "But now I need to take a shower," she finally complained, sitting up. "I want to come with you today. Can you wait for me? I won't be long."

"Of course…" I kissed the faint line of the scar on her shoulder before she left me. I felt the loss of her intimate warmth immediately, but I didn't protest. We had time now to make it right. All the time in the world.

Carolyn smiled as she took possession of my hand to tug me from the rumpled sheets of the wide bed. "Come and join me…" she invited throatily. "I want to make some more memories and that shower is more than big enough for two…"

※※※※※

"Well, that went much better than I ever expected," I commented, looking around at the SOLD stickers fixed to almost every one of my framed photographs.

"People know quality work when they see it," Carolyn commented, saluting me with her glass of champagne. "They want to buy a piece of the action before your work gets out of their price range. Once you're published in that national magazine in the States, you won't be able to keep up."

"I feel I must ask just when and where you are planning to hold another exhibition, Mr Miles…" The gallery owner inquired quickly, watching me keenly. "I mean, your lovely fiancée is quite right. Once the word gets out we will be swamped with orders. We do need to strike again while the interest is high. I can certainly make my gallery available again with sufficient notice..."

"I'll get my agency to let you know," I hedged. "We're getting married as soon as we get back to the States. Then we will see how we're placed. We have a honeymoon to plan."

I watched Carolyn's slow smile and the sensual look that came into her eyes then. I knew I was getting ahead of myself, but I couldn't help it. I could almost curse my work if it didn't bring me everything I needed now. I smiled back, as I saluted her with my wine glass and wondered how soon we could escape to be alone again.

"Congratulations…" The owner raised his glass, but he looked deeply discontented. "I'll be sure to be in touch with your people then." He turned and walked away to schmooze the last of the lingering exhibition-goers and make promises.

"He wanted a firmer answer," Carolyn said, looking after him.

"I won't promise anything until we know what we will be doing in the next few months," I replied, reaching to refill her glass from a nearby bottle of champagne. "Maybe we will stay in Montecito for some time. I want you all to myself. But, from the brief look I had of them, Michael's books will need some serious overhauling."

"Then I do have an idea I've been thinking about," she replied, watching the bubbles fizz in her glass. "Something that may solve both problems."

"Go on…" I waited to hear her idea while loving the picture she made in her beautiful peacock blue evening gown.

The sight of her stirred my blood and my desire anew. I was impatient to get back to our hotel room and out of that dress once more, but I was aware it would be some time yet before we could escape from my adoring public. I could almost wish for the remoteness and unassailability of the FLAG headquarters which kept unwanted visitors at bay. I sighed as I shook my head.

Carolyn watched me and shrugged one shoulder. "I know it might sound trite, but our new home in Montecito doesn't have a name. I find that rather sad."

She sighed. "I would love to honour its colourful past. Is calling it Gull Cottage after the Captain's house from that old television series too way out there? I mean, what do you think? Truly?"

"Truly, I think that's a lovely thought and why not? I think the Captain would be very pleased to be remembered," I reassured her with a smile. "Is that your idea?"

"No…" She shook her head quickly. "I'm thinking we should document all the renovations we plan to make, right from the beginning. I'll write about it and you can take the photographs. I've seen some magazines here that have been doing that with some old mansion houses and it's an intriguing project. I'm sure we can interest a few magazines in the States."

She looked around the walls at each of the framed photographs. "Who knows what secrets about the house we might yet uncover."

"Or what ghosts we may stir back to spectral life…" I teased gently, kissing her temple. "If your heart is set on that, then that's what we'll do."

"Thank you…" She smiled up at me, pressing her fingers to my lips as more eager patrons of my work came up to speak with me.

※※※※※

The next few weeks flew by. When I looked back, I truly didn't know where the time went. Devon and I jetted back from London after his very successful exhibition, and we were immediately plunged into all the details of our wedding preparations and reorganising our new home.

Or, at least, I was, with Stevie and Bonnie's very able help. Devon made himself scarce as often as he could, muttering about the pressure of his new role as the accountant for Knight Investigations. He was more often to be found in Michael's office than anywhere else, slaving over mountains of bookwork.

"It's just as well I agreed to do this work," he complained late one morning when I walked into the office to find him with his tie discarded and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked dishevelled and out of sorts and my mouth went dry with desire.

"Michael was just saying the same thing," I soothed as I approached the desk. "He said he's glad you're here."

"I'll bet he did…" Devon pushed his fingers through his grey curls in frustration. "These books are a complete shambles. I can see why it would never have worked if I had put Michael in charge of FLAG. What was I thinking?"

"You wanted the best for him and Stevie. And I love you for that," I replied, taking his hand between mine to tug him from his chair behind the large oak desk. "Now come and eat, because we have other work to do this afternoon. Lucy, Edward and Danny are all arriving tomorrow, and I want to make sure our new home is ready for them."

※※※※※

I stood close beside Carolyn with one arm around her shoulders as we watched Edward drive his rental car up the front driveway of our new home. I could sense my love's rising excitement and happiness over having her children with her again. Edward had flown into LAX from Boston with Danny and they'd collected Lucy from her Paris flight.

Carolyn leaned closer to me. "Don't worry…" she said. "I know they will all love you. Just give them time to adjust to the news of our engagement."

"Yes…" I nodded quickly as the car came to a stop. I wasn't sure what to expect from them.

As soon as they all got out, Carolyn left me to hurry forward and embrace each of her children in turn. "Welcome to our new home. Welcome to Gull Cottage."

"It's truly beautiful," Lucy replied, looking up at the house before she turned to me.

I held out my hand toward her. "I'm so glad to finally meet you again. Under much better circumstances than the last time we saw each other."

"Yes, me too…" Lucy said as she ignored my hand and put her arms around me before kissing me soundly on the cheek. "Welcome to the family," she said with a wide smile. "It's about time you made an honest woman out of my mother."

"Thank you," I replied sincerely, feeling my wary sense of caution lessening. "And thank you for Sedona. It was magical."

"My absolute pleasure," she replied with a smile that reminded me a great deal of her mother. "You were both so miserable when you were forced to be apart. Stevie and I had been talking and we'd soon put two and two together. Then I talked to Maria in Santa Fe. We all knew you two belonged together." She winked. "I have a great network of spies."

"I'll make sure I remember that." I smiled at her before I turned to my son. A man who was a far harder sell than his romantic sister.

"Hello again…" I said slowly to Edward.

"Hello…" He walked up, looking me over with narrowed eyes. "It's good to see you again." I was well aware he was still cautious of me and my intentions toward his mother, but he was willing to shake my outstretched hand and I respected him for that.

"Hi, there, Devon…" Danny grinned at me cheekily, shaking my hand heartily and with firm approval. "Mum told me when she phoned that you have some kind of neat surprise for me. Something about a fancy car of yours."

"Yes, well, I do possess a rather unusual car…" I shook my head as I glanced at Carolyn, and she shrugged. "Well, it's not mine, exactly. It belongs to a good friend of mine who owns an investigation business in Montecito. We'll show you around after we've eaten."

"Okay…" Danny didn't look convinced. "But I'm not that hungry."

"Patience…" I smiled at his mulish expression. "It will be worth the wait." He reminded me very much of Michael.

The brash young man with a zest for life and living it to the fullest whom I'd first met over five years ago when Wilton had chosen him to be Kitt's pilot. I could already feel more grey hairs being added to my head. Introducing Danny to Kitt was full of perils and concerns I was only now beginning to understand. But the die had already been cast and introductions would need to be made.

"Come on…" Carolyn smiled and took pity on my hesitation. "I'm sure all that can keep until later. Let's all go inside. Dinner's almost ready and there are some more people that we want you to meet."

"Oh, all right…" Danny hid his disappointment well. But I could see by his expression he wasn't about to let it go so easily.

We walked together up the driveway and passed the two other cars that were parked on the wide concrete apron in front of the house. Bonnie had driven over with RC in her racy red sports car. Michael and Stevie had left Amanda with a babysitter and had arrived in Kitt.

I frowned at the car's single red eye as we walked past but Kitt didn't comment or try to introduce himself. We had agreed to take it slowly with any introductions.

"Cool car…" Danny said admiringly, running his hand over Kitt's shiny black paintwork. "I bet it goes like a rocket," he continued enviously, looking back over his shoulder as we walked together up the front steps.

"Very cool…" I agreed as I escorted them all inside and closed the door behind us.

※※※※※

As we all gathered in the large dining room, Michael drew me aside with a hand on my arm while the women fussed with the serving of the meal and where everyone was to be seated.

"Read this when you're alone…" Michael drew a long white envelope from inside his jacket and pushed it into my hand.

"The final report on Bridges?" I asked as I tucked it away into an inner pocket. "Does it make interesting reading? Anything I can use as leverage? Carolyn is very keen to never see the man again. She will want to read this."

"It's not much, but there's enough." Michael shrugged. "Some grey areas that wouldn't stand up to scrutiny in the full light of day. Some corners on contracts have been cut and several willing palms greased."

His lips quirked. "He did take a large financial hit when Carolyn divorced him, and he had to scramble to make up the shortfall. That must have rankled. No wonder he was pissed off when you met him in that restaurant in Sante Fe."

"He was and he took it out on Carolyn." I frowned, remembering our uncomfortable encounter with her ex. "If he ever tries to come her way again he will regret it. I'll tear him apart, limb from limb and smile while I do it."

I shook his hand. "Thank you for this. I'll show it to Carolyn later when we're alone. It will ease her concerns considerably."

"There's more…" Michael put one hand on my shoulder. "There was enough there for me to report the man to the IRS for a full audit." He grinned with satisfaction. "That should keep him very busy for some time to come. Carolyn will be the least of his worries once the tax man has rung him dry."

"Thank you…" I nodded, relieved one large shadow had been removed from our immediate future.

※※※※※

It was a couple of hours later when Michael and Devon walked out of the house together. The sun was lowering into the western sky and the air was cool and clean, scented with the clean ozone of the ocean. Over dinner, we'd spoken of their work with Knight Investigations and some of the assets they owned.

By now, all three of my children were deeply fascinated to learn more about what they did and how they managed their affairs. It had gladdened my heart to watch them all becoming one family, full of fun and gentle teasing. Even Edward relaxed his usually stern demeanour to joke with everyone. I watched Devon watching his son and I knew it would all be all right now. We had all made peace with our immediate past.

We cleared the table and washed up as the men shared some time alone, talking over some glasses of Madeira in the dining room. All except Danny, who could not seem to keep still as he urged us to hurry up and show him the mysterious car I had spoken about in such cloak-and-dagger terms.

Finally, we took pity on him and the others. They all followed us down the front steps with varying expressions of curiosity. Bonnie and RC held back to watch my children with amused expressions. I enjoyed their smiling looks of keen anticipation as we all gathered next to the gleaming Trans Am.

"This is Kitt," Michael said as he walked up to the car.

"You name your cars?" Edward questioned with raised eyebrows as he admired Kitt's sleek lines.

In his element, Michael smiled. "Oh, I think you'll find that Kitt is so much more than a car. He's a whole electronic experience. You could almost say he's alive."

I watched as they all looked at each other. None of them knew quite what to say next. I slid my arm through Devon's as I remembered that day when I was first introduced to the talking car. You could have driven a freight train through my scepticism.

"Go ahead and say hello," I encouraged them, trying not to smile.

All three turned to look at me, their faces full of disbelief and consternation. Kitt's single red eye moved calmly from side to side. He was quiescent, waiting for one of them to make the first move. He appeared to be enjoying himself with his new audience.

"Ah, hello…" Danny ventured, trying not to appear as foolish as he obviously felt. "Um, hi…"

"Good evening, Mr Bridges," Kitt responded immediately. "I am very pleased to finally make your acquaintance. Your mother has told me quite a lot about you. I have been looking forward to this meeting."

"Mr Bridges was my father," Danny replied quickly with a frown. "I'm just Danny."

"Then I am very pleased to meet you, Just Danny."

"What is this, Mum? What gives?" Edward turned to us. "Why the trickery?"

I shook my head, interested to see he thought of me as the sane one with all the answers. "As Michael said, Kitt is so much more than a car," I replied smoothly. "I thought it was about time you all met since he's such a large part of our lives here in Montecito."

"Exactly. Thank you, Carolyn," Kitt replied briskly. "My name is Kitt. It's an acronym for Knight Industries Two Thousand. That is me. There is no trickery. I am a well-oiled, state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind machine and proud to be so. I am unique."

My children stared at the moving red light. I could see they were wondering how someone greeted a talking car. One that expressed its emotions like any sentient human being.

"Just exactly what is going on here?" Edward finally demanded. "This is some of a trick. Cars don't talk. Did you record his voice?"

"Why don't you ask Kitt?" Devon replied. "He has been very keen to speak with you."

"Oh, it's all very simple," Kitt replied in his slightly smug, comforting tone. "Please get in and I will tell you all about it…" His doors opened invitingly and I knew all would be well once the three of them got over their initial shock.

※※※※※

Two weeks later:

I walked from the house into the extensive back garden of Gull Cottage. The morning was already warm and sunny. The guests had already begun to arrive. I wanted to check that everything was as it should be before the wedding ceremony began. Our planning had been very detailed.

I couldn't prevent a sympathetic smile when I saw that Kitt had been parked at the edge of the lawn with his hood pointing down the drive. He'd obviously been prepared as the get-away vehicle as my mother had called him.

The gleaming black Trans-Am had been decorated with a JUST MARRIED sign sprayed in foaming cream across his rear window and a cupid's heart shot through with an arrow. Three strings of tin cans and old shoes had been tied to his back bumper and trailed across the concrete behind him. Blue and white ribbons had been tied around his wing mirrors and white roses had been tucked beneath his windscreen wipers.

"Good morning, Miss Bridges…" the car muttered stiffly, obviously sensing my presence which still managed to disconcert me a little. "I am truly sorry you are not seeing me at my usual best. What they have done to me once more is deeply embarrassing. I am not some common vehicle with no feelings. I do have my pride."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Kitt," I replied quickly, trying not to smile. "But I'm afraid I really can't help you." It still seemed rather odd to me that I was talking to a car. "Perhaps you should go and find Danny…"

"Who do you think took the liberty of decorating me like this in the first place?" the car replied in a deeply offended tone. "And Michael had a part in it too, I am very sure. It has happened before. If I wasn't urgently needed here I would drive down and put myself through the nearest car wash."

"I am so sorry…" was all I could say again as I hurried on my way.

The wide green lawn had been set with rows of white chairs on either side of a central walkway where a long red carpet had been laid over the grass. Long ribbons and bows of sky-blue silk linked everything together with bouquets of blue and cream flowers.

At the far end of the aisle, the grey-haired minister was standing in front of a large floral wedding bower. He held his bible in one hand as he talked with some of the guests who had already arrived and were enjoying the champagne on offer.

The birds were singing in the garden and a soft breeze blew across the scene bringing the salty tang of the ocean ashore. The mingled scents of all the flowers were sweet and heady. Gulls wheeled overhead. It truly was a perfect day to get married.

Maria walked up to hug me tightly. "It is all very magical. Your mother is very happy. Devon is good for her and will be good to her."

"Yes…" I returned her hug warmly. "I'm glad to see you've recovered so well from your fall. Mum told me what happened."

"Bah…" She waved a dismissive hand. "I have learned to be more careful. It will not happen again." She turned her attention to the house. "This is a beautiful house. I am so glad they found it and each other. They deserve the very best of everything."

"Yes, they do," I replied with a long sigh. "It's so lovely to have you here."

Maria shook her head. "I was so glad when I received the invitation. I wouldn't miss it for the whole world. It's the right ending to such a perfect dream. One of your mother's happy-ever-after endings, only it's now real."

"Yes, it is. We'll talk more later. Right now, I must go…" I hugged her again before hurrying back inside.

I walked up the wide staircase to the master bedroom. I picked up the veil from the bed and stood behind my mother as she turned before the large dressing mirror fixed to the wall.

"You look so beautiful," I said, as she smiled at my reflected image.

"I have everything I could ever need," she replied, with a long, satisfied sigh. "Everything…"

"Yes…" I nodded as I waited while Stevie and Bonnie fussed with the arrangement of her lovely wedding dress of champagne silk. I was going to place the veil on her head before drawing the soft folds down over her smiling face.

I doubted I'd ever seen my mother looking so happy. I was so grateful my romantic instincts had been right in bringing her back together with Devon again.

※※※※※

We heard the sudden buzz of excitement that ran through the guests seated in the garden. I stood next to Mum as we all looked out into the garden from behind the concealment of the living room curtains. We saw Devon, Michael and Danny walking from the open doors of the house and onto the lawn. They were all immaculately dressed in formal tuxedos.

I watched Devon and Danny shake hands as the crowd buzzed and murmured with anticipation. My smiling brother put a hand companionably on the older man's shoulder, offering him his complete support. Devon looked a little dazed and braced himself visibly.

He looked down the long pathway. "Everything is now so perfect…" I heard him say. "It's all as it should be."

"Yes, it is…" Danny nodded.

"Thank you…" Devon smiled as he turned to walk slowly down the central aisle with both men beside him.

The excitement and chatter grew steadily with the expectation of the bride's arrival. The three men continued down the walkway until they were standing in front of the minister. He greeted them with a relieved smile and a quiet word of encouragement.

From one of the bedrooms above us, the Bridal Chorus began to play through an open window. Edward stepped into his place to draw our mother's arm through the crook of his.

"Ready?" he asked softly, smiling down at her.

"I've been ready for this moment for the last thirty-five years," she replied, smiling at him through the cover of the veil I had drawn down over her face.

"I love you…" My big brother kissed her cheek before he walked slowly forward with her secure on his arm. They continued down the central aisle as Stevie and Bonnie found their places beside Maria in the front row of the assembled guests.

As I followed my mother down the aisle, I noticed she didn't look at anyone. She only had eyes for Devon who was waiting for her. When she reached his side, they all turned to face the minister.

"Who gives this bride away?" he asked.

"I do," Edward replied softly, his blue eyes fixed on our mother.

He turned to Mum and raised her veil with both hands. She smiled up at him as he stood back to admire the beautiful picture she made in the warm sunshine. Then he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the cheek.

My big brother then turned to look at Devon and nodded his approval before he stepped back from the bride. His part in the ceremony was over.

"Dear family and friends…" the minister began. "We are gathered here to witness this blessed marriage between Devon and Carolyn. Devon, do you take Carolyn as your wife? To love her, protect her and care for her for all the remaining days of your life?"

"I do," Devon replied with quiet pride.

"Carolyn, do you take Devon as your wedded husband, submitting unto him? Showing reverence to him in the union for all the remaining days of your life?"

"I do," Mum said with a soft, tremulous smile. "Always…"

The minister turned to Danny. "May we please have the ring?"

My cheeky younger brother smiled as he made a show of drawing the ring from the pocket of his waistcoat and holding it out. He handed it to Devon.

"Take this ring and wear it…" the minister continued as Devon took his bride's hand to place the ring on her finger.

"Take this ring and wear it," he repeated slowly.

"As a token of my eternal love and fidelity toward you," the minister went on. "Now and forever…"

"As a token of my eternal love and fidelity toward you," Devon repeated quietly. "Now and forever…"

They smiled at each other before Mum untied the ring that had been attached to her dress by a silk ribbon and then she took Devon's hand.

"Take this ring and wear it," the minister intoned.

"Take this ring and wear it," Mum repeated softly, pushing it slowly onto Devon's finger.

The minister nodded. "It is a token of my love and fidelity toward you for now and forever..."

"It is a token of my love and fidelity toward you," my mother repeated as she looked at Devon with loving eyes. "For now and forever…"

They stood holding hands, looking completely and totally in love in the warm sunlight. My heart swelled with happiness for both of them. I knew they were going to be all right. Everything was going to be perfect.

The minister looked from them to the guests. "And now by the authority given unto me by the state of California, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Devon didn't need any further urging, turning immediately to his new wife to kiss her deeply and thoroughly. They seemed oblivious to everything around them at that moment.

Danny nodded, looking happy while Michael and I stood on the sidelines looking on. All our parts were now complete and everything had happened exactly as planned.

As the newly married pair finally drew apart the minister smiled. "I would now like to introduce to you, Mr and Mrs Devon Miles."

Everyone started to clap as the couple turned to the crowd of guests. People began to stand up to press forward with their congratulations. The happy couple took their time walking back up the aisle away from me and I couldn't have been happier for them as we all turned to follow. They deserved each other and looked so right together.

Whatever happened now, I knew my mother was finally going to be all right. Devon loved her as his Luciana truly deserved to be loved. Completely and without restraint. I smiled through my tears of happiness as I went forward to greet them…

※※※※※

"What is the point of a relationship if not to grant two people the very private privilege to uplift one another every day? To illuminate the qualities in each other that are diamonds of shimmering beauty. To appreciate wholeheartedly. To accept unconditionally. And to love eternally, even in moments of dislike. I'm not here to grant you the extraordinary love you never had for yourself. I'm here, on my own accord, to love you. So that when you stare into my mirror eyes, you may see how extraordinary you are…"

Kamand Kojouri

※※※※※

In the Knight Rider episode "The Scent of Roses" S 4, Ep 12, Fri, Jan 3, 1986, Michael is walking on the beach in the closing scene of the episode, and he remembers Stevie quoting a few lines of poetry. The relevant part of the poem is below, written by a lesser-known Irish poet named Thomas Moore. I have always wondered if it might have been Edward who suggested the poem and the title to the writers.

We will never know, but it is a lovely thought. You can take the man out of Ireland, but you could never truly remove Ireland/Ierne from the man…

Éirinn go Brách, Edward. Go raibh maith agat.

Slainté mhaith, mo chara. Téigh le Dia... Go with God…

※※※※※

"Let Fate do her worst, there are relics of joy.
Bright dreams of the past, which she cannot destroy;
Which come in the night-time of sorrow and care,
And bring back the features that joy used to wear.
Long, long be my heart with such memories fill'd!
Like the vase, in which roses have once been distill'd.
You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you will,
But the scent of the roses will hang round it still..."

Thomas Moore – "Farewell"

※※※※※