This is the sequel to "A Heart's Reflection", which starts about a year from where that one left off.  I love feedback, so please don't be shy.:)  Thank you, Tracy, my awesome beta-reader.

Disclaimer:  I don’t own any of the EE characters (although I once had an orange tabby cat that disappeared---hmmmm!<g>), and I’m not profiting from this story.  No copyright infringement is intended.

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The Reason My Heart Beats
Installment 2
by Shana

Chapter sixteen

If somebody lets you down
Don't you want to turn away
And run for cover?
Don't let it steal your joy
Don't let it destroy
Cause in it all you know
We need each other
~~~~~~Point of Grace

"Gary, I'm so glad you're here.  I want you to meet someone."  Aimee's
eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Gary's eyes were glued to her hand which was enclosed in the
stranger's.  He couldn't speak through the lump in his throat, and he
was sorely tempted to withdraw his own hand when she reached for it with
her free one.

"Gary, this is Alex Madison, my brother.  Alex, this is my husband,
Gary."  She stood between the two men beaming, one hand in each of
theirs.

Had she just said "my brother"?  Gary wasn't sure he'd heard correctly.
He felt a sliver of hope that began to grow like a dot on the distant
horizon.

"Gary?  Are you okay?  What's wrong?  Excuse us for a minute, Alex."
She let go of Alex's hand and led Gary into the office.

"Gary, what is it?"  Aimee was frightened by his pale face and the sad
expression she'd seen in his eyes.

"He's your brother?  I saw you with him and I-I thought.........."  He
was unable to finish the sentence.  Now that his common sense was
returning, he knew that Aimee would never betray him the way Marcia
had.  And now he realized why the man had seemed so familiar.  It was
the eyes, they were the same emerald green as Aimee's.

"You thought what?"  Aimee looked at him in confusion, then she realized
that she was hugging Alex when he came in.  "You thought that
I......that he and I......oh, Gary!  I am *not* Marcia.  Don't you know
that you are the only man for me?  I love you, only you."  She wrapped
her arms around him tightly.

Gary's arms went around her as well.  "I'm sorry.  I know you're not
Marcia.  I've just been so scared of losing you.  I wasn't thinking
straight.  I love you so much."

After a moment, Aimee remembered Alex and pulled his letter out of her
pocket.  "Alex isn't the one sending those notes.  This is the letter he
was talking about.  It came while I was away at your parents and I just
found it today."

Gary took the letter from her hands and read:

Dear Aimee,
You don't know me and maybe you don't even know of my existence.  I only
learned of yours recently.  If you are the correct Aimee Madison, then I
am your brother.  The Aimee that I have been looking for was raised in
Spring Creek, Minn., by our paternal grandparents.

I grew up thinking that I was an only child, raised by a single mother.
My father, or should I say our father, left our mother when I was almost
two.  I have no memory of him at all.  Mom said that she was young and
foolish when she married him and that it was a mistake.  His only
interest was in getting rich, so when he realized what a drain on his
wallet a wife and kid were, he left and never came back.  We never heard
from him again.

All those years, mom never told me about you, but every year around your
birthday in May, she would get sad and I never understood why.  I found
your baby picture once and when I asked her about it, she got very upset
and wouldn't talk about it.  It wasn't until about a year ago that she
told me about you.  Somehow she knew she was not gonna be around much
longer and she was right.  She sat me down and gave me your picture and
told me everything she could about you.  You should know that she deeply
regretted leaving you.  A few days later, she died from an aneurysm.
I've been looking for you ever since.

I hope that none of this has upset you.  I really am anxious to meet
you.  I'm traveling to Chicago soon on business and am hoping we can get
acquainted.  So, if you are interested, I will meet you at McGinty's
while I'm in town.  I have enclosed a picture so you will know what I
look like.  Hoping to see you soon.
Alex Madison

Gary looked at Aimee, not sure what to say.

"I have a brother.  Isn't that amazing?  I can't describe how it makes
me feel to find I have a flesh and blood relative after all this time.
Come and meet him."  She took Gary by the hand again and led him back
out to Alex.

They sat and talked for hours.  Alex answered all Aimee's questions
about their mother, Susan.  He told her how Susan would cry every year
on May 20th, Aimee's birthday, and how before she died she asked Alex to
find Aimee and tell her how sorry she was that she left her the way she
did.  He told her that Susan's only consolation over the years had been
that she knew Aimee was in good hands with her grandparents, and that
many times she'd wanted to come back into Aimee's life, but she thought
that Aimee would hate her.

Aimee cried when Alex gave her a picture, a small box and a letter her
mother had written for her just before her death.  She put them in her
pocket to look at later in private.  Then she answered all of Alex's
questions about their grandparents.  When all was said and done, Aimee
and Alex felt a sweet brother/sister bond and Gary felt as if his new
brother-in-law was a man he could trust.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For years, Aimee had felt unwanted by the one person who should have
loved her most in the world.  Now, as she opened the note from her
mother, her hands were shaking.  She leaned against the windowpane and
began to read:

Dear Aimee,
If you're reading this, then you must have met Alex.  I hope you won't
hold my actions against him.  He has become a fine young man.  I know
you must hate me for what I have done.  I hate myself too.  I have no
excuse, except to say that I was young and foolish.  I didn't really
want to leave you, but I let myself be talked into it.  Steven convinced
me you'd be better off with his parents and maybe you were, but it broke
my heart to say goodbye to you.  I have never stopped thinking of you or
loving you over the years.  Many times I wanted to write to you or come
see you.  I actually did get up the courage one time.  I came to your
graduation and watched you get your diploma.  I was so proud of you that
day and I saw by the way all the people in your life loved you that you
had turned out to be a beautiful person.  I know the credit for that
belongs to your grandparents.

All I can say now, Aimee, is that I am sorry and I have been sorry since
the day I walked away from you.  I am leaving this world soon, somehow I
just know that, but before I go, I wanted to say these things to you.  I
wish that it could be face to face, but perhaps I don't deserve that.  I
love you and I hope that wherever life takes you, you will be happy.  If
you take nothing else from me, take this---don't let regrets eat away
the best years of your life.  Do the things that are right for you, not
what others say you should do.  Be happy, and know that I will be
watching out for you.  I have given a ring to Alex to give to you.  It
belonged to my grandmother, and has been passed down from daughter to
daughter.  I hope someday that you can forgive me and wear the ring and
perhaps pass it to your own daughter one day.
With the deepest abiding love,
Mom (It is another regret that I never got to hear you call me that)

Tears were now streaming down Aimee's cheeks as she opened the little
velvet box and pulled out a small silver ring with three emeralds in a
row at the top.  As she placed it on her finger, she whispered the
words, "Thank you.........Mom!"
 

Chapter seventeen

If you weep, I will weep with you
If you sing for joy the rest of us will lift our voices too
But no matter what you feel inside
There's no need to pretend
That's the way it is in this circle of friends
~~~~~~~~~~~~Point of Grace

Aimee cuddled her baby boy in her arms, his tiny fingers grasping hers.
She smiled down at the little face that was so like Gary's, with his
dark hair, pond green eyes, and a dimple in his chin.  All the love she
felt for him was reflected on her face as she lowered her head to plant
a kiss on his soft, downy head.  Her lips did not make contact.  The
baby had vanished before her eyes.  Her arms, now empty, dropped to her
side leaden and lifeless.  She looked up and saw a familiar looking man
with an evil glint in his eye, holding the baby.  He remained rooted to
the spot, but still the distance between them grew as she tried to reach
out to him, anxious to have her baby back in her arms.  He laughed
maniacally and she heard him say--"I'M TAKING WHAT'S MINE", although his
lips did not move.  In a panic, she ran after him, calling for help as
she ran.  She heard Gary calling out to her and she tried desperately to
tell him what had happened, but her words and thoughts became a jumble.
He grabbed her, but she tried to pull away, just wanting to make him
understand that their baby was in danger.

Finally Gary was successful in waking Aimee from her nightmare.  Her
heavy breathing and jerky movements had frightened him awake.  He held
her close and whispered soothingly in her ear as her breathing gradually
slowed.  He took a few deep breaths to slow his own racing heart as
well.  He had never seen her so terrified, and he hoped never to see it
again.

Aimee clung to Gary as reality slowly began seeping into her
subconscious.  She had never had such a terrifying dream in her entire
life.  It took some time for her to calm down before she could tell Gary
about the nightmare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another note came that day.  It read:  IT WON'T BE LONG TILL I COME TO
CLAIM WHAT'S MINE!  Gary nearly wore a path in the office floor with his
worrisome pacing.  The paper offered no clue whatsoever.  He didn't know
if he should be relieved or disappointed about that.  He ran his hand
over the back of his neck, as he desperately tried to think of a
solution to this note mystery.  The police investigation was pretty much
a dead end.  He couldn't just send Aimee off again.  That had not proven
to be helpful at all to either of them.  In light of her nightmare, he
was more determined than ever that she feel safe.

Her nightmare had told him that she was more worried about the notes
than she admitted.  Once again, he was afraid to let her out of his
sight, but he had the paper to take care of and realized anew that he
would have to trust Aimee to all the other people in her life that loved
her.

One good piece of news that offered a much needed distraction from the
notes, was that Abby was to arrive today.  Aimee's childlike enthusiasm
over seeing her dearest friend again was contagious.  Everyone seemed to
be in a good mood.  Alex promised to go with Aimee to meet the train,
since Gary had conflicts with the paper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex and Aimee stood at the el platform waiting for Abby's train.  Aimee
was so excited to see her childhood friend, she could barely stand
still.  She'd been overwhelmed by all the things that had happened in
the last few weeks, and now she was eager to share some of them with
Abby, and hear all the news from her hometown.

"Aimee, what is it that Gary does all day?"  Alex's curiosity had
finally gotten the best of him.  After hanging around the bar for a few
days, he'd noticed Gary leaving at odd times, always on some urgent
errand.

Aimee stopped her fidgeting and turned to Alex.  His question had caught
her off guard.  "He.....uh.......runs the bar."

He gave her a puzzled look.  "I thought you and Marissa run the bar."

'Oh boy!', Aimee thought, then laughed because it was Gary's voice in
her head that said that.  "Uh, well, we do!  All three of us.  Marissa
and I oversee the employees and do the bookkeeping, but Gary does all
the running around.  It's a very complicated business."  She cleared her
throat and hoped her answer would satisfy him.

"Here comes Abby's train.  She'll be so surprised to meet you.  I didn't
get a chance to tell her about you yet."  A sigh of relief escaped her
as the subject of Gary's activities was dropped.

Abby stepped off the train and grabbed Aimee in a tight embrace.  Both
laughed as their greetings overlapped each other.  After a moment, Abby
turned her attention toward Alex.

"You must be Gary.  I've heard so much about you.  It's nice to finally
meet you."  Abby held out her hand to him.

"Actually Abby, Gary couldn't make it, but you'll meet him later.  This
is Alex, my brother."

Abby felt a strange stirring within her as she shook Alex's hand, and
she was relieved to know that it wasn't Aimee's husband that had her so
fascinated.  "It's nice to meet you, Alex.  I didn't know Aimee had a
brother."

Aimee laughed.  "I didn't know either till just the other day.  C'mon,
let's get your things and we'll show you your new apartment.  I'll tell
you all about it on the way."  Aimee started to take Abby's bag, but
Alex jumped in and gathered up all of her things for her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gary, Aimee, Alex ,Abby and Marissa were sitting at a table in the bar
eating when Chuck came in and pulled up a chair.  Aimee introduced him
to Abby, taking note of the interested glint in his eye.

Chuck pulled a french fry off Gary's plate, earning himself a dirty look
from Gary.  "Well, you're never gonna believe this, Gar.  Guess who
works with me at The Springer Show?"  He paused for a moment, as they
all looked at him expectantly.  "Laurie Ackerman, that's who!  What did
I do to deserve this?"

Marissa opened her mouth to speak, but Chuck cut her off.

"Never mind, don't answer that!"

Aimee and Abby started giggling when they heard the name, Laurie
Ackerman.  Gary smiled mischieviously and said, "I told you she was your
destiny."  His comment evoked another fit of giggles from Aimee and
Abby.

"You think it's funny huh?  That woman is a pain in my......"

"Actually, we're laughing cause we grew up with her, so we know exactly
how you feel."  Aimee and Abby exchanged another look and broke out
laughing again.

They finished their meal, then Abby rose to leave.  "I need to get going
and unpack some more of my things.  Aimee, you're coming by tomorrow
right?"

"Yes, I have a doctor's appointment first, then I'll come help you
out."  She ignored the look Gary gave her and hugged Abby.

Alex stood as well and offered to see Abby home, an offer she gladly
accepted.  Aimee smiled as the two walked out together.  She sensed
romance in the air.

"So, that's your friend Abby, huh?  And she's single?"  Chuck's eyebrows
were raised in interest.

Aimee sighed, hating to be the bearer of bad news.  "Sorry Chuck, but I
get the feeling Abby and Alex are interested in each other."

"Figures!  It's always the pretty boys that get the girls."  He winked
and pinched Gary's cheek, earning another dirty look from Gary.
 

Chapter eighteen

Long time since I've seen your smile
But when I close my eyes
I remember
You were no more than a child
But then so was I
Young and tender
Stay for awhile
Well it's good to see your smile
And I love your company
Stay for awhile
And remember the days gone by
For a moment it can seem
Just the way it used to be
~~~~~~~~Amy Grant

That night in the loft, Aimee plopped down on the couch with a pint of
chunky monkey ice cream in one hand and a spoon in the other, and tuned
the television to her favorite classic movie channel.

Gary sat down beside her and curiously watched her devour the ice
cream.  He'd never known her to binge before and wasn't sure how to
react.  "What are you doing?", he asked.

"I had a sudden craving for chunky monkey.  Want some?"  She held out
the spoon to him.

"No, I don't want any.  Should you be eating all that?"

"Probably not, but I just can't seem to get enough."  She laughed and
set the ice cream down.  "I'd better stop though or I'll get to be as
big as a house.  Look, I'm already starting to show a little."  She ran
her hand across her slightly swollen stomach and gasped in surprise.
"Gary feel!  The baby's moving!"  She grabbed his hand and laid it
across her stomach.

Gary's smile was pure joy, as he felt the movement of their unborn child
under his hand.  "Wow!  That's our baby", he said in amazement.  "Does
it hurt?"

Aimee laughed softly.  "No, it doesn't hurt.  It feels kinda fluttery."
She turned and fitted herself snugly against him.  "Tomorrow is the
ultrasound.  Do you want to know if it's a boy or girl or wait till the
baby's born?"

Gary put his arms around her and rested his head next to hers, amazed at
the thought that by the very next day he could know if he was going to
have a son or daughter.  "Let's find out tomorrow.", he whispered.

They talked about baby names until they had it narrowed down to one name
for a boy and one for a girl.

Gary took Aimee to her doctor's appointment the next morning.  The two
of them listened in awe as they heard the baby's heartbeat and saw the
first image of their unborn child.  The sound of the baby's heart was
the sound of a dream coming true.  And now they knew whether their baby
would be a boy or girl.

During the drive home it began snowing, big fat flakes that melted as
they hit the windshield.  After much arguing, Aimee finally convinced
Gary to drop her off at Abby's new apartment.  He went in with her for a
few minutes, relieved to see that Alex was there also.  The duties of
the paper were calling, so he kissed Aimee, gave her a quick lecture
about lifting things and waiting for him to come pick her up, then he
was off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex went out to pick up some lunch for them as they continued unpacking
Abby's things.  Aimee and Abby flopped down on Abby's bed on their
backs, their heads at the wrong end and their sock clad feet propped up
on the window, the way they'd always done since they were little girls.
They watched the snow flakes drifting lazily toward the earth.

"Remember making the snow angels, and pretending they could pass
messages for us", Abby asked.

Aimee laughed.  "Yes, and remember the time Bobby the Bully and Margie
Reynolds destroyed them, and we were so mad we tied the two of them
together with Grammie's clothes line and refused to set them free until
they kissed each other."

Abby joined in Aimee's laughter.  "I'll never forget how mad your
Grammie was, until you reminded her that Bobby was the one who threw
eggs at the house that past Halloween.  Did you know that Bobby and
Margie ended up getting married?"

Aimee propped herself up on one elbow and looked at Abby in surprise.
"No way, are you serious?"  At Abby's nod, she lay back down and started
laughing again.  "Well, those two deserve each other.  I guess we did
them a favor when we made them kiss.  It must've been the start of their
romance."  They both dissolved into a fit of giggles thinking about it.

"I'm so glad you're here.  I've missed having my 'sister' around."
Aimee turned to face Abby again.

"Me too.  After you left Spring Creek, it seemed like nothing was the
same.  I had no one to share all my bad date stories with."  They both
laughed again at some of their dating horror stories.

"Speaking of that, I almost forgot."  Abby stood and retrieved a
cardboard box from the corner of the room.  "I brought that stuff you
left with me before you moved.  I thought you might want it back."

Aimee had forgotten about the box she'd asked Abby to store for her.
She lifted the lid and tears came to her eyes.  There inside were her
high school yearbooks, some old diaries she'd kept, and most precious of
all, three photo albums filled with pictures of her grandparents and
herself as she was growing up.  She stood and hugged Abby tightly.

"You don't know what this means to me.  I'd forgotten all about this
stuff.  Now Gary will get to see what Grammie and Grampy looked like,
and so will our baby."

"I know how much you miss them.  I miss them too.  It felt as if they
were my own grandparents sometimes.  Thank you for sharing them with me
over the years."

By this time, both women were sniffling and wiping their tears.  When
they'd gotten themselves under control again, they sat back down on the
edge of the bed.  Aimee picked up one of her diaries and began reading
aloud.

September 27, 1997
Dear Diary,
Tonight I agreed to go on a date with a man I met while working at the
diner.  His name is Daniel and we'd chatted a few times at work.  He
seemed nice enough and was fairly good looking, so I thought 'why not'.
Well, I almost died when he got out of his car and came to the front
door.  He was wearing bright red pants and a bright yellow shirt and all
I could think was, 'Oh Lord, I'm dating Ronald McDonald'.  I asked
Grammie to tell him I was sick, but she gave me one of her Grammie
lectures about lying and how I shouldn't judge him by his clothes, but
by what's in his heart.  I knew that she was right, but that get-up was
an awfully hard obstacle to overcome.  I swallowed my pride and went to
dinner with him.  It was awful.  He treated the waitress with disdain at
best, and went off on some diatribe about how he hates women who wear
black.  I was wearing my best black dress pants.  Then he couldn't
figure out why I didn't want to go out with him again.  Some men are so
clueless.

Abby and Aimee could barely contain their laughter as they recalled the
scene.  Abby had been over helping Aimee choose an outfit and had stayed
to scope him out.  She'd been just as horrified as Aimee over Daniel's
attire and had to hide in the bedroom to keep from laughing in front of
him.  This had not helped Aimee's resolve to overlook the loud clothes.

She read a few more entries and they laughed as Abby did an imitation of
Mark, the guy with the strange conversation skills.

Abby struck a serious pose.  "So, Aimee tell me about your family?"

"Well, Mark, I was raised by my grandparents."

"Really, I wish I had a car that got good gas mileage."

"Uh, yeah, that's always a good thing."

"I've always preferred Sunkist over Minute Maid."  With that they burst
out laughing again.  Aimee remembered  how she had tried to follow the
guy's train of thought, but she never could find any rhyme or reason to
it.  So, she had just smiled and played along, wondering if he'd ever
figure out that she was making fun of him.

Alex came back with their food, and they shared some more stories with
him while they ate.  He was especially interested in Abby's dating
horror stories.  He laughed over her story of Robert who took her to the
movies and spit tobacco into an empty paper cup the whole time, then
spilled it all over himself later when she screamed at a scary scene in
the movie.  And the man they referred to as 'Lips', because whenever
they saw him around town he would run his big ole nasty tongue over his
lips at them, as if they were supposed to find that attractive.  Deep in
his heart, he was secretly very glad that Abby hadn't found someone yet.
 

Chapter nineteen

Eyes closed in a veil of tears when I hear the sound
Once more you've come to me--you've calmed me down
You still the raging sea inside of me
My heart--a companion to my wounded soul
Again you comfort me......you take control
You quell the fear that owns too much of me
As it was meant to be
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~4Him/Jon Anderson

Gary stepped off the sidewalk and charged into the busy street, barely
dodging the heavy traffic.  Snowflakes clung to his eyelashes, blurring
his vision.  Brushing them away impatiently, he ignored the blaring of a
horn as he swooped up the little dog just before it ran under the tire
of a taxi cab.  His momentum carried him to the other side of the road
where he stopped to catch his breath.  Safely back on the sidewalk, Gary
looked down at the animal in his arms.  The ragged little dog raised his
head and gazed at Gary with sad eyes and a forlorn look, then he swiped
his little pink tongue across Gary's face and settled himself in the
crook of his arm, as if he'd just found home.

"Don't get any ideas, I've already got a cat.", he said to the little
brown dog.

The paper had said that a stray dog would get hit, causing a taxi to
lose control, the ending result being a 6 car pile-up.  No one had
claimed ownership of the dog, and from the looks of him, he probably
hadn't had an owner in awhile.  Gary wasn't sure what he was gonna do
with it now.  Preventing the accident was the last thing in the paper
for him to deal with, and he was anxious to go get Aimee.  Maybe she
would have some suggestions.  He placed the little dog in a box in the
van and headed off to Abby's apartment.

When he arrived at Abby's, he was tempted to leave the dog in the van,
but it looked up at him with such a pathetic look that he relented and
scooped the dog up again.  Big brown eyes met big puddle green eyes and
Gary was treated to another doggie kiss.  He wiped his face with his
sleeve and said, "Cut that out!"

Aimee answered the door and found Gary standing there with his newfound
friend in his arms.  She smiled and immediately took the dog from Gary,
gushing over it and letting it lick her hand.  "Oh look at you!  Aren't
you just the cutest thing?  Where did you come from?"

"Hey, what about me?"  Gary looked outraged that she was ignoring him.

She laughed and said in her best fake pout, "Oh poor baby, are you
feeling left out?"  Growing serious again, she wrapped her free arm
around him and said, "I'm sorry!  I'm so glad you're here."  Then she
kissed him, while the little dog licked both their chins.

"Hey!", Gary said, wiping his chin again and giving the dog a disgusted
look.  "I'm not in the mood to share."

He told Aimee how he'd come across the dog and wondered aloud what to do
with it.  He should've known from the moment she saw it that giving it
up was a lost cause.  She was smitten with puppy love.

"Whatd'ya mean, what are we gonna do with it?  Why can't we keep it?"
She held the little face up next to hers and said, "how could you say no
to a face like this?"

In the end it was Aimee's face that Gary couldn't say no to.  They said
their goodbyes to Abby and Alex and headed home with their new little
friend in Aimee's arms.

She gave the little dog a bath and fluffed his hair dry with a towel.
When she was all finished, she tied a red ribbon around his neck and
held him up for Gary's inspection.  "Well, whatd'ya think?"

Gary gave her his most skeptical look.  "I think he looks ridiculous.
What are we gonna do with a dog?  We already got Cat."  He gestured
toward the cat with his two fingers.

Aimee set the dog down and he immediately went to the cat and laid down
beside him.  Cat crossed his paws over the dog's, and purred
contentedly.

"Traitor!", Gary muttered in the cat's direction.  "I can see I'm
outnumbered here."  He shook his head, and ran his hand over the back of
his neck.  "I suppose you've already got a name for him."

Aimee smiled.  "Of course.  I was thinking we could call him Sprocket."

At the mention of the name, the little dog raised his head and gave a
little bark.

"See, he likes it."  Aimee crossed to Gary and put her arms around him,
looking up at him with her sweetest smile.  "Don't worry, I'll take care
of him.  And won't it be nice for our baby to have a dog?  All children
should have a dog.  It's the law of nature.  Besides, maybe the paper
brought him to us for a reason."

"You're starting to sound like Marissa, ya know that?"

"Well, I always knew she was a wise woman."   She kissed him lightly,
then they both laughed as her stomach rumbled loudly.  "Are you hungry?
I'm really craving Chinese food or maybe Mexican food or maybe both.
Oh, I know, let's have Italian food, no Chinese........"

"Oh boy!", Gary said
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night, as the world slept on peacefully, Aimee had another
nightmare.  The same man from her previous nightmare was there in the
loft, standing over the bed where she lay, looking at her with malice in
his eyes.  In his hands was a knife stained with blood that he slowly
twisted round and round, while the words "GIVE ME WHAT'S MINE" emanated
from his unmoving lips.  Unable to push her screams past the fear that
was lodged in her throat, her hand snaked out and over to Gary.  She
shook his arm, but he didn't move.  A warm, sticky substance covered her
hand as it moved to his chest.  She drew it back and looked at it in
horror as she realized it was Gary's blood.  He lay there next to her, a
gaping wound in his chest, his lifeless eyes staring unseeing at the
ceiling.  The man with the knife faded from view, his evil laugh echoing
through the loft as Gary's blood seeped slowly toward her.

Finally, she was able to vocalize her fear and grief, which came out in
one tortured word.  "GARY!"

"I'm here, I'm here", Gary whispered as he frantically pulled her into
his arms.  There was no more sleep for either of them that night.
 

Chapter twenty

The evil wind
It blows a storm
To rock my world
Just when I think
I'm safe and warm
~~~~Jaci Velasquez

Gary rubbed his face in exhaustion, as he stumbled to the door to get
the paper.  The cat trotted in and headed for his food dish, which Aimee
had filled for him.  Sprocket  was asleep in the basket bed Aimee had
made up for him.  After a moment, Gary watched as Cat curled up next to
the dog and closed his eyes contentedly.

He plopped down in the chair and ran one hand over the back of his
neck.  The words on the newspaper blurred in front of his eyes, as he
scanned the headlines.  He shook his head in an effort to focus.  Out of
the corner of his eye, he saw Cat stretch and yawn, adjust himself and
go back to sleep.

"I'm glad someone's gettin' some sleep around here."  Gary muttered
grumpily.

Aimee emerged from the bathroom just in time to hear his remark.  "I'm
sorry I kept you up.", she said, a bit defensively, as she sat down on
the edge of the bed and towel dried her hair.

"I'm not blaming you, Aimee.  I'm just worried about you and the baby.
I think you should go see the doctor today.  Maybe he could help."  He
crossed the room and sank down on the bed next to her.  Pushing her wet
hair away from her face, his thumbs traced the dark circles under her
eyes.  "Why don't you try to go back to sleep for a while?  You're
exhausted."

"So are you!", she said wearily.

"Yeah, but I'm not pregnant!"

His comment struck her as hysterically funny in her current state of
weariness.  She lay back on the bed and laughed, an image of Gary heavy
with child in her head.

"What's so funny?", he asked, catching a little of her infectious
laughter and grinning at her.

"It's nothing!  I'm just silly from lack of sleep."  Her hand went to
her mouth to cover a big yawn.

Gary leaned down and kissed her eyelids, whispering, "Try to get some
sleep!  I gotta go, but I'll be back to check on you later."  He stood
and crossed the room, grabbing his jacket off the hook by the door.

"Gary?"

"Yeah!"

"Be careful!"

"I will.  Now get some sleep.  I love you!"

He was gone before she could answer.  She turned on her side and
snuggled his pillow, inhaling the scent of him and drifting off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A persistent ringing brought Aimee out of her sleep.  Her hand fumbled
for the off button of the alarm clock, but it did not still the ringing
sound.  Squinting her eyes open, she saw that only two hours had passed
since Gary left.  She groaned and put  the pillow over her head, but the
ringing continued.  Throwing off the pillow, she stood shakily and made
her way to the phone, her hands out in front of her to guide her as her
squinted eyes tried to adjust to the light.

"Hello", she said rather crankily.  As she listened to the caller, she
came fully awake and began fumbling through the loft discarding her robe
and throwing on clothes haphazardly as she clutched the cordless phone
to her ear.

"Yes......Yes, I'll be right there!  Yes.....thank you!"  She tossed the
phone on the bed, finished dressing and headed out the door, rushing
down the stairs, past Marissa in the office, through the bar and out
into the street.

Marissa had tried to stop her and find out what was wrong, but all she
got was a jumbled response.  Something about a hospital, calling later,
and Gary.  Marissa grew concerned, but there was not much she could do
if she didn't know what was going on.

Aimee spotted a man hailing a cab and headed straight for him.  As soon
as the cab pulled up, she darted in front of the man, got into the cab
and closed the door in his stunned face, mumbling, "Sorry, emergency!"

The cab pulled up in front of the hospital and Aimee threw the fare in
the front seat as she opened the door and jumped out, not bothering to
close the cab door behind her.  A sense of urgency propelled her onward
through the hospital doors and to the nurses station.

"My husband Gary, Gary Hobson!  Where is he?"

The nurse paused in her work and looked up at Aimee.  "Excuse me?", she
said in a snarky tone.

Aimee was in no mood for an attitude.  Leaning over the counter, she put
her face close to the nurses and raised her voice.  "My husband was
brought in here an hour ago.  Gary Hobson.  Where is he?"  She was
tempted to grab the woman by the front of her uniform and shake her.

"Mrs. Hobson?"

Aimee turned toward the doctor standing a few feet away.  "Yes, where's
my husband?  Is he alright?"

"I'm Dr. Grant.  Your husband suffered a concussion.  I'd like to keep
him overnight for observation.  If you'll come with me, I'll take you to
him."  He led her down the hall and into Gary's room.  Gary was lying on
the bed, eyes closed, an IV in his arm.  His face was pale and a bruise
was starting to form on his left cheekbone.

"I'll be back to check on him in a few minutes."  The doctor left the
room, giving them some privacy.

Aimee went to Gary's side and took his hand in hers, stroking his face
with her other hand and whispering his name.  He opened his eyes and
smiled at her.

"Hey beautiful!  I'm fine, so you can stop worrying now."  He sat up a
little as Aimee adjusted his pillow.  She laid her head on his chest and
he stroked her hair.

"Gary, I was so scared.  All they told me on the phone was that you had
a head injury.  I thought........I thought the worst."  Her voice was
shaky.  "I'm so glad you're alright, but don't you ever scare me like
that again.", she said as she wiped a stray tear.  "How did this happen
anyway?"

"I had to save this kid from getting paralyzed when he jumped from a
swing.  I almost didn't make it in time.  I caught the kid before he hit
the ground and the swing caught me in the face."  He rubbed his bruised
face gingerly.  "Then I fell and hit my head on the metal supports of
the swing set and I was unconcious for a few minutes.  The kid's mother
called the ambulance.  I'm fine though, I really don't need to stay
here."  He started to get out of the bed, but Aimee pushed him back
down, just as the doctor re-entered.

Dr. Grant smiled.  "What's this?  Trying to escape again.  Didn't I tell
you we had your pants?"  At Aimee's confused look, he explained.  "Mrs.
Hobson, this isn't the first time I've treated your husband for a knock
on the head.  I'm very concerned about whatever it is he's involved in
that keeps putting him here."

"Ya know, I should probably call Marissa.  God knows what she must be
thinking after the way I ran outta there.  I'll be right back."  She
exited, leaving Gary to face the curious doctor alone.

The doctor laughed at Aimee's hasty exit.  "I see she has that same
evasiveness that you have.  So, you gonna tell me what's going on?  Do
you still know things, ya know, in that way you did with Rachel
Greenberg's heart?"

Gary cleared his throat and tried to think of a response, or a way to
change the subject.  After a moment's pause, he said, "Hey doc, do you
think you could take a look at Aimee?  I'm a little concerned about
her.  She's pregnant and she's been having nightmares."

"Well, I guess that answers my question.  If she wants, I can take a
look at her."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the hospital bed next to Gary's, the doctor did another ultrasound on
Aimee, and they heard the baby's heartbeat again.

"The baby seems to be fine, good strong heartbeat.  I am concerned about
your blood pressure, though.  It's a little high.  I'd like to keep you
overnight and monitor it.  It could just be from the scare you had
today, but I'd like to make sure."

"Do you think it could be caused by her nightmares?", Gary asked.

"Well, it's always possible.  I'm no psychologist, but nightmares are
often a manifestation of our deepest unspoken fears.  Sometimes it helps
if you talk about whatever it is you're afraid of."  He stood and gave
some orders to the nurse.  "I'll be back to check on you both later."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night, in the darkness of their hospital room, Aimee and Gary spoke
to each other from their respective beds.

"I feel like we're Lucy and Ricky Ricardo.", Aimee said with a laugh.
"I'm not used to us sleeping in separate beds."

Gary laughed too.  "Yeah, it is strange."  He stood and crossed to her
bed, stooped down and kissed her.  "Goodnight Lucy!!  Sweet dreams!", he
said and crossed back to his own bed.  Soon they were both fast asleep.
 

Chapter twenty-one

We are all made of flesh and bone
At times we are so fragile
And at times we can be strong
But through it all we carry on
~~~~~~~~4Him

"Marissa, I'm really sorry I haven't been much help around here
lately."  Aimee sighed heavily from her desk where she was trying to
catch up on paperwork.

"That's alright, Aimee.  You've had a lot going on.  I'm just glad you
and Gary are ok."  She paused for a moment, contemplating her next
words.  "You are okay, aren't you, Aimee?  I mean, if there's anything
you'd like to talk about, I'm here."

"Thank you, Marissa.  You're a good friend."  The doctor's words from
yesterday echoed in her ears.  'Sometimes it helps if you talk about
whatever it is you're afraid of.'  Aimee soon found herself unburdening
her worries about the notes.  "I don't know what this person wants from
me.  I'm so afraid that somehow he'll take away the things that are most
precious to me."  She choked back a tear, knowing if she let one fall, a
thousand more would follow, and she was so tired of crying.

"You mean Gary and the baby?", Marissa asked quietly.

"Yes!", Aimee said softly.  And try though she would, she could not hold
back the tears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex and Aimee sat in the waiting room of the vets office with
Sprocket.  Aimee held him in her arms and scratched behind his ears.
She was feeling much better since her talk with Marissa.

"Thanks Alex, for coming with me today.  Gary doesn't want me to go out
alone, but I really felt like I should have Sprocket looked at, since he
was a stray."

"No problem!", Alex answered.  "Any excuse to spend more time with my
sister, is fine with me.  In fact............ I've been thinking of
re-locating here permanently.  Whatdya think?"

"Really?  That'd be so great!  I'd love to have you around all the
time."  She grinned at him mischieviously.  "But I suspect this decision
has more to do with Abby than with me."

He blushed and said, "Is it that obvious?"

Aimee patted his hand.  "Only to me."

Just then, Sprocket's name was called and Aimee carried him into the
examining room while Alex waited.

"Hi, I'm Dr. English, but most of my clients call me Robbin."  The vet
held out her hand toward Aimee.

Aimee shook her hand and responded.  "Aimee Hobson.  It's nice to meet
you."

"Hobson?  Are you by chance related to a Gary Hobson?"

"Y-Yes, he's my husband.  How do you know him?"

"I met him several years ago when he brought his cat in.  He helped me
with a situation concerning my mother.  Does he still have that cat?"

"Yeah, we still have the cat."  Aimee was unsure what else to say.

Robbin laughed softly.  "My mother had a special fondness for that cat
or maybe it was the other way around.  It kept showing up at her
house."  She shook off the memories and focused on Sprocket.  "So who do
we have here?", she asked.

"Well, I've been calling him Sprocket.  He's a stray that my husband
found a few days ago.  I just wanted to get him checked out."

"Your husband seems to have a penchant for taking in strays, so to
speak."

Aimee gave her a big smile.  "Yes, he does.  I guess that's a good
thing, since I was one of those strays."

Robbin smiled back.  "Really?  That sounds like an interesting story."

Sprocket interrupted with a little bark.

"Ok, I know!  We're here for you."  The vet scratched his tummy, and he
let out a satisfied growl.  "Ya know, this dog looks really familiar.
My mom had a dog just like this.  It was before I was born, but I've
seen pictures of him.  She said he was a gift from an old beau-----the
one that got away."  She laughed softly again.  "That's how she referred
to him."  Giving Aimee a repentant look, she said,  "I'm sorry!  You
didn't come here to hear about my mother.  I guess I'm just missing her
more than usual today."

"I don't mind."  Aimee touched Robbin's hand gently.  "I know what it's
like to lose someone you love.  I'd like to hear about her."

"She died about three years ago.  The saddest part is, that we didn't
really get close until it was almost too late.  Your husband is the one
who brought us to our senses.  Would you like to see a picture?"  At
Aimee's nod, she pulled several frames off a shelf against the wall.

Aimee studied each picture carefully, but one in particular held her
attention longer than the others.  It was of a much younger Eunice
Fadiman with a man that looked suspiciously like the man in Gary's "Lost
Chicago" book, and in Eunice's arms was a little dog that Aimee would
swear was an exact copy of Sprocket.  "Is this the dog you were speaking
of?", Aimee asked, pointing to the photograph.

Robbin paused in her examination of Sprocket and glanced over Aimee's
shoulder.  "Yes, that's him.  I'd forgotten he was in that picture.  I
can't remember what my mother said she called him now.  The man with her
is Lucius Snow, her one true love.  They met in Rome, but he stood her
up one day and she never saw him again."

Aimee continued to study the picture, her mind full of questions.  Could
Sprocket be connected to the paper somehow?  She had joked with Gary
about it, but now she was starting to believe it.  There were just too
many connections for it to be coincidence.

"I wish Gary could see this picture."

"Oh...... well, you're welcome to take it.  I have another copy at
home.  It's the least I can do after the way he helped me and my mom."

Aimee hadn't realized she'd spoken her wish outloud.  She smiled
sheepishly.  "Oh, are you sure?"

"Of course.  Be my guest.  And tell your husband thank you again for
me.  I would've lost a lot of precious time with my mom if it weren't
for his help."

"I will!  Thank you!"  Aimee listened with only half an ear as Robbin
finished examining Sprocket, and proclaimed him in good health.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Aimee arrived back at McGinty's, she headed straight up the stairs
to the loft, and deposited Sprocket on the floor.  Taking the 'Lost
Chicago' book off the shelf, she opened it to the picture of Snow.
Tucked between the pages was another picture of Eunice and Snow that
Gary had been given by Eunice just before she was admitted to the
hospital.  Aimee took a seat on the couch and studied the three pictures
as if they would somehow provide her with an explanation.

She got lost in the pages of the book, fascinated by the history and old
photographs of Chicago.  Before long, darkness began descending over the
city.  The shadows in the loft began changing, settling in for their
evening repose.  Aimee closed the book, realizing how she had let the
afternoon slip away.  Gary tried to give her an estimated time that he
would be home each day, and that time was drawing near.

She gathered her scattered thoughts and set about making one of his
favorite meals.  She was in the mood to celebrate.  There had been too
much worrying going on for both of them and it was time to put an end to
it.  Their fear had already given the letter writer a measure of control
over them and Aimee vowed to take back the reins, starting now.  This
unknown predator would not win.  Tonight would be the beginning of her
victory celebration.
 

Chapter twenty-two

Sometimes when the world gets so cold
And my heart is fifteen below
And I feel like I'm so far from home
I run to you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Plus One

The temperature was dropping quickly and the frigid weather had sent
Gary  scrambling from one section of the city to another as he tried to
usher the homeless into shelters for the night.  Finally the paper had
gone silent for the day, and he was headed to his own shelter, the place
that harbored his heart, the place where Aimee was.  Home.  He pulled
the collar of his brown suede coat up higher to shield his face from the
chill of the arctic air, as he quickened his steps.  Thoughts of her
urged him onward and his mood lightened, despite the raw wind whipping
tears from his eyes and trying to steal his breath.  Cabs were hard to
come by in this weather, but since he only had a block to go, he didn't
mind.

Today, he had decided that this night would be a celebration.  There
would be no mention of letters and worries.  Tonight would just be about
he and Aimee and their coming baby.  He had wanted to stop and buy her
flowers, but the paper had not afforded him the opportunity.  It really
didn't matter though, he would just love her and that would be enough.
She demanded nothing more.

Just up ahead he caught the neon lights of McGinty's shining like a
beacon in the descending darkness.  He jogged the last few yards to the
door and entered the bar.  The place was fairly empty, which was no
surprise considering the cold.   He blew into his hands to warm them and
nodded his head in greeting as he passed Crumb at the bar.  Marissa was
in the office gathering up her belongings in preparation for leaving.
He spoke to her briefly, making sure she had a ride home, before heading
up the stairs.  Tempting aromas were wafting out of the loft.  He
sniffed appreciatively, recognizing the smell of one of his favorite
meals.

Soft music drifted toward him as he opened the door.  Candles were lit,
their subtle light giving the loft a warm cozy glow.  He smiled as he
took it all in, amazed at how often Aimee seemed to read his mind.  The
sound of water running in the bathroom attracted his attention.  There
he found her sitting on the edge of the tub in her bathrobe, lost in
thought, her hand trailing across the water as it filled.  Fragrant
steam filled the small room.

"Hi!", he said softly, not wishing to frighten her.  But she jumped a
little anyway, despite his efforts.

She laughed softly and stood to greet him with a kiss.  "You startled
me.  I was just running you a hot bath.  I figured you'd be half
frozen.  I got a late start on dinner, so you have time."

He scratched his head, puzzled.  "A bath huh?  I've always been more of
a shower guy."

She slipped her robe off, letting it fall to the floor and stepped into
the tub, sinking up to her shoulders beneath the bubbles.  "Suit
yourself.  If you'd prefer a shower.........."  She let her words trail
off suggestively.

Suddenly a bath was extremely appealing to Gary.

Later, snug in warm pajamas, they ate a delicious meal by
candlelight.    Aimee told Gary what she had learned about Sprocket and
showed him the picture.  He scratched his head in puzzlement, as they
discussed the possibilities of Sprocket's relationship to the paper.
Then he told her the story of how he met Eunice and Robbin.  Aimee
laughed when he told her about Louie using the paper to gamble and later
accusing Gary of having an affair with Eunice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"In the news this morning, police are searching for a man who robbed a
sporting goods store late last night.  The suspect fled the scene after
breaking in and stealing camping equipment........"

Gary groaned and silenced the alarm with a slap, hitting the snooze
button.  He rolled over, wrapped his arm around Aimee and went back to
sleep.  Nine minutes later the alarm went off again.

"....28 degrees.  Record lows are expected to continue all this
week......."  Aimee reached over Gary and shut it off.

"Wake up, sleepyhead", she whispered as she shook him awake.  "It's time
to start another day."

He groaned again and snuggled her close.  "It's cold outside.  Let's
just stay in bed all day."  His answer was a thump and a meow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aimee stepped out of the office and into the kitchen to grab a quick
snack.  A sudden craving for peanut butter had kicked in.  George and
his crew were busy with dinner preparations, and didn't seem to notice
her presence.  The back door was wide open, and the cold blast of air
coming through raised goosebumps on her arms.  Thinking that the
delivery guys had forgotten to shut the door all the way, she headed
toward it, intending to shut it herself.  As she neared it, a shadow
from the alley outside passed in front of her, and then a face, a face
that had been haunting her dreams.  She stopped dead in her tracks, the
hairs on the back of her neck standing straight up.  Every nerve ending
tingled with the awareness of danger.  Had she really just seen that
face, she wondered, or was her imagination getting the best of her.
Then she heard it, a voice softly calling her name in a taunting,
singsong way.  She turned and ran back toward the bar and smack into
Gary's arms.

"Hey!  What's wrong?"  Gary gripped her shoulder with one hand and
stroked her pale face with the other.

"I thought I saw someone, but it was probably just my imagination."
Aimee tried to pass it off.  After her nightmares, she was starting to
have trouble discerning reality from illusion.

Gary looked over her shoulder at the open door.  He moved her gently
aside and went to the door and out into the alley, glancing around.
There was nothing there.  Still, Aimee had been trembling and pale.
Something had frightened her and he wasn't entirely convinced it was
just her imagination.

He closed the door and made his way back to where she stood shivering
and rubbing her arms.  "I didn't see anyone out there.  Are you sure you
saw someone?", he asked as he held her again.

"N-No,  I probably imagined it.  I'm sure it was nothing!!"

Out in the street, a middle-aged man was cursing himself for his
foolishness.  He hadn't counted on her running or that husband of hers
showing up.  He knew he'd better come up with a sure-fire plan if he was
to succeed with his mission.  As he headed back to his hide-out, he
plotted out his strategy.
 

Chapter twenty-three

If I lived a thousand lifetimes
I'd never come close to saying
Enough about the hope I found in your arms
'Cause when I try to speak from my heart
I don't know where to start
I'm speechless
Speechless at the wonders of your love
~~~~~~~~~~~~Avalon

Aimee adjusted her position on the mat and glanced at her watch for
about the fourth time in the last ten minutes.  All the other women and
their partners kept looking her way impatiently.  The instructer cleared
her throat and directed a pointed stare in Aimee's direction also.

"Mrs. Hobson, when can we expect your husband?"

Aimee felt like a child being scolded.  "I'm sorry Ms. Landry.  I guess
he's running late.  Why don't you go ahead and start.  I'm sure he'll be
here soon."  Although it was not unusual for Gary to be running late,
she was starting to worry about him.  This was their first Lamaze class
and he promised her he would be there.  Apparently the paper had other
ideas.

Gary turned the corner, his chest heaving after running several blocks
and up the stairs to the el to prevent a teenager from pushing another
onto the tracks.  He needed to stop and catch his breath, but he was
already running late for Lamaze class.  Aimee would be worried about
him.  One more block and he would be there and only fifteen minutes
late.

A few minutes later, Gary ran into the room full of pregnant women and
their partners as they all practiced their breathing techniques.  They
all stopped and stared at him as he joined Aimee, huffing and puffing
from his run.

"Mr. Hobson, I presume", Ms. Landry said with a stern look.  "So nice of
you to finally join us.  I see you have already started practicing your
breathing."  Her sarcastic little joke caused a few titters from some of
the other couples.

Gary felt his face flush as he found himself the center of attention.
"I-I'm sorry I'm late", he apologized.

She peered at him over her glasses which hung from a chain.  "Mr.
Hobson, I'm sure that all these fine people here would agree that our
time is valuable.  Please see that you arrive on time in the future."

Gary swallowed hard, feeling like he was a kid again facing Miss
Flowers, high school librarian, getting scolded for failing to return a
book.  With a sheepish look, he answered, "Yes Ma'am".

Aimee smiled at his little boy in trouble look.  She had to admit that
the woman seemed like the least likely person to be a Lamaze instructer.

"Well then, let's get started........again!"

Gary took his seat behind Aimee and followed the instructions as best he
could.  He felt a little foolish, pursing his lips and blowing out short
puffs of breath.  If Aimee could have seen his face, she would have
laughed right out in the middle of class.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They both climbed the stairs wearily that evening, happy to be in out of
the cold.  Gary helped Aimee with her coat and hung it up, then removed
his own and hung it next to hers.  Aimee gasped and rubbed her slightly
swollen stomach.

"Whew!!  This baby of yours is really kicking tonight."  She sank down
on the couch and gasped again.  "I think we've got ourselves a little
soccer player here."

Gary smiled a wide, happy smile.  He liked the sound of that phrase,
'this baby of yours'.  He sat down beside Aimee and put his hand on her
stomach and felt the baby kick.  Then he leaned down and spoke softly to
his unborn child.

"Hey baby, go easy on your mommy okay!!"  As he spoke the baby kicked
once more and then settled down.

Aimee smiled in amazement.  "I think the baby knows your voice."  She
turned toward him and kissed him softly.  "Thank you for agreeing to
take Lamaze with me.  I know it's hard with the paper, but I appreciate
that you're willing to do it and to put up with Ms. Landry."

"Yeah, she's tough!!  I bet drill sargents take lessons from her."  He
smiled and wrapped his arms around her.  "But you're worth it and much
more.  I don't know what I'd do without you."

She rested her head in the crook of his neck and sighed happily.  The
world felt almost perfect at that moment.  The only blot on their
happiness the threatening notes that were now coming from Chicago.
Little did they know that the threat would soon become more real than
just words on paper.
 

Chapter twenty-four

Life is your restaurant
And I'm your maitre'd
C'mon whisper what it is you want
You aint never had a friend like me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Robin Williams/Aladdin <g>

"So how did Lamaze class go yesterday?", Marissa asked.  She, Aimee and
Abby were having lunch together in a quiet corner of the bar.

Aimee laughed.  "Well, our instructer is a little strict and Gary was
late.  You should've heard her scold him.  I was starting to worry that
she'd put him in the corner with a dunce cap on his head.  Otherwise it
went well."  She rolled her eyes playfully.  "Alex escorted me there
since I'm under house arrest.  We have another class next week and Alex
can't take me since he's going home to settle things before moving
here.  I don't know who'll take me if Gary's busy with the paper.  Maybe
I could ask Chuck."

Marissa nearly choked on her tea.  "Yeah, ask Chuck.  Just make sure I'm
around when you do", she said with a smirk, thinking back on Chuck's
fear of pregnant women and bodily fluids.  Changing the subject, she
said, "So Alex is really moving here permanently.  That's great!!  I bet
you're happy about that, huh Abby?", she teased.

Abby tried to hide her happy grin, but was unsuccessful.  "Well, maybe a
little."

"I'm so glad you two are seeing each other.  When you get married, it'll
really be like we're sisters."

"Geez Aimee, we just started seeing each other.  We're hardly talking
marriage already.  I mean.........we only just met."  Abby blushed.

"You can't tell me you haven't thought about marrying Alex.  I know you
too well.  Besides, it doesn't take long to know it's right.  Just look
at me and Gary.  I bet you knew right away too that Emmett was right for
you, didn't you Marissa?"

"Well, yeah, I guess I did.  We danced all night the first time we met.
It was wonderful."  She sighed happily and then shook herself out of her
memories.  "But don't let us scare you Abby.  You just take your time."

"Oh, I'm not scared.  And Aimee's right, I admit it, but only to you
two.  I have thought about marrying Alex, a lot.  I just hope he feels
the same way about me."

"Oh he does.  I'm sure of it",  Aimee replied with a big matchmaker grin
on her face.

Abby looked at her watch.  "I better head back to work.  It wouldn't be
a good idea to come in late from lunch after just starting a new job.
I'll see you guys later."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marissa and Aimee continued chatting back at their desks until Chuck
came in early that evening in a foul mood.

"Aimee, there's something seriously wrong with your friend Laurie.  That
woman is a nuisance, a boil on the butt of humanity, a........"

"We get the point Chuck", Marissa interrupted.  "What happened this
time?"

"She stole my idea for a show. I was gonna present it to Mr. Springer
or Jerry as he insisted I call him."  He puffed his chest out
importantly.

Aimee laughed.  "First of all, I'd hardly call her my friend.  Second of
all, I'm not surprised.  She was always doing that to me and Abby when
we were kids.  What was your idea?"

Chuck cleared his throat and looked away for a minute.  "Lovers who find
out their really siblings."

"Eeewwww", Aimee said.

"Oh Chuck, that's disgusting", Marissa responded.

Chuck shot Marissa a dirty look.  "Of course it's disgusting, it's The
Springer Show.  Anyway, Laurie overheard me talking about it and she
stole it right out from under me.  And after I saved her keyster at that
ATM, the ingrate."

"Did you ask her about it?", Marissa asked.

"No, for once she's been avoiding me.  And she better keep avoiding me
if she knows what's good for her.  That's the last time I try to help
anyone.  Where's Gary?  He owes me for this."

"What's Gary got to do with it?", Aimee asked, her defenses rising.

"I'll tell ya what he has to do with it.  It's his fault.  Him and that
stupid paper.  If it weren't for that paper, I never would've met that
woman."

"Chuck, she works with you.  Neither Gary nor the paper had anything to
do with it.  You would've met her at work anyway", Marissa jumped in,
sensing that Aimee was getting upset.

"Yeah, well he jinxed me with all those cracks about her being my
destiny."

Now Aimee started laughing.  His argument was just so ridiculous, she
couldn't help herself.

"It's not funny!!", Chuck said, sounding a lot like a spoiled child.

Marissa decided it was time to change the subject.  "Aimee wasn't there
something you wanted to ask Chuck?", she said with a smirk.

"Oh yeah, I may need someone to bring me to Lamaze class next week if
Gary's busy with the paper."

"Lamaze class?  No way!!  Not on your life!!  There's no way I'm going
anywhere near a room full of pregnant women."  His face visibly paled as
he recalled his experience in that elevator, fluids oozing toward him as
that woman's water broke.  He grabbed hold of the desk, leaning against
it heavily.

Marissa was trying not to laugh at Chuck's reaction, but Aimee grew
concerned, her maternal instincts kicking in.  "It's okay, Chuck.  Calm
down.  I'll find someone else.  Here, sit down, take a few deep
breaths."

"What's going on?", Gary asked, coming in from a day with the paper.

"I don't know.  I just asked Chuck if he could drop me off at Lamaze
class next week and he got upset."  She shrugged, completely in the dark
about Chuck's fear of fluids.

Gary got a teasing gleam in his eye.  "Ah, what's the matter, Chuck?
Afraid you'll get stuck in another elevator with a pregnant woman?"

"Very funny!!  I'm not goin' anywhere near that Lamaze class.  You hear
me!!"  With that, he looked at Aimee's protruding stomach and ran out in
a panic, as if he were afraid she might go into labor right then and
there.
 

Chapter twenty-five

What's this walking through my door
I know I've seen the look before
Sometimes on faces in the street
And sometimes in the mirror looking back at me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Amy Grant

He stood in the alley just outside the McGinty's kitchen, a small cage
in hand.  He was cold, and the stench from the dumpster was not pleasant
company, but still he waited patiently for his opportunity.  All his
watching and plotting would pay off tonight.  She had it.  He knew she
had what he wanted, what rightfully belonged to him and tonight he would
trade her life for it.  That husband of her's was a sap.  He'd do
anything to keep his precious wife safe.  The man smirked at the
thought.  It just figured she'd marry someone so much like.....

His thoughts were interrupted by a busboy who emerged with a bag of
trash, propping open the door to keep it from locking behind him.
Quickly, while the young man's back was turned, the man slipped
unnoticed through the door and released his decoy from the cage, then
slid behind some shelves and waited.

Things were hopping at McGinty's that late afternoon as the usual Friday
crowd filtered in.  Aimee was finishing up the employee schedule for the
next month before heading upstairs for the evening.  Her mind was
pre-occupied with thoughts of the baby.  This morning she'd had to put
on a pair of Gary's sweats, because her own clothes were much
too snug and they'd been too busy to shop for maternity clothes.  She
felt a little silly working in this less than professional attire, but
there wasn't much she could do about it.  She ran her hand across her
burgeoning belly and smiled as she rose to post the schedule.

Out in the kitchen, she spoke to George briefly, but their conversation
was cut short as one of the waitresses let out a shriek.

"RAT",  she yelled, which resulted in such a riot of confusion as she
and another waitress screeched and climbed onto the counter, knocking
over a large pot of pasta.  The bus boy and a waiter began a chase
through the kitchen, trying to catch the offending rodent, one swinging
a broom and both shouting directions to the other.  Above it all, George
began bellowing orders in a strange mix of French and English.  In the
midst of the chaos, a stranger stepped out of the shadows and grabbed
Aimee from behind, dragging her out into the alley.  One hand covered
her mouth to muffle her screams, which was entirely unneccessary
considering the noise level of the place.

It took some time, but things eventually settled down in the kitchen.
The rat was caught and quickly disposed of.  The pasta was cleaned up
and the waitresses had climbed down from their roost and gone back to
their customers.  And through it all, no one noticed Aimee's
disappearance.

Out in the alley, Aimee's fight or flight instincts kicked in.  She
began struggling harder against the man's hold on her.  He tightened his
grip and pulled out a large knife, holding it to her neck.

"Keep it up and I'll slit your throat", he growled in her ear.  He
dragged her through back alleys and dark streets for a while,
backtracking at times to confuse her.  It worked.  Finally they reached
an abandoned building, his final destination.

In order to pry open the boards to get inside, he had to put the knife
down.  Aimee seized the opportunity and stomped hard on his foot while
driving her elbow into his gut.  He doubled over in pain, but kept his
grip on her no matter how hard she struggled.

"You little......."

She cut him off.  "What do you want from me?"

"Don't act like you don't know.  I'm not fallin' for your innocent act.
I know you have it and that sap you married is gonna trade it for you."
He picked up the knife again and pushed her roughly through the crude
opening as he spoke.  As he tried to cram his own slightly bulky body
through and still keep his hold on her, his clothing got snagged on the
jagged piece of wood.

Aimee twisted her arm free from his grasp and began running, stumbling
blindly through the dark.  The floor of the building was littered with
an odd mixture of old broken down office furniture and new camping
equipment.  She could barely see to maneuver safely around all the
obstacles, so she dropped to her knees and began crawling as fast as she
could away from the sounds of her pursuer.

He was calling out her name and cursing, his voice getting closer and
closer.  Fear propelled her onward and made her oblivious to the scrapes
and cuts she was inflicting on her hands and knees.  Her hip brushed
against a large wooden cabinet on her left.  She stopped and examined it
with her hands, running them over the splintered surface until she
touched a handle.  Sliding the door open, she scrambled inside and
closed it behind her.  Once inside, she curled up as tight as she could,
drawing her knees up to her chest as close as her expanding waistline
would allow.  Then she sat as still as she could, biting her lip and
trying not to make a sound.

The beam of a flashlight sliced through the cracks in the cabinet,
playing across her frightened features.  Every breath she took felt like
a sonic blast in the deafening silence.  A second or two later, the
bright light bounced away, seeking out other hiding spots.

The man's voice cut through the eerie quiet, calling out to her in a
taunting, singsong way, drawing out each syllable of her name.

"Aaaaaaaaa-meeeeeeeeeeeee!  Where are you?"  He laughed, an evil,
cackling sound.  "You can't hide forever.  It's only a matter of time
and I'll find you.  Come out now and I'll go easy on you."

A crash resounded through the darkness and the beam of the flashlight
was suddenly snuffed out.  His anger exploded in a string of obscenities
and Aimee surmised that he had tripped and broken his flashlight.  At
least now they were on even footing, so to speak, she thought.  She
listened carefully as now he stumbled through the darkness, still
calling out to her.  His voice grew more distant, echoing back to her
faintly as he moved in the wrong direction, continuing his search for
her.  She thought she heard a dog barking, followed by another crash,
but then again, her imagination was beginning to run wild.

Sitting perfectly still in her cramped position and listening to each
creak and groan of the old building was agonizing.  Each second grew and
expanded, time stretching out into an eternity of fear and uncertainty.
Her limbs were stiff, but she refused to adjust for fear she would give
her hiding spot away.  The cold was beginning to seep into her bones.
Fear had made her unaware of the frigid temperatures during her escape,
but now she was all too aware of it now as she blew quietly on her
frozen hands.
 

Chapter twenty-six

Been feeling crazy lately
When it seems you're not around
The sun and the moon shine bright
But my eyes are all yours now
Don't know how I'd live without you
I don't remember how it used to feel
~~~~~~~~~~~Zoegirl

Icy quiet wrapped itself around Aimee, broken only by the occasional
movement of the building as it settled.  Her mind strained for an
explanation for the silence.  Was it a trap?  Would he be lying in wait,
ready to grab her as soon as she let her guard down and emerged from her
hiding place?  She decided not to risk it.

A small furry, four-legged body brushed against her leg.  She managed to
stifle the screams that wanted to escape by biting down hard on her
lower lip.  A tear escaped and left a frozen trail down her cheek.  She
looked for the glowing, beady red eyes of the big rat she was sure was
about to sink it's teeth into her flesh at any moment.  Instead, she was
treated to a doggie kiss as Sprocket swiped his tongue over her hand.
How he got into the cabinet with her she did not know.  Nor did she care
as she gathered him up in her arms.  His little body provided some much
needed warmth and comfort to her cold arms and battered spirit.  She
closed her eyes and waited, hoping Gary's paper would soon lead him to
her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Several hours later..........

Gary entered McGinty's, cold and hungry, after a day of dealing with the
paper.  He stopped and spoke a few words to Crumb at the bar, then
proceeded to the office.  Finding it empty, he headed upstairs,
expecting to find Aimee and a nice hot meal.  Instead, the loft was cold
and silent.  He called out her name, but there was no answer.  The
bathroom light was off, but he checked anyway.  Thinking he might have
missed her down in the kitchen, he headed back downstairs.  She was not
there.  He stopped and spoke to George.

"Hey George, have you seen Aimee?"

"I saw her a couple hours ago.  She said she was headed upstairs."

Now Gary started to worry.  This was not like Aimee.  He ran back up the
stairs, taking them two at a time and searched the loft again, hoping
she had left a note explaining her whereabouts, but there were no notes
to be found.  Next he sat down and flipped open the paper, but there was
nothing about Aimee.  He wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or more
worried.  He called Abby and Alex, and then Marissa, who had taken the
day off.  None of them knew where she was and now they were all worried
too.  He went back down to the bar and spoke to Crumb, his worry
increasing with each passing second.

"Hey Crumb, you haven't seen Aimee, have ya?"

"Yeah, I saw her in the office earlier this afternoon.  Why Hobson?
What's goin' on?"

"She's not here.  She's not upstairs.  I'm worried Crumb."  He ran his
hands through his hair and began pacing.

Crumb came around the bar and put a hand on Gary's shoulder.  "You sure
she didn't leave a note upstairs?  Maybe she went shoppin' with her
girlfriend, what's her name?  You know, the one she grew up with?"

"Abby.  No, I already called Abby, Alex, and Marissa.  They haven't seen
her."

"You want I should call my guys down at the station?"  Crumb asked, now
getting a little worried himself.

"Yeah, you do that", Gary responded distractedly.

Crumb started to move toward the phone when Gary stopped him again.

"Crumb, you didn't see anyone suspicious hanging around here today,
didja?"

"No.  The only excitement around here today was when someone found a rat
in the kitchen.  Coupla the guys finally caught and killed it."

"A rat?  We don't have rats at McGinty's."  Gary was puzzled, wondering
why a rat suddenly seemed like a piece of the puzzle.  "Crumb, you don't
think someone let that rat loose on purpose, do ya?"

"Ya mean as a distraction?  So they could grab Aimee?"  Crumb hustled
over to the phone and called the station while Gary went back to the
kitchen to find out if anyone had seen anything suspicious.  The only
thing he could confirm was that Aimee had last been seen in the kitchen
just before the rat fiasco.

Frantic with worry and not sure what to do, Gary sat down at the desk
and searched through the paper again, flinging the pages aside angrily.
There was still nothing.  He rolled it up tightly and flung it at the
wall in a fit of rage, just as Marissa, Abby, and Alex entered the
office.  They were all hoping that Aimee would be there and it was all a
misunderstanding.

Marissa heard the pages of the paper hit the wall and scatter to the
floor.  She understood all too well what was going on.  She cleared her
throat and spoke.  "Abby, Alex, could you excuse us for a moment?"

"Sure", they responded in unison.  With puzzled and anxious expressions
on their faces, they left the office.

"So, I take it there's nothing in the paper about Aimee."

"No!", Gary said, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Well Gary, there has to be a reason."

"Yeah Marissa, what reason could there be?  Huh?  Maybe it doesn't want
me to have a life.  Maybe it doesn't want me to be happy."

"I don't believe that.  That paper brought you and Aimee together,
Gary!"

"Yeah?  Well, maybe it's playing some sick sort of game with me.  Allow
me some happiness for a while, then snatch it away.  Why, Marissa?  Why
does it send me out to save strangers everyday, but when my own wife
needs help, it gives me nothing?"

"I don't know, Gary, but there has to be a reason.  I believe that the
paper meant for you and Aimee to be together.  I'm worried about her
too, but we just have to have faith that she'll be okay."

Before Gary could respond, Cat meowed and leapt off the top of the
filing cabinet and headed into the kitchen, turning to look back at Gary
as he went.  Once in the kitchen, he leapt onto a shelf and pawed at a
flashlight insistently.  Gary watched him, his mind recalling all the
times Cat had led him right where he needed to be.

"I gotta go", Gary said distractedly, as a small glimmer of hope rose
within him.  He threw on his coat and grabbed the flashlight off the
shelf.  Alex was right behind him, his words cutting off any protest
from Gary.

"I'm going.  She's my sister.  I just found her and I'm not gonna lose
her again so quickly."

Gary just nodded, handed him another flashlight, and the two headed out
the kitchen door, following the feline through a maze of backstreets and
unlit alleys which eventually led to an old, dilapidated building,
abandoned and condemned years earlier.

Cat squeezed through the rough opening and beckoned Gary to follow with
a meow.  Gary and Alex pried off the boards completely and entered.  The
beam of their flashlights sliced through the darkness as Gary's voice
sliced through the silence.

"Aimee?", he called out.

Silence was his only answer.

They proceeded further into the building, gingerly stepping over the
debris and camping equipment, calling out to Aimee as they went.

"Shh!  I hear something!", Gary whispered.

They both grew silent and strained to listen above the pounding of their
own hearts.

"It sounds like a dog barking.", Alex whispered back as he moved his
light around the room, seeking out the corners and crevices.

"It's Sprocket!", Gary answered and charged ahead toward the sound,
leaving Alex behind.  He followed the sound to an old cabinet against
one wall.

"Aimee?", he called out.

More barking.

He knelt down and opened the cabinet door and Aimee's cold, limp body
fell out.
 

Chapter twenty-seven

Imagine me without you
I'd be lost and so confused
I wouldn't last a day, I'd be afraid
Without you there to see me through
~~~~~~~~~Jaci Velasquez

Alex spotted the cat and trailed it further back into the building,
through a maze of debris.  He had to step carefully to avoid tripping.
Finally the cat stopped near a large mass on the floor.  Alex
illuminated the mass with his flashlight and discovered it was the dead
body of Aimee's captor, their father, Steven Madison.  He lay face down
in a pool of his own blood, the point of his knife sticking out his back
beneath his left shoulder blade, his feet entangled in some old wires.

Alex turned away in horror, the bitter taste of bile rising in his
throat.  He took a few deep breaths, swallowing hard to keep from
vomiting.  After a moment, he composed himself and headed back toward
Gary and the barking dog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gary gathered Aimee up into his arms, calling her name and getting no
response.  He was afraid, more afraid than he'd ever been, wondering if
he was too late.  She was so cold.  He removed his coat and wrapped it
around her.  Tears trickled down his face as he cradled her close.

"Come on, Aimee.  Wake up!  Talk to me!  Please, Aimee, please wake up.
I need you!", he cried.

No answer.

Gary lifted his face toward the ceiling, and shouted out his anger.
"COME ON!!!  DON'T DO THIS TO ME!!"  His outburst was interrupted by the
slightest movement of Aimee's hand in response, and he felt a brief
renewal of hope.

Alex placed a hand on Gary's shoulder, tears in his own eyes.  "Is
she........?"  He couldn't bring himself to finish the thought.

"She's alive.  We gotta get her to the hospital."

"I called the police on my cellphone and an ambulance is on the way as
well.  Gary, I found the man who took her.  He's dead.  It looks
like he tripped and fell on his own knife.  He's......our father."

Gary listened in shock as he handed Alex his flashlight and scooped
Aimee up.  He followed Alex back out of the building, holding Aimee
tightly in his arms.  Once outside, they caught sight of the flashing
lights of the approaching ambulance bouncing off the surrounding
buildings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Grant was on call that evening when Aimee was brought in to the
hospital.  He saw how distraught Gary was as the EMT's wheeled her in on
the stretcher.  He patted him on the shoulder as if to comfort him and
then immediately began to examine Aimee, listening carefully to her
vitals and issuing instructions as they entered the examining room.  The
nurses restrained Gary from following, and Alex pulled him gently toward
the waiting room.

Gary and Alex sat in silence, both lost in their worries.  It wasn't
long before Abby, Marissa, Crumb and Chuck arrived and joined them in
the silence, trying to think of words of comfort.  Abby sat beside Alex
and he took her hand.  Chuck led Marissa to the other side of Gary,
where she sat and reached out, her hand connecting with his and
enfolding it in a comforting gesture.

"Gary?  How is she?"

Gary swallowed against the tears in his throat.  "I don't know.  She was
in that building for hours, and she didn't even have her coat.  When I
found her, she was unconcious. Dr. Grant's with her now."  He turned to
face her and whispered.  "Marissa, I don't understand why it wasn't in
the paper."

"I don't know, Gary", she said, as she sighed heavily and squeezed his
hand.

Crumb came over just then and placed a hand on Gary's shoulder.
"Hobson, I got a feeling she's gonna be okay.  Someone or something's
watchin' out for the two of yous."

"What!!  You're gettin' feelings now too?", Chuck joked, trying to
lighten the atmosphere.

Crumb shot him a dirty look and continued speaking to Gary.  "Anyways,
you won't be bothered by the news people.  I made sure of that."

"Howzat?"  Gary looked up sharply.

"I got the guys on the force to maintain radio silence.  I figured you
wouldn't want to be bothered by reporters."

"Ah, that explains it", Marissa said, as a look of sudden understanding
passed over her face.

"Explains what?", Crumb asked.

"Never mind, big guy.", Chuck responded.  "So, tell me about these
feelings you've been gettin'.  Got any vibes on the lottery."

Crumb favored Chuck with another dirty look and went back to his seat.

A moment later, Dr. Grant appeared in the doorway.  "Well, this is quite
a crowd we have here!"  He focused on Gary.  "Your wife's vitals are
returning to normal.  Her core body temperature was pretty low, but
we've managed to warm her.  It looks like she's gonna be okay."

Gary breathed a sigh of relief, then exhaled worriedly again.  "What
about the baby?"

"The baby's fine too."  Dr. Grant gave Gary a quizzical look.  "I'm at a
loss to explain it.  It's some kind of miracle.  But then again,
miracles seem to follow you around, don't they?"

"Can I see her now?", Gary asked.

"Yes!  Come with me."  He turned to the others.  "I'm sorry, but the
rest of you will have to wait here."

Gary followed Dr. Grant down the hall and into Aimee's room, where she
lay on the hospital bed, pale and weak, her eyes closed.  She was
covered in scrapes and bruises from her frantic crawl through the old
building.  Gary went to her side and took her hand, holding it against
his lips for a moment.  All his worries and fears about losing her had
been bottled up inside him, and now they spilled forth as tears fell and
sobs shook his body.

Aimee opened her eyes and placed a hand on Gary's head.  "Gary?"

He swallowed hard, quickly swiped at his tears with the back of his hand
and looked up at her with a watery smile.  "Hey Beautiful!", he
whispered, gently stroking her face.

"Are you okay?", she asked, moved by his tears.

He smiled at her question.  "Yes, I'm okay.  You just gave me a scare,
that's all.  I don't want to lose you."

"I'm still here."  Her eyes grew wide with panic for a moment as she ran
her hand over her abdomen.  "Gary, is the baby ok?"

"Yes, the baby is fine.  Dr. Grant said it's a miracle.  You remember
what happened?"

She replayed the scene for Gary, who listened through the vice-grip of
anger clamped on his emotions at what her father had done to her.  He
dreaded telling her that piece of information.  She'd already been hurt
so much by her parents.

"Gary, that man.......that man was my father.  I don't know what he
wants from me.  Did the police catch him?"

"No Beautiful........ they didn't catch him, but he won't be bothering
you anymore.  He's........He's dead!!  He tripped and fell on his own
knife.  How did you know he was your father?"

"My grandparents had pictures of him.  I used to look at them a lot as a
kid and wonder what he was like, and why he didn't want me."

It broke Gary's heart to hear the pain in her voice put their by her own
father, the man that should've loved and protected her more than
anyone.  He already loved his unborn child more than he could say, and
couldn't imagine treating someone that was a part of himself with such
disdain.

"I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry", Gary whispered.

"It's okay.  I've got you and the baby, and lots of good friends and
that's all that matters to me."  She closed her eyes and fell asleep as
Gary kissed her softly.
 

Chapter twenty-eight

I'll be the shelter in your rain
Help you to find your smile again
I'll make you laugh at a broken heart
Wherever you are
~~~~~~~~~~~~Amy Grant

Now that the threat hanging over Aimee's head was gone, she and Gary
were able to breathe much easier.  No one seemed to know what it was
that her father wanted from her.  He had left no clue as to that.  The
police had discovered that he had broken into a sporting goods store and
stolen the camping equipment, using it to hide out in that abandoned
building for several days.  In their investigation, they had also
discovered that he had amassed a huge gambling debt through the years
and was on the run from some of his debtors, characters who were less
than honest, law-abiding citizens.

Aimee, although relieved to no longer be in danger or under 'house
arrest', as she jokingly called it, was still having a difficult time
dealing with it all.   Physically, she was recovering from her ordeal,
but her emotional recovery would take a little longer.  She still did
not fully understand why her father never loved her, but that he would
threaten her life for monetary gain, or so she assumed, was beyond her
comprehension.  And it hurt, more than she could say.  She was wrapped
in the comforter from the bed, sitting outside on the fire escape
balcony in the porch swing that Gary had bought for her last spring,
trying to make sense of something that was senseless.

Gary came into the loft and saw the fire escape door propped open.  He
found Aimee in the swing and sat down beside her.  "Hey Beautiful!", he
said and greeted her with a soft kiss.  "What are you doing out here in
the cold?"

"I was just thinking", Aimee replied with a heavy sigh.  She turned to
face him while she spoke and her fingers unconciously played with the
front of his coat.  "Gary, if something happened to me, you'd take care
of the baby right?"

"What do you mean?"  Gary did not like the tone of her voice nor the
direction of the conversation.

"I mean, if I wasn't around, you'd still raise our child, you'd still be
a loving father, right?"

Cold shafts of fear ran up his spine at the thought of living without
her. "Nothing's gonna happen to you", he said firmly, as if by the sheer
force of his will he could make it true.

"I know", she said reasurringly. "But if it did, promise me that you'd
go on and raise our baby with all the love a child needs and deserves."

He could see that she was determined to have an answer, that she
wouldn't drop the subject until he made the promise she longed to hear,
so he cupped her face with his hands, looked into her eyes and said,
"You know I would.  This baby is a part of me and a part of you.
Nothing could make me stop loving our child.  Now....what is this really
about?", he asked, but he suspected that he already knew.

"I was wondering why my father hated me so much."  She swallowed hard
and tried to blink back the tears that wanted to spill over.  "What did
I do that made him want to hurt me?"

Gary wrapped his arms around her and rested his head next to hers,
speaking in her ear.  "You didn't do anything.  He was just sick and
greedy.  He's one man, one man who didn't deserve you.  It wasn't your
fault."  He held her while she cried and continued whispering words of
love and comfort to her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aimee was ready to go back to work a week later, her body recovered, her
spirits still a little battered.  Everyone did their best to encourage
her.  Marissa and Abby had gone out shopping while she was recovering
and bought her some maternity clothes.  She thought it was such a sweet
gesture, and the clothes were exactly what she would have chosen for
herself, but when she tried them on, she burst into tears.  She felt fat
and unattractive.  Abby and Marissa were at a loss as to how to reassure
her that she looked fine.  They eventually just gave her a hug and left
her alone at her request.

She removed the new clothes and replaced them with Gary's sweats.  Then
she curled up on the bed and cried, wondering when she'd ever feel
normal again.  Her mind was stuck, unable to move forward or back.  No
matter how many reassurances she received, she felt vulnerable,
unlovable.  Her experience with her father had shaken her more deeply
than anything in her life, even more than her grandmother's sudden
violent death.

A knock interrupted her sad reverie.  She rose slowly and trudged to the
door as if her emotional burdens were an actual physical weight that she
was dragging along with her.  She opened it and found Alex standing
before her.  She really wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone at that
moment.  She just wanted to be alone with her sorrows, but she invited
him in anyway.

He entered and took a seat on the couch, took a deep breath and plunged
ahead with his mission.  He'd been witnessing her depression first hand,
and now Abby had told him of her reaction to the maternity clothes.  In
the morning he was leaving for California to settle things before moving
back to Chicago permanently, but he couldn't leave without knowing she
would be okay.

"Aimee, I want to talk to you.  I want to know you're gonna be alright
before I leave."

Aimee sighed deeply.  "I'm trying, Alex.  I really am."

"I know how you feel, ya know.  He was my father too, and he rejected me
the same way he did you.  Don't you think that I wondered what I had
done to drive him away?  And I can't tell you how many times as a kid
that I would see my friends with their fathers and wish that I had one
too.  I would see them cheering their sons on in little league or taking
them to games or fishing, and I had no one.  Mom did the best she could,
I know that, but I wanted a father.  I needed a father.  I kept hoping
he'd come back someday.  I thought that he left because I had done
something bad.  I know now that he was just an irresponsible, selfish,
greedy man.  And ya know what, he didn't deserve either one of us."
Alex paused wondering if anything he said had helped her or if he was
just adding to her grief.

Aimee's tears were flowing freely now and for the first time she
realized that someone really did understand how she felt.  She reached
out for him and they cried together, mourning the loss of a father they
never knew, but mostly mourning the loss of a dream they had of a father
that might return one day and be the man they wanted him to be.  It was
the beginning of Aimee's healing, and when they had finished crying, she
smiled for the first time in days, and it was like the sun peeking
through the rain clouds and brightening the sky.

"Thanks Alex", she said.  "I hope it won't take you too long to get
things settled and get back here.  I'm going to miss you while you're
gone.  I'm so glad you found me."

"I'm gonna miss you too, Sis.  And you can count on it that I'm gonna
hurry back here as soon as I can.  My family is here now."  He hugged
her again and kissed her cheek and then left her, promising to come back
first thing the next day to say his goodbyes to everyone.

Aimee splashed cold water on her face, and went back downstairs to
apologize to Marissa and Abby and thank them for their gifts.  She felt
lighter, happier, after having shared her pain with someone who felt it
too.

When Gary came home later that afternoon, he found her singing softly to
herself while cleaning the loft.  The smile in her voice made his heart
thump with joy, and  he felt again that all was right with the world as
long as Aimee was happy.
 

Chapter twenty-nine

Well beat the drum and hold the phone
The sun came out today
We're born again, there's new grass on the field
A-roundin' third, and headed for home,
It's a brown-eyed handsome man
Anyone can understand the way I feel
~~~~~~~~~John Fogerty

Mid April........

Aimee plodded into the office feeling like she was miles behind her
protruding stomach.  In only six weeks the baby was due, and she
couldn't wait.  Even though the calendar said it was Spring, the weather
had not agreed lately.   A cold raw rain had been pouring down over the
city for more than a week now, but the forecast for the following week
was for warmer, sunnier days.  So Aimee, tired of being cooped up,
planned a little surprise for she and Gary.  She picked up the envelope
off the desk and smiled, thinking of the fun they would have and how
happy she was to give him a day off.

Since her father's death, she'd been kept occupied with a surprise baby
shower thrown by Marissa, Abby, and Lois, and other preparations for the
impending arrival of the newest little Hobson.  Gary had even spent a
frustrating evening assembling the crib.  But he didn't complain,
because it was a labor of love.  Alex had found an apartment not too
far from McGinty's, and he and Abby spent much of their time at the bar
with Aimee, Gary, Marissa, and Chuck.  Chuck avoided being alone with
Aimee, as if he were afraid she would deliver at any minute, which was a
source of great amusement for the others, and they lost no opportunity
to tease him about it.

Aimee, excited about her surprise and unable to wait, came out to the
table where Gary, Chuck and Marissa were sitting, lingering over their
dinner.  Gary pulled out her chair and ran his hand gently over her back
as she sat.

"Here!", she said as she handed him the envelope with a big smile.
"It's a little surprise for you, and I couldn't wait."

Gary opened the envelope and found two tickets for the Cubs game the
following week.  He smiled as he removed them.  "These are good seats.
How'd you get these?", he asked, very much pleased and surprised.

"I have my ways", Aimee replied with a sly smile.  "The Cubs are playing
the Cleveland Indians that day.  Your mom said she and your dad could
take care of the paper.  You'll have the whole day off....."

Chuck interrupted her with, "That's great Gar.  What time should we
leave?"

Aimee's smile dropped and her spirits plummeted as Gary and Chuck made
their plans to attend the game together.  She got up awkwardly and
headed upstairs, feeling hurt and angry.

Marissa favored Gary with a look of disgust.  "Ya know Gary, sometimes I
think you're the one who's blind."

"Howzat?"

"Aimee bought those tickets so that you and she could go to the game
together, not you and Chuck.  She loves baseball as much as you do."

Gary swallowed hard and ran his hand over the back of his neck.  "Oh
boy!  I guess I'd better go apologize."

"Wait!  So that's it.  You're goin' with her now?  What about me?"
Chuck looked outraged at this turn of events.

"Of course I'm goin' with her.  She's my wife."  Gary pointed to himself
with his two fingers as he spoke and then left Chuck and Marissa sitting
at the table as he headed upstairs.

Chuck gave Marissa a dirty look.  "This is all your fault, ya know?  I
could be sittin' on the third base line watchin' the game with my pal,
Gar, but nooooo, you had to stick your nose in it."

Marissa just smirked over the top of her cup as she took another sip of
her tea.

Upstairs, Gary found Aimee in the kitchen pulling things out of the
cabinets.  She'd been on a cleaning kick lately which she called
'nesting'.  He could tell she was angry, and he tried not to smile.  He
always thought she was just so darn cute when she was mad.

"What are you doing?", he asked.

"Cleaning out the cabinets", she answered.

"Can I help?"

"Are you sure you wanna help me?  Maybe you'd rather do it with Chuck.",
she responded with biting sarcasm.

He bit back another smile and stepped toward her, wrapping his arms
around her from behind.  "You're beautiful when you're angry, ya know
that?"

She turned toward him, breaking the hold he had on her.  "Oh no you
don't!  Don't think you can pour on the charm and give me those puppy
dog eyes and I'll just let you off the hook."

He couldn't hold back the smile this time, as he took in her stormy
expression, the one that made his heart flip-flop.  "I really do want to
go to the game with you.  Will you forgive me?"

The crinkle of his eyes and his *you know you can't resist me* smile
were her undoing.  One look and her anger melted away, though she tried
to hold on to it a while longer.  She looked away, bit back her own
smile and said, "Why should I?"

He caught the hint of smile that she was desperately trying to hide and
knew he'd been forgiven, but he played along anyway, wrapping his arms
around her once again and whispering, "Because I love you and there's no
one I'd rather go to the game with than you."

She smiled and returned his embrace awkwardly as the bulge of the baby
increased the distance between them .  "I never can stay mad at you for
very long."

Gary led her to the couch and pulled her down beside him, where he could
hold her in a more comfortable position for both of them.  "I really am
sorry.  I just wasn't thinking", he whispered.

Aimee leaned against him, her back to his chest and entwined her fingers
with his where they rested on her stomach  "It's alright.  If you really
want to go with Chuck, you can.  I know you two don't get to spend as
much time together since I came into the picture."

He kissed her on the temple before responding.  "Thank you, but Chuck's
the one who moved to California.  You had nothing to do with it.  I want
to go to the game with you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The day of the game turned out to be beautiful, with a bright azure sky
and a warm sun shining down.  It felt as if Spring had finally arrived.
Gary was a little nervous about leaving the paper in his parents hands,
and had repeated specific instructions to them several times.  As a
result, Aimee and Gary arrived at the stadium a little late.  Getting to
their seats was a slow process as Aimee lumbered down the steps to the
front row, Gary holding her arm and helping her all the way.  Everytime
he heard the crack of the bat as it connected with the ball, though,
he'd stop and stand on his toes, trying to see the action.  The
enthusiasm of the crowd spread like an electric current.  Aimee smiled
at Gary's child-like excitement, and shooed him on ahead to their seats,
promising she'd be along soon.

"They're just like kids, aren't they?"

Aimee turned toward the elderly woman sitting in the aisle seat.  She
had silvery-blond hair and looked to be in her late 70's or early 80's.
Her eyes had a youthful sparkle though, and in her hands, she held a
program and a box of cracker jacks.  With a smile, Aimee responded.  "I
was just thinking that."

The woman moved over a seat and invited Aimee to join her.  "Here, take
a load off.  You look as if you could use a breather."  She directed a
pointed look at Aimee's stomach.

"Well, as a matter of fact, it is a long walk from the parking lot.
Thanks!  I'm Aimee Hobson."  She held out her hand and the woman shook
it with a firm grip.

"Judy Owen.  It's nice to meet you, Aimee.  You a baseball fan or did
your husband drag you out here today?"

"Oh no.  I love baseball.  I bought the tickets as a surprise for my
husband.  How about you?"

"Oh I've been a baseball groupie just about my whole life.  I follow the
Indians whenever I can.  I was even the team secretary once upon a time,
back when I was a young thing like you."

"Really?  When was that?  Last year?", Aimee responded with a smile.

Judy laughed and patted Aimee's hand.  "Thank you, but I'm afraid it was
a few more years ago than that."

They continued chatting for a while longer, when Gary interrupted them.
"Aimee, what are you doing?  I was getting worried about you."

"I'm sorry.  I guess I lost track of time.  This is Judy Owen.  Judy,
this is my husband, Gary."

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Owen."

Judy just stared at Gary with her jaw open for a moment.  Finally, she
spoke.  "I'm sorry.  It's just that you look remarkably like an old
friend of mine.  It's uncanny really.  It's very nice to meet you.  Your
wife has been kind enough to keep an old lady company for a few
minutes.  I hope you don't mind."

"You're not old", Aimee said sweetly and patted Judy's hand.  "I've
enjoyed talking with you so much."

"You ready to go to our seats?", Gary asked Aimee.

Aimee said her goodbyes and proceeded to the front row with Gary.  He
helped her to her seat and adjusted the cushion he brought for her
back.  Aimee kissed him on the cheek for his thoughtfulness and soon
they were both lost in the excitement of the game as they cheered the
Cubs on to victory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two weeks later..............

Aimee had finally gotten Alex to bring her the box of things she'd left
at Abby's and now they were sitting in the loft rummaging through it.
Alex was flipping through the photo albums gazing at the images of the
grandparents he never knew, while Aimee and Abby told him stories from
their childhood.  They spent a few hours reminiscing and then Alex and
Abby rose to leave for a special dinner they had planned.  They each
gave Aimee a peck on the cheek and bid her goodbye, leaving her with her
ruminations of the past.

A short while later Gary arrived and found Aimee sitting on the floor
surrounded by old pictures and journals.  She looked up at him and
smiled.

"I'm so glad you're home.  Abby and Alex left and I was startin' to
wonder how I was gonna get up off this floor."

"Oh, is that all I'm good for......heavy lifting?", Gary teased and
reached down to lift her, grunting as he did.

"Hey, I heard that!"  Aimee smacked him playfully on the arm.  "It's
your fault I'm this fat anyway", she teased right back.

He kissed her lightly and looked around at all the things on the floor,
unaware that he was about to uncover the answer to the burning question
foremost on their minds for some time now.  He was about to discover
just what it was that Aimee's father had been after.
 

Chapter thirty

Your love is life to me
My truest longing
My deepest need
Without it one moment
I don't know where I'd be
Your love is life to me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~FFH

"What's all this stuff?, Gary asked, picking up a photo album and
flipping through it."

"I forgot to tell you.  Before I moved here, I had left a box of stuff
at Abby's and today she and Alex brought it over.  It's mostly photo
albums and some of my old journals."

He came across some pictures of Aimee as a child.  "Is this you?"

Aimee peered around him and looked at the photo of herself as a toddler,
standing in a half-filled bathtub wearing nothing but a big grin and
holding a barbie doll.  She blushed and said, "Yeah, that's me."

"Oh, you were a little exhibitionist, I see", he teased.  "We'll have to
get a picture of you like this now", he said, suggestively.

"Now?" Aimee laughed and looked down at her stomach.  "I don't think
so."

"You look beautiful to me."  He pulled her to him and kissed her again.

They sat down and flipped through the album together, Gary asking
questions and Aimee telling stories.  When they got to the end, a slip
of paper, yellowed and slightly brittle, fell out and floated to the
floor.  Gary bent to pick it up and unfolded it, thinking it was one of
Aimee's childhood drawings or stories.  Instead, what he found was an
old stock certificate in Aimee's grandparent's names.

"Did you know this was in here?", he asked.

"No, what is it?"  Aimee peered over his shoulder at the yellowed
document.

"It's a stock certificate."  He looked up at her again with wide eyes.
"This could be worth a lot of money."

"Really?  My grandparents never mentioned anything about stock
certificates to me."  She took the document from his hand and examined
it as if it would provide some answers for her, and then her own eyes
widened and she looked back up at Gary and said, "You don't think this
is what my father was after, do you?"

Gary scratched his head, deep in thought.  "I think it's possible.  I'll
look into this tomorrow if you want."

"Yes, thank you!", Aimee said, wrapping her arms around him, her
thoughts back on her father and grandparents.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day Gary's suspicions were confirmed.  He discovered that the
stock was worth a great deal of money, and Aimee's father had been the
original beneficiary until her grandparents had it changed to Aimee in
1980.  He reasoned that Steven Madison had been aware of the stock and
assumed Aimee had it, and thus began his campaign of threats and
violence against her.

Aimee and Gary discussed the possibilities of the money at great length
and came to several conclusions.  First they would cash in the stock and
give Alex half the money since he was also a rightful heir to Aimee's
grandparents.  Second, they would use some of it to remodel the loft,
expanding it to meet the needs of their growing family.  Across the hall
there was another large space above the bar that had never been
utilized, and now seemed the perfect time to start planning the
expansion.  The rest of the money they would put away for their
children's future.

It was all a little overwhelming at first for Aimee, considering that
only a year and a half before, she had moved to Chicago with only a
suitcase and barely enough money to survive on.  She could hardly take
in the fact that now she was an heiress.  The thought made her laugh, as
she remembered some of the snobby rich people she'd encountered at the
ball on her first date with Gary and how intimidated she'd felt to be
among them.  She determined right then and there that she would not
allow this unexpected windfall to change her in any way.  She was still
Aimee Hobson, small town girl, who enjoyed the simpler things in life
and always would.  If she could do some good with the money, she would,
but she would not get caught in the trappings of a lavish lifestyle.

Alex refused his half of the money at first, arguing that it had been
intended for Aimee by her grandparents and should all be given to her.
But she and Gary were persistent and he finally, reluctantly accepted
their generous offer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May 20th..........

Aimee stood in the large open space above the bar where the work had
begun on the loft expansion.  There was nothing but bare walls and pipes
so far, but in her mind's eye she could see what it would become;  a
large master bedroom with a fireplace and master bath, and two smaller
bedrooms with an adjoining bathroom.  A large deck would extend off the
back of the building for picnics and barbecues.  When the new rooms were
finished, their current living space would be altered into a large
kitchen/dining room and a living room.

Today was Aimee's birthday and she was eagerly awaiting Gary's arrival
home to celebrate with him.  As she contemplated the future, a short
stabbing pain shot through her lower back.  This had been happening off
and on all day, and she had a feeling today would be special for more
reasons than they had anticipated.  With her hands in fists, she used
her knuckles to knead her aching back and continued envisioning the
completed apartment, with she and Gary and their new arrival sitting
cozily by the fire.

Gary popped his head around the door and spied her standing in the
middle of the room with a dreamy look in her eyes.  He watched her for a
moment and smiled to himself, wondering how he had gotten so lucky to
have her in his life.  He loved her fiercely and not one day passed that
he didn't realize what a gift she was to him.

She turned and spotted him gazing at her with love in his eyes and her
heart started racing.  He could still raise goosebumps on her flesh with
that look.  They stepped toward one another without a word and Gary
cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply.  Her fingers
clutched the front of his sweater, playing with the rough, nubby fabric.

"Happy birthday!", he whispered when they had broken off the kiss.
"Have I told you today how much I love you?"

"Yes, but it's always nice to hear.  I love you too, so muuuaaaah", she
gasped, unable to finish her sentence as an intense pain squeezed the
breath out of her.  This was much worse than the back pains she'd been
experiencing, this was a full blown contraction.

"What's wrong?" Gary gripped her arms, holding her up as the pain
threatened to bring her to her knees.

"Contraction.  I think this baby's coming......today."  She straightened
again as the pain receded and looked at her watch to gauge the time
between contractions.

"B-But you're not due for another ten days."  Gary's voice cracked as he
looked down at her stomach, like he thought the baby would pop out right
then and there.

"Well, get ready, dad, cause this kid's got other ideas."  She took his
arm and dragged him, stupefied, into the loft to gather her things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gary had pulled himself together and gotten Aimee to the hospital, where
their baby girl was born a few hours later.  Gillian Katherine Hobson,
named for Aimee's grandmother, had her father's dark hair and dimple in
the chin, but otherwise, she was a living replica of her mother.  Gary
held his tiny daughter in his arms, his smile wide with joy.

"Happy birthday, Gilly!", he whispered and kissed her softly on the
forehead, then he placed the baby in Aimee's arms and whispered, "Happy
birthday, Mom!"

Aimee's smile was as wide as Gary's and her eyes sparkled with unshed
tears.  "I couldn't imagine a better birthday gift than this, our baby.
Isn't she beautiful?"

"She's the most beautiful baby ever.  She looks just like you."  Gary
leaned down and kissed Aimee, brushing her hair off her face and
whispering, "Thank you for making all my dreams come true."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was quite a welcoming comittee when Aimee and the baby were
released from the hospital.  Marissa had closed McGinty's and she and
the others planned a small, quiet belated birthday party for Aimee and
baby Gillian.  Everyone fussed over the baby, most especially Lois, who
glowed with grandmotherly pride as she cuddled Gillian in her arms.

Aimee stood in the middle of the room and looked around at all the faces
of the people she loved;  Lois and Bernie, who had become mother and
father to her from the moment she met them, Marissa and Abby, both of
whom she considered her heart sisters, Crumb, her gruff and protective
friend and surrogate father, Alex, the brother she had only come to know
a short while ago and yet loved so dearly, Chuck, a friend who tried to
hide his true heart behind a selfish, materialistic facade, but really
wasn't fooling anyone, and all the other people she'd come to know and
cherish as family since moving to Chicago.  She cleared her throat and
waited for everyone to grow silent.

"When I left Minnesota, I thought I had no family left, but I've found
in all of you more family than I could ever imagine."  She cleared her
throat again, fighting back tears and glanced around the room, first at
Lois and Bernie, then Alex, Abby, Marissa and the others.  "I found a
mom and dad,.......... a brother,........... sisters, and a lot of dear
friends that I wouldn't trade for the world.  I feel proud that my
daughter will grow up surrounded by so many special people.  Thank you
all so much."  Her tears started to fall as everyone came forward to
embrace her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three and half months later......

Gary lifted his tiny daughter from her crib and kissed her softly,
whispering, "Hi silly Gilly.  How's my girl?"

Gillian cooed back at him and clutched his shirt with her little hands,
just like her mother always did.

Aimee watched unnoticed for a moment.  Gary had proven to be an
extremely loving and protective father, not that she had had any
doubts.  Seeing them together melted her heart, and she knew that if
something happened to her, Gillian would be in good hands.

Gary turned and saw her standing there and held out his hand, beckoning
her to him.  She went into his embrace, and the little family swayed
together to the strains of the lullaby coming from the mobile above
Gillian's crib.

That night, Aimee rocked Gilly to sleep, singing softly to her an old
favorite her grandmother used to sing.  "If I only had true love to
offer you, would it be enough to make you want me to?  If the world was
mine to redesign, suddenly you would find that you would be my baby.  If
I had a chance at real romance, if I could choose my circumstance, then
you would be my baby.  You would be my baby."

She looked down at the now sleeping infant and smiled.  "I love you,
Gilly.  I hope you always know that."  With a tear in her eye, she
kissed her daughter and placed her gently in her crib.

With a deep sigh, she returned to Gary in the living room and removed
the remote from his hand, clicking off the tv.  He looked at her
questioningly until she spoke suggestively in his ear. "Gilly's asleep
now!", she whispered and began kissing his neck and jawline, while her
fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.

Gary returned her kisses feverishly, lowering her to the couch and
roaming his hands over her possesively as his passion was ignited.
Through labored breaths, he told her he loved her and then he showed her
how much.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Early the next morning, Gilly's cries awakened him.  He rose from the
bed and stumbled through the room to the crib to see to the needs of his
infant daughter, allowing Aimee to sleep.  Only later would he discover
that she was not asleep.  Sometime in the night, Death, an unwelcome
guest, had stolen in and claimed a young wife and mother, and Gary would
never be the same.

The End
 

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Email the author:  shana93@optonline.net
 

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