One More Day
Chapter One
Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money
Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished for one more day with you
~~Diamond Rio~~
************************************
Gary staggered into the waiting room of the hospital. His stomach felt as if a cannonball had just hit it. He ran his fingers through his hair and numbly looked at his surroundings.
He hated hospitals. Always had. There was just such a sense of foreboding about them. To him they seemed more like a place to die than a place to recover.
A place to die. His eyes welled up with tears. 'Mom. Dad.' He thought. He sat down in the waiting room and pulled his cell
phone out of the case and dialed his parents number.
~~~~
Lois sat her bags down by the door. "Honey can you load these? " Lois asked Bernie. "I've got one more bag to get and I'll
be ready to leave."
"Do they know you are coming early?" Bernie wondered.
"Yes, I called Bailey a little while ago." She said as she headed back upstairs.
Bernie picked up a bag as the phone rang. He sat it back down and answered the phone. "Hobson residence."
"Dad." Gary responded. His voice cracking.
"Gary?" Bernie waited. Nothing.
"What is it?" Lois asked as she re-entered the room.
"I don't know. It's Gary. He won't talk." Bernie said, handing the phone to Lois.
"Gary? Are you all right?"
The lump in Gary's throat felt as big as a baseball. He willed himself to swallow it so he could speak.
"Gary! Talk to me. You're scaring me!" Lois urged, grabbing Bernie's arm for support.
"Mom." Gary got out before he broke into sobs.
"Son, calm down. Tell me where you are and we'll be right there. Gary, please." Lois begged. She could hear Gary trying to
control himself.
"Bernie hurry, go get the car loaded and get you a bag packed." She said motioning him with her hand to get moving.
He asked no questions, just took off running.
Gary tried to compose himself as a young couple walked by and looked at him with concern. He took a deep breath and wiped his eyes.
"I. I',m , I'm at St....John's.... Hos...pit...al." He said slowly.
"Gary have you been hurt?" Lois asked. Fear sweeping through her body.
Gary shook his head 'no'. "Mom, it's, it's Bailey." Gary hiccupped.
"Good Lord! Is Marissa there with you?"
"No." Gary said softly. "Nobody's here."
"Gary you just hang on. Your father and I are on our way. Everything will be all right. I love you son." Lois said reassuringly.
"I love you too, mom."
Lois hung up the phone just as Bernie returned downstairs, his bag packed and ready to go.
"Get the car loaded. I need to make one call before we leave." She instructed.
"Lo, what is going on? Is Gary okay?" Bernie asked in a shaky voice.
"It's Bailey." She answered grimly.
"Oh, Lois. No!"
~~~~~~~
Gary went to the men's room and splashed cold water on his face. He pulled some paper towels out of the rack and dried
his face. He went back to the waiting room and sat down.
He scooted down where he could lean his head on the back of the chair. He crossed his arms and legs.
His mind drifted back to last December.....
~~~~~~~
Gary opened the door to his house and entered.
"Honey! I'm home!" He called out.
"Pop!" His young son cried out excitedly as he ran into the room to greet his father. He was dressed in jeans with rolled up cuffs and high top sneakers, a striped t-shirt and a ball cap.
Bailey came out of the kitchen wearing a black and white polka dotted dress and a white apron. Her hair was twisted up in a
chignon.
"How was your day, Sweetheart?" Bailey asked.
"It was just swell." Gary answered.
'This is what the American Dream is all about.' He thought.
~~~~
"This is what the American Dream is all about." The President said yesterday in his speech to the Nation." The announcer said as the radio clicked on.
Gary felt an arm fall across his chest as the hand slapped the alarm off.
He opened one eye to see Bailey roll over and cover her head with a pillow. He smiled. Ever since they had been married,
Bailey had been helping him with the paper. And at least one day a week she took care of the paper by herself so Gary could have an entire day off.
Yesterday had been a long day for her. If she had let him know, he would have stayed home and helped her instead of going to the Bears game. But Bailey had read the article in the paper and had known what an exciting outcome it would have, and had not let him see the paper before she left for the day.
"Meow!" Thump.
Gary got up and went to the door and opened it.
"Meow!'
"You think you could take it easy on her?" Gary asked the cat.
The feline ran by him and hopped eagerly onto the bed and curled up comfortably next to Bailey.
Gary shook his head and glanced at the front page as he shut the door. He scanned the headlines as he thumbed through the
paper.
"Not too bad of a day." He muttered.
He opened up a can of cat food and served it to Cat.
"Leave Bailey alone while I shower, or out you go for the day. She's tired and needs to rest." Gary warned the cat.
"Meowr." The cat responded softly.
When Gary finished showering and getting dressed he walked back into the loft. He smiled at his wife, who was now curled up with his pillow. Cat had resumed his place next to her and was purring contentedly.
"I mean it." Gary said shaking his finger at the cat, who just looked at him and remained quiet.
Gary bent and softly kissed Bailey on the cheek , then left to take care of the papers demands.
Chapter Two
Bailey stood with her back to the door of the loft, singing along with the stereo. She was spreading fudge into a pan to cool.
She sat the bowl down and licked the spatula clean.
"Whatcha doin?" Gary asked as he snuck up behind her.
"Dadgummit!" She exclaimed. She dropped the spatula in the bowl and swatted at him.
"Gary, you scared me to death!"
"I'm sorry." He said the corner of his mouth twitched.
"It's not funny." She said trying not to laugh, herself.
Gary reached around her and wiped his finger in the mixing bowl to grab a taste of the fudge.
"Mmm. Taste's good. But I bet not as good as you." He said as he leaned in and kissed her.
She pushed him away and narrowed her eyes at him. "It's not fair. I can never stay mad at you for long."
"Well, that's a good thing. For me." He said as he pulled her back into his embrace. "I was right. You do taste better than the fudge." He said after he kissed her again.
Bailey giggled. "Why didn't you wake me before you left this morning?"
"Because you were tired and you needed to rest. The cat didn't bug you did he?" He asked looking towards the cat.
He could have swore the cat shook his head 'no'.
Gary returned his attention to his wife.
"No he didn't bother me at all. Did you little guy? We're buddies. " She said as the cat rubbed against her leg.
The cat looked up at Gary as if to say "See. You worried for nothing."
"Don't look so smug." Gary said to the cat.
Bailey sighed as she leaned her head against his chest. "How long are you home for?"
"Why? Are you ready for me to leave?" He teased.
"No! I just figured you would have to go back out."
"Nope. I'm yours for the rest of the evening."
"Really?"
"Really. Anything you would like to do?" He asked as he nuzzled her neck.
"Yes, actually. Can we go pick out a tree?"
Gary stepped back in surprise. "Go pick out a tree? We have the whole evening to ourselves and that's what you want to do? I guess the honeymoon is over." He said shaking his head sadly. "All over, after only 6 months."
She tickled him. "Oh, Gary. Really." She laughed. "It should only take an hour or two. Then we can come back here and I'll fix you hot chocolate with little marshmallows and we can watch the game on T.V." She coerced.
"Hot chocolate with marshmallows, huh?"
"Mmm, hmm. And football."
"Okay. But only. Only if we can go eat first. I'm starved."
She smiled and gave him a quick peck on the lips. She put the fudge in the refrigerator and said. "Give me a minute to get
ready."
"A minute. The game starts in 3 hours. Do you think we can leave before then?"
Bailey shot him a dirty look.
~~~~
They struggled to get the tree up the stairs into the loft. Not that is was heavy. They just kept collapsing in fits of giggles. Both still amused by an incident at the tree lot involving Gary and an unseen wire.
They finally got it into the loft and into the tree stand.
"Okay. It's all secured." Gary said as he stood up.
Bailey cut the strings that tied the branches together setting them free quickly, slapping Gary in the face.
"Oof!"
"Oh Gary, I'm so sorry!" Bailey said covering her giggle with her hand.
"No you're not. You did that on purpose." He accused.
"I did not!" She defended herself.
"I think you did." He said as he began to stalk her. "I spent almost 2 hours searching for the perfect tree in sub zero weather. I almost hang myself on the stupid wire they use to hold the trees up." He said, rubbing his hand across his upper chest.
This declaration caused Bailey to start laughing again, and Gary to almost join her.
He continued. "I pulled my back trying to get the darn thing up the stairs." He complained, placing his hand on the small of his back. "Then I get slapped in the face with the branches. And you seem to think the whole thing is funny."
"I'm sorry Gary. I can't help it. If you could have just seen the way your feet went up in the air when you walked into that wire." She said doubling over in laughter.
The corners of his mouth twitched. "I could have died tonight and I think I need some serious TLC and some of that hot
chocolate you promised." He said as he reached her and pulled her to him and kissed her. Quieting her laughter.
"Hot chocolate?" She whispered.
"Mmm, hmm." He murmured onto her lips.
"Okay. Now?" She sighed.
"Of course. The game is about to start." He grinned and kissed her quickly, then pulled away from her.
"Tease!' She accused.
"And could I have some of that fudge while you're up? He asked as he made himself comfortable on the sofa.
She just looked at him.
"You know my back. It hurts." He said flashing her a smile and a look she couldn't refuse.
She laughed in spite of herself. "You'll be on a sugar high having fudge and hot chocolate." She warned.
"I'll take my chances." He said turning on the TV.
Bailey put the milk on the stove to start heating and cut him some fudge and took it to him along with an ice pack.
"What's this for?"
"Your back."
He smiled slowly at her. "My back's fine. I was just kidding."
"Are you sure?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm sure."
She turned to go back to the kitchen and Gary grabbed her hand. "Thank you." He said smiling up at her.
"Your welcome." She replied as she squeezed his hand.
~~~~~~
Gary straightened up in the chair. He looked at his watch. Only a few minutes had passed. When would someone tell him
something? He wished someone were here to talk to him. Marissa! He quickly dialed the number to McGinty's.
"McGinty's. How may I help you?" Jake answered.
"Jake, this is Gary. Let me talk to Marissa."
"I'm sorry Mr. Hobson. She left out of here a few minutes ago. She said she didn't know when she would be back. Can I take a message?" Jake asked.
"No, thank you, Jake." He said as he hung up the phone.
He felt so helpless. He needed to do something. Bailey always seemed to know the right thing to do to help him. Just like that night in December...............
"My word, Gary! What happened?" She had asked.
Chapter Three
"My word, Gary! What happened?" Bailey asked as Gary walked into the bar.
He was soaking wet, his teeth chattering.
"Hot shower. Explain later." He said haltingly.
"Of course. Come on let's get you upstairs and out of those wet clothes." She said as she took his arm.
"Mary can you bring us up a couple of bowls of Tony's chicken fettuccine?" She asked as they passed her.
Mary nodded in acknowledgment.
"Get out of those things and I'll turn on the water." Bailey instructed as they entered the loft. She hurried across the floor to the bathroom.
Gary followed her in and stripped off his wet clothes and stepped under the hot stream of water.
"Coffee?" She asked.
"Coffee's good." He answered. Teeth still chattering.
She closed the door.
He could soon smell the aroma of coffee brewing.
"Are you doing okay?' She asked through the door.
"Much better. Thank you."
He turned off the water and before he was dried, Bailey brought in some clothes that had been warmed in front of the radiator. He dressed in the toasty warm sweats.
"Thank you." He said again as he hugged her. "It's nice to come home and have you here to take care of me."
"What happened, Gary?" She asked as she held onto him tightly.
"A sprinkler pipe burst in a furniture store warehouse. I tried to warn them, but they didn't believe me. I just happened to be
under the right, or wrong as the case may be, pipe when it broke."
"Why did you try to stop it? No one was hurt were they?"
"No. There was just a lot of damage. I thought if I could get them to drain the pipes it would save them a lot of headache.
I should have just come on home for all the good it did me."
"Well, you tried. But you need to be more careful. You could catch pneumonia." She stated as she pulled away from him. "Are you ready to eat?"
"Yes, I'm famished." He replied.
Bailey poured them both a cup of coffee and they sat down to eat the dinner Mary had brought up.
"What would I do with out you?" He declared looking up from his plate.
"You don't have to worry, I'll never leave you." She replied softly.
When they were finished with their meal, Bailey took the dishes to the sink and rinsed them out.
Gary came up behind her and put his arms around her waist. She jumped.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
She patted his hand. "Yeah." She sighed. She turned to face him. "There's cheesecake in the fridge." She offered.
"No thanks. I want you to tell me what's wrong. You didn't have much to say during dinner."
"I was just thinking. Tonight wasn't a major save, but it still scared me." She confessed.
His features softened. "I just got a little wet. No cuts, bruises, breaks or concussions." He said.
"I know. But I'm your wife. It's my job to worry."
"Come here." He said as he nodded his head toward the sofa. He took her hand and she followed him.
He sat down and pulled her down next to him. She laid her head on his lap and he ran his fingers through her hair. They stayed this way watching the lights on the tree twinkle.
"We did a pretty good job with that tree, didn't we?" Gary asked.
Bailey smiled. "Yeah, it is pretty."
They had used all white lights and old fashioned ornaments. Red wooden beads and green bows. A gold angel rested on top.
"Do you think maybe it's time to start looking for a house?" Gary asked out of the blue.
She sat up. "Really!?"
He shook his head. "This place was great for just me, but there's not a lot of room for two people. So much of your stuff is
still in boxes across the hall. I know it drives you crazy."
"It's not that bad. I don't want you to move if you're not ready. This is your home." She stated.
"It's your home now, too. And my home is where ever you are." He said placing his hand gently on her neck.
"Besides when we start on that family of ours, I don't think we can fit them in here." He laughed.
"You've got a point. After the holidays then? We'll start looking."
"That's fine by me. So does that mean you have no objections on trying to have a baby soon?" Gary asked hopefully.
She smiled. "No, I don't have any objections."
Chapter Four
Gary hurried home Christmas morning after stopping a domestic dispute and an ATM robbery. The paper was giving him a couple of free hours to open gifts with his family, before he had to head out again.
"Well, it's about time you got here." Bernie grumbled as Gary entered the loft.
"Bernie!" Lois scolded.
"Well, if he had let me go with him he could have been back sooner." Bernie pouted.
"I'm here now." Gary said as he took off his coat and hung it on the rack by the door. "So Dad, are you gonna play Santa and hand out the gifts?"
Bernie's mouth spread into a wide grin. "I thought you'd never ask."
Bernie quickly doled out all the presents. Lois squealed with delight as she opened one of her's.
"Finally I got one! I have asked for a bread machine for the last 2 years. Thank you, Bailey." Lois gushed. Hugging her
daughter in law.
"Hey! It's from both of us!" Gary interjected.
"Well, thank you Gary." She said, hugging him too. But we both know Bailey is the one who picked it out." Lois said,
winking at Bailey.
"Okay, let's pick up the pace so we can get to my turn." Bernie said scooting a package toward Bailey.
Bailey smiled. Bernie was so cute. He was as excited as any of the kids she had seen at the hospital last night.
"Here, you go ahead and open this one." Bailey offered as she handed him a package.
"It's almost too pretty to open, Bernie." Lois commented.
"Almost." He replied as he ripped the paper off. "Oh, would you look at this!" He said in awe as he unwrapped his new rod and reel. "She's bee-you-tee-full." He exaggerated. "Thank you."
"Now you." Bailey said handing Gary a present.
"When are you going to open one?" He asked.
"I'll go next. Just open your package." She said excitedly.
He unwrapped the box.
"Here save the bows." Lois said as she took the bow from Gary.
"Oh, Bailey. Wow!" He said as he pulled out a black leather, hooded parka. The coat and hood were flannel lined for added warmth. Also in the box was a pair of matching gloves.
"Thank you, Hon." He said as he got up to try the coat on. "This is really warm." He commented. "Thank you so much." He kissed her softly,
"You needed a new one since that dog ripped the sleeve off of your other one and I wanted to keep you as warm as possible." She said smoothing down the collar.
"Okay, now it's your turn." Gary said. "Open that one." Indicating a small box tied with a gold bow.
She opened it and gasped. Inside was a delicate gold chain with a small diamond drop.
"Oh Gary. I love it!" She said breathlessly.
"Here. Let me put it on for you." He offered.
Bailey put her fingers on the stone as Gary fastened the chain around her neck.
"Thank you, sweetie." She said softly.
He blushed at the endearment spoken in front of his parents.
Bernie put his arm around Lois and hugged her to him. They both smiled.
Gary looked around the room. What was it he had heard a child say once? 'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening the presents and listen.'
Gary listened. Love was definitely in this room.
~~~~~
Gary came down the steps from the loft into the office. He could hear his mother and Bailey talking in the kitchen.
"Are you sure I can't help you with anything in here?" Bailey asked Lois.
"No, I've got it all covered. Thank you for letting me do this. It's not very often I get to cook for my whole family." Lois
said, then looked at the clock. "I hope Gary makes it back soon."
"It smells wonderful, Mom." Gary said as he walked into the kitchen.
"Oh good you made it." She said kissing her son on the cheek. "Did everything go okay?"
"Piece of cake." He answered.
Bailey smiled appreciatively at him. He had changed into the dark olive green, ribbed mock turtle neck sweater Bailey had
given him, which emphasized the green in his eyes. And black jeans.
"You look very handsome." Bailey stated.
"Thank you. You two look very nice yourselves." He commented to the two women.
Bailey wore a long black suede skirt and matching boots with a tan cardigan with a faux animal print collar. A gift from
Bernie and Lois.
Lois wore a navy blue wool dress.
"Where's your father?" Lois asked.
"I haven't seen him. I went right upstairs when I got back and changed." Gary offered.
"He's in the bar trying to find a game on the T.V." Bailey answered.
"Gary go tell him, no T.V. during dinner."
"All right, Mom." Gary said as he raised his eyebrows at Bailey and smiled.
"Lois." Bailey said softly.
"Please, call me Mom." Lois requested.
"Mom, I want to thank you so much for this Christmas. It's just what I always wanted it to be."
Lois smiled broadly. "Well, you're welcome. Bernie and I are just so happy to have you as part of our family." She paused, placing her hand on Bailey's arm. "Is there any chance that you may be adding to our family any time soon?" Lois asked hopefully.
"Mom!" Gary scolded as he entered the kitchen.
"What?" She responded innocently.
~~~~~~
"Mr. Hobson? ...........Mr. Hobson?"
Gary came out of his musings to see a nurse standing before him.
He sat up expectantly.
"Here are your wife's personal belongings." She said as she held out a plastic bag containing Bailey's jewelry.
He saw the necklace he had given her at Christmas, the charm bracelet he had given her for her birthday and her wedding rings. She had never taken these off.
All the blood drained from his face.
Chapter Five
One more day
One more time
One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again, I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still
for one more day with you
~~Diamond Rio~~
*****************************
"Oh, no! Mr. Hobson. Oh, I am so sorry. This is just hospital policy. It's just to insure nothing gets lost or stolen." The nurse explained.
Gary relaxed a bit. "How is she?" He asked, taking the offered bag.
"I'm not sure. When the doctor gets free he will........."
At that moment Gary heard a blood curdling scream come from the room Bailey was in. He jumped up and ran down the hall. The nurse chasing after him. Gary burst into the room, and was immediately grabbed. He heard someone order, "Get him out of here!"
"Bailey!" He cried out. He couldn't see her. Doctors and nurses surrounded her.
"Gary?" He heard her say weakly as he was dragged from the room.
"Let me go! That's my wife in there!" Gary yelled as he struggled with the two men who held him.
"Mr. Hobson please! I know you're worried about your wife, but you have to calm down." The nurse tried to explain.
"Don't tell me to calm down!"
"Gary?" He heard a familiar voice call out. "What's going on?"
~~~~~~
Gary walked down a sidewalk in a residential area admiring the homes. He had just saved a four year old boy from getting his head stuck in a storm drain, a couple of blocks back.
"Meow!"
"Hey, fleabag. What are you doing here?" Gary asked as he spotted his cat.
The cat trotted off across the street. Intrigued, Gary followed.
The cat stopped in front of a beautiful Victorian style, 2 story home with a wrapped front porch with gingerbread accents.
Huge trees out front would supply wonderful shade in the summer.
"Meow." The cat looked up expectantly at Gary.
"What? Yeah, it's nice. But it's not for sale." Gary informed the cat.
He turned to walk away. "Come on let's go home."
"Meow!" The cat repeated a little more insistently this time. Then took off up the front walk.
"Come back here! Darn cat." Gary grumbled as he ran after it.
He reached the cat at the front porch and picked him up, just as the front door opened.
"May I help you?" The vaguely familiar looking man asked.
"I'm sorry. I was just getting my cat." Gary answered, holding the animal out in front of him.
"I know you." The man stated.
"Huh?"
"It was at Nick and Tony's over a year ago. You saved me from choking to death."
"Oh, sure. Of course. How are you doing?" Gary asked.
"Good. Won't you come in for a minute." The man invited. "I'm sorry. I never got your name."
"Gary.....Hobson."
"Adam Harrison." He replied extending his hand for Gary to shake.
Gary tucked the cat under one arm and shook hands, curious as to what the house looked like on the inside, Gary accepted
the invitation.
"Here, take a seat." Adam gestured toward a chair in the living room.
As Gary walked in the front door he entered a small entry hall. Directly ahead was a beautiful oak staircase. To his right he caught a glimpse of a large dining room.
Gary turned to his left and entered the living room. He sat in the chair Adam had indicated. Careful to hold onto the cat. The living room was spacious with a large fireplace that had built in bookcases on either side. The wood trim, from what all Gary could see, matched the oak floors and staircase.
"Your home is very nice." Gary commented.
"Would you like to buy it?" Adam joked.
"Howzat?"
Adam laughed. "I started trying to sell this house over a year ago. I had planned on retiring the first of January and moving to California to be near my daughter and her family. I wanted to go ahead and sell the house and move into an apartment till my
retirement. But I had no takers, So I took it off the market in November."
"You still want to sell it then?" Gary asked. His interest peeked.
"Yes, I am still going to retire next month. I thought I would wait till spring and offer it again at a reduced price. It's a lovely home and I've taken very good care of it. Well, enough of that. Do you live around here?" Adam asked.
"Oh, uh, no. Well a little ways away. I own a bar, McGinty's. My wife and I live above it. You're really serious about selling this house?"
"Yes, I am. Are you looking to buy?"
"My wife and I, well we haven't really looked, but we were planning to and I really like, well this house is. Could I bring her by to look at it?" Gary wondered.
"That would be wonderful. Talk it over with your wife and let me know when you would like to come by. Here's my number." Adam wrote on a piece of paper.
Gary took the offered slip of paper. "Thank you Mr. Harrison." He looked at his watch. "I really need to be going, but I will certainly be in touch." Gary said as he got up to leave.
Gary walked off the porch. He scratched the cat's head. "I'm sorry I called you fleabag, buddy."
~~~~~~~
Gary looked at his watch. 5 minutes till midnight. He picked up his pace. He had to get back to McGinty's before the stroke of midnight. He rushed through the door just as the count down began.
"Ten, nine, eight."
"Hey, I made it. " He said out of breath as he walked up behind Bailey.
"Five, four"
Bailey turned and smiled. "I knew you would."
"Two, one! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The crowd cheered.
"Happy new year." Bailey and Gary said in unison. Then they kissed.
"Hey, Bud. Happy new year!' Chuck said, slapping Gary on the back.
"Chuck! What are you doing here?" Gary asked.
"Well, that's a fine how do you do." Chuck said as he held out his hand.
Gary clasped it. "I'm sorry. I'm just surprised to see you. You're not in any trouble are you?" Gary questioned.
"Haven't I proven to you that I've changed? That I'm a new man. I didn't even try to sneak a peek at the paper when I was here for your wedding." Chuck insisted.
"Well." Gary began.
"Hi, Gary. Happy new year."
Gary looked up to see Emily approach.
"Emily. You're here too?" He asked looking at Bailey."Did you know about this?"
"No, I was as surprised as you when they walked through the door tonight." Bailey responded.
"Happy new year, Gary." Emmitt offered.
"Thanks Emmitt. You too. Marissa." He said as he hugged her.
"Did Chuck give you the news?" Marissa asked.
Gary quickly looked at Chuck then at Emily. "You two aren't getting married?"
"Good heaven's, no! Me marry him? It's bad enough working with him. I couldn't stand to be married to him." Emily explained.
"But you two...." Gary began.
"Don't go making a mountain out of a mole hill, buddy. I hired her back to Bikini Squad is all. Of course it promptly got
cancelled. Not that I'm blaming Emily in any way." Chuck declared.
"If there is any reason it got cancelled it was because it was junk. How that kind of crap gets on network television is beyond me." Emily retorted.
"You worked on it." Chuck stated.
"That doesn't mean I liked the show." She argued.
"See, she's a little too vicious for my taste, Gar."
"Vicious? You know you shred my very last nerve. I don't know why I put up with you." Emily stated.
"Because you know deep down inside, you're crazy about me. Of course, who wouldn't be?" Chuck offered.
"Oh, puhleeze. In your wildest dreams, maybe." Emily retorted.
"Me thinks you protest too much." Chuck answered.
"Why you egotistical......"
"Then why are you two here?" Gary interrupted before a free for all between the two broke out.
Chuck grinned broadly and rocked back on his heels, then forward. He rubbed his hands together. "I'm moving back to
Chicago."
"Howzat?" Gary asked in amazement.
"I've got a new show. Chicago Beat. It's all about Chicago cops. Very gritty stuff. Better than NYPD Blue. We start filming
the end of February. Entirely in Chicago. So I came on in to find a place to live and get settled first."
"And you're moving too?" Gary asked Emily.
"That depends. I've been offered a job on the show, but I don't know if I want to move half way across the country."
"You will or you will be unemployed." Chuck reminded her.
"A mere technicality." She said, waving him off.
Bailey suggested they move to a table. "That would be so great if you moved here, but how come you never mentioned this Em?" Bailey asked.
"Chuck and I wanted to surprise you." She answered.
Making note of the reference, Chuck and I, Bailey said, "Well you certainly did."
~~~~~~~~~
Marissa had succeeded in calming Gary down and walked him back to the waiting room.
"Gar? How is she doing?" Chuck asked as he and Emily rushed into the waiting room. He had never seen his friend look like this before.
"I can't get them to tell me anything." Gary responded. His voice cracking.
Chuck embraced Gary. "Hang in there Bud. Everything's going to be okay."
Chapter Six
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Thank you for coming. But how did you know?" Gary asked.
"Lois called me and I called Chuck before I left." Marissa stated.
"Aren't you filming?" Gary wondered.
"Like I wouldn't be here for you bud. Wild horses couldn't keep me away." Chuck said sincerely.
"No one has given you any news at all on her condition?" Emily asked.
"No, just this." He replied indicating the bag with her jewelry.
~~~~~~~~
Gary motioned for Bailey to come into the office.
"Hi!" She greeted him as he closed the door behind her.
"Happy Valentines Day!" He whispered as he pulled her close.
She smiled. "Same to you."
He kissed her softly. "Where's Marissa? I want to let her know we're leaving."
"We can't leave. I told her to go on home." Bailey explained.
"Howzat?"
"I told her to go home and spend the evening with Emmitt."
Gary sighed. "Well, I had this whole surprise planned and . Never mind. That was nice of you to get Marissa to go home. She works too hard." Gary said.
"Yes, she does. I mentioned something to her earlier and she thought it was a good idea. What do you think of promoting Jake to Night Assistant Manager? He's the best worker here and he's very dependable. Marissa has been working long hours and sometimes I would like to be able to go home with you when you get done with the paper, and snuggle up in front of the fire. If we promoted Jake, it would free up time for all of us." She said persuasively.
"That's not a bad idea. Actually it's a very good idea. I'll talk to him tomorrow." Gary agreed, running his hands up and down her arms.
"Good." Bailey smiled and kissed him quickly.
"How's business tonight?" He asked.
"Not too bad. A little slow, but I'm sure most people are at restaurants and not bars."
"Maybe we'll close a little early tonight and my surprise won't be completely ruined."
"Can I have a hint?" She asked, leaning into him.
"Yeah, go pack an over night bag."
"We're going someplace? Can we leave? What about the paper?" She asked, pulling away to look up at him.
"It's just overnight. If I could take you to some far off exotic place I would."
"Who needs exotic places. I have you." She said sweetly as she turned to go upstairs.
~~~~~~~~
"What are we doing here?" Bailey asked as Gary pulled into the driveway of their new home.
"This is your surprise."
Bailey was baffled. "How is this a surprise? It's our house, we closed on it yesterday. Oh! The surprise is inside?" He just
smiled at her.
He unlocked the door then he turned and picked her up and carried her in.
"Gary! What are you doing?" She giggled.
"Carrying my wife over the threshold of our new home. Aren't I allowed?" He teased.
"Of course you are." She said as he gently put her down.
The house looked enormous without any furnishings.
"Wait right here, till I come and get you." Gary instructed as he took off upstairs.
Bailey waited. "Gary! What are you doing up there?" She called out.
"Don't come up." She heard him reply.
She walked in a circle, then decided to set down on a step. She heard Gary's footsteps behind her.
"Okay. All ready." He said as he picked up her bag and took her hand.
He led her up the stairs and into their bedroom.
"I couldn't wait any longer to spend the night in our house." He offered.
He had lit candles which lent a soft glow to the room. There was an inflatable mattress in the middle of the room, flanked with sheets a blanket and two fluffy pillows. On top of one was a box wrapped in pink paper and a white bow. Peggy Lee's, 'The Way You Look Tonight' was playing softly on a portable stereo.
"Oh, Gary I love this song. Where did you find it?" Bailey asked, afraid she was going to cry.
"I found a CD that has a collection of 40's love songs. I know how much you love them. Actually I've become quite fond of them myself, the last couple of years." He told her.
"Really. You never did tell me how you learned to jitterbug so good."
"Someone I met a long, long time ago taught me." He said.
"Should I be jealous?" She teased.
"Nope." Gary took her in his arms. "Dance with me."
"How did I get so lucky to find you?" She asked.
He pulled away from her and looked at her surprised.
"You? I'm the one who lucked out."
"Really?" She said smiling. "I know how hard it is to find a guy like you. Believe me, I had to kiss a lot of toads before I
found my Prince Charming."
"Hmph! Exactly how many did you have to kiss?"
Bailey laughed. "Are you jealous?"
"No, I'm not jealous. Just curious."
"Oh? Well, since you were married, I'd figure your kissing experience would be more than mine." She countered.
"That doesn't count. That was only one person."
"For a lot of years." Bailey interrupted.
"Not so many years. So are you not going to tell me?"
"Okay," She sighed. "None of them were too memorable. I don't know why you want to know. And now of all times."
"Just humor me."
'It's been a long, long time' began to play.
"Well, there was Tommy Jenkins. He was the first guy I kissed. He slobbered. It almost turned me off kissing forever. And then there was, what was his name? Anyway, kissing him was like kissing a brick wall. Yuck." She emphasized by sticking out her tongue. "And then, let me see, Oh there was Casper Fine. He breathed through his mouth while kissing. I felt like I was getting CPR."
"Casper Fine?"
"Yeah, he was the last guy I dated before you. He owned an escort service."
Gary choked. "Howzat?"
Bailey laughed out loud. "You've seen the little trucks that have the signs that say "Wide Load' going up and down the highway. An escort service. What did you think I meant?" She asked teasingly.
"Ha ha. Very funny. "
"So if all the kisses you had were bad. How'd you get so good at it?" He asked.
"I had a good teacher. You."
"Good answer." He laughed softly.
"How about you? How did you learn to kiss so good?" She asked.
"I didn't know I did." He said as he leaned his face closer to hers.
"Well, you do." She whispered.
He pulled her closer and she melted into his embrace and they continued to dance without speaking.
"You want to open your gift?" He whispered.
"She smiled against his sweater. "Sure."
They sat down on the mattress and she picked up the box and unwrapped it. "Oh Gary! It's the clock! You remembered. Thank you!" She said flinging her arms around him and hugging him.
Bailey had spied the cuckoo clock in a shop window a few days ago and had mentioned to Gary how perfect it would look in their new living room.
She unzipped her bag and handed Gary a box. He opened it and pulled out a cell phone with a case that clipped to his belt.
"I know you're not too crazy about them and it's not the most romantic gift in the world. But it might save your life someday." She explained.
"You're probably right. There have been several times when it would have been handy to have one of these. Thank you so much." He said and kissed her. He sat the box on the floor, his lips never leaving hers, then he slowly reclined her back on the mattress.
Chapter Seven
Gary entered the kitchen of their new home. He placed the paper on the counter and kissed his wife.
Gary marveled at the good fortune or whatever it was, that had caused them to end up with this house. He had enjoyed helping Bailey purchase furnishings for it. It was a large home with four bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, living room, dining room, den and a two car garage.
The back porch was enclosed in glass and overlooked a big backyard with large trees, perfect for tire swings and tree houses. It wasn't too far from McGinty's which made it handy.
The cat had followed Gary into the kitchen and meowed. He ran to his food bowl, already filled.
"Busy day?" Bailey asked, handing Gary a cup of coffee. Spying a headline she picked up the paper.
'Man found frozen to death'. Bailey read on. '39 year old Stan Mathews was found dead last evening near the front porch of his home. It appears that Mathews was on his way to his car when he slipped and fell, breaking his hip. He was able to drag himself back to the porch where he was found hours later. Mathews had become disabled four years ago in an auto accident.'
"Oh how terrible!" Bailey exclaimed. "That poor man. It says here they think he fell sometime between 8 and 8:30 A.M.."
Gary finished his coffee. "I better get going. I need to allow time for the roads. Call Marissa and tell her I'll swing by and
pick her up later in the jeep. I'll run by and get you too."
"I'll be all right. I have four by four also."
"No, I don't want you driving in this." He warned.
She fixed him a thermos of coffee and wrapped a couple of sausage biscuits for him to take. "I have an appointment I have to go to. I will be careful." She insisted.
Gary started to object. "You need to get going. Be careful." She said as she kissed him.
"I mean it." Gary declared.
"I know you do, now go on."
~~~~
Gary walked into McGinty's around 12:30 that afternoon. Half frozen. He looked around, surprised at the number of customers in the bar.
"People are just crazy." He stated as he walked into the office.
"What are you talking about Gary?" Marissa asked.
"Can you believe how full the bar is? The roads are terrible! I shouldn't have even brought you in to work. We should have just closed the place down." He grumbled.
"Gary there was work to do." Marissa answered.
"Don't you think safety is more important than work? I had to keep a man from falling and breaking his hip and freezing to
death. A child from sliding down a hill into oncoming traffic and a teenager almost mowed down a pedestrian in a parking lot where he was doing donuts. And now my wife is somewhere out in all of this. You haven't heard from her, have you?"
Bailey walked into the office at that moment.
"What are you doing here? Where have you been? I thought I told you this morning I didn't want you out in this." Gary snapped.
"I told you I had an appointment." Bailey said softly.
"Was that appointment worth risking your neck over?" He barked.
"No, it wasn't." Bailey broke down in tears. "Excuse me." She said as she ran up the stairs to the loft.
"Gary!" Marissa said sternly.
"What? I didn't mean to make her cry." He responded as he headed up the stairs after her.
Gary entered the loft. They had kept most of the furnishings in place. Bailey sat on the sofa wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Bailey." Gary began as he sat next to her. "I'm sorry. I didn't. I, I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's been a tough morning and when you weren't at the house when I came to get you and I couldn't reach you. Well, it scared me when I realized you were out in this." He said waving his hand towards the window.
Bailey sniffed and wiped her tears. "It isn't anything you said. It's me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm okay now." She reassured him.
Gary looked at his watch. "Bailey, I gotta run. I want you to stay here until I get back and I'll take you and Marissa home. Promise me you'll stay."
"I promise. Gary. I'm sorry I worried you."
~~~~~~
Later than evening, Gary entered the office and saw Bailey sitting at his desk. Her head in her hands. He touched her shoulder. "Hon?"
Bailey jumped and cried out. "Would you stop doing that!" She snapped.
"I'm sorry." He said, backing away, confused by her mood. This was so unlike her. "Are you ready to go home?"
Bailey sighed. "Yeah." She answered as she pushed the chair from the desk and got up.
The trip home was quiet. As they entered their home, Bailey took off her coat and gloves and stored them in the hall closet.
"You didn't say two words on the way home. You're not still mad at me for this afternoon are you?" Gary asked.
"No, I'm just tired. I think I'll go on up to bed." Bailey stated and softly kissed Gary good night.
Chapter Eight
Gary looked at his watch. Time had just stood still.
"What are they doing in there?" He asked as he stood up and began pacing.
"I'll go see if I can find out anything for you." Marissa offered.
"I'll go with you." Emily said.
Gary looked over at Chuck, who sat with his arms folded across his knees. "What am I going to do if she doesn't make it Chuck?"
~~~~~~~
Gary was leaning against the bar at the front of McGinty's. He watched Bailey as she made her way from table to table checking on customers.
"Why don't you just talk to her?" Marissa asked from behind him.
"Huh?" Then looking at her, brow furrowed. "How do you do that?"
Marissa shrugged, then continued. "I know you've been concerned about Bailey lately. She hasn't been herself. Have you even tried talking to her?"
"Yeah, but all she tells me is that she is okay. She hasn't said anything to you has she?" Gary asked hopefully.
"No, I've been worried about her too, Gary. She's been withdrawn and doesn't joke or laugh like she used to." Marissa conveyed.
"I wish she would tell me what was the matter. She started acting funny the day I got mad at her for getting out on the roads when they were icy."
"I don't think that is it. It's not like her to stay mad at you for something like that." Marissa answered.
Marissa felt for the edge of the bar and sat her coffee mug down. "One of these days you two are going to have to learn to talk to each other. You both need to trust what you have with each other and feel safe in that love." Marissa advised.
Gary realized she was right. At least about him. Part of him still felt that he didn't deserve to be happy and that somehow this would all go away. He still had walls built around his heart that needed to come down. Maybe that was why she wouldn't talk to him.
Gary looked over at Bailey again. There was a smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes. Something was wrong and
the uncertainty of it was gnawing away at his insides.
He looked at his watch. "I gotta go, I'll talk to you later." He told Marissa. He paused and glanced once more at Bailey. She never looked his way as he left.
~~~~~~~~
Gary entered the house later that evening to the aroma of a ham baking in the oven.
"Mmm. Smells good. What's the occasion?" He asked.
"Chuck and Emily are coming for dinner. You forgot?"
"No. You didn't tell me."
"Yes I did! I told you yesterday." She explained.
"I think I would have remembered if you had told me." He countered.
Bailey turned her back to him. "If you ever listened to anything I said." She mumbled under her breath.
"I heard that!" He waited for her comeback.
"Well at least you finally listened to me." She snapped as she turned to look at him.
"What is wrong with you?" He asked angrily.
"What isn't wrong with me Gary?" Bailey yelled back at him. Instantly sorry for her outburst. She turned away again, not able to bear the weight of his gaze.
She put her hands on the counter and dropped her head. "I'm sorry Gary." She quickly wiped a tear from her face. She couldn't believe she was crying again.
"I got the duplicate key made for the back door. It's in a small envelope in my purse, upstairs. Chuck and Emily will be here
soon. Maybe you should go freshen up." She said as she waved her hand toward the stairs.
Gary stood there for a second looking at her. Then turned and made his way upstairs.
The key was the last of his worries, but he hadn't been able to come up with the words to get her to come clean with him about what was bothering her. Maybe he was afraid of her answer and now wasn't the time, with company coming.
He tossed back the flap on her purse and peered inside for a small envelope. He spied it at the bottom. He reached in and
pulled it out along with a scrap piece of paper. He separated in from the envelope, intending to return it to her purse when he saw what was written on it.
'James. 11 A.M. Tues,'
Gary stuffed the note in his jeans pocket. The last thing he wanted tonight was company.
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