Family of Steele

Part Four

Remington sprinted around to the rear of the building and took the circular steps two at a time up to the rear balcony. Laura was on the bed, and she took his hand. "Daddy?"
"He's fine," Remington assured her. "Have you called for an ambulance, Jessica?"
"Just before-" her eyes moved toward the balcony doors.
"About Nicky, Jessica-"
"Time for that later. Right now, we have to think about Laura and my niece and nephew," she said matter of factly.
Laura tensed, her grip on Remington's hand tightening. He used his other hand to get his pocket watch out, talking softly. "Relax, love. Remember all those breathing exercises?" he said in a soft voice, keeping an eye on the watch as her grip lessened. "A deep, cleansing breath- that's my girl." He took out his handkerchief to wipe Laura's brow. "Just relax, Laura. How far apart have the contractions been?" he asked at length.
"They were- six minutes," Laura told him.
"Go downstairs and call again, Jessica."
"It's only been a few minutes, Remington."
Laura's grip tightened again, and Remington looked at his watch. "And her pains are four minutes apart. Go on, Jessica." His attention remained on Laura. "Breathe. That's it." Once the contraction eased, he sought for a subject to relax her.
"We'll have to track down Agatha Brierly," he said, referring to the nurse/nanny they had hired three months ago. "I have her vacation itinerary on my desk downstairs. Jessica and Antony should be able to locate her. Do you remember the first time we met her?" he asked Laura.
She nodded. "She came into the office looking like the stereotypical English nanny, sensible shoes, carpet bag and all." Laura had been less then enthusiastic about hiring a professional nanny at all until Robert had explained his grandson's reasoning.
"Remington didn't have the upbringing that was his birthright, Laura. He's not trying to deny those children parental attention- but rather to give them a secure environment whenever you and he can't be there for business reasons."
Now, Laura looked at her husband. "I don't think I'm ready for this, Remington."
He smiled gently. "I'm afraid it's a bit late to change you mind, my love."
His attempted humor fell flat as she glared at him. "I mean being a mother. Mother was right. I'm not the maternal type."
Remington leaned down to kiss her. "Nonsense," he admonished, privately thinking that Abigail Holt had much to answer to for creating Laura's insecurities. "You can do anything you put your mind to, Laura. You set out to become a detective, to prove that you could be as good- or better than your male counterparts. And you created Remington Steele- maintained that fantasy for much longer than most would have been able to do. You're an exceptional woman, Laura, and you know what I think? I think you're going to be the best mother that any child could ever hope to have."
"When I'm not chasing embezzlers or jewel thieves," she commented. "I can just see it now. The kids are all ready to perform in the school play, and we're late because we're too busy on a case-"
"That's why we hired Antony, remember? And why Mildred is getting her license as well. To take some of the load off of you and I. Now just lay back-"
"I want to see Daddy, Remington."
"Why not wait, Laura?"
"Now. Please."
"As soon as Jessica returns, I'll go and get him," Remington promised as Laura's hand began to tighten on his. He turned his attention to the watch again. "Breathe, Laura. Find a focal point and breathe."

Jessica came back as the contraction eased. "They're on the way," she told him. "I called Dr. Phillips. He's going to meet you at the hospital. And I paged Robert and Katherine. They'll meet us there as well."
"Good. Is Edward downstairs?"
"He and Antony. Everyone else has gone. The agents took care of -Nicky's body."
Remington gave Jessica his watch. "It's been two minutes- now. If I'm not back, remind her to breathe."

Edward and Tony were drinking some coffee in the living room, both pacing back and forth. They looked around as Remington entered the room. "How is she?" Tony asked.
"About as well as can be expected. She wants to see you, Edward."

As they climbed the stairs, Remington said, "I think it might be best that Laura not know about our- previous meeting, Edward. For the time being, at least."
"I agree," Edward said. "But I'm looking forward to finding out how you became involved in Laura's life." As the reached the door, the sound of an ambulance siren reached their ears.
Jessica looked grateful when they returned. "She's just had another, Remington. I'll go down and show them the way up."
Edward stood near the foot of the bed. "We haven't much time, Laura."
"I know. I just- wanted to tell you how glad I am that you're here. And that I finally understand." She held out her hand to him.
Edward moved to take it, then hugged her. "I've missed you, cupcake. So much."
"Oh, Daddy," Laura sighed.

Remington helped get Laura into the ambulance, then turned to Jessica. "I need you and Antony to find Agatha Brierly, Jessica. Her itinerary is in the top drawer of my desk in the study. Let her know what's going on. And call Mildred as well."
"We will. Good luck."
Remington got into the ambulance as Edward went toward his own car to follow them.

Dr. Phillips met them at the door, listening to the information the paramedics gave him. Finally he looked up at Remington. "The room is all ready. You ARE still going to be there, aren't you?"
Remington's hand felt as though it were about to fall off, but he smiled. "I wouldn't miss it.."
"We'd better go," the doctor said. "I don't think we have much time."
As if to prove him right, Laura's grip on Remington's hand tightened once again.

Ten minutes later, in the birthing room, Laura Steele gave birth to a five pound, eleven ounce boy. Dave Phillips watched as the couple looked at the baby. "You'd better rest, Laura. There's more work to be done yet." She laid back as Remington carried their son to the waiting nurses.
Another ten minutes, and they were looking at his sister. Dr. Phillips glanced at the wall clock and chuckled. "Twins are supposed to share the same birthday."
Remington nodded, preoccupied with watching as the nurses tended to his children. "Usually."
"Those two don't. They boy was born at 11:55 p.m. yesterday. And his sister at 12:05 today. Not often that happens."
Laura closed her eyes and felt Remington's hand against her cheek. "I'm going to tell everyone that you're all right," he told her. "I'll see you in a few minutes."
"I love you."
"And I love you. Go to sleep."
She nodded, relaxing.

Edward was still alone in the waiting area when Remington approached. "Laura and the babies are fine," He told the older man. "The nursery is just down the hall," he said.
They walked together as Remington removed the green surgical garb. "That's better," he said with a sigh as they came up to the windows. One of the nurses looked up and saw him. She smiled and moved two bassinets over to the window.
Edward looked at his grandchildren. "Have you decided on names?" he asked.
"Laura and I discussed it on the way here. Daniel Edward and Megan Abigail."
"Speaking of Laura's mother- shouldn't you call her?"
"She's on a trip. Laura and I sent her to Europe as a birthday present. She's due to return tomorrow."
"How did you convince her to leave Laura?"
Remington smiled. "I managed. She was driving Laura to distraction, telling her that she was doing everything wrong as usual-"
"Laura and her mother never got along. I guess they still don't."
"No. Laura has a tendency to revert to being sixteen years old anytime her mother is in the room. Dr. Phillips was concerned that Laura not become upset, so-"
"So you sent the - source of her irritation to Europe."
"With the condition that she be scheduled to return before the babies were due to be born."
"It appears that these two had other ideas."
"Yes. I DO need to call Frances- let her know."
Edward nodded. "I think I'll wait here. I'm not quite ready to face my other daughter yet."
"You have to eventually, Edward."
"I know. But not just yet." He nodded toward the nursery. "I'll just wait here for your sister and the others to arrive."

Mildred approached the nursery windows, a little disappointed that Mr. Steele wasn't anywhere to be seen. The only other person was a tall man with white hair- who was looking at two babies. He turned, seeing her, and smiled. Something about that smile was familiar. She'd seen that face-
"You're Edward Holt," she realized.
"I am. And you are-?"
"Mildred Krebbs. I work-"
"For Laura and Remington. Of course."
"Miss Beecham called me, so I thought I'd come down and see the babies." She looked through the glass. "Is that-"
"My new grandchildren," Edward said proudly. "Daniel and Megan."
"Where is Mr. Steele?"
"He went to call Frances, I believe."
"Oh. Mrs. Steele's mother is going to be upset that she wasn't here."
"I think upset is an understatement, Miss Krebbs. Abigail will probably make everyone's life miserable."
Mildred looked up at him. "You don't think that she'll be glad that you're back?"
"I doubt it, Miss Krebbs. Abigail and I- we weren't getting along before I left."
"I see." Her attention returned to the babies. "They're adorable."
"I think so. But then, I may be prejudiced."
"Not at all. I think of Mr. and Mrs. Steele as family."
Edward smiled at her. "You don't have any children of your own?"
"No. My husband and I couldn't have children- turned out to be a blessing, actually. Since he took off-I'm sorry, Mr. Holt-"
"Call me Edward, Miss Krebbs."
"And I'm Mildred."

Remington was returning from making his telephone call when he saw Mildred and Edward standing at the nursery window. Edward said something, and Mildred smiled, -and Remington realized that this situation just might become more difficult than he had imagined it was going to be. There was something about the way the two people looked at each other. He was almost to them when he heard Katherine and Robert's voices. "Remington," Robert said. "How is Laura?"
"She's fine," he assured them. "The babies are over there in the nursery. Have you seen Jessica and Antony?"
"They were in the parking lot, talking, I believe," Katherine told him. "Is the gentleman with Mildred Laura's father?"

"We need to talk, Jess," Tony said as Jessica started to move away.
"I don't think that this is the right time, Antony. Perhaps later-"
"Now, Jess," Tony said, his frustration evident. "I'm sorry that things turned out the way they did. I know you- cared a lot about Radikin."
"I never really knew him. I thought I did, certainly. But he always put on a front around me, I suppose. I don't know how I could have missed the truth. How I could have been so blind."
Tony put his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe because he was nice to a lonely little girl who needed someone in her life that she thought she could count on."
"I'm sorry about earlier this evening - if you'd stayed, I would have explained -"
"Explained what? That you'd spent most of the day with him? That you were fixing dinner for him?"
"For an old friend who I never thought of as anything else."
"Didn't look like he felt that way."
"Antony, all of my life, I've had to watch out for men who saw me as a money tree. I knew that Nicky wanted to recoup his family's fortune. He tried to convince Mother to marry him several years ago-even though he was a few years younger than she. But Grandfather refused to consider such a thing, said he'd cut mother off without a penny if she married him. I know Nicky acted as if he were in love with me, but I always knew that the main attraction was my money, not me. And I would never marry a man who only wanted me for that reason. He was fun to be with- a reminder, I suppose of other times. But that part of my life is over now. I'm where I want to be, and I'm with who I want to be with."
"Then you forgive me for being such a jerk?"
"Of course I do," Jessica told him, smiling. "I realize you can't help it."
Tony would have kissed her, but some nurses came out of the hospital, and he realized they had a small audience. "Let's go inside," he suggested.

"They're adorable, Remington," Katherine said. "Don't you agree, Robert?"
Robert nodded, his gaze fixed on the small, black haired bundles on the other side of the glass. "Definitely."
"How long before we can visit Laura, Remington?" Edward asked.
"I'll have to find out - they were taking her to a room - let me go and check." He turned to see Jessica and Tony coming toward him. They hadn't seemed to be speaking earlier, but now, Tony's arm was around Jessica's shoulders. "I'm going to go check on Laura," he told them. "I'll be right back."