"Hello, Laura."
Remington looked from Laura's shocked face to that of her father. So this was Edward Holt, the father who had deserted his wife and daughters when Laura had been just sixteen years old, never to be heard from again. That desertion, coupled with a badly ended affair with Wilson Jeffries, had been a major part of the reason it had taken Laura so long to trust HIM. Remington was torn between wanting to toss the man out of his house and punching him in the nose- or doing both. *He looks so OLD*, Laura thought to herself. *Old, worn out. Tired.* She considered turning around and walking out of the house, not facing him. But Remington had once asked her what SHE would do if HER father were to suddenly return after all this time. "I would hope that I'd at least be able to stay and find out WHY he left," she'd answered. Now, faced with the reality, she didn't know WHAT to do. Part of her wanted to run and hide, like she had always done from emotional pain. Another part wanted to run into her father's arms and wish away the last fourteen years. Another - another just needed to know. "Why, Daddy?" she asked now, forcing herself to stand there, to face him. "There's no easy answer, honey. When I left home that day, I never intended for it to be permanent. I intended to stay in touch with you- with Frannie." He drew a deep, shuddering breath that drew Laura's attention to the shabby suit he wore. "You knew how difficult things were for me after - " Edward broke off. "After you came home from the war," Laura recalled. "You were different," she admitted. "Quieter, you seemed to spend more time to yourself - or away from the house." Edward nodded. "At a bar, trying to drown my memories in a booze. It doesn't work. Oh, it deadens the pain for awhile, but it's always there, just waiting for the anesthetic to wear off. And the next time, it takes more booze - I'd done a stint in Korea before Frannie was born- and when they asked me to re enlist full time and go to 'Nam, I thought I could handle it. Thought I'd forgotten-" He lifted a shaking hand to his face, and Laura saw the haunted eyes, filled with all of the horrible things he'd witnessed as a soldier in a brutal, senseless war. "And when I came home, everyone pretended that it hadn't happened. That I'd just been gone away for awhile, and never mentioned where I'd been. As if I should have been ashamed - Even your mother tried to maintain that little myth. Do you know that she never ONCE was willing to talk to me about what I'd been through over there?" Edward sat down heavily, as if his knees had given out. "I tried," Laura reminded him in a small voice that made Remington reach out and take her hand in his. She sounded like a hurt little girl, unable to understand why her beloved father was pushing her away. "But you always said I couldn't understand." "I didn't want to tell you - Didn't want you to know the horror that men can wreak upon their fellow men. I hoped that you would never have to know - You were only sixteen- your whole life ahead of you. So, I sank further and further into that damned bottle - until it cost me everything. My job, my family -" "Your job?" Laura asked. "That was what your mother and I argued about that last day, honey. I got fired, because of my drinking. Abigail was furious, going on and on about how she was never going to be able to hold her head up in the neighborhood, worrying how we'd get by - on and on and- I finally told her I'd just solve her problem and just leave. That I needed some time to think things through. To understand where I was going." He leaned forward, his head in his hands. "It was the hardest thing I'd ever done, leaving that house, knowing you were sitting there at the window, watching me walk away. But I thought it was the best thing for everyone." "It wasn't, Daddy," Laura said softly, releasing Remington's hand to move around so that she could kneel beside the chair and place a comforting hand on his head. "Why didn't you come back, or call, like you said you would?" "I intended to, Laura," he told her, lifting his head to look at her, taking her hand in his. "But I fell into that bottle again - and stayed there for a long time." "Where have you been? I tried to find you-" "You did?" he asked. "When?" Remington wanted to know. "Sorry -" he apologized, coming to sit beside Mildred as Laura looked at him. "Just after I - went to work for the Agency," she explained. "Once there was enough money to manage it, I tried to track you down -but there was no trace of you anywhere." "That would have been- how long ago?" "Almost- seven years, I guess. Why?" "I was on the streets by then. One of the nameless, faceless people who live wherever they can find a dry spot, panhandling for whatever they can so they can buy another bottle." "You mean, you've been here, in Los Angeles the entire TIME?" Laura questioned. "And you never -" "I didn't WANT anyone else to share my self pity, Laura," Edward tried to explain. "I didn't feel I was worth enough that anyone else would want me. So I stayed on the streets - Most of it's a blur -" "Probably a blessing, Edward," Daniel commented from across the room. "You're right." "How did you find him? Laura asked Mildred and Daniel. "I remembered your mentioning something once about your father having been in the war," Mildred told her. "So I did a check with the Department of Defense. There were several Edward Holt's in the miltary during that time, and three in the Army - So I did a cross reference on those three, once Daniel found out from your mother that your father had been in the Army." "She TOLD you that?" Laura asked. "Mother NEVER mentions that to anyone." "She did to me," Daniel told her. "Where DID they find you, Daddy?" "In a Veteran's Hospital in San Diego," he told her. "A hospital?" Laura asked, concerned. "It's all right, honey," he assured her, patting her hand. "I had too much to drink one night- nearly died. Some good samaritan found me, got me to an emergency room. The place didn't cater to homeless vets, and they were looking for a place to ditch me, so I told them I was a veteran. They shipped me to the local VA hospital. When they realized that I was suffering from reaction to- to 'Nam, they sent me down to San Diego. One of the docs there specializes in cases like mine. He was about ready to release me when Mildred and Daniel tracked me down." "Why didn't you call after you started getting better?" Laura wanted to know. "I could have-" He smiled at her, a sad, love filled smile. "There was nothing you could have done, Laura. I had to do it on my own. And I didn't think you'd need me anymore. I'd been gone a long time- you seemed to have done well for yourself." "You KNEW?" "That you were a private investigator?" he nodded. "But not until I was at the hospital. I saw a magazine article about the Remington Steele Agency that mentioned your name as his associate. Once I was able to, I checked back issues of the local paper and found a photograph of you, taken not long after you started working for him, I guess. Something about a bank embezzlement scheme, I think." "The Lily Martin case?" Laura asked. "Would you have come home once they released you?" "I don't know. I hadn't thought that far ahead. I was afraid, I guess. Afraid that you and Frannie wouldn't want to see me again after I left the way I did -" He looked up at her again, and this time his dark eyes were full of tears that were coursing down his cheeks. "I'm sorry, honey. I never, ever, wanted to hurt you. I thought that if I left, things would get better. Can you ever forgive me, Laura?" It seemed an eternity passed as Laura gazed into those eyes that had watched her so approvingly as she had grown up. He had been the only one who had understood her dream of being a private detective some day - had understood that she wasn't a carbon copy of her sister, that she was Laura, and no one else. No one, that is, except Edward Holt's daughter. With a watery smile, Laura nodded, and threw herself into his arms. "Yes, Daddy. Oh, yes." Mildred sniffled suspiciously, and Remington handed her his handkerchief, then glanced up to see Daniel surreptiously wiping moisture from his own eyes. As for himself, he felt a profound sense of relief that perhaps Laura could now begin to heal from the pain of her father and Wilson's exits from her life. At last Laura looked up at Mildred and Daniel, and rising to her feet, she hugged each one. "Thank you. For finding him, for bringing him home." "It was Daniel's idea, Miss Holt," Mildred told her. "But it was Mildred's expertise that located him," Daniel insisted. "Where did Murphy come into this?" Laura wanted to know. "He had to keep you occupied so not to concern yourself what Mildred and I were up to," he explained, smiling. Laura glanced around, seeing Remington and her father looking at each other, sizing each other up. "Oh, my. I forgot -" She grabbed Remington's hand, pulling him to his feet beside her. "Daddy, Remington Steele." Edward rose as well. He wasn't as tall as Remington, but he straightened his shoulders and met that blue gaze squarely, as if he knew that Remington had wanted to take a punch at him earlier. Now, he held out his hand. "Remington. It's a pleasure to meet you. I have to admit that I've been more than a little curious about you -" "Really?" Remington asked rather cautiously as he shook the hand. "As I told Laura, I did some research once I started recovering. Noticed that you never appeared in any photographs until oh, about- four years ago." "Other interests," Remington told his future father in law. "I'll let Laura explain some other time." The telephone rang, and he picked it up. "Steele here- Hello, Abigail -" glancing at the clock on the wall, he frowned. "So it is. As a matter of fact, she just walked out the door on her way home. Yes, yes, she's getting into the limo- I can go catch up with her- Ahh. Very well. Yes. Tomorrow. Good night." He hung up. "It's almost midnight, and your mother's seems certain that you're about to turn back into a pumpkin, Laura," he told her. Laura looked up at Edward. "But, what about-" "We've already taken care of everything," Daniel assured her, ignoring Remington's look of surprise. "You'd better go back to the loft. Edward will see you tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" Laura asked, confused. Edward turned her to face him. "If you will allow me the honor, Laura, I'd like to escort you down the aisle tomorrow at your wedding." "But - Donald -" realization set in. "That's what Murphy was telling Donald this evening, wasn't it? That you had found Daddy and asking if he would mind - " "He doesn't," Mildred assured her. "He said he'd step aside if that's what you want." Laura threw her arms around Edward's neck. "Oh, YES!" she exclaimed, finally excited about this wedding. "But- what about mother?" "Now THAT is going to be the problem, I'm afraid," Daniel admitted. "It might be best if we keep this from Abigail as long as possible -" ********** Once Laura was gone, Mildred picked up her purse and keys. "We'd better go, Edward. It's a long drive to Tarzana." "Are you certain you're up to seeing Frances tonight, Mr. Holt?" Remington asked. "I'll be fine, Remington. And - make it Edward. At least Donald will have had time to prepare Frannie for my arrival. And since he hasn't called to warn me that she's refused to see me - I can only hope for the best." Remington nodded, holding out his hand. "Until tomorrow." "Tomorrow," he agreed, giving Remington's hand a firm shake. Turning to Daniel, he said, "I don't know how I can ever repay you, Daniel." "I did it for Laura," Daniel reminded him. "She's a - remarkable young woman." "You're not telling me anything that I don't already know. Good night," he said, shaking both men's hands before following Mildred out to her car. Remington turned back to his own father. "Now. Would you care to tell me the REAL reason you decided to find Laura's father?" Daniel shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. "Why, Harry, my boy. What reason could I POSSIBLY have other than to make Laura happy?" "It wouldn't have anything to do with getting Abigail out of your hair, would it?" "That COULD be a - possible advantage," Daniel said, the smile making its full appearance. "Goodnight, Harry. I'm going to get some rest. Big day tomorrow." "Yes," Remington mused, watching the older man head toward his room. "You just might be right. Good night." ********** Mildred parked the car before the suburban house, then looked at Edward. "Well? You goin' in?" "I suppose I should," he said, looking at the house. "What if she doesn't want to see me, Mildred? What if-" he turned to look at her. Mildred, looking past him, smiled. "I don't think you need to worry about that, Edward," she told him, nodding in the direction of the front door. Edward turned slowly, then opened the car door as he saw Frances standing on the front porch, waiting for him. He got halfway up the sidewalk before she was in his arms. "Daddy!" "Oh, Frannie," he sighed, holding her. "Oh, Frannie." Mildred used the handkerchief that Mr. Steele had given her, then started the car and headed toward her own little house. Maybe she'd be able to get a FEW hours sleep in before she had to get up for the wedding tomorrow. ********** Luckily, with a few tucks and alterations, one of Daniel's tuxedos fit Edward quite well, and the moment Abigail left Laura's side the next morning to be seated in the chapel, Donald brought Edward into the small room where Laura and the rest of the bridal party was waiting. "You realize that your mother's liable to disrupt the entire wedding when she sees me, don't you?" he warned both Laura and Frances. "Donald's going to slip into the seat behind her, to try and head anything off," Frances told him. "But he might be right, Laura. You know Mother-" "I'm willing to risk it," Laura insisted, placing her hand on her father's arm. "That's my Laura," he said, smiling. "All concerns to the wind." He chuckled. Donald returned. "They're ready," he said, winking at Laura. "Knock em dead, kid." "Thanks," she said, busying herself with checking her gown, her veil, getting her bouquet just right, as Danny, Laurie Beth, and Mindy went with their father. Frances gave her sister a hug. "I guess the next time I hug you, you'll be married," she realized. "I love you, Laura. I know I haven't always said it, but I do." "I love you, too, Frances." She stood there as Frances vanished through the doorway, and then the door was closed so that she and her escort could get ready to make their entrance. "Ready?" she asked. "You look so beautiful, honey. I am so proud of you, and I am so glad I was able to be here today." "So am I, Daddy." "Happiness," he told her, then offered his arm to her. The organist began to play the "Wedding March", and Laura could hear the guests stand as the doors opened, saw them turning around to get a look at the bride. Abigail's eyes widened to the size of saucers as she saw who was escorting Laura down the aisle. Where was - She felt a hand on her arm, and turned to find Donald behind her. "Shh," he cautioned. "Don't spoil it, Abigail. Please." "But-" she stammered, then fell silent as she looked more closely at her errant husband. He was really there. After fourteen years, Edward Holt had come home. Abigail's legs gave out, and she sat down, heavily, in the pew. She saw Laura's shoulders tighten at the noise, but beyond that, there was no reaction. The minister began the ceremony, and when he asked, "Who gives this woman to be married?" Edward responded. "Her mother and I." Then he kissed Laura, and moved away to the pew where Abigail was sitting. She looked up at him, uncertain what he wanted for a moment. He motioned for her to move over, and she did, putting a space between them. "How dare you," she whispered. "Shh," Donald warned from behind. Edward winked at Abigail, then pointed to the ceremony as Laura and Remington exchanged vows and rings. Sometime during the ceremony, Edward reached out and took Abigail's hand in his, holding it tightly when she tried to pull it away. So she gave up and remained still, but Edward could tell she was angry. He smiled. As the minister introduced "Mr. and Mrs. Remington Steele" to the guests, Laura turned to Daniel, handing him a rose from her bouquet, surprising him, then moved to Mildred and handed her a rose, before Remington gave a rose to Edward, and to Abigail, who, he noticed, was allowing Edward to hold her hand. He leaned over Edward to give Abigail a hug and peck on the cheek, then he and Laura continued down the aisle and into the foyer. Once Danny and Laurie Beth were out the door, the usher came to escort Abigail, but Edward waved him off. "I'll do it," he offered, bringing Abigail's hand to his arm and leading her from the chapel to where the others were waiting. The usher turned to Mildred, offering her his arm. Once in the foyer, Abigail broke away from Edward's side, eyes blazing. "All right. I waited until AFTER the wedding was over. I want some answers, Edward Holt. And I want them NOW." "I think that can wait until after the reception, don't you, Abigail?" he asked, his voice calm, refusing to give in to the impulse that would once have had him yelling back at her. "We can have dinner this evening- and I promise to explain everything. But you'd better face that fact that I'm back. And I intend to stay." Abigail blinked. "You almost sound - like-" "Like what?" "Like the Edward Holt that I fell in love with," she told him, smiling. "Maybe I am. We'll have to see, won't we?" He extended his arm again. "Shall we join the reception line?" he asked. ********** It was late in the afternoon before Remington and Laura made their way to the limo with the shoes and tin cans tied to the back, the "Just Married" sign on the trunk, and white streamers taped to the sides. "Murphy!" Remington called out when he saw the car. Murphy just shrugged, grinning widely, having had a little too much champagne. "Couldn't resist!" Murphy exclaimed, laughing. As he turned to say something, Remington found himself with a mouthful of rice as they were bombarded with wishes for good fortune. Trying to avoid the pelting, Remington turned Laura toward the open door. "The bouquet!" Someone yelled. "Throw the bouquet, Laura!" Pausing before the open door, Laura tossed the bouquet over her shoulder- and it fell directly into the hands of the one person not even trying to catch it: Mildred Krebs. Her eyes widened in shocked surprise as she met Laura's laughter filled gaze. "But- but-" "Good luck, Mildred!" she called out as she got into the limo. "And thanks!" "Thank you," Remington agreed, winking at the woman who had become like a mother to him. "See you in a week. Take care of things, ey?" "You got it, boss," she said, wiping a tear away, then looked up to find Daniel holding out a handkerchief. "You're never going to learn to keep one of these handy, are you, my dear?" he asked. ********** Fred closed the door, and went around to get behind the steering wheel. "The airport, Fred," Remington said, waving at Monroe, who, as Laura had predicted, had sent another big screen TV as a gift- this one for their room. Once the limo was underway, he began brushing the rice from his suit, as Laura picked it from his hair. "Well, Mrs. Steele, we did it," he told her, pulling her close. "We certainly did, Mr. Steele," she agreed. "Did you see the way Mother was looking at Daddy before we left?" "I think Daniel knew precisely what he was doing when he decided to find your father." "Hmm. Probably. Daniel's a very wise man, you know. I've only recently come to appreciate him fully," Laura told him, snuggling closer to him. "Oh, and why is that?" "Because he has a wonderful son," Laura told him, "that I happen to be VERY much in love with." "Not half as much as he's in love with you, I assure you," Remington promised, lowering his lips to hers. Fred glanced in the mirror, then away, closing the rarely used dark partition with a deft flick of a finger. Remington glanced at the glass. "I think we need to give Fred a raise," he murmured to his bride. "I'll think about it," Laura promised, pulling him back down to her. ********** Daniel and Mildred stood watching as the limo turned the corner and was out of sight. "Well, Daniel, we did it," she said with a satisfied smile, sniffing the bouquet she still held. "So we did, my dear," Daniel agreed, offering his arm as they walked back toward the reception hall, where the clean up from the party was beginning. "But I'm afraid our work's not over yet." "What do you mean?" "This was only Part A of the plan. Now, we move on to Plan B." "Plan B?" Mildred asked, frowning. "What's that?" He sighed, placing a hand over hers. "It would be nice to be able to bounce at least ONE grandchild on my knee before I shuffle off this mortal coil -" he said. Mildred grinned. "Oh, DANIEL," she said, laughing. "You're incorrigable." Her face took on a curious expression. "How do we begin?" The End (Or IS it?) N.E. !-)
