Steele In The Know4

Part 7

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Mildred watched Remington as he went up the stairs, then turned to Daniel. "Guess things are okay between you two now?"

"Things are- better," Daniel admitted. "But it's going to be some time before Harry is able to trust me again, I'm afraid," he finished with a deep sigh.

"All the more reason to tell him everything, Chalmers," Murphy suggested.

Daniel sent the younger man a look of warning over Mildred's head. "Everything?" Mildred questioned. "You mean there's more you haven't told him? Or me?"

"Thank you, Murphy," Daniel said archly. "Now you've done it."

Murphy shrugged as Mildred got his attention again. "Oh, he's right, Daniel. If there's something else you need to tell the Boss, don't put it off. The doctor just said that Mrs. Steele isn't supposed to have any stress-."

"Which, my dear Mildred, is precisely why I should wait," Daniel said smoothly as Brian Casey entered the room.

"Beggin' y'pardon, but Cook asked me t'let y'know that supper's on the table."

Seeing a chance at a reprieve, Daniel offered his arm to Mildred. "Shall we?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remington approached the master bedroom with growing trepidation. While Dr. Donovan hadn't actually said that anything was seriously wrong with Laura, he couldn't help but feel concerned. A special diet, less stress.

His fears deepened when he entered the darkened room and glanced toward the bed to find it empty. "Laura?" he called softly, fearing that she had gotten out of bed and passed out.

"Over here," she said from the window.

He crossed the room quickly, taking her into his arms. "Why are you out of bed?"

"Dr. Donovan said that there wasn't really any reason for me to stay there," she told him, her dark eyes searching his face. Laura shivered, and Remington rubbed her arms, then went to the fireplace to lay a fire there. She placed her hands on the back of a chair, watching him.

"We're going home tomorrow," he told her. "I'd feel better if you see a doctor in Los Angeles than some quack here."

"He's not a quack," Laura reassured him in a soft voice. "It's just not something that needs a big fuss made, that's all. It's not as if I'm the first person this has happened to, after all."

Remington turned, leaving the fire to return to her. "Laura, what's wrong?"

She frowned. "He didn't tell you?"

"All he told me was that you needed a special diet and rest, and less stress. Said you'd want to tell me about it yourself. I've been imagining all kinds of terrible things," he confessed.

Laura smiled, then, but it seemed forced and uncertain. "It's nothing that won't take care of itself in about seven months," she told him.

"Seven months?" he repeated, confused. "Seven mon-ths." His eyes widened and he bent down to look at her more closely. "As in seven plus two makes nine? As in nine months? Laura- are you trying to tell me that you're- that we're . . ."

"Dr. Donovan wants me to come into his office tomorrow for a test, but he's pretty sure that's the cause of my problem. He says that my body's just adjusting to a new set of circumstances."

"A baby," Remington said, dazed. "A baby." Suddenly he realized that Laura was still standing there, and quickly led her around to the chair. "Here. Sit down. You shouldn't be on your feet. I never suspected- I mean, I guess I should have, but . . ."

"It's a surprise to me, as well," she said in a small voice. "But, I SHOULD have suspected. Those last few weeks after Daddy's funeral . . . before you and I . . . I wasn't paying much attention to what I did and didn't do. I wasn't eating, wasn't sleeping, wasn't . . ." her voice trailed off.

"I should have taken some precautions," Remington said. "Made certain that you were protected. I'm sorry, love."

"Sorry?" she questioned, looking at him.

"You're not happy about it, obviously."

"Of COURSE I am," she insisted, in that way that clearly told him that she wasn't sure how she felt about this turn of events. "It's just- well, we haven't really discussed it- family, children."

Her wary, worried expression caused him to sit down in the other chair and pull her across and into his arms. "I think that little matter has been taken out of our hands."

"Hmm," she agreed.

"I've no problems with our having a family, Laura. I rather like the idea, as a matter of fact. As long as we do it together. But I must admit that the idea of being a father scares the hell out of me."

"You're going to be a wonderful father," she told him.

"Do you think so?"

"Every time we've had a case involving children, you've done so much better than I have. Things may have started off rocky with you and Angel and Chris Gallen, or you and Jackie Crawford, but they all still send you Christmas cards and letters. And one of my fondest memories is walking into your apartment to find you holding little Joey, singing to him." Remington smiled at that memory as well. "And Frances' children adore you. No, you're going to be terrific. I'M the one that I'm worried about."

"You?"

"What if Mother's right? What if I'm NOT motherhood material?"

Remington held her tightly. "Your mother's wrong, Laura. You're going to make a great mother. You're loving, devoted-and you're going to be wonderful." He studied her worried face. "But it's not really your mothering skills that you're worried about, is it?"

"I once told Frances that I wanted it all. A husband, a family AND a career. What if- what if I can't do it?"

"You will. And do you know why?" She shook her head. "Because you want to. And you're nothing if not determined, Laura. Once you set your mind to something, there's nothing on this earth that can stop you. I'm not saying that it's going to be easy." He gave her a little half grin. "Hell, nothing ABOUT this relationship has been easy, so far. But we're still here- and we'll manage. As we always have- together."

"I do love you, Mr. Steele," she whispered.

"And I love you," he replied, his lips meeting hers.

They sat there, in each other's arms, looking at the flames that were finally taking hold in the fireplace. "You realize that my mother's going to scandalized that we're having a baby so soon."

"Let her be scandalized," Remington declared. "I have a feeling she probably expects that from you, anyway."

Laura grinned impishly. "You're right. I've never done ANYTHING the way she wanted me to. Why should this be any different?" She snuggled closer. "So, have you and Daniel settled your differences?"

"For the most part," he told her. "I think it's going to take some time for us to be easy with each other again, but- we've got time."

"Are you sure of that?" Laura asked, frowning at him.

"Of course- why do you ask?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remington left Laura to return to Daniel's room, hoping that his father - was he ever going to feel comfortable with that phrase attached to Daniel, he wondered - would still be downstairs with Mildred and Murphy. Luck was, as usual, with him, and there was no response when he knocked on the door.

He entered the room, seeing the suitcase still laying on the bed- open now. Digging through the neatly placed clothing, his hand fell on something cylindrical, and he paused before pulling it out. A bottle of pills. And there were more in the interior pockets of the case, Remington discovered on further inspection. The man had enough medication in the bloody thing to start his own pharmacy!

He glanced at the label on the bottles- most of them were from the same doctor- and even Remington could recognize what they were for. He closed his fingers around the first bottle that he had found, and left the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daniel was sitting on a sofa beside Mildred, and Murphy was standing by the fireplace, laughing at the story that Daniel was relating with his usual aplomb. "You can't be serious. You and he didn't really . . ." Murphy began until he saw Remington enter the room. "Steele. You and Chalmers didn't really plot to steal the crown jewels, did you?"

"We had it plotted out- or rather, I had it plotted out," Remington admitted. "A rather good plan, if I do say so myself."

"Until we got to the part about our heads being lopped off for our troubles," Daniel reminded him.

Remington poured himself a drink, then stationed himself on the other side of the marble mantel from Murphy, his eyes on Daniel. "Hmm. That WAS a problem that I simply couldn't find a way to overcome."

"How's Mrs. Steele, Boss?" Mildred asked. "Did you find out what's wrong?"

"She's fine, Mildred. Nothing that a few months time won't clear up."

"A few months?" Murphy questioned, obviously concerned for his friend.

"About- seven, to be exact." He saw comprehension dawn on Daniel's face, saw the smile that was forming.

"Harry, are you trying to tell us that you and Laura are going to have a baby?"

"Boss?"

"Dr. Donovan wants her to come into his office tomorrow to confirm it, but- it's quite likely."

Mildred was on her feet in a flash, throwing her arms around Remington. "That's GREAT news, Mr. Steele!"

Murphy looked into his drink. "How does Laura feel about it?"

"She's a bit shocked- as I was when she told me the news. But we're both comfortable with the idea of starting a family right now," Remington said.

Murphy's smile appeared at last as he offered a hand. "Then I guess congratulations are in order."

"Thank you."

"Congratulations, my boy," Daniel said.

Remington nodded in Daniel's direction as he told Mildred, "She wants to see you and Murphy."

Murphy finished his drink, then joined Mildred, who paused, looking at Daniel. "What about Daniel?" she asked.

"Daniel and I will be right along," Remington assured her. "There's something I need to talk to him about." Mildred looked from father to son. "Go on, Mildred."

Once they were alone, Remington went to refill his glass, holding up the decanter. "Would you care for another?" he asked.

"No, thank you. Two is my limit these days. Getting older DOES have its disadvantages, unfortunately," he said with a sigh.

"Hmm," Remington agreed, taking a sip of the brandy. "Such as medical problems?" he asked, saw the wariness cross Daniel's face. He pulled the bottle of pills from his pocket and looked at them. "I think these are yours," he said, tossing them toward his father, who caught them easily.

"It's not like you to go through my things, Harry," Daniel chided gently, but his eyes were still wary.

"When a person's looking for the truth, sometime they have to do things they wouldn't normally do," Remington told him. "When were you going to tell me about THIS, Daniel? Or did you intend to keep me in the dark?"

"I was going to tell you, Harry," Daniel assured him. "When the time was right."

"When the time- Good Lord, Daniel, you don't wait to tell the people who care about you something like that."

"Acutally, Harry, I was hoping that it wouldn't be necessary to tell you at all," Daniel confessed at last.

Remington frowned. "What?"

"When the doctor I was seeing in London found out that I was going to Los Angeles, he referred me to a specialist there. Remarkable woman, supposedly at the top of her field. She seems to think that- with the proper medication and diet- and a less . . . stressful lifestyle- there might yet be a few more years left in the old fox." He smiled. "Besides, I HAVE to stay around now."

"You do?"

"Of course. To see my grandchild."

Remington laughed- the first time he had laughed in what seemed forever. "Then you shall, Daniel," he declared, pulling the older man close for a hug. "You shall. Now, why don't we go upstairs and see Laura before it gets too late, eh?"

"Mmm." Daniel glanced at him. "You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"

"Wonder if Cook would mind my raiding the fridge?" Remington wondered.

"I doubt it. After all, you ARE the owner," Daniel reminded him.

"The owner of a white elephant that no one wants," Remington corrected. "Not much. Why the Earl chose to leave it to me, I'll never know."

"That's my fault, I'm afraid. After I turned down the position, and finally told him the reason- that my health wasn't quite up to the job he offered- he and I talked. He told me about his son- I told him about you. It was the first time in years that I'd admitted to a living soul that you were really my son. He asked me to make another attempt to locate Sean James, gave me the watch," he said, taking out the gold pocketwatch. "So I came to Ireland, searching for the boy. There was no sign of him. Quite likely, he was adopted as you were, his name changed. When I told the Earl this, and tried to give him the watch back, he told me that I should keep it. To give to you if I should gather enough courage to finally tell you the truth."

Remington took the watch, looking at it for a long moment as they stood in the hall. "And where does the castle come into this?"

"Turns out that your mother's family once lived here- a couple of generations ago, of course, but it made the Earl feel somehow responsible for helping me find some way to tell you the truth."

Remington looked around the ancient building with new eyes. "So I'm saddled with this place, then. Ancestral home and all that?"

"Look at it this way, Harry. It will make a nice little vacation spot for you and Laura to get away to when you need a break from Los Angeles."

"Perhaps, but . . ."

"Too bad there's no way to make it pay its own way," Daniel mused thoughtfylly.

Remington's eyes widened as an idea began to form. "Maybe it can, at that, Daniel," he said, taking his father's arm to draw him along to the stairs. "Let's go see Laura. I need to talk to Mildred."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remington accompanied Laura to Dr. Donovan's office the next morning, still refusing to discuss with her why he had been in conference with Mildred and Mickeline most of the night before. Laura sighed with frustration born of both her husband's penchant for mystery and uncertainty about what she wanted the results of the test to be. She was afraid. But she didn't know if that fear was that she WOULD be pregnant- or that she wouldn't be. Laura felt Remington take her hand in his as they waited for Dr. Donovan to return with the results.

"Hey," he said softly, getting her attention. "We'll handle it, okay? Whatever happens."

Laura smiled, wondering again how well he seemed to know her. His ability to read her mind was almost uncanny. "I know. Just nervous. Maybe if you told me what you and Mildred and Mickeline are up to, it might take my mind off of things."

The door opened, and Remington gave Dr. Donovan a relieved smile. "Ah, Doctor. What's the word?"

Laura's grip tightened on his hand as the Irish version of Marcus Welby moved to sit behind his desk, report in hand, before looking at them. "Well, I was right, Mrs. Steele. You are indeed going t'have a baby."

Laura felt Remington looking at her, taking his cue from her reaction. "You're certain?"

"Quite certain. From the information you gave me, I'd say you were somewhere around eight weeks along. I'll give you some vitamins to start taking. As soon as you return home, you should set up an appointment with your own doctor."

"I will." She placed a hand on her abdomen and wasn't surprised when Remington covered it with his. "A baby. We're really going to have a baby." He nodded, still watching her. But something in her eyes must have told him what he needed to know, because his lips curved into a smile.

"Yes, Mrs. Steele. We are." He looked across at the doctor. "What about the fainting spells?"

"They'll pass with time. Once Mrs. Steele's body adjusts to carryin' another life inside." He turned his attention back to Laura. "For the next while, you'll likely be more easily fatigued, more susceptible to stress and nerves. Just take things easy. Although I'm sure that won't be a simply matter for someone as used to being active as you are."

"There's no reason why she can't fly home, then?"

"I think not. As I said, pamper her a bit."

Remington lifted her hand to his lips. "I fully intend to do just that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laura and Remington sat in the salon later that day, Laura's head in his lap as they talked about the changes the baby was going to make I their lives. "We'll have to find another place to live," she told him. "As much as I know you love that apartment, I can't see trying to raise children there."

"Neither can I," he agreed, smoothing her hair. "Why don't we look into a house, then? Somewhere- out of the city proper?"

"Please Don't Eat the Daisies," Laura said suddenly, causing Remington to look at her. "Doris Day, David Niven, MGM, 1960."

He grinned. "Ah, yes. Niven is a playwright/critic who is torn between leaving the city and moving to the suburbs with Doris and the kids."

"I was thinking more about the house she bought."

"Talk about your money pits," he agreed. "No fixer uppers, Laura," He told her, shoving her gently to her feet and rising with her. "Maybe a place in Bel Air," he suggested.

"Oh, goodie," she sighed, going into his arms. "Might give us a chance to neck at a bus stop."

Remington lifted her into his arms and began striding toward the hall and stairs. "Mmm," he agreed, placing a kiss on her lips.

Laura broke the kiss, looking around. "Where is everyone?"

"The servants are in town celebrating."

"Celebrating?"

"I've decided to turn the castle into a hotel. They'll get ninety five percent of the profits. I'll be a silent partner in the deal. Can't very well sell off the family estate, can I?"

"And Murphy?" she asked looking around.

"Last I saw, he was with some Irish colleen, heading toward the local pub."

"Daniel and Mildred?"

"Dinner in Dublin."

"So we've got the castle all to ourselves," she said as he started up the stairs.

"Thought we'd take advantage of the opportunity. I somehow get the feeling that we won't have these opportunities very much longer," he said, pushing open the bedroom door and entering to lower Laura to her feet as he kicked it closed. "I love you, Laura. I can't imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn't met you. Well," he said, "I can imagine, but I don't want to. You've changed me, Laura. And I intend to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much you mean to me."

Laura slid her arms around his neck. "You're not the only one who's changed, Remington," she said. "I was in danger of becoming a lonely, bitter woman until the day you walked into my life. You saved me as much as I saved you- and I'll never stop loving you." She met his lips in a kiss that left him in no doubt as to what she wanted from him.

He lifted his head to look down at her with those blue eyes that reminded her of the Royal Lavulite that had brought them together. "Uh, Laura- is it safe for us to-?" His hands found her stomach.

"I talked to Dr. Donovan about that," she assured him. "He told me that as long as we were careful, there shouldn't be any reason that we can't make love."

Remington grinned in relief and lifted her into his arms again, before carrying her over to the bed . . .

The End

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Original content ©1999 by Nancy Eddy