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� 2004 by (the) Night Hawk

Kelly
=====

(Inspired by Mike C, based on characters in his novel: �James�
Characters and situations copyright by Mike C, 2002)

Chapter 27
__________


�Company, my ass,� said Todd, after Kelly had relayed Laura�s
message.� �I�m going to pull over and find out what the hell�s
going on.�

Todd waited until the next turn in the road and signaled as he
would if he were actually going to turn, but he slowed the
Tracker down, then slammed on the brakes and was nearly out of
the truck before it had stopped rolling.� He stepped into the
middle of the road all set for a confrontation with the driver
of the gray Buick.� Caught by surprise, the driver stomped on
the gas and hopped a curb into the opposite lane to avoid
hitting Todd.� The Buick made an illegal turn and roared out of
sight in the middle of the rush hour traffic coming off I-77
onto Cindy Lane.

Todd was furious!� He hadn�t been able to read the dirt covered
license plate, and he wasn�t willing to take a chance with such
reckless driving that he could follow the Buick.� He stayed
parked on the side of the road for a while letting his anger die
down.� Kelly talked softly to him and stroked his arm.� While
waiting, they shared a cigarette and Kelly called Vanetta to let
her know about the incident and to keep an eye out for anything
suspicious.

Vanetta said she would call the security company and have them
do a regular drive by for the next few nights, and Todd
suggested they pull the video surveillance tapes of the studio
the next morning and see if they could spot the car.

Satisfied that the studio and Vanetta would be safe, Kelly next
called Laura and told her of what had happened.

Laura promised that she and the girls would keep their eyes
peeled for any vehicle following them, and then asked the
obvious.� �What does this guy want?�

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

�Fuck!�

Stupid cocksucker just stepped right into the fucking road!��

For just a moment, he caressed the cold steel hardness of the
snub-nosed .38 clipped in his shoulder holster.� The boss
wouldn�t like it, but if shit went down, he knew HE was gonna be
the one left standing.� Damnitaltohell!� Shoulda got rid of the
freakin� car when he saw that kid with Ayres looking at him!�
But he liked the feeling of the big powerful car and it had room
to stretch, so he put it off.� Shit!� Spending as many hours as
he had watching Ayres, you wanted something comfortable.� He
knew the rules though, and he had broken them.� Won�t do that
again!� That was much too close for comfort, and he hoped like
crap the Boss wouldn�t get wind of it.

Now he had to get another one.�

�Fuck!� Hope he don�t notice the alignment is all shot to
hell,� he thought as he drove across the border into South
Carolina.� Hitting the curb had caused the steering to become
flaky.� Shit!� Now he would have to get an alignment on it or
risk the wrath of his boss who had supplied him with the phony
credentials and identification.� Better tell the prick who
supplied the stake out cars about it before he called the boss.

First thing he did was stop at a full service car wash.� With
his carryall in his hand, there was nothing left in the car but
burger wrappers and beer cans -he told the crew there was a good
tip if they did a great job.� Suckers really went for it and he
watched as first they cleaned the interior than rinsed off the
carefully applied layers of dust and mud.� It had taken him six
trips to a self-serve car wash on the edge of town close to a
dirt road to get the right effect.� He had driven the car,
soaking wet, down the dirt service road, following semis,
getting the outside covered in shit.� Had personally mucked up
the rear plate so the numbers wouldn�t be legible.� His only
concern had been that a cop might stop him for the plates, but
by avoiding most major roads, he had managed to keep out of
trouble.� No speeding or anything else that would draw unwanted
attention to him.

As soon as the car was clean inside and out, he quickly slipped
behind the wheel and left with a squeal of tires and the screams
of �Muthafucka!� fading behind him.� Forty-five minutes later,
he was heading north in a dark green Intrepid.� He said nothing
about the steering, but he was sure the old bastard had spotted
it and would bill the Boss.� It wasn�t as comfortable as the
Buick, but it had dark tinted windows and he didn�t have the
time to argue with the old prick.� He had to get back to make
sure Ayres didn�t skip!

He only took enough time to grab a bag of burgers and fries and
a large coke.� He ate most of one of the burgers while a kid
filled the tank with gas, then went inside the party store next
door to the gas station and bought a six pack of Bud, a six of
Coke and a bag full of candy bars and other snacks to get him
through the evening.� He was hoping the garage he had used for
the last week would still be empty as he sped back to Charlotte.

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

Todd was mostly calmed down.� He still had no idea of why
someone would be tailing him or Kelly, but now he was sure they
were being watched at both Kelly�s place and at the studio.�
Obviously this was not a set up for a burglary, but Todd and
Kelly could think of no reason why someone would be watching
them.� All they had to go on was G�s message that somebody was
looking for Todd but didn�t want to be seen.

�It�s not like we�ve made any enemies,� Kelly said to Todd
after she had bought a slab of steaks big enough to rebuild most
of a cow with.

�Not unless �Stan the Man� has connections,� said Todd with a
smile.� �We�ll know better tomorrow.� We�ll go through the tapes
and see if we can spot the car.�

�Only if he�s driven by the front of the studio enough times to
be caught on camera,� Kelly said, �Otherwise, he would have had
to drive right into the parking lot.� I wonder if he would be
that stupid?�

�We can only hope,� said Todd.

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

Back at Kelly�s, Laura, Cara, and Ami looked around carefully
after parking the Accord.� Laura took her personal belongings
from the car, gave it a gentle kiss on the roof, thanking the
car for having been so good to her, and promising that the new
owner would treat it as well.

Ami and Cara thought it was cute the way that Laura treated the
car like it had a personality, but also found it touching.� It
said a lot about Laura�s character.

�That�s only going to leave the three of you two vehicles to
get around with,� said Cara as they walked to the house.

�No, not really,� said Laura.� �Kelly�s got a Grand Cherokee in
the garage, but why waste the gas on something that size when
mostly we just run errands around town?�

�And it�s not like you guys are ever really alone either,� said
Ami, �besides, Todd also has the Hummer!�

�So you see,� said Laura, �my car is just taking up space, and
my sister could really use it.�

�Are you close to your sisters?�� Ami asked.

�I�m really close with all my family,� said Laura, �but, yeah,
Kat and I get along much better than other sisters I know.� Wait
till you meet her.�

Cara and Ami changed into something comfortable yet
conservative.� No need to be shocking anybody tonight,
especially Laura�s family.� They knew how much it meant to Laura
to have them meet Todd in person, although no one had ever
mentioned what Todd�s role was in regard to Laura.

�Won�t your folks wonder?� asked Cara.

�Not at all,� said Laura.� �Remember what I said about true
love?� If asked, I will say I stay here with Kelly, but they
won�t ask.� All they will see is the happiness in my eyes.� They
won�t question it at all.�

�What about that rock you got on your finger?� asked Ami.�
�They�re bound to notice that!�

�My sisters will notice, that�s for sure!� said Laura, �but
they won�t say anything in front of my parents.�

�Wow,� was all that Ami could say.

They all heard Kelly and Todd pull in.

After Kelly put the steaks into a quick wine marinade, she and
Laura went to shower and change.� Todd looked at the clock and
decided he had just enough time to join them.� Cara and Ami
headed for the living room with bottles of mineral water.

Todd was very deliberately soaping Laura�s breasts using
Kelly�s hands.� Laura was quivering as four hands massaged her
boobs.� She was dying for release, and then she felt Todd�s hard
cock sliding between her legs.� With a moan she spread her legs,
giving him the access he needed to get inside her with his
slippery cock.� She was glad that Kelly only used natural soap
in her house.� She didn�t need any artificial perfumes or dyes
inside her, just Todd�s cock.� She felt Kelly�s lips on her own
as she leaned her head back and sighed.� God, this was heaven.

Todd had moved himself into a position where he could best
satisfy both his lovers but Kelly had pointed his dick towards
Laura.� Soaping his cock up he let it slide between Laura�s legs
and when she opened them to allow him access to her sacred
place, he had just slid in, feeling her natural lubrication
mixing with the glycerin soap on his cock.� He held her around
the waist with his left arm, just feeling her hot cunt
convulsing on his throbbing cock.� When Kelly kissed Laura, he
could feel her cunt start to spasm.� She was so turned on!

Kelly was kissing Laura when she felt her lover�s breathing
become labored.� Laura really got to the point of no return
faster than anybody Kelly had ever known.� Kelly became aroused
easily, but Laura seemed almost to live in an aroused state.�
She slipped one hand over Laura�s tit, toying with the nipple as
her tongue slipped deep inside her mouth brushing against
Laura�s teeth from the inside!� One deep moan was all Kelly
heard and then she felt Laura grab her by her own bush and start
driving her fingers through the sparse pubic hair.� Then Kelly
felt Todd�s hand on her ass, a finger searching for her back
entrance as Laura took the lead in the kissing game now.

Kelly moaned as she felt Laura quickly find her most sensitive
spot, and nearly jumped out of her skin when Laura�s soapy
fingers pinched and twisted her clit.� Todd�s finger picked that
moment to slide into her ass and it was Kelly who was moaning
and thrashing.� She hadn�t realized she was that close herself!�
It was something about being with the two people she loved most
in the whole world that did this to her.� Sex had never been so
good as it was with her lovers and she could hardly wait for the
end of September when she would marry both of them!

Todd slipped out of Laura, still hard and now throbbing.� He
still hadn�t climaxed, and the two girls were in a serious
tongue action clinch.� Pushing on both their butts so their
pubes were mashed, Todd slipped his lubricated cock between them
and pumped just three times before he released his load.

Kelly and Laura could feel his hot seed splashing against their
bodies and included him in their embrace and kiss.� Kelly�s hand
slipped down and pumped Todd�s cock till it finished spurting
and then said, �Time to wash up, we�re expecting company.�

Laura gave Todd another deep soulful kiss and then said, �more
to come, Sweetheart.� Tonight!�

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

Todd was the first out of the shower, as he didn�t have to
worry about conditioner for his short hair.� He took the time to
shave, and then joined the girls in the bedroom were they were
picking out something to wear.

Todd slipped on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, then reclined
on the bed to watch his fianc�es get dressed.� �You know,� he
said.� �Watching you two get dressed is almost as erotic as
watching you get undressed.�

Kelly laughed as she dusted Laura in with a soft scented
natural powder.� �Admit it, Todd,� she said.� �You just like
watching us, period!�

�Yeah, I guess I do,� he said.� �I�m the luckiest guy in the
world.�

Kelly and Laura pulled on matching shorts and Ts, and presented
themselves for inspection.� Todd just smiled.� They both looked
beautiful.� Laura had sighed when she put on her bra, but at
least, thanks to Kelly, it was a light and comfortable one.� She
had asked Doctor Myers about the need to wear one, the doctor
having taken Laura on as a patient as well even though her
practice was closed.� Mary Ann had told her that bra or no bra,
if she was destined to droop, she would.� But she said that
Laura had good muscle tone and unless she was going to do
something that would cause her boobs to go bouncing, she didn�t
need to worry about wearing one if she felt more comfortable
without it.

�It�s all a myth,� Mary Ann had said about bras.� �It helps the
industry sell more, but it�s all genetic.� Nothing can change
that except for surgery.�

�You mean implants, right?�� Laura had asked.

�Exactly.� I hope you aren�t the kind of girl who thinks
gravity defying breasts are what matters most in this world.�

�Hell, no!� said Laura.� �I just wanted to make sure that I
wasn�t going to cause any damage by leaving it off.�

�Only if you do something that causes them to bounce around a
lot,� said Mary Ann.� �Otherwise, let nature take care of
itself.�

And as much as Laura liked feeling unencumbered, it was her
parents coming to visit.� She wasn�t quite ready to show how
much their little girl had changed.

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

The Williams family showed up just before 7:00.� After
introductions were made, Harry explained that he got stuck at
work booking some jerk.� �Sometimes I think I�d like to pack it
all in,� he said, as he gratefully accepted the beer offered by
Todd.

�How long have you been on the force?� asked Todd.

�Twenty-five years come November,� Harry said.

�Ever think of retiring?� asked Kelly.

Meg laughed.� �He talks about it all the time,� she said.

�Times have changed,� said Harry.� �It�s not the same job any
more.� I started when I graduated High School in �76.� Nowadays,
I�m saying �Sir� to kids half my age who joined after taking law
courses in College.� Meg told me I should take classes after
work, but with the shifts the way they are, I didn�t have the
time, and then the kids came along and I wanted to spend as much
time with them as I could.� I won�t get higher than my rank of
Sergeant.� The problem is, with only 25 years in, my pension
won�t be much of anything, and I don�t want to end up as a rent
a cop, but it�s all I really know.� It�s gotten so bad that all
I see is perps on every corner.� Hell, when we pulled in here
tonight, I could have sworn that there�s a summons server parked
across the street.�

Todd sat up straight, as did Kelly and Laura.� �Why�s that,
Harry?�

Harry set his beer down and looked carefully at his daughter
and then at Kelly and Todd.� �Now, I thought I was just in cop
mode,� he said.� �I mean, I haven�t met you before, Todd, but I
have met Kelly and I know a lot about the two of you.� I�ve
never even seen a speeding ticket come through for either of
you, and I would know.�� Then he laughed.� �Of course we all
know about the �Speed Demon� on roller blades here,� he said
looking at Kelly, �but I also know all the process servers in
town, and I didn�t recognize this one, nor have we gotten any
information about someone from out of town.� Are you in some
sort of trouble?� he asked quietly.

�Dad,� said Laura, exasperation in her voice.

�No,� said Kelly to Laura.� �Your dad�s only being protective
of you and he has a right to ask.�

Todd spoke up.� �No, sir.� We�ve been followed the last couple
of days by a gray Buick, and it nearly ran me over today on our
way home, but we only became aware of it today.� Then we
realized that we�ve all felt like we�re being watched for a few
days.� There�s no reason for anybody to be watching us, and
certainly no reason for anyone to serve a summons or otherwise.�

Harry let the silence drag on for a few moments, then finally
said, �Okay.� But it�s not a grey Buick; it�s a green Intrepid.�
And what happened today?�
�
Todd explained that once he knew for sure that he was being
followed; he had stopped the Tracker to confront the guy.� Find
out what he wanted, and how the car had hopped the curb trying
to avoid stopping.

�Probably changed cars knowing you could spot him now,� said
Harry.� �Can I borrow your phone?�

They had been sitting outside, waiting for the barbeque to warm
up.� Kat and the twins along with Cara and Ami had insisted on
helping out with the meal and were inside scrubbing Yukon Gold
potatoes and preparing corn for the barbeque.� Laura got the
cordless phone and handed it to her dad.

Harry dialed a number from memory.� �Lew?� Harry.� I�ve got
some nut stalking my daughter.�� Harry listened for a minute
then said, �Yeah, that would be great, Lew.� He�s parked
partially inside a garage, kitty corner to the south from where
the Speed Demon lives.� A dark green Intrepid.�� Harry laughed.�
�Yeah, I�m having supper with her and her partner and my
daughter.�

Harry blushed as he spoke low into the phone.� �I am not
shitting you.� Meg�s here as well as the rest of the girls, and
you should see the size of the steaks!��

Meg smiled and told Todd and Kelly that Lew was an old friend
of Harry�s.� They�d been partners for a lot of years until Lew
was put on desk duty after a drunk driver had rammed Lew�s
patrol car leaving him with slight limp.

�Feel free to have him stop off after they check out this guy,�
said Kelly to Harry.

�You hear that, Lew?� asked Harry.� �The Speed Demon herself
has invited you to stop in after you check this out.� You got to
see this illegal beer they have here!�

�Already?� said Harry.� �Man, that was fast.� Yeah, I�ll wait
for you out front.�

Harry disconnected and told everyone that there was one squad
car already located at the corner of the closest intersection,
and another just a block further.� Lew would be by in about five
minutes in an unmarked.

Not wanting to worry the younger girls needlessly, Kelly made a
pretense of showing off the house to Meg and Harry and Todd and
Laura followed along till they got to the living room where
Harry kept an eye out for his old partner to drive by.� He
explained that as soon as Lew made the car, the two squad cars
would close in.

Within a few minutes of reaching the living room, they saw a
plain brown Chevy Malibu drive by and then all hell broke
loose.� Appearing from the garage of a neighbor who was on
vacation, a dark green Intrepid squealed its tires trying to get
out and down Jane Street, but the squad car at the corner of
Burris Ave blocked the street while the other squad car came
roaring up from High Laurel.� They had him blocked in, and Lew
was in the middle.� They watched as the driver tried to get out
and run on foot, but the officer from the first cruiser had him
in a few easy strides and down on the ground.� A quick pat down,
and the officer raised the pistol he found on the man and held
it up for Lew to see.

Lew shook his head and walked over to the Intrepid.� Without
touching anything, he pointed out a number of things to the
other officer.� It took another ten minutes before another
cruiser arrived and the suspect was taken away in handcuffs.� A
Charlotte police tow truck arrived to tow the vehicle and Lew
finally was able to make it back to Kelly�s.

�What�s the deal, Lew?� asked Harry.

�He�s not talking.�� Lew said.� �Refuses to cooperate, but we
have him on possession of an unregistered handgun, open alcohol
in a moving vehicle, resisting arrest, and enough paraphernalia
to hold him on a stalking charge.� We�ll have to wait for the
judge to okay developing his film, but he�s not getting out for
some time to come.� If he had brains, he would have left the gun
in the car, but fleeing the scene with a gun, that was just
plain stupid.�

�Thanks, Lew,� said Harry.� �You remember the Speed Demon,
don�t you?�

�How can anyone forget Ms. Jennsen?� he asked, taking Kelly�s
hand.� Then he looked around and said, �Hi, Meg, Laura.�����

�And this is her partner, Todd Ayres,� Harry said, introducing
Todd.

�So, you really do exist,� said Lew.� �We�ve been curious about
you down at the precinct for years.� We see your name on all
kinds of stuff, especially the stuff for the kids, and of course
the pictures in the magazines and such, but we never saw you.�
We had even considered visiting the studio to see if you were
real.�

Todd laughed and assured Lew that he was real but that he
preferred to stay behind the camera.

�So, what�s this I hear about illegal beer?�� Lew asked.

�Definitely contraband stuff,� said Harry.� Laura went and
fetched a bottle after Lew had stepped inside and they had moved
to the back yard.

�Now, Sergeant Williams, how can you tell this is contraband?��
Kelly asked with a smirk.

�Simple,� said Harry, �no duty label!�

�Darn, caught red handed!� said Kelly.

Harry and Lew laughed.�

�Don�t you worry about these lugs here,� said Meg.� �They�ve
been closing their eyes to a lot of Cuban cigars that are sold
downtown.� It seems a lot of officers enjoy their own little bit
of contraband.�

Harry and Lew laughed again.� �It�s damn good beer, though,�
said Harry.

Lew finished his, and though he looked longingly at the steaks,
he declined an invite to stay, saying he had to find out who was
going to claim the stalker.� See if he was willing to talk yet.�
After shaking hands once again, he drove off in his unmarked
Chevy.

�I can�t believe Uncle Lew turning down a steak,� said Kat
after the girls had been brought up to date.

�Speaking of which,� said Todd �is anybody hungry?�

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

An hour later, the dishes were in the sink and everyone was
sitting back enjoying a drink.� Meg had tea, as did Laura and
Kelly.� Todd and Harry were enjoying another Molson�s in the
sun, which was still visible from the back yard.

�There�s nothing like a summer evening spent outdoors,� said
Harry.� �I really enjoyed that meal.� Thank you for inviting us
over.�

�It was our pleasure,� said Kelly.� �I�m just sorry that our
problems caused the delay.� I�m afraid you missed Enterprise.�

�Actually,� said Harry, �I�m taping it at home.�

Todd laughed and said that he would catch it later on time
shift cable.� �It�s just summer repeats anyway, but I want the
network to know I�ll still watch it, even the reruns,� he said.

He excused himself and went inside for a minute, then returned
bearing a large rectangular cardboard box.� �I thought you might
like to have this, Harry,� he said presenting it to him.

Harry�s eyes widened when he opened the box and saw its
contents.� �The Enterprise NX-01,� he breathed.�

�Thanks, Todd,� he finally managed.� �This is a collector�s
piece.�

�Which is why I thought you might like it,� said Todd.

�I love your studs, Honey,� said Meg to Laura.� �And Kelly�s
are identical!�

�Yes, I know,� said Laura.� �We�re spoiled.�� Before her mother
took the thought further, she pulled her car-keys from her
pocket.� �And this is my chance to spoil my little sister a
bit.� Kat, I�m turning the Accord over to you.� I�ve signed the
transfer slip, it�s in the glove compartment, and I�m sure Dad
will help you transfer the ownership and get the insurance set
up in your name.� Other than that, it�s all yours, little
sister,� she smiled as she handed Kat the keys.

Kat gave Laura a huge hug.� �Thanks, Laura,� she said.� �I
don�t know what to say.�

�You don�t have to say anything,� Laura said quietly.� �Just
help mom and dad out as much as you can.�

�You know I will,� said Kat.� �I just wish I could get a job so
I could help out money-wise.�

This was the perfect time, Kelly realized, it couldn�t have
been planned any better.

�Are you looking for some part time work that won�t interfere
with school?� asked Kelly.

�Yes,� said Kat, �but jobs are so hard to find.�

�Well, I just happen to know of an apartment building that is
looking for someone to do things like vacuum the hallways and
clean the glass doors and stuff like that.� Would you be
interested in something like that?�

�Oh, yeah!� said Kat.

�Do they only need a student?� asked Meg interestedly.

�Why�s that, mom?� asked Laura.

�They�re going to cut back my hours at the grocery store,� Meg
sighed.

�Fucking ingrates,� mumbled Harry.

�Harry Williams, you watch your mouth,� Meg said sharply, and
then her tone softened.� �I�m sorry, Harry.� You know how I feel
about it.� I�m as mad as you are, but they�re replacing all the
senior staff with kids to save money.� We�ll just have to be
careful for a while.�

�Maybe not,� said Kelly slowly.

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

No one had been aware of the financial problems Harry and Meg
had faced in the last decade.� Not even Laura, the oldest of the
four girls.�

A solemn discussion took place in Kelly�s back yard as Meg
explained that after the birth of the twins, she had required
special medical treatment not covered by Harry�s health plan.�
Interest rates at the time had been extremely high, and they had
been forced to take out a mortgage for more than the value of
their house.

Their bad luck combined with bad timing had seen all their
savings and dreams disappear, and now, 14 years later, they
still owed nearly as much as their house was worth.� �That�s why
we could never take the kids anyplace like Disney World,� Meg
explained.� �Neither of us have relatives with money and we
wouldn�t impose on them anyway.�

�We thought we might get ahead a little with Meg working,� said
Harry, �but now that�s being cut as well.� You know how the
police budget has been cut here, so any real chances of overtime
are gone for me, and with the clamp down on cops working off
hours on anything related to the public, all we�ve been able to
keep up is our smiles.�

Todd and Kelly were really feeling bad for this wonderful
couple that had done such a great job of raising a family and
under such financial conditions.� Finally, Todd, who was
starting to feel his emotional balance threatening to leave, got
up and grabbed the paperwork from Steve they had brought home
from the office.

�Look,� he said.� �I�ve already learned once this week how
people can react to what they think is charity, so I�ll say this
right from the beginning: this isn�t charity.� The background is
that Kelly and I converted some holdings into an apartment block
for seniors.� We need a manager, and ideally we want a live-in
family to take care of the place.� I can�t think of a better
family for our purposes than you, if you think you might take
it, you have to consider if it�s in your interests, too.�
Harry,� he said, looking at him.� �You could take it on part-
time, if you want to get your thirty years in.� Wouldn�t do the
image any harm, either,� he grinned, �having a serving police
officer living there!�

�Anyway, your job would mainly be supervisory and collecting
the rent.� The major routine maintenance will be contracted out,
as well as most repairs.�

�When Cathy mentioned wanting a job,� Kelly said, �I knew that
I could organize her getting one with whoever took on the
building.� If you decide to do this, you can give all your
daughters jobs.�� Then she laughed.� �All except Laura, of
course.� She�s already spoken for.�

Harry raised one eyebrow.� �Nepotism?� he enquired mildly.

�Well, of course!� Todd laughed.� Then he was serious for a
moment.� �We take care of Family,� he said.

Harry looked at him hard for a moment, and then leaned forward
in his chair.� �Thanks Todd, we really appreciate that,� he
said, offering his hand.

Todd took his hand, while off to the side Kelly and Laura let
their fingers entwine excitedly for a moment.

�It�s not really hard work,� continued Todd, �it�s just that we
want somebody there all the time.� We want to provide affordable
safe housing for some of the seniors in this town who aren�t
ready to finish off their days in a nursing home.� Nobody should
have to make that choice if they aren�t ready for it.�

�Why don�t you take some time to read the offer,� said Kelly.�
�We haven�t advertised for anyone yet, and the apartments are
all empty right now.� We intend to officially open it on the
first of September.�

Kelly sat back and lit up one of her cigarettes.� Laura had
gone into the house with her sisters to discuss the music the
Williams Sisters would be performing as the climax to the
evening of family get together.� An eerie silence had dropped on
the back yard as Meg and Harry looked over the contract.

Without looking up, Meg said, �should you be smoking, Kelly?�

�No, she shouldn�t,� laughed Todd as he snatched the cigarette
from Kelly�s hand and took it for himself.

�Hey!� said Kelly, surprised.� She snatched the cigarette back
from Todd.� �Get your own,� she said with a laugh.

�I like them better coming from you,� he said.

Kelly exhaled, then looked at Meg.� �Why did you say that, Meg?�

Laura came out at that moment and said, �Did you think I came
by my strange intuition by chance, Kell?�� Laura smiled at her
mother.� �I just hope that one day my abilities are as strong as
mom�s.�

�So you knew?�� Kelly asked Meg.

�The minute we arrived,� said Meg.

�Well, I only smoke a few a day, and my doctor said that
considering my other health concerns, it wouldn�t harm the
baby,� said Kelly.

�I know, dear,� said Meg softly.� �I have the same problem.�
That�s largely what landed us in the situation we are in now.�

�What situation is that, mom,� Laura asked.

�We�re going to be moving soon, honey.� We simply can�t afford
to keep up the mortgage payments on the house on just your
father�s salary.�

�Why didn�t you say something?� asked Laura.� �I would have
given you everything I have and everything I earn.�

�I don�t think that�s necessary, sweetheart,� said Harry.� �It
seems we might have already found a way out of our problems.�
But it is very sweet of you to offer.�

Todd had taken a cigarette for himself, wishing he could light
a joint.� His thoughts were churning.� How could a couple like
Harry and Meg have lived all these years going deeper and deeper
in debt and yet shown their daughters such love and attention?�
And yet, his parents, who had never really wanted for much of
anything, why had they been so cold and distant?

Kelly could see Todd wondering.� She might not be able to read
his mind, but she knew what he was thinking.� They had been
lucky.� If not for Todd�s talent and determination, and her luck
of having been born photogenic, they would have struggled all
their lives.� It seemed unfair to Kelly and then she heard
Muriel�s voice�� �Don�t you fret about being successful, Kelly.�
You are doing things for others with your good fortune.� Many
will benefit from the goodness in your heart.�

Kelly shook her head.� Where had that come from?� Meg was
smiling at her.� Had she heard Muriel, too?� Nah, couldn�t be.

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

Cara and Ami spent most of the evening with the twins and Kat.�
After the excitement from the arrest had died down and supper
being done, they had left the Williams girls to do something
special for Kelly and her company.� Ami remembered an old family
dessert her mother used to make.� If she remembered correctly it
was called �Shattered Glass� and consisted of fruit, Jell-O,
shredded coconut and whipped cream.� She called her mother to
get the recipe, becoming discouraged when she heard it was
usually left overnight to set.

Her mother, sensing her disappointment, suggested going to a
deli and buying pre-made Jell-O.� With a few alterations to the
recipe, she could pull it off in an hour if she had the
ingredients.� Ami and Cara cornered Kat.

�We need a ride to a deli,� said Cara.� Both she and Ami had
spent so many years training in gymnastics that neither of them
had ever had the time for Driver�s Ed.�

�Sure,� said Kat.� �I�m covered under the family policy, and
the car is still in Laura�s name, so let�s go!�� Sam and Jen
decided to go along for the ride.

After explaining what she was looking for, Kat suggested to Ami
that they go to one of the big supermarkets on Statesville
Road.� They were open later, and quite a few had deli
departments.

As Kat drove, looking for an open supermarket, Cara asked if
the girls were really going to sing tonight.

�You mean sing for our supper?� asked Jen with a smile.�

�Sure.� We like to sing,� finished Sam.� Ami looked back over
the top of the front seat.� Cara was sandwiched between
identical bookends.

�I can see where you might fool other people,� said Ami, �but
Cara and I have been in competition too long not to notice the
little differences.�

Cara laughed.� �I�ll bet you drive the boys at school nuts.�
But they wouldn�t really be looking at your teeth would they?�

Kat laughed from the driver�s seat.� �I used to threaten to
tattoo them just to be able to tell them apart, but it�s easy
for the girls in our family.� Dad can still be fooled though.�
But Jen is the quieter one.� You can tell by the way she walks
and talks.� Sam is the more boisterous of the two.� I can always
tell which one�s coming into the room.� What did you notice?�

�Jen has a small chip in her right eye tooth,� said Cara.

�And Sam has a dimple on her left cheek that looks like a
crescent moon when she smiles,� said Ami.

�Wow!� said Cathy.� �You guys really don�t miss a thing.� This
comes from competition in gymnastics?� How long were you in it?�

�We retired just about two months ago,� said Cara.� �Both Ami
and me were in it for 12 years.� That�s how we first met.�

�God, did your parents start you off while you guys were still
in diapers?� asked Kat.

Ami laughed.� �No.� We were five when we got our first coach.�
But we were doing it for a year before that in an exercise
class.�

�Why?� asked Sam.� �I mean, I can understand doing it for fun,
but why in the world would you start training full time at the
age of five?�

�I�m not sure any more, Sam,� said Ami.� �I think I wanted to
do it, but now, I�ve been doing it so long, I don�t remember.�
We were very goal oriented.�

�And after all these years, you just decided to retire?�� Kat
was really curious.

�We didn�t have a lot of choice in it,� said Ami with a sigh.�
�We have a friend, Erin, who might make it all the way to the
2004 Olympics, but she�s a couple of years younger than us.�
Sometimes, it�s as much about when you were born as it is about
the practice.� Four years between the Big Game leaves a lot of
time for growth and injuries.�

Kat pulled into the parking lot of a supermarket, and all five
girls spilled out and ran into the store.

Ami found containers of ready-made Jell-O, most with fruit
already in them.� She sighed.� It would not turn out as well as
her mother�s, but it would have to do.� She bought five
containers, one each of Lemon, Lime, Cherry, Orange, and Grape.�
The Cherry had real cherries in it, while the Orange had small
slices of Mandarin orange slices in it.� Thankfully the others
were plain.� Her mother had explained to her how to take a can
of fruit cocktail and dry the fruit so it didn�t cause the
whipped cream to run, so she bought three large cans of
expensive, exotic mixed fruits.� A bag of desiccated coconut and
a gallon of the thickest cream the store had, and at Cara�s
insistence, a gallon of frozen blueberry yogurt, with real
blueberries.� At the checkout, Ami used her debit card for the
very first time.

As Kat pushed the speed limit to get back to Kelly�s, across
town another exchange was taking place.

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

He hadn�t told them his name.� His fake I.D. hadn�t stood up
for more than ten minutes, and when he still refused to give his
name, they had gotten rough with him.

What the fuck???� Stalking a cop�s daughter???� The one dick
had kept repeating that, saying that was the dumbest thing in
the world to do.� The other one kept smacking him on the back of
the head, not hard enough to leave marks, but it still fuckin�
hurt!� But he had kept his mouth shut, even when they nearly
busted his fingers printing him.

He had been physically tossed into a cell.� Resisting arrest
they said.� Can�t do that without a bit of bruising.� He
demanded a lawyer, but they just laughed at him.� �You�re nobody
according to you.� Well, nobody gets a lawyer without a name.��
And they had slammed the door to the cell.

Two hours later, the big cop, the one who had made him, the one
driving the unmarked, he showed up.

�How�re you doin�, Eddie?� he had said.� �Want a lawyer now?�
You can call one, but I�m afraid he won�t be able to see you for
a few days.� We�ve got to make sure you�re not a terrorist, and
the judge said first we get to find out where you�ve been hiding
out and print the film in your camera.� Probably take us till
next week.� You sure are one dumb fuck!� Should of told us your
name instead of making us look it up the hard way.� Just makes
us look all the harder!�� He was laughing as he walked away from
the cell.� Thirty minutes later, two big cops slapped handcuffs
on him and dragged him up the stairs to a pay phone.� His shins
hurt where they had hit the stairs, and they threw him at the
phone.� Nobody around to say anything or see anything.� He still
didn�t understand what the hell they meant by stalking a cop�s
daughter, but he knew it was going to be dangerous in jail.

He called collect, the phone rang seven times before the boss
picked it up.

�It�s me �� Eddie.� I�m in jail in Charlotte.�

�Fucking moron!� was all Eddie heard before the phone went dead.

Maybe he�d be safer if he stayed in jail.

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

Ami drained the cans of fruit, saving the juice as Cara asked.�
Sam and Jen were fascinated by what Ami was doing and stuck
around to help cut up the Jell-O into � inch cubes.� Cara dumped
the thick cream into a huge bowl and dug out Kelly�s blender.�
Adding some sugar, she beat the cream till it stiffened into a
thick goo.� Ami added the towel dried fruit to the cream, and
Cara, the muscles on her arm showing the strain, folded it all
in with a big wooden spoon.� Ami then added the cubed Jell-O and
sprinkled two cups of the desiccated coconut into the mix.� If
everybody could just hold off for another hour, it would be well
set in the fridge.��

After cleaning up the mess in the kitchen, Cara, Ami, and the
twins went outside to rejoin the rest of the family.

�I hope nobody�s in a hurry to leave,� said Cara.� �Ami�s just
whipped us up a fancy dessert, but it�s got to set for a bit in
the fridge.�

Harry laughed.� �I�ve always got room for dessert,� he said
with a broad smile.

His mood had lightened considerably.� While he would wait to
discuss it with Meg, he was already feeling a huge burden being
lifted off his shoulders.� They could sell the house and pay off
the hospital bill that had haunted him for nearly 14 years.�
They could finally get that fresh start they had always dreamt
about, and Meg wouldn�t have to punish herself working for
minimum wage any more.� He�d be able to do more with the kids
and Meg.� Hell, based on what Kelly had said about occupancy,
they would earn more working together as a family than he did as
a twenty-five year veteran on the force.� And, he�d also get his
pension.� Forty-three wasn�t a bad age to start a new career.�
He knew a lot of cops who had burned out younger.� Kelly had
given him and Meg a set of keys that would let them take a look
at the building and the manager�s apartment.�

Turning to Todd, Harry said, �Have you got any more of that
illegal beer floating around?�

�Hey!� said Ami.� �No peeking in the fridge.�

�I�ll get them, daddy,� Laura said.� �Todd?� You want another?�
Kelly, do you want one now?� Mom?�

Meg settled for a bottle of mineral water as she was driving
home, but Kelly and Laura each had one as did Todd and Harry.�
Laura was happy.� She had been right.� Where there is true love,
nobody questioned the reason.� She knew her mom and dad had both
seen the identical rings she and Kelly were wearing, but neither
had said a word.� The biggest surprise of the night had been
when Kat and the twins had left with Ami and Cara, and Meg had
told Kelly and Todd about the six months she had spent at a
private sanitarium for treatment of an unusual anemic condition
brought on by her last pregnancy, and severe depression.

Kat and the twins were preparing to serenade everyone.� They
were thrilled and enthralled with Todd and Kelly.� They couldn�t
believe their good fortune and the opportunity to finally visit
Disney World.� They loved to sing, and Todd had promised to take
a group picture of them before they ever hit the road with
Robert and their back up band.� Not that they were letting all
this attention go to their heads.� They knew firsthand what
conditions they were facing going to nursing homes, and then
Todd had sprung the big surprise by telling them if they were as
good as Laura, he would finance and pay for them to travel all
over both North and South Carolina.

~~~~~ // ~~~~~

Like Laura, Cathy, Samantha, and Jennifer had been raised in a
loving house where jealousy just wasn�t tolerated.� They were
happy for their older sister and loved seeing her new clothes
and her chance to go to university.� When Laura had told Kat the
computer was going to stay at home for them to keep, they had
been very happy.� They realized how long and hard Laura had
worked to buy the P-2, and then there had come the question of
would they be willing to sing, as a trio?� It had taken very
little convincing on Kat�s part for Sam and Jen to agree.� They
enjoyed entertaining seniors, and then when they were told that
Todd and Kelly were going to take them to Disney World, they had
screamed for joy!� Not just a one or two day trip either but a
full five days and they were flying down, and staying at a hotel
right on the property!

Now, though, things seemed a bit different.� During supper,
when they happily chowed down on the biggest steaks they had
ever seen, Kelly had mentioned a storage room full of brand new
clothes, many of which would probably fit the three younger
Williams girls.� They were invited to come down and try them
on.� In the car ride with Cara and Ami, Jen had mentioned this
and Ami had confirmed that the clothes were all big name
designers.� Cara had verified that there really was a huge
storeroom, and that she and Ami had filled their own wardrobe
with some of the best and newest designs.� �All you need to buy
for yourselves is your undies,� said Cara.

Todd had mentioned publicity photos and costumes for the
girls.� He had said something along the line of costumes that
would fit their style of music.� They weren�t exactly sure what
he had in mind, but they all really liked Todd and understood
why Laura looked so happy.

The sisters didn�t understand why Todd and Kelly were willing
to go to the expense they had to bring them to different
seniors� homes and long term care facilities, but they had heard
about the big new van that some teacher would be driving them
in.� This was just a little stranger than normal.� Then after
they had gotten back from the grocery store, their mom and dad
seemed so much more relaxed than usual, and then their mom
mentioned something about moving!

The girls, who had been singing publicly for about as long as
Cara and Ami had been gymnasts, suffered no stage fright or
apprehension, but they realized that this was something
important to everybody.� Kat looked at Jen and Sam, then said,
�ready?�

Sam and Jen nodded and the three girls got up and stood before
their attentive audience of seven.� As natural as breathing,
when Kat started the first word of the song they had chosen to
start with, Sam and Jen joined in, blending a pure three-part
harmony.

They started out in a slow gospel tempo�

	�This little light of mine,

	I�m going to let it shine.

	This little light of mine,

	I�m going to let it shine,

	This little light of mine,

	I�m going to let it shine,

	Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.�

By the time the girls had reached the first chorus, they picked
up the tempo and volume, clapping their hands in time and
dancing on the beat.� As Kat started to pull out the Southern
gospel sound, Sam and Jen went to counter harmonies, filling not
only the back yard with the strong vocals but much of the
surrounding neighborhood as well.

Meg and Harry smiled with pride as the girls finished this
first song and effortlessly slipped into the recently revived
hit by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, �To
know him is to love him.�

Kelly and Todd sat back amazed at the vocal power of these
three girls, their range and their ability to shift from one
genre to another, all without any back up instrumentals.� They
didn�t even get a chance to applaud as the girls went from one
song to the next, though Todd started to chuckle when the three
girls did their version of an old Beatles tune revived briefly
in the 80�s by the artist Tiffany.� �I saw him standing there.�

Todd was clapping with unbridled enthusiasm, as were Kelly,
Ami, and Cara, when Kat, Sam, and Jen finished that song.� To
make it all perfect, neighbors from unseen yards surrounding
Kelly�s were clapping as well and numerous cries of �Encore�
were heard.

�Thank you,� said Kat laughing.� �Our next performance will be��

�On the 3rd of August,� said Todd.� �At our annual company BBQ
and fun day at Carowinds Park.� We�ll even try and get Laura to
join you for a few songs.�

�It would be really special if you girls could open the
celebration by singing the national anthem,� Kelly said.

�Does this mean you still want us to do this thing you were
talking about?� asked Kat.

�Are you serious?� asked Todd.� �You girls are going to be the
headline act of our new venture.� Kell, we have to get these
girls costumed in something quick.�

�And this has no bearing on the other thing we were talking
about?� asked Harry.

�None at all, Harry,� said Kelly.� �If they�re willing to give
of their talents for a good cause, we will not only take them to
Disney World, but we�ll start a college trust fund for them as
well, no matter what you and Meg decide on the other matter.�

�This is important to you, isn�t it, Kelly,� Meg said.

�More than you can imagine, Meg.�

�Because of Muriel?�� Meg asked.

�Muriel?� How do you know about Muriel?�

�Let�s just say I know things,� said Meg giving Kelly a big
warm smile.

�Who�s ready for dessert?� asked Ami.

While everyone raved about the �Shattered Glass,� Ami kept
apologizing that it wasn�t as good as her mother�s, and that
next time she would be more prepared.

It was close to midnight when the Williams family finally
left.� Kat had driven off with Sam and Jen right after dessert,
leaving their parents to talk with Laura, Todd, and Kelly.� Ami
and Cara had said goodnight to everyone and headed to their
bedroom.

Meg had asked when would be a good time for the three younger
sisters to get fitted for costumes, and Kelly had said Friday
would probably be best, and they should be prepared to take home
a car full of new clothes.

Harry was shaking his head.� �I don�t understand why you two do
the things you do,� he said.� �Laura filled us in on this
contest you�re starting in September, but like the summer camps
and the other programs, once again, you�re not taking any credit
for it.�

Todd shrugged slightly.� �Would it make a difference in the end
result, Harry?�

�We have no need for recognition,� added Kelly.� �We seem to
get enough of that just through our work.� We just prefer to
remain in the background.�

�Follow your heart, dear,� said Meg to Kelly as she headed out
the door with Harry.� �It will never steer you wrong.� And
listen to Muriel.� She has something to tell you that you need
to hear.�

�You did hear her,� said Kelly.

Meg just shrugged.

�How much do you know?�� Kelly asked with a hint of worry.

�Probably more than a mother should know,� sighed Meg. ��But
Laura is happy, and she�s very much in love with you and with
Todd.�� Meg looked to see Todd and Harry talking by the car with
Laura.

�I can�t predict the future, Kelly.� I only see the here and
now.� Laura sees things that are to come, though she hasn�t
fully developed her ability yet.� Sometimes I pray that she
never does.�

�I take it you don�t see your ability as a gift, then.�

Meg put her arm through Kelly�s.� �Sometimes it can be a
downright curse,� she said.� �But I can see your heart, dear.
�You are a kind and loving person.� Allow yourself to understand
and believe this is who you have always been.�

Kelly gave her a hug, and said, �Thank you.�

Meg gave Kelly a kiss on the cheek.� �I don�t understand
everything I see,� she said, �but I recognize goodness, and I
know love when I see it.�

To be continued�

__________________________


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Kelly 27