Those Weekends In New England

Chapter Thirteen

It's got to be loud and clear. What? A song? Or a scream?

They met him at the airport. His entire family. His mother, grandmother, uncle, and his uncle's live-in who, if Denny was honest with himself as he warily kissed her cheek in greeting, he was loathe to have to call part of his family. They all patiently stood aside, waiting until Denny had posed for photographers, hedged through questions from the press, and signed a number of token autographs.

Then they were forced to wait even longer, through a cacophony of noise and confusion. Elaine was not immediately recognized as she tried to get to him. She was much gaunter than the last time she'd been seen in public, and she'd had her hair colored since the last time Denny had seen her. Platinum blonde.

At first, security wouldn't let her anywhere near him, not with the way she was carrying on. The ruckus could be heard from around the corner. Finally, he caught full sight of her; not actually of her but that hair and her clothing, that damn pink thing she always wore when she wanted him to remember. He could hardly believe anymore she didn't remember.

But that was a ridiculous thought, wasn't it?

"Guard. GUARD!" Denny was forced to yell to be heard. When his voice finally rose above the overwhelming din, everyone else suddenly became quiet. Curious, wide eyes watched him as security personnel rushed toward him.

"The lady over there," he grimaced over the word, "in the pink outfit. See her?" Denny pointed, and the guards nodded. "Escort her to me, please."

"You sure, sir? She's creating quite the fuss."

"Yes, dammit, I'm sure. I guess she is making some noise." Concurrently, he lowered his voice and grit his teeth over his next words. "She's my, well, she's my wife."

Al had rushed toward Elaine, trying to inconspicuously get her out of the way. There was nothing inconspicuous about Elaine at this point, however, and he snatched her arm, yanking her along behind him. "What the hell are you doing here?" He rasped in her ear, as he forced a smile for the watching vulture-like photographers and onlookers. "Why didn't you go to the Executive Office and have someone bring you to the plane, like you were supposed to do? Then none of this would've happened."

"Sorry, Al. I was late. I didn't think it would get so crazy. Such a mess didn't even cross my mind. I figured there'd been enough pictures over the years taken of me with Denny and," she whispered innocently, "I'd be easily recognized." They finally made their way to Denny's side and the guards opened up a space for them to move in through the barrier.

But the damage had been done, and Denny knew, as he'd known all along, Elaine had arrived late on purpose.

"Mr. Lorenzo, isn't this the first public appearance for you two together since you mysteriously parted company awhile back?"

"Denny, can we assume you and your wife are lovebirds once again?"

"You're such a nice-looking couple. Do you have a statement regarding your reunion? After all, your wife is here for you, for your first hometown show since your unfortunate accident."

The questions were being thrown at him by the press like daggers. Denny sent a beseeching glance at Al, who gave him a warning squint. Elaine was surprisingly silent, but he was sure she wouldn't remain that way for long. Elaine Stein Lorenzo had never been one to be quiet in the midst of the press, and she had never been timid. With anyone. Anywhere.

"Well, Mr. Lorenzo?" the last reporter to have spoken repeated himself. "Any comment?"

"Yeah, I got a comment. She lives here."