The Aftermath

53

Tom slept most of Saturday. Slept all the way into the evening. He was woken up at 10:00am by Kemp and the lawyer. Tom greeted the man, specified what he wanted for the Power of Attorney paperwork and then paid the man a retainer up front. After that bit of business and a plate of fruit to eat, he was back in bed and in dreamless sleep until 7:00pm, when Samantha called.

"Your daughter is in revolt against the security man that Mr. Simmons sent up here. I think you should talk with her."

"What's going on?"

"She wants to ride Bart, and he won't let her."

"That sounds like a normal precaution." Tom said, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "It's only for two days -- well, one now."

"Drew and I both agree, but Angie is throw fits."

"Alright, let me talk with her."

Angie came on the phone with a yell, "Dad?"

"Yes dear."

"They won't let me ride Bart, or even go out to see him. It's not fair. I'm stuck up here with nothing to do, no friends, no school and now I can't even ride the horse!"

"Honey, this is serious stuff. People are getting hurt. The man wants to protect you. Please let him do his job. It is only for one more day, and then you are going to Paris. Alright? Plenty to do in Paris, I promise you."

"But Dad!"

"One day baby. Just one day. Please. For me, just stay in the house for one day."

"Shit! Oops, sorry."

Tom suppressed a smile, "Please?"

"Yeah, alright, one day. I'm not going to like it."

"But I'll be very happy."

"How happy?"

"Ah, now we are down to the business of things. Paris isn't enough?"

"Shopping in Paris with $500.00 would be better."

"Done, but you stay in the house all day."

"Right. Ok, I'll do it."

"Thank you Angie."

"Ok, here's mom."

"Bribery?" Samantha inquired.

"Well you wanted it solved."

"Bad form papa dear. Bad form."

"She was going to be buying a new set of clothing there anyway. She didn't get anything that she wasn't going to already have."

Samantha was silent for a bit, "Right, but still."

"Love you dear."

"Love you to, but that's not the issue is it?"

"What do you think of the guard?"

"Well, he's cute."

"Yeah?"

"And he seems to know what he's doing. He makes rounds outside the house, checks doors and windows, keeps curtains draw. Carries a shotgun with him."

Tom nodded his head, "Only one of them?"

"He says two more are coming up tomorrow."

"Alright. Thank you for being so patient with all of this."

"Like I have a choice."

"You do, and you are choosing to stay with me and I am grateful for that choice."

"How grateful?" She laughed.

"Now we know where she gets it from."

They talked for nearly an hour about what was going on, and what would happen in Paris. Drew did have a passport, so the ticket was changed to her name. Two of the neighbors would take care of the animals while she was gone. Everything was arranged. Drew was excited, never having traveled before.

After they hung up, Tom felt better than he had in days. Charlie wasn't dead, his girls were safe and hidden, and Teri was happy in her gilded cage with her wife. All was right with the world.

"One more day God, just one more day." Tom whispered.