Chapter Four

The woman standing at the door reminded Ryan of a willow tree he’d seen in the park - tall and slender, with hair the color of honey and warm eyes. She also looked just like Mrs. Wheeler, whom he’d met the previous weekend.

Dan invited the woman in. “Honey! I’m so glad you could come - it’s great to see you.”

Dan closed the door behind Honey as she walked in, frankly checking him out. Tonight, with his white linen jacket and pants, he wore a dark green T-shirt, and white deck shoes.

“Dan, I swear you look hotter every time I see you,” she said, giving him a quick hug.

Dan grinned. “I don’t look half as hot as you do!” Dan turned to Ryan. “Ryan, this is Honey Wheeler - she’s Trixie’s partner in private investigations. Honey, I’d like you to meet Ryan.”

Honey held her hand to Ryan, shaking his hand firmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Ryan.”

“Nice to meet you, too, Miss Honey!” Ryan grinned at her.

“Okay, there’s a Tater-Tot casserole in the fridge - you just need to put it in the oven for 30 minutes. Or, if you’d rather, you can order Chinese - the menu for the Jade Garden is on the side of the fridge, just put it on my tab.”

Honey held her hand up. “Wait, just a minute! Stop!” Dan looked at her, one eyebrow cocked. “A Tater-Tot casserole?” she asked.

Dan grinned. “Yeah. I’ve been doing some experimenting - Mr. Maypenny never even heard of Tatter-Tots! Ryan can show you where everything is. I’m sure he’ll be happy to show you all his toys! Just don’t keep him up too late, please.”

Honey grinned at him. “Yes, sir!”

Dan grinned back. “I’m afraid if something happens and you need to get in touch with me, you’ll have to call the police to find me - I’m taking Vicki on a picnic in Central Park.” He picked up motorcycle saddlebags from the kitchen and headed for the door.

“Ooo,” Honey squealed. “That sounds like a wonderful date!”

“G’night, Ryan - you be nice to Miss Honey, and don’t make any trouble,” Dan said as he gave the boy a quick hug.

“G’night, Da ... Dan,” Ryan said. “Have fun with Miss Vicki!”

Dan ran down to the apartment building’s garage and secured the saddlebags to the back of his motorcycle before roaring out on his way to Vicki’s apartment.

Vicki was waiting for him on the sidewalk when he arrived, and quickly hopped on the back of the bike.

Once they reached Central Park, Dan and Vicki walked hand in hand to find the perfect spot for their picnic. Finding a tree with an area of smooth grass, they spread their blanket and settled down.

Dan reached out for Vicki’s hand. “Before we eat, I think I’d like to have a taste of the dessert,” he said as he leaned forward to claim her lips in a kiss.

“Mmmm,” she said, her eyes still closed as he pulled away. “I do like dessert first!” She opened her eyes to smile up at him.

The picnic dinner progressed slowly, with frequent pauses to sample more of the dessert. By the time they’d finished, the sun was dipping below the horizon. They packed up the remains, and were relaxing, watching the regular parade of people passing by, when Dan jumped to his feet.

“Come on, let’s go for a walk,” he said, holding his hand out to help Vicki up.

Taking the picnic basket in one hand, Dan put his other arm around Vicki’s waist, and the two of them began to walk slowly through the gathering twilight. As the sun sank, the moon came out, a big, full, golden moon. Looking at it, Dan began to hum.

“What’s that?” Vicki asked softly.

“What’s what?” Dan asked looking down into her eyes.

“The song you’re humming - what is it?”

“Oh.” Dan looked down, blushing a little. “It’s just ... the moon made me think of it. It’s from an old play - “Finian’s Rainbow” - and it fits. It’s called “That Old Devil Moon.” My Dad used to sing it for my Mom.”

“Sing it for me,” Vicki urged him. “Please?”

Dan smiled. “I can’t refuse you anything.” He led Vicki to a bench and sat down with her. Pausing for a moment, Dan then took a deep breath and began singing softly, looking into Vicki’s eyes.

When Dan finished singing, he stopped and just gazed into Vicki’s face, trying to see her reaction.

Vicki looked back into Dan’s face and didn’t speak. She slowly leaned forward and captured his face in her hands, then slowly kissed him.

“Oh, Dan, that was wonderful. You have a marvelous voice!” She stopped and seemed a bit nervous. “When you said the song fit ... did you mean ...?”

Dan gave her a slow smile. “Yes. I meant every word.” He took a deep breath. “Vicki James, I’m falling in love with you.”

Vicki’s eyes lit up and she threw her arms around Dan. “Oh, Dan!” She pulled back to gaze into his eyes.

Weeks went by. Ryan and Dan continued to work together to form a family. They went to the local swimming pool as often as possible, so Dan could teach Ryan how to swim. Dan went back to work, after arranging for a grandmotherly woman, Miss Rachel, to stay with Ryan. School started, and Ryan entered the fifth grade. Regular school attendance had been difficult for him before, and he was a little behind, but Dan worked with him to bring his schoolwork up to speed.

Vicki became a regular part of Dan and Ryan’s life. The three of them spent time together, whether just being together at home or playing together and doing things outside.

Labor Day weekend, just a week after the start of school, the three of them visited Sleepyside together. Ryan, by this time, was comfortable with the idea of spending time with Dan’s friends and family. This time, it was Vicki who was a bit nervous.

“So, what’s Uncle Bill like?” she asked on the drive up.

Dan smiled at her, and reached over to take her hand in his. “I’ve told you, Uncle Bill is great. You don’t need to worry - he’ll love you!”

“What about Mr. Maypenny?”

“Mr. Maypenny is an old grouch with a heart of marshmallow. You are going to have him wrapped around your little finger in no time.”

Vicki gave Dan a tentative smile. “I hope you’re right.”

“Don’t worry, Vicki,” Ryan piped up from the back seat. “Everybody in Sleepyside is really cool.”

Dan grinned at Ryan in the rearview mirror. “You were a bit nervous about your first visit, if you remember.”

Ryan shrugged. “Yeah, but now I know better.”

The drive ended once again on the dirt road leading to Mr. Maypenny’s cabin, late in the afternoon. Dan ushered Vicki onto the front porch, Ryan following close behind.

“I’m not sure Mr. Maypenny is here,” Dan said. “He normally comes out when he hears a car pull up.” He shrugged. “No matter, we can go in and get settled - I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

Dan pushed the door open and stood aside to allow Vicki to enter first. Ryan scampered through behind her, with Dan bringing up the rear. He was surprised to see the small cabin filled with people.

Mr. Maypenny worked his way to the front of the crowd, trying to quiet the chatter. “Everyone, they’re here!” he called out. Silence quickly spread and they all turned toward the door.

Vicki stopped, stock still, staring from one face to another, her heart in her throat.

“Hi everybody!” Ryan called. Dan put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder for a quick squeeze, then moved up to put his arm around Vicki.

“Sweetheart, these are the people I wanted you to meet.” He turned to look at the group. “I just didn’t realize they’d all be here!”

Bobby hung his head contritely. “My fault, sorry, Dan. We’re all just so anxious to meet the woman who finally captured you!”

Vicki chuckled at the sight of the tall teenager acting like an apologetic six-year-old.

Dan sighed. “Alright, I guess I can’t stay mad at you - like I ever could!” Pointing to each person in turn, Dan introduced them. “Vicki, this young man is Bobby Belden. On his left are Larry and Terry Lynch - don’t ask me which is which, though. On Bobby’s right are Mary and Kerry Lynch - again, don’t ask me which is which. The older gentleman over there is Mr. Maypenny. And over there are Trixie and Mart Belden - Bobby’s sister and brother - and Honey Wheeler. The red head next to the brunette there is Jim Frayne, Honey’s brother, and the brunette is Brian Belden. He doesn’t look much like the others, but he’s another of Bobby’s brothers. And that tall red head is my Uncle Bill. The pretty lady with him is Aunt Joan.”

Turning back to the crowd facing them, Dan said, with obvious pride and affection in his voice, “Everybody, this is Vicki James.”

Babble erupted as everyone moved forward to try to greet Vicki. Bravely, she stepped out to meet them, and was quickly engulfed by the swarm. The crowd swirled and moved and somehow, Vicki managed to keep her feet, and her head. Suddenly, a gap in the group was filled by a tall redhead.

“So,” said Uncle Bill, “you’re the one.”

Vicki shook her hair back and looked Uncle Bill in the eye. “Yes, I’m the one.”

Holding her ground while Uncle Bill fixed her with an icy glare from his grass green eyes was almost more than she could handle. Finally, he broke, and let a smile bring life and warmth to his face. He held out his hand to shake hers firmly. “It’s nice to finally meet you,” he told her.

Vicki smiled back. “Same here.”

The remainder of the weekend passed in a pleasant blur.

Dan had gotten three tickets to see “Lullaby on Broadway,” the play Diana Lynch was appearing in, for Friday night. When Ryan got home from school that day, Dan asked him to lay down and take a nap - or at least rest for a while. Then the two gentlemen dressed in dark suits, shirts and ties for the occasion before taking a taxi to pick up Vicki. She met them at the curb, dressed in a silk dress with a swingy skirt hanging just at her knees. They had a wonderful dinner before heading to the theater.

Ryan was all eyes, looking around at all the people, the rows of seats, and the stage. Dan’s tickets were for the main floor, and only a few rows back from the orchestra, so Ryan had to turn in his seat to see the rest of the theater. He craned his neck back to try to look at the people in the balcony.

“Hey, Dan! Couldn’t we have sat up there?” he asked.

Dan chuckled. “Sure, we could have. In fact, those seats are cheaper than these. But I wanted to be close to the stage to cheer for Diana.”

Ryan nodded, and said, “Oh. Okay.”

The lights went down, and Ryan settled in his seat. Soon, the curtain went up, and the stage was filled with singers and dancers. When Diana came on stage, Dan pointed her out to Ryan and Vicki.

“Wow! She’s pretty!” Ryan said, entranced.

After the show, they all went to talk to Diana. Diana had given their names to the stage manager, so they had no trouble getting backstage access.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Ryan,” Diana said after Dan introduced them. Ryan blushed, and didn’t say a word as he shook her hand. “Did you like the show?” Di asked.

Ryan turned even redder and shrugged. He glanced at Dan from the corner of his eye, then took a deep breath. “It was okay, I guess.” He hurried to add, “You were great, though!”

Diana gave him a big smile. “Thank you! I’m always so afraid I’ll be awful!”

“I don’t think you could ever be awful!” Ryan protested.

“Aww, you’re really sweet. I just wish it was true!”

“Come on, Di,” Dan said. “You know you were always the prettiest girl in school - and that includes the university! You were always the best in plays, too. You stole the show every time.”

Diane shook her head. “I have a hard time believing that, Dan, but I’m glad you think so.”

Vicki had stood in the background during this exchange. Now, Diana turned to her.

“So, Vicki. It’s nice to finally meet you. Trixie and Honey have told me all about you - and about the effect you’ve had on Dan.” Diana smiled warmly. “They said that Dan’s been smiling an awful lot lately.”

Vicki smiled at Dan. “I think the effect has been mutual.”

They continued to talk of little things for a while, until Ryan yawned so wide it threatened to split his head.

“I think we’d better get going,” Dan said. “Somebody is falling asleep on his feet.”

“I’m okay, Da ... Dan, really,” Ryan protested.

Dan grinned at him. “I was referring to myself, buddy.”

“Oh.”

Dan laughed and ruffled Ryan’s hair.

After farewells, and hugs, the three left Diana and walked out the stage door.

The alley behind the theater was dark and gloomy. Only the light above the stage door, and street lights from Broadway, provided any illumination. The alley wasn’t deserted, however. A couple of toughs, in worn denim jackets, slunk into the shadows.

Dan saw them, and immediately put himself between the toughs and Vicki and Ryan. With a whisper to Vicki to tuck her purse under her arm, he hustled them toward the brighter lights and a waiting taxi. Before they reached it, however, one of the toughs stepped out.

“Hey, it’s little Ryan! Where ya been, Ryan?”

Ryan moved closer to Dan, and didn’t answer, looking away from the tough.

The tough looked at Dan and blinked. “Well, if it isn’t Dan the Man - the low down, dirty cop.”

“Back away, JT,” Dan told him coolly.

“Why don’t you introduce us to your lady, Dan?” JT turned to his friend, who was still hanging back. “Hey, Tony, don’t you want to meet Dan’s lady?”

Tony sauntered forward and sneered. “Yeah, Danny, why don’t you introduce us to your lady?”

“Back. Away.” Dan repeated, his voice authoritative and firm. He made sure Vicki and Ryan kept walking in front of him.

JT reached out and grabbed Dan’s arm.

“Keep going,” Dan hissed to Vicki and Ryan, before he spun around, freeing his arm and ending up facing JT and Tony. “You don’t want to do this,” Dan told them.

“Sez who?” JT sneered. “I’m thinking this is a good opportunity for some payback.”

Behind Dan, at the mouth of the alley, Ryan suddenly took off running. Tony made to follow him, but Dan stepped in his path. “You want him, you have to go through me,” Dan told him.

For a breathless moment, the three stood there, watching each other. Then the moment broke in a flurry of activity as JT and Tony rushed Dan as one. Dan was ready for them. A whirlwind of action, and JT flew out of the storm to land on his back with a thud. Tony looked at his fallen friend, then back at Dan. He pulled a switchblade from his pocket and the blade popped out, gleaming with reflected light.

Vicki, standing by the cab watching, gasped in horror. Abruptly, running feet could be heard approaching.

Looking around, Tony saw little Ryan returning, followed by two of New York’s finest, coming fast. Swiftly, he pocketed the blade, grabbed a groggy JT’s arm, and ran away, disappearing in the shadows.

One of the approaching officers was the tall, red-headed Paddy, Dan’s friend and former partner. He stopped at Dan’s side.

“You want us to chase them down, Danny?” he asked.

Dan waved him off. “Nah, not necessary. They’re long gone.” He paused, then said, “You might spread the word, though. If JT and Tony are involved in anything - anything - bring them in.”

“Whatever you say, man,” Paddy replied. He eyed Dan’s face, which had sprouted a bloody, swelling lip. “You’d better get some ice on that,” he advised.

Dan gave him a rueful grin. “Yeah, I guess I didn’t duck that one fast enough.” Dan turned to check on Vicki, and saw Ryan standing with her, protectively. Dan walked over to them, Paddy trailing behind.

“Good work, Ryan,” Dan praised the boy. “I’m glad to see you can keep your head.”

Ryan looked almost ready to cry, but he gave Dan a small smile in response.

Dan reached out to take Vicki’s hand. “I’d like you to meet a friend of mine,” he told her. He turned to Paddy and said, “Vicki, this is Paddy O’Seanan - my former partner. Paddy, this is Vicki James.”

Paddy grinned and engulfed Vicki’s proffered hand in his. “Ah, I finally get to meet you!” he said.

Vicki gave him a shaky smile. “I could say the same. Dan has told me a lot about you.”

Paddy laughed. “Yeah, but you can only believe half of what he says.”

“Well, I need to get these two home,” Dan said, “and get some ice for my lip!” He shook Paddy’s hand. “Thanks for the help, my friend.”

“Anytime, Danny boy,” Paddy told him. “Nice meeting you, Vicki. You need to get Dan to bring you over for dinner sometime.”

Dan followed Vicki and Ryan into the cab and started to give the driver Vicki’s address.

“Dan, I don’t want to be alone,” Vicki said softly, interrupting him.

Dan glanced at her and nodded. He then gave the cabbie his address instead.

Once back at his apartment, Dan fixed hot chocolate for each of them, while he got ice out of the freezer and wrapped it in a towel to put it on his lip. They sat quietly, drinking the soothing beverage. Finally, Dan insisted it was time for Ryan to go to bed. He walked the boy to his bedroom, and talked to him while Ryan got his pajamas on.

“I’m very proud of you, son,” Dan said. “You got help and then stood by Vicki, to help her. That’s the sign of a man.”

“I was scared,” Ryan said in a small voice.

Dan smiled. “Yeah, me too.”

“Were you?” Ryan asked incredulously. “You didn’t seem like it.”

Dan nodded. “I was shaking on the inside. It’s okay to be scared, buddy. Only an idiot isn’t, in a situation like that. The trick is not letting on.”

Ryan nodded solemnly and climbed into bed. Dan pulled the blankets up and tucked them under Ryan’s chin.

“G’night, Dan,” Ryan said, snuggling down.

“Night, Ryan,” Dan answered. He walked to the door and turned off the light. He left the door ajar behind him as he walked back to the living room, and Vicki.

Dan sat down next to Vicki on the sofa, but she got up and started to pace.

“Is this what life with you will be like?” she asked. “Always having to worry about thugs on the street? Always wondering if one of them is going to knife you?”

“You know my history,” Dan said quietly. “You know Ryan’s history. And you know that I’m a cop. I won’t apologize for any of that. All I can do is promise that I’ll be as careful as I can.”

“Careful like tonight?” Vicki’s voice was climbing. “You could have gotten killed!”

Dan got up and walked over to Vicki, to take her hands in his. “I know it looked bad, Vicki, but I really wasn’t in any danger from those two tonight. They ...”

Vicki interrupted, her voice hard. “No danger. That’s not what it looked like. And that was tonight! What about the next time?”

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” Dan said. “I’m a cop. You know that. It can be a dangerous way of life. I can’t give you any guarantees. I promise to be as careful as I can, but that’s all I can do.”

Vicki stared at him, long and hard. “I don’t know if that’s good enough,” she finally said. She pulled her hands from his and walked toward the hall. “I’ll get myself a blanket and sleep on the sofa tonight.”

Dan followed her. “No.” He kept his voice controlled, and did everything he could not to scream in frustration. “You take the bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

It was a very uncomfortable night for both of them.

Word Count: 3818

Thanks, as usual, are due to my wonderful editors - Mal & Trish!!! They really help keep me in line when my ideas tend to stray ... Hugs to both of you!!

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