18: Together Again

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="047005a0dwnjzk.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cassie's Writing</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1: New Orleans"><U><B>1:  New Orleans</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2: Mary Margaret"><U><B>2:  Mary Margaret</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3: Rumrunners Row"><U><B>3:  Rumrunners' Row</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4: Speakeasy"><U><B>4:  Speakeasy</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="5: Sys Deal"><U><B>5:  Sy's Deal</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="6: Reunion"><U><B>6:  Reunion</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7: Disaster"><U><B>7:  Disaster</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="8: Petofi"><U><B>8:  Petofi</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9: Cuddeback"><U><B>9:  Cuddeback</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10: Angelique"><U><B>10:  Angelique</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11: Making Plans"><U><B>11:  Making Plans</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12: Chicago"><U><B>12:  Chicago</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="13: Nora"><U><B>13:  Nora</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="14: The Gypsy"><U><B>14:  The Gypsy</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="15: The Trap"><U><B>15:  The Trap</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="16: The Gift"><U><B>16:  The Gift</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17: Beth"><U><B>17:  Beth</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>18:  Together Again</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="19: Petofi Strikes"><U><B>19:  Petofi Strikes</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Taking Wooden Nickels"><U><B>Taking Wooden Nickels</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>18:  Together Again</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>      "Quentin?" Beth murmurmed.  They were both lying like spoons again.  Quentin especially liked it this way because he could put his arms around Beth, hold her close, and nuzzle the back of her neck.  He thought he rather liked her hair cut shorter.  He'd drifted off pleasantly, still inside her, and with his arm around her waist.</div> <div>      "Hmmmm?"</div> <div>      "It's starting to get late, and we really should go and get the children.  I don't want them to be frantic."</div> <div>      That dose of reality brought him fully awake.  Where were they going to put these children?  He got up on one elbow, slipping out of of her.  He caressed her arm gently.  "What time is it?  Do you know?"</div> <div>      "It must be well after six--Eric will be home soon, and they'll be having dinner.  They'll wonder--"</div> <div>      "We'd better hurry up and get dressed, then.  I don't want to make your brother angry again and start another fight.  How do you think he'll be?"  They began dressing.</div> <div>      "Eric gets angry quickly, but once he's over it he is actually a very sweet, gentle man."</div> <div>      Quentin paused as he buttoned his shirt.  "Gentle, Beth?"  He hadn't forgotten the sledgehammer blows.</div> <div>      "He's probably sorry," Beth said, understanding.  She looked at him.  "I'm glad he didn't hurt you."</div> <div>      Quentin thought he might mention his ribs were still tender from the kick and his jaw was still sore, despite the fact there were no bruises but he decided it wasn't worth upsetting her.  They had to make plans in either case--whether they were welcome at the house or not.  He realized Beth was speaking to him.  "I'm sorry, Beth.  What?"</div> <div>      "I was saying, what name are we going to call you?  How are we going to explain all this?"</div> <div>      He sighed.  "We'll have to lie a little, you know."</div> <div>      "You know, that's the one thing about you that didn't change," she said, putting her hands on her hips.  He'd sat down on the bed to put on his shoes and looked up at her.  He wasn't sure how to read her expression.  "You're still a smooth liar, Quentin Collins."  It almost sounded like a rebuke.</div> <div>      She might've been referring to any number of his lies.  He'd told her a lot of them since they'd met again.  He reddened.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't want to start off with you again like that.  That's the truth, too, Beth.  I hope you believe me."</div> <div>      She sat next to him on the bed and gently touched his face.  "I think you did what you had to do.  I'm not angry with you about that.  There's one thing I want to ask of you, though."</div> <div>      "What's that?  Anything for you, you know that."</div> <div>      "That between you and me there will be no more lying.  Can you promise me that?  Not to lie to me from now on?  And I'll never lie to you."</div> <div>      He thought about everything he hadn't told her about yet--what Petofi had done and might still do.  Beth could help him, though.  They'd been through worse things before.  It would be good to have someone to confide in again any time he needed to.  "I won't lie to you, Beth," he promised.  "I swear it.  I would die for you."</div> <div>      She laughed and kissed him.  "I don't want you to do that.  All I want is for you to tell me the truth from now on."</div> <div>      "I promise," he swore again.</div> <div>      "What do you want to tell Eric and Annika about you?" she asked.  "We have to decide that now."</div> <div>      "Let's say I'm a graduate student at the University of Chicago," Quentin said.  "And that I'm doing a thesis on the insanity defense.  That's why Nora thinks I'm in Chicago anyway, and we won't have to worry about getting the stories mixed up.  As for my name, I think I'd better stay Frank Healey for a while.  There's a lot you don't know yet that I still have to tell you."</div> <div>      "I don't think I could call you Frank," Beth said doubtfully.</div> <div>      "Don't, then.  I can't call you Kristin either.  We'll just say Quentin is my middle name."</div> <div>      "All right.  And where did I meet you?"</div> <div>      "In one of your classes way back.  When you met your husband.  I was in love with you, but you married him.  Then I ran into you again, and we fell back in love really fast…"</div> <div>      Beth laughed.  "You're really good at this, aren't you?  I'll bet you could write stories."</div> <div>      Quentin laughed too.  "You know, everyone keeps telling me that."  They got ready to go, and he locked the door behind them, wondering if they'd be back this evening or not, with or without children.  He took her arm.</div> <div>      "When did we get married, Quentin?"</div> <div>      "Last night, of course.  We decided on the spur of the moment, like a couple of kids."  She laughed again.  "You look beautiful when you laugh, did you know that?  Most of the time you look so serious, and you're really pretty then.  But when you laugh, your eyes laugh too.  You're the most beautiful woman in the world then."</div> <div>      "You said you weren't going to lie to me, Quentin!"</div> <div>      He was surprised.  "I'm not!  You don't believe me?"  He looked at her and saw that she'd been kidding him.  She was moved, though, because her eyes looked filmy.  "Oh, Beth, I'm the luckiest man alive.  You really have no idea what it means to me to get you back."  He kissed her, tenderly, filled with gratitude.</div> <div>      Slowly, she pulled away.  "I think I know because I know how it feels to me," she said softly.  "We'd really better go, though."</div> <div>      "Do you mind if we stop somewhere and pick up some lollipops or licorice whips?"  She looked at him, puzzled, so he explained:  "You know how kids are about candy."  </div> <div>      She understood.  "How clever of you."</div> <div>      "I'm not trying to be clever.  It's just easier to win kids over with stuff like that."</div> <div>      "I like it that you understand how a child thinks, Quentin," she said approvingly.  He wondered if she would approve if she suspected he understood children because he still thought like one sometimes.  He thought he'd better not volunteer that information yet.</div> <bR> <div>      Quentin felt more and more nervous the closer they got to the house.  He imagined Beth felt the same way; he could feel how the muscles in her arm had tightened up.  The yard in front of the house seemed to be swarming with children.  They all stopped and stared when they saw Quentin and Beth approaching.  One of them ran toward Beth, crying, "Mama!"  The child threw himself into Beth's arms, and she picked him up, hugging him tightly.  The other children began to gather around, staring with huge eyes.  Quentin counted seven of them.</div> <div>      "I missed you, Mama!  Where did you go?"  the child cried.</div> <div>      "I missed you, too, Peter.  I had to go do--some things--but I'm back now.  Peter, look.  This is Quentin."</div> <div>      The little boy half turned his head to look at Quentin suspiciously.  They were meeting under the worse possible circumstances, Quentin thought.  Peter didn't look very much like Beth at all.  He had a little pug nose sprinkled with freckles, strawberry blonde hair, and green eyes.  A little leprechaun, to be sure, Quentin thought.  "Hello, Peter," he said.</div> <div>      "You're the one who was in my mommy's bed," Peter said accusingly.</div> <div>      "That was a big surprise, wasn't it?" Beth intervened tearfully.  "We're sorry about surprising you like that, Peter."    The other children were drawing nearer, fascinated.  Beth addressed the eldest of the group, a girl about ten years old.  "Is your Papa home yet?"</div> <div>      "Not yet, Aunt Kristin," the little girl replied, staring.</div> <div>      "And where is Katie?"</div> <div>      "Mama is giving her a bath."</div> <div>      Beth turned to Quentin.  "Quentin, these are my nieces and nephews."  She rattled a long string of names--there were too many and they were too foreign sounding for him to remember them all.  Besides, he was beginning to feel overwhelmed as well as frightened, and thought he might like to turn and run.  "Children, this is my husband, Quentin--" she broke off, looking panicked.  She couldn't remember the alias again.</div> <div>      "Healey," he said helpfully.  They looked at each other and smiled simultaneously.  Both of them were scared; they'd have to help each other out.</div> <div>      "Did everyone eat?" Beth asked.</div> <div>      "Everyone but Papa.  He had to work over time tonight.  He won't be home until later," said the oldest girl.  Quentin remembered her name--Heidi.  "When did you get married, Aunt Kristin?"</div> <div>      "Last night," Beth said.  They began moving, as a herd, toward the back door of the house.  </div> <div>      "Why didn't you tell anyone?" Heidi asked.</div> <div>      Several other voices chimed in.  "Mama cried and cried."  "Papa was so angry."  "He was crying, too."  "No, he wasn't.  Papas don't cry, don't you know that?"  "Our new uncle is handsome."  "Do you think he brought us any candy?"  They all spilled into the kitchen from the back door. </div> <div>      All the noise must've attracted Beth's sister-in-law, Annika.  She came down the back stairs and into the kitchen, carrying the little blonde child she'd had in her arms that morning.  The little one saw Beth and held her arms out for her.</div> <div> Beth handed Peter to Quentin, who was startled but took the boy, and reached out for the little girl.  The boy wriggled out of Quentin's arms and stomped on his foot, glaring up at him.  Quentin smiled grimly at Peter, thinking he really couldn't blame the child for being angry.</div> <div>      "Oh, Kristin," Annika cried, tears streaming down her face.  She threw her arms around Beth, who'd been cradling the little girl.</div> <div>      "It's all right Annie," Beth was saying.  She shifted the little girl in her arms so that the child could see Quentin.  "You see? I have brought my husband back.  I'm sorry about everything--we didn't mean for it to happen this way."  Annie continued to sniffle and cry, wiping her face with her apron.  Quentin shifted his feet uncomfortably.  "Annie, this is Quentin."</div> <div>      To his surprise, his new sister-in-law suddenly threw her arms around Quentin and squeezed him, hard.  "Uh, hello," he said.</div> <div>      Annie stepped back and looked at him.  "Why didn't you tell us?  Why didn't you come to the house to meet us?  Why didn't you let us know?"</div> <div>      Beth had begun to cry again, so Quentin answered.  "It happened so fast, and we just couldn't wait.  Besides, we weren't sure you'd approve--ah, it's really a long story."</div> <div>      "Wouldn't approve?"  Annie echoed, looking stunned.  "You tell me the story now.  Have you eaten?"</div> <div>      "Well, no--"</div> <div>      "Then you sit, sit.  We have plenty left over, ja, you know Eric isn't home yet?"</div> <div>      "I heard."  Actually, Quentin was relieved.  As Annie sat them down at the cozy kitchen table and set two plates out for them, Beth shifted the little one on her lap.  Peter leaned up against his mother.  The little one looked at Quentin solemnly, sucking on one finger.  He made a face at her, the way he used to with Elizabeth.  The little girl took her finger out of her mouth and laughed, much to his delight.  This one looked like Beth-she was a little angel with a halo of golden curls and big bright blue eyes.</div> <div>      Beth smiled, too.  "Quentin, this is Katie," she said.</div> <div>      Quentin smiled at Katie and offered his hand, palm down.  The little girl took it as if to shake hands with him, and her eyes widened with suprise when he pressed a lollipop into her hand.  He looked at Beth.  "I hope it's all right.  I'm assuming she's eaten."</div> <div>      "It's all right," Beth said.</div> <div>      "Hey, Pete," Quentin said softly.  "I have one for you, too.  It doesn't mean we have to be friends.  I just wanted you to have one, too."  </div> <div>      Peter sidled around his mother until he was standing between her and Quentin.  He held his little hand out, and Quentin gave him a lollipop, too.  "Thank you," he said in a very tiny voice.  He sounded pleased and shy, not angry.</div> <div>      Quentin looked up at Annie.  "I have more--for the other children. If it's all right with you, that is, Annie."</div> <div>      The other children crowded around their mother, pleading.  Annie looked pleased that he'd remembered her children, too.  "Ja, sure, sure," she said.  "They have eaten, so it's all right. Kinder, you say thank you and then you go out and play."  All the children went, except for Peter and Katie.  Annie ladled out a stew to Quentin and Beth.  "Now you eat and we talk," she said, sitting down.  "Tell me why you got married this way."</div> <div>      Beth looked at Quentin.  He was the better liar, so he obligingly did the talking for them.  He told a story about having met Beth in a first aid class he had been taken with her, but she decided she was interested in the police officer.  Then they'd run into each other again last week and had instantly fallen in love.  "It just happened," Quentin said.  "We just decided we wanted to get married, and we didn't say anything first because we didn't think you'd approve of me because I am not Lutheran."</div> <div>      Annie's eyes grew huge and she looked at Beth, horrified.  "Your name is Healey, ja?  Oh, Kristin, not another Catholic!"</div> <div>      "I am not a Catholic," Quentin said.  "I'm just </div> <div> not Lutheran, either."  He opened his mouth to say he just didn't bother with any church.  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Beth shake her head imperceptibly.  He amended what he'd about to say to the truth:  "My family are Presbyterians."</div> <div>      "Ach, that is not so bad.  Almost Lutheran you are," Annie said, looking relieved.</div> <div>      Quentin sighed.  It was all foolishness to him, but he couldn't help but like his new sister-in-law.  She looked at him with kind and friendly blue eyes that seemed almost merry.  She almost reminded him of Mrs. Cleary, round and jolly. Instead of an Irish accent, Annie had a German or Scandinavian one.  She had pleated blonde braids rolled up and pinned to her head in place of the white and red patches Mrs. Cleary had.  She was a large woman, tall and broad shouldered; Mrs. Cleary was shorter and plumper.  "I'm sorry about what happened this morning.  That was my fault.  Beth wanted to tell you, but I thought everyone was alseep.  I said we shouldn't wake everyone and to wait until the morning. I guess I made a mess of things."</div> <div>      "It can be fixed," Annie assured him.  "Eric is very angry and upset, ja, but he'll get used to the idea when he sees Kristin is so happy."  She looked confused.  "You call her Beth?"</div> <div>      "It's special, between us," Quentin answered.  "We call each other by our middle names.  It makes us special."</div> <div>      "Ja? That is romantic," Annie exclaimed, impressed.  Quentin looked at Beth and winked.  They had an ally now, if they needed one.  Annie misunderstood, took it for a romantic gesture between the couple, and beamed an even more approving smile at Quentin.  At that moment, Quentin heard the screened front door open and shut.  He heard the heavy tread of a large man making his way toward the kitchen and the mixed voices of all those children.  The giant stood in the doorway, looking at him very much the same way Dave had looked at him after catching him on the fire escape with Mary Margaret.  Under the table, he began to turn his ring nervously.                                                                                                                                                                                    </div> <div>      Before he could say anything, Annie was on her feet.  She went to Eric, the offended angry older brother, gave him a kiss and began speaking rapidly in a language Quentin didn't understand.  He looked at Beth questioningly, and she explained softly, "She's telling him what you said."</div> <div>      "But they speak English, don't they?" Quentin asked.  </div> <div>      "Not always," Beth whispered back.</div> <div>      Eric and Annie continued to speak back and forth in that foreign language.  It sounded gutteral and harsh, especially coming from Eric's mouth.  Eric dragged a chair out from the table, glaring at Quentin even as he continued talking to Annie.  He was dressed in a blood-stained white apron and smelled strongly of what Quentin supposed was slaughtered animals.  He pulled the apron off and threw it on the floor.  He lumbered over to the sink, washing his hands carefully as he continued to talk.</div> <div>      He came back to the table, in his undershirt, and planted himself on the chair.  Annie set a plate of stew in front of him.  He looked at Beth and began talking to her, but not in English.  Quentin felt his face becoming red with irritation.  When Beth began to answer in that language, he couldn't stand it anymore.  "Excuse me," he said, "but I don't understand what anyone is saying, and I don't think it's polite."</div> <div>      "Oh, dear, I'm sorry, Quentin," Beth said immediately, but Eric interrupted her, still glaring at his new brother-in-law.</div> <div>      "You would understand if you were one of us," he snapped.</div> <div>      "One of you?  What's that mean?  Are you planning on never speaking to me?  I love your sister, Eric.  That's why I married her.  Or weren't you listening?"</div> <div>      "I'm not deaf nor am I stupid, boy," Eric answered, glowering.  "Listen, you cowardly mick, you love my sister so much--why didn't you have the courage or the decency to come to us instead of behaving like a thief in the night?"</div> <div>      Quentin's jaw set and he reddened to nearly the same hue Edward had.  Beth put her hand on his, alarmed.  He slowly counted to ten, for Beth's sake.  He had to count to ten again, as he and Eric continued to stare at each other.  He let his breath out very slowly, trying to get control of himself before speaking.  It was very, very difficult because he knew that Eric probably thought he was a coward for not fighting.  He took Beth's hand and squeezed it to let her know that he was going to be all right; he wasn't going to start a fight.  He decided to count to ten a third time.  By then, his head had cleared.  "Look, Eric, I want to apologize to you and Annie for the trouble and heartache we caused.  We didn't mean for it to happen this way, and I wish I could take it back.  I can't.  I meant what I said about Beth, though.  I love her.  And I told her that we could have a wedding--the way she wants it.  I'll do whatever you all want to make it right between us--for her sake."</div> <div>      Eric blinked in surprise.  He grunted.  Then he said, grudgingly, "You better eat while the food's still hot.  We don't waste food in this house."</div> <div>      Quentin looked at Beth.  She was smiling and she nodded her head.  He picked up his fork.  Eric had his head down and was getting down to business, shovelling food into his mouth as if he hadn't eaten in days.  Well, a truce was better than a war, that was for sure.</div> <div>      After he had eaten, Eric seemed to be a little more friendly even if he wasn't less suspicious.  Sometimes he would turn to Annie and speak in that foreign language again.  He seemed to have an instinct for when Quentin had had enough because he always switched back to English just as they were coming to that point.  "So, you're a student," Eric observed, finally turning his complete attention to Quentin.  "You work for a living?  How were you planning to support my sister?"</div> <div>      "I have money, don't worry," Quentin said.  He was surprised when Eric suddenly grabbed his wrist firmly, turning his hand over so that it was palm up.  Eric's grip was strong and painful, but Quentin kept quiet and merely looked at his brother-in-law.  </div> <div>      Eric let him go, thrusting his hand away in disgust.  "You're no laborer," he said contemptuously.  "Where do you get your money?  You peddle hooch?"</div> <div>      "I'm not a gangster," Quentin snapped, insulted.</div> <div>      "Eric, he's a writer.  He's writing about those boys that killed Bobby Franks," Beth put in placatingly.  "And he plays the piano beautifully."</div> <div>      "A writer AND a piano player?  What kind of man's work is that?  You think you can make enough money as a pansy writer to support my sister?"</div> <div>      "Not only could I support your sister, with the money I have I could support you and your whole family, Eric," Quentin retorted, flushing with anger.  He'd forgotten to count to ten.  "I don't need to write or play the piano.  I'd still have enough money to buy this house and ten others like it."</div> <div>      "Oh, a rich boy, eh?  You're not buying THIS house.  I worked hard and paid for this house with my sweat.  I don't think you would know about that, would you?  What's a high society nabob like you doing mucking around with people like us?"</div> <div>      "Eric!" Beth said, shocked and angry.  "Don't talk to him that way!"</div> <div>      "It's all right, Beth," Quentin said.  "I can take care of myself.  Do you think I'm soft because I have money?  I'm not, Eric.  And I made money on what I already had because I'm not a blockhead.  I've made some good business deals, Eric.  There's other ways of working--just because my hands aren't rough and covered with blood like yours doesn't mean I don't know how to work."  Eric half-turned to Annie and spoke to her in the foreign language again.  "Excuse me, but what you're doing is rude and ignorant.  If you're going to talk around me, talk in English or at least teach me that language you're speaking. What is it, anyway?  German?  Or Norwegian?"</div> <div>      "You don't tell me how to act in my own house!" Eric flared suddenly.  "Smart and rich you might be, but I can take you apart, you sissy."</div> <div>      "That may be true," Quentin responded hotly, "but you won't have such an easy time of it.  Come on.  You want to try and take me apart?"  Both women intervened as their men glared at each other.  "No, Beth, I tried to be nice to this gorilla, but I don't think he'll be satisfied until we fight."</div> <div>      "Gorilla?" Eric roared.  "Outside, you!"</div> <div>      Quentin got up abruptly, knocking his chair over.</div> <div>      "Quentin, no!"  Beth protested.</div> <div>      He looked at her and took her elbows.  "He's never going to respect me, Beth, if you don't let me take care of this myself."  Resigned, Beth stepped back, clutching her childrens' hands.  Quentin went outside and drew in a deep breath, trying to remember everything he'd learned about boxing.  Whenever he'd gotten into fights recently, he'd resorted to street tactics to try and beat his opponent.  This time, he wanted to try and embarrass Eric--that was the only way to make the man realize he wasn't a sissy.</div> <div>      The children gathered around in a circle, excited, and Quentin and Eric circled each other.  Eric charged and threw a roundhouse blow at Quentin, who easily sidestepped him and punched the giant on the jaw.  Eric shook his head, cleared it, and charged again.  Quentin sidestepped out of his way again, this time hitting him in the abdomen.  Eric had tight muscles; Quentin's knuckles hurt, but the big man went down on his knees.  Breathing heavily, Eric got up again and lumbered after Quentin, who began throwing jabs to Eric's jaw.  As before, the punches seemed to be ineffective, and Quentin ducked under another roundhouse punch and hit Eric in the belly again.  "Oooof!" Eric said explosively, and sank down to his knees again.  That was his weak spot, and that was where Quentin would concentrate his next blows if Eric got up again.</div> <div>      Quentin circled him cautiously, watching him, wondering if he was going to get up again.  Eric held on to his middle and spat blood.  He didn't look like he was going to do anything further, so Quentin stopped moving and dropped his fists.  Apparently, that was what Eric was waiting for because he lunged suddenly, grabbing Quentin around the knees and knocking him flat on his back.  He pressed his knees onto Quentin's shoulders to hold him down.  Eric hit him in the face twice and then stopped.  He got up, breathing heavily and then reached out a hand to Quentin.  "Okay, you win," he said grudgingly.  "Come, get up."</div> <div>      Quentin grabbed Eric's hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.  His head was spinning around from the force of the blows, and he staggered a little.  Beth gasped, but Eric caught him and sat him down.  "I'm sorry, that was a dirty trick," Eric said apologetically.</div> <div>      Quentin held his aching head.  Everything was still spinning. He understood that he'd won the fight, but that Eric wanted to prove he was still in control of the house. "I guess we're even then.  Does this make us square, Eric?"</div> <div>      Eric slapped him on the back and he winced.  "Ja, we're even now.  I see you are no pansy.  Annie, bring us beer."</div> <div>      Beth was kneeling beside Quentin; the two children were peering at him curiously.  "Oh, Quentin--" she began.</div> <div>      "I'm all right, Beth," he said.  He didn't want her babying him in front of Eric.  He didn't want to have to do this again.  He watched Eric spitting more blood.  He guessed Eric didn't want to do this again, either.  "What's the matter with your belly?"</div> <div>      "Ach, pulled a belly muscle lifting steers."</div> <div>      Annie asked a question in their foreign language.  Beth translated for Quentin.  They were speaking German, and Annie wanted to know why Eric was spitting blood.  Eric answered in German; Annie went into the house and came back with ice wrapped in a wash cloth.  "He's got some loose teeth, Quentin," Beth explained softly.  So much for the punches to the jaw being ineffective, Quentin thought, feeling just a little self-satisfied.  Annie had another piece of ice wrapped in a washcloth, and she gave it to Beth who held it against Quentin's eye.</div> <div>      After a couple of beers, Eric and Quentin had become tentative friends.  "Where you gonna live, anyway?" Eric asked eventually.  "You're not gonna move out, are you?"</div> <div>      "We hadn't decided yet."</div> <div>      "There's no reason you got to go.  You know that Kristin has her own little place, right?  Has a separate entrance so you can have your privacy.  It's up to you two, though..."</div> <div>      "Well, thanks.  We appreciate it."</div> <div>      "Although maybe you want more privacy--you just got married, I mean.  You want to go stay by yourselves for a few days?  You going to have a honeymoon?"</div> <div>      Quentin looked at Beth.  "It would be nice to get away for a night or two."  He looked back at Eric.  "You really don't mind?"</div> <div>      "No, no, no.  We got so many kids, what's two more for a couple days?  Besides, Peter and Katie are like two of our own anyhow."</div> <div>      Beth didn't think that Peter and Katie would like the idea very much, and they didn't.  They cried, so she and Quentin stayed with them until they'd fallen asleep.  Then Beth packed an overnight bag.  Annie gave them both a big hug and kiss goodnight, and Eric shook hands with Quentin.  The handshake hurt, but it was given in friendship this time and was just Eric's way so Quentin didn't complain.  On the way back to the hotel, Beth asked about Quentin's things.</div> <div>      It was after nine.  "It's kind of late, Beth," Quentin hesitated.  Nora would still be up and might even be home; he doubted Phillip would be there.  Maybe it was a good idea, after all.  "Okay," he said.  "Let's go get some of my things."</div> <div>      "I might like to talk to Nora again," Beth said.  "Especially after what you've told me.  She must be so unhappy, Quentin."</div> <div>      "That's true.  I know how much she and Jamison loved you when they were children.  I don't know what she'll make of this, though."</div> <div>      "Let's just see how she reacts when we get there."</div> <div>      "IF she's there."</div> <div>      Quentin took Beth in through the back and found Mrs. Cleary.  Her face lit up when she saw Quentin; then she looked distressed.  "Ah, Frank, you're back!  And this would be Mrs. Frank, is it?"</div> <div>      "Why, yes," Quentin said, surprised.  "How did you know? Beth, this is Mrs. Cleary.  Mrs. Cleary, my wife, Beth."</div> <div>      "Hello," Beth said shyly, but Mrs. Cleary threw her arms around Beth and hugged her.  </div> <div>      "It's beautiful y'are, my dear, and I do see how Frank could fall in love with you so quickly then."  Turning to answer Quentin, she said, "Oh, Mr. Billings was all full of the news he was.  Oh, what a ruckus he made, he did."</div> <div>      "Quentin--" Beth said nervously.</div> <div>      "It's all right," Quentin reassured her.  "Phillip's a jackass."  Mrs. Cleary snickered and sputtered.  "Is he here?"</div> <div>      "D'ye know what time it tis, then?  You know he leaves after supper and doesn't be comin in 'til the wee hours of the mornin'."</div> <div>      "Is Mrs. Billings--Nora--here?"</div> <div>      "That she is.  Ye'll find her in the sitting room still.  She's only just come in from her church meetin, then, and is still taking a cup o'tea."</div> <div>      "Thank you, Mrs. Cleary."  Mrs. Cleary winked and kissed him on the cheek.  He blushed, surprised, and took Beth's hand.  "Let's go find Nora."  They went down the hall and to the sitting room.  Nora sat with her back to them, sitting on a sofa, sipping her tea.  Quentin cleared his throat.</div> <div>      Nora set the tea cup down. "What have you done?" she demanded in an imperious tone, standing up and turning around.  Her mouth fell open and Quentin was sorely tempted to laugh but he controlled himself.  Nora's eyes widened, and she seemed so shocked she couldn't speak.</div> <div>      Quentin led Beth over to Nora.  "Nora, you remember Beth?  It's an awfully long story, but this is really Beth, Nora.  And we're married."  He was surprised to see that Nora's eyes had instantly filled with tears and were spilling over.  "Nora?"</div> <div>      "Hush," she hissed at him.  She grabbed Beth's hands and began to weep.  "Beth, is it really you?"</div> <div>      "Oh, Nora," Beth said with compassion and put her arms around her, holding her as if she was a little child again.  Nora wept on her shoulder.  Beth looked at Quentin.  "Why don't you go pack your bag?" she whispered. "Let me talk to Nora a few minutes."</div> <div>      Quentin felt a little disgruntled but he could see he wasn't welcome and wasn't going to be helpful by staying.  He went upstairs to pack his bag.  He thought he'd better take his time about it, too.  When he felt like he'd wasted enough time, he closed the bag and came back downstairs to the sitting room.  Nora and Beth were sitting side by side on the sofa, hands clasped, talking quietly.  He stood, watching them, afraid to intrude.  Nora finally noticed him and smiled at him a little.  "Don't just stand there, Uncle Quentin. Come in."  Reluctantly, sighing, he came in and sat down next to Beth.  He really didn't want to stay long. He fiddled with his ring impatiently.</div> <div>      "Do you want me to tell Father?"  Nora asked.</div> <div>      "No, please don't," Quentin said.  "Let me call him and let him know."</div> <div>      "All right.  Beth tells me you have a place to stay?  You're not going to just leave without saying goodbye to everyone?"</div> <div>      "No, of course not.  I only took some clothes.  I'll come back for the rest of my things.  We'll come back to visit you and the children."</div> <div>      "I hope so," Nora sighed forlornly.</div> <div>      "Of course we will," Beth assured her.  She looked at Nora sadly.  "You are our family, too, Nora."</div> <div>      Nora began to cry again, silently, tears streaming from her eyes.  "Please don't forget me," she whispered.</div> <div>      That really hurt.  "We won't forget you, Nora," Quentin said, feeling himself becoming emotional too.  "I really want us to be better friends.  We'll see you, and maybe this time you'll come with us to Lincoln Park--with the children."  Nora nodded but didn't say anything in return.  "We'd better go now--just for a day or two.  Then we'll be back."</div> <div>      Nora saw them to the door and shut the door behind them.  As they walked down the street, Beth put her arm around Quentin's waist for comfort.  "I feel so sad for her," she said tearfully.  "The poor thing is so unhappy!"</div> <div>      "I know," Quentin agreed.  "You see what I mean about how she is?  And Jamison--"  He broke off.  "Beth, there's so much I have to tell you, but I don't want to do it right now.  I just want to be with you again.  Do you understand?"</div> <div>      "Yes," she answered slowly, holding onto him more tightly.  "We have plenty of time to talk later."  They took a cab back to the hotel room.</div> <div>      A bell boy carried their luggage up to their room. With the tip, Quentin slipped the young man some extra bills and asked him to send up a bottle of champagne.  When he went into their room, he saw that Beth had already stretched out full length on the bed.  He ran and jumped toward the bed.  Beth squealed and laughed as he landed beside her, then crawled on top of her.  He supported his weight on his arms so that he wouldn't crush her.  They were both laughing.  Then he leaned down and kissed her.</div> <div>      She reached up to touch his injured cheek.  "I'm glad he didn't hurt you.  We got the ice on in time.  There's no bruise."</div> <div>      Quentin laughed and rolled over onto his back.  "That's not why there's no bruise.  This is the first thing I need to tell you so I can get all the sympathy I can from you, my dear."  She turned over on her side toward him and raised herself on her elbow.  </div> <div>      "What are you talking about?"</div> <div>      "Do  you remember my portrait, Beth?  The one Tate painted?"</div> <div>      "Yes, the one that cured you."</div> <div>      "Right.  My love, it has other powers too.  That's why I don't have a black eye.  I get a little ding and it magically goes away--on the outside, anyway.  But, Beth, your brother packs one hell of a wallop.  I was still sore from the first time he whaled on me."</div> <div>      "Oh!"  Beth cried, distressed.  "You poor thing!"  She kissed his cheek gently.  "Is that better?"</div> <div>      "A little.  He hit me here, too," Quentin indicated the other side of his jaw.  Laughing, Beth kissed the spot he pointed to.  He put his arms around her and pulled her down on top of him.  He winced when she pressed against his ribs; at the same time, the bell boy rapped at the door.  "It's the champagne," he said softly.  She got up, and he rolled off the bed to answer the door.  He slipped another bill to the bellboy and whispered, "Make sure we're not disturbed for any reason, OK?"  Delighted, the bell boy nodded.</div> <div>      Quentin brought the champagne on ice over to the bed.  Beth was just sitting up.  "Shall we?  Or shall we wait?"</div> <div>      "We can wait a few minutes," she said, smiling at him.  "Where else did Eric hurt you?  I saw your face you when you pulled me onto you."</div> <div>      "Oh, that?"  He set the bucket down on the table near the bed.  He climbed back onto the bed and laid on his back.  "Here," he said, pulling up his shirt and pointing to his ribs.</div> <div>      "Here?"  Beth asked, pressing gently.</div> <div>      "Oooh," he groaned, looking for sympathy.</div> <div>      Beth looked concerned.  "Does it hurt when you breathe?"</div> <div>      "Not a lot. I don't think my bones will break, to be honest with you."  She ran her fingers over his ribs lightly, becoming the professional nurse. She frowned, concentrating.  That wasn't what he wanted at all.  "Beth, c'mere, you won't hurt me."  He tried to pull her toward him.  She looked at him, and the frown lifted just as quickly as it had appeared.  She smiled knowingly.</div> <div>      She straddled his hips and leaned over to kiss him.  "We'll stay away from that sore spot," she said softly.  Her hands were going further up inside his shirt as she kissed him.  He could feel her fingernails lightly raking his chest as she stroked him under the shirt.  It made him shiver with pleasure, raising goosebumps on his arms.  He reached up and slowly unbuttoned her the top of her lilac dress; at the same time, she unbuttoned his shirt.  He managed to unhook her bra. She pulled the top of the dress down and shook her bra off. She rocked back a little on his hips, slowly swaying back and forth.</div> <div>      "You're so beautiful," he whispered, feeling himself becoming hard.  He reached up to fondle her breasts, squeezing them gently and rolling the nipples between his fingers until they became hard.  Now she was shivering with delight.  He rolled her over so that now she was lying on her back, moving his mouth to her breasts, sucking at one while playing with the nipple of the other one.  She was busy too.  Her hands had moved around behind him and was up under his shirt, scratching circles on his back.  Slowly she moved down until she got to his pants.  "Wait, let me get them off," he said huskily.  He stripped off his pants and underwear, and turned back toward her. </div> <div> She'd removed her dress but hadn't had a chance to take off her slip or stockings. </div> <div>      She met him with her mouth, taking him in deeply.  "Oh!" he exclaimed with surprised pleasure.  It was exciting to watch himself slide into her mouth and to feel as if he was going to go right down her throat.  As she moved her mouth back up his shaft, she used her hand to encircle him, so that when she next took him in, he first went through the palm of her hand.  She'd made her hand the size of her opening, so he felt almost as if he were sliding into her.  If this went on very much longer, he was going to come right in her mouth which would be very nice.  Even nicer would be coming inside her, so he managed to reach his arm around to her stockinged leg, trying to caress her with his finger tips through the silk as he worked his way up her slip.</div> <div>      Beth paused a moment to sigh deeply, contented.  He'd gotten his hand further up the slip past the stocking and tickled the inside of her thigh.  Beth let go of him immediately.  "Quentin!  You know I'm ticklish!"</div> <div>      He chuckled.  "I know."</div> <div>      "That wasn't very clever.  What if I'd bitten you?"</div> <div>      "You wouldn't do that," he said, absolutely confident that she would never hurt him.  He tickled her again to make her laugh and shift around.  He moved up further and found--Beth.  "What?" he exclaimed, suddenly becoming very excited.  "Beth!"  He started to pull her slip up over her hips.  She was wearing the garter belt and slip and stockings and nothing else.</div> <div>      "I took it off when the bellboy came," Beth said, laughing.  "Are you surprised?"</div> <div>      "And how!"  The sight of her in the garters and stockings and nothing else suddenly was making him wild. He pushed her onto her back, pushing the slip up around her waist.  Excited, he moved between her legs, parting them. He put his mouth on her, and she gasped.  </div> <div>      "Oh, it's been such a long time--" she squealed, and that was all.  She'd become very slick and slippery.  Immediately, he moved between her legs and slid into her.  She moaned with pleasure, and he moved very slowly inside her, nuzzling and nipping at her breasts again, trying to get her to climax.  She squealed again, ecstatically, and he could feel her moving and contracting around him.  Now it was his turn, and he knew what he wanted.  He moved her stockinged legs up to his shoulders so that he could feel the silky material on his skin.  He was very deep inside her and couldn't control himself anymore.  They cried out together as he climaxed.</div> <div>      They were lying all tangled up together, still breathing heavily.  Beth put her arms around him and pulled him close.  He didn't know if he was crushing her, but she didn't complain.  "It's a miracle," she whispered softly into his ear.  She shifted a little so that he could roll off and lie facing her.</div> <div>      "I know," he agreed, reaching out to stroke her face.  "I was so lonely without you, Beth.  I missed you so much."</div> <div>      "I'm here now, and we're together again.  We'll always be together now, won't we?"  Beth kissed him, stroking his brow, and then giggled.</div> <div>      "What?"</div> <div>      "You were so surprised, Quentin!  I'm always such a 'good' girl--you weren't expecting me to be naked under my skirt already.  I'm just glad I was able to surprise and please you like that!"  She laughed a little harder.  </div> <div>      "You can surprise me like that as often as you want," Quentin said, grinning.  MIschievously, he reached out for her other sensitive ticklish spot, on her side halfway between her hip and ribs.  She jumped and shrieked.</div> <div>      "I'll get you, Quentin," she warned playfully, pushing him onto his back.  She straddled his hips again and began tickling him in earnest.  She knew that he was much more sensitive than she was.  In their past life together, they'd enjoyed a few rare moments of playful behavior and it was in one of those brief moments that she'd learned how sensitive his ribs and underarms were.</div> <div>      "No, stop, Beth!"  Quentin cried out, trying to dislodge her.  They were both laughing like children.  He didn't try very hard to roll her off, but he did bring his arms across his chest to try and protect himself.  That left his neck open, and she remembered that he was also very sensitive between his collarbone and neck so she attacked him there with one hand and went for his belly with the other. "All right, I warned you, now I guess I'll have to get you back."</div> <div>      Quentin sat up and rolled over, pinning Beth underneath.  He was pulling her slip up again to reach the inside of her thighs. "No, you don't," she protested, thrashing her legs around.  They were both laughing so hard, they were nearly in tears.  Quentin rolled over again, pulling Beth with him.  "Quentin--" Beth cried out, realizing before he did that they were going to roll off the bed.  Fortunately for her, he was still under her and didn't crush her when they fell to the floor.  They landed in a crashing heap.  "Quentin!  Are you all right?"  Beth gasped.</div> <div>      He was laughing so hard, he couldn't answer her.  Reassured, she laughed with him.  "You're incorrigible!"  she exclaimed.  "Oh, Quentin, I love you so much!"  She tickled his neck again.  "Take that, my gallant lover, you!"</div> <div>      "I'll get you back!" he said, reaching for her.  She jumped up and sprang away, giggling.  Laughing, he got up and pursued her around a sitting chair and back to the bed.  They fell onto it together, wrestling playfully.  There was a sharp rapping at the door.  Beth burst out laughing, grabbing a pillow and burying her face into it.  Quentin tried to compose himself.  "Yes?" he called, remembering he'd asked the bellboy to make sure they weren't disturbed.  They must be making too much noise.</div> <div>      "Ah, sir?" the bellboy said hesitantly.  "Is everything all right in there?"</div> <div>      Beth burrowed deeper into the pillow, kicking her legs up and down now, her body shaking with spasms of laughter.</div> <div>      "Yes," Quentin called back.  "Everything is just dandy."</div> <div>      "The old couple downstairs were concerned, sir."</div> <div>      Quentin started laughing but managed to control himself enough to call back:  "Please assure them that everything is all right!  Nothing to be concerned about!"  He heard the footsteps of the bellboy receding and burst out laughing again.  Beth got up and threw her arms around him, rolling him over.  They held onto each other, laughing until they cried.</div> <div>      "Do you think--that old couple knew--what we were up to?" Beth finally gasped out.</div> <div>      "It depends on how old they are.  Do you think old people still do it?"  Beth laughed and shook her head, and then she suddenly became serious.  "What?"  he asked, concerned.</div> <div>      "I'm going to get older, you know," she answered.  Reading her expression, he realized this was the first time the idea was occuring to her.  "I'm already 27, Quentin, and I'll be 28 on my next birthday.  In ten years, I might look like Nora."</div> <div>      "But maybe you won't," he answered.  "Besides, what difference does it make?  I like--what is that word Annie used?  Zaftig?"</div> <div>      "But, Quentin, I'll LOOK older and you won't.  And what about when I'm 47, and you still look like you do now?  Won't you be tired of me, then?  Maybe I won't be pretty anymore."  Her mood changed just like that, as quickly as turning the page of a book.  Her eyes filled up with tears and spilled over.</div> <div>      "Beth, Beth, don't," he said, putting a comforting arm around her.  "Please believe me, I love you.  I'll always love you."</div> <div>      "You say that now, but--"</div> <div>      He covered his mouth with hers.  "I didn't marry you just because you are beautiful to look at," he assured her as he kissed her.  "You're beautiful on the inside, Beth.  I need you.  I'll always need you."  He stopped kissing her to wipe away her tears with his fingers, very gently.  "Please don't cry.  I can't stand it when you  do, Beth.  It breaks my heart."</div> <div>      She laughed a little.  "Oh, Quentin, you have such a smooth tongue."</div> <div>      He stuck his tongue out and moved it around in a swirling motion, very lewdly.  "I know," he said, kidding her.  "It took a lot of practice, but it is pretty smooth, isn't it?"</div> <div>      She pushed his shoulder.  "You know that's not what I meant!  Oh, you're AWFUL," she cried but then she collapsed again, helpless with laughter.</div> <div>      "That's better," he said, whispering into her ear.  "My Beth!  I want to keep you smiling and laughing forever."  He kissed her earlobe gently, and she sighed, contented.  Then he stuck his tongue in hear ear and said, "Oh, and coming, too."  She shrieked with laughter again.  "Hey, hey! Ssh!  The old couple!"  She was shaking again with laughter and buried her face into the pillow again.  He was pleased and so busy watching her, he didn't see her snake out her hand to tickle him under the arm.  Laughing, he rolled her over and the play-wrestled again, even as he felt himself becoming erect again.  This time he would ask her to get on top of him so that he could see her pretty face clearly and so that he could touch her breasts freely.</div> <div>      They had meals sent to the room so that they could be totally alone to talk, play, or make love.  When the room became too hot in spite of the open windows and fans, they filled the tub with water and got in together.  With careful manuevering, she was able to sit on his lap, and he could slide into her.  They both enjoyed that a lot because the water was cool and it was so different.  They could touch each other, kiss, and talk, and one or the other would move gently so that he would stay erect and inside her.  When he couldn't stand it anymore, she moved up, down, and around to bring him to a climax.  "I've never done it that way before," he said, the first time they tried it.  "I like it.  We have to go to Cuddeback next summer, Beth.  In the river, where the water's cool--like this.  I can stand up, and you can put your legs around my hips and then--" he jerked his hips up and down to show her.</div> <div>      Beth giggled.  "You've done it that way, haven't you?"</div> <div>      After a pause, he said, "Yes, I have.  It didn't feel as good as this, though."  She looked at him appraisingly.  He thought she was wondering if he was telling her the truth.  "Beth, I promised you I wouldn't lie to you, and I didn't. I did it that way with someone else, and I liked it.  I liked it a lot, but it's like I told her--the woman, I mean--something was missing from it.  That was you.  And that's the God's honest truth, I swear it."</div> <div>      "I believe you," she said, to his relief.  "I know you've probably been with lots and lots of women.  My feelings aren't hurt, you know.  I know you'd never have been able to live like a monk or a priest."</div> <div>      "Ha!" he said, grinning.  "Beth, can you see me in a priest's collar?  Hearing confessions in a little dark room!  I don't think I'd last a day!"</div> <div>      "I don't think you would, either," Beth laughed, kissing him.  Then she looked at him very seriously.  "I'm not exactly the same as I was before, Quentin.  There are some things I just won't put up with.  I won't be made a fool of."</div> <div>      "I won't," he swore, thinking of poor Nora.  "I won't do anything that would make a fool out of you."  Now he became serious, thinking of Nora and Phillip.  With them came the intrusive problem of the gangsters and Bartelli.</div> <div>      "What is it?" she asked.</div> <div>      "I need to tell you some things about me, Beth, and about the family.  It's going to affect you, so you need to know everything about the trouble I'm in.  Why don't we get dressed, and I'll order us some lunch and I can tell you about it?"</div> <div>      Beth had become as serious as he.  She nodded solemnly, and they got out of the tub and dried each other off.  That in itself was erotic, and he could feel himself becoming aroused again but thought he'd have plenty of time later to make love to her again.</div> <bR> <div>      He told her everything that was left to tell over lunch, right up to the point where Phillip had told him Bartelli had become suspicious, suspecting that the trouble between Capone and Masseria was a set up.  He even told her about what Bartelli had done to him, something he'd only been able to admit to Angelique.  It wasn't any easier telling Beth, but he needed her to know the whole truth. He'd become tearful again and was ashamed of it.  She reached for him,  holding him to her breast and rocking him as he told all of it, even the details he hadn't told Angelique.  When everything was told, she looked horrified, frightened, and angry all rolled up together.  "Beth, I just hope that I'm not going to bring any of this onto your head, now.  I've been such a Jonah--"</div> <div>      "Don't talk that way, Quentin Collins," Beth said hotly.  "And what difference does it make, anyway?  I'm your wife now.  I'm going to help you, too.  And that horrible man is never going to touch you again, not even if I have to kill him myself."  She spoke with such angry conviction that Quentin believed she really would kill Bartelli if she could.  He threw his arms around her gratefully.  "You say that you've made a plan with your friends to trap that animal.  I don't want you to leave me out.  I want to be part of it."</div> <div>      "I don't want you in danger, or the children--" Quentin began.</div> <div>      "Quentin, don't you DARE leave me out of whatever it is you're doing.  Don't you dare!"</div> <div>      The intensity of emotion in her eyes was intimidating.  He was suddenly afraid of what she might be capable of.  "I won't leave you out, I promise.  Beth, you're scaring me.  I've never seen you look like that before.  Not even when--"  he broke off suddenly.  He was thinking that even when she pulled a gun on him in her earlier life, she hadn't looked as dangerous as she did now.  He didn't want to remind her of that, though.</div> <div>      She put her hands on either side of his face and tried to smile at him.  "I don't want to frighten you.  I just want you to know that I'm going to help you, too.  I hate that monster even more than you do--I don't know if you can believe that.  He hurt you and by hurting you, he hurt me, too.  And I hate him for what he did to you--in 1897 and now.  He deserves whatever he gets from CaraLinda's people."  He pulled her to him again.</div> <div>      They decided they would spend one more loving, carefree night in the hotel and then return to the Billings' house to get his things.  Beth's family didn't live that far away, but they were worlds away in terms of class.  Although Quentin couldn't forsee bringing the families together, he didn't see any reason why he and Beth couldn't visit the Billings' as often as they liked.  Perhaps he could persuade Nora to let him bring Mary Jane to the Janssens' for occasional visits.  He thought the little girl would enjoy a house full of children.  He and Beth would have to seek out CaraLinda to plan their next moves.</div> <div>      The next morning, after waking up to make love one more time and have breakfast together, Quentin and Beth left the hotel to go to the Billings' house.  As they walked down the block toward a cab, Quentin became aware of footsteps behind them.  He stopped and turned to see who was following them.  Beth turned, too, and gasped.  It was Angelique.  "My God!  It's that woman!"  In spite of what Quentin had told her, she'd been unprepared to see the woman who'd caused so much trouble in her first life.</div> <div>      Angelique ignored her.  She focused on Quentin, glaring at him furiously.  "I told you not to do anything impulsive!  I should've known better than to think you would take my advice!"  Quentin put his arm around Beth protectively and opened his mouth to protest.  Angelique closed her hands into fists, and Quentin fully expected to be slapped.  Angelique controlled herself with visible effort and said through her teeth, "No, be quiet, you fool!  I don't want to hear it.  Listen to me very carefully.  While you have been frolicking with your WIFE, Count Petofi has been a very busy man.  First of all, you'd better contact Nora--immediately.  She's frantic and about to leave for Collinsport even though she desperately wanted to get ahold of you first.  You didn't bother to tell her WHERE you two would be staying, did you?"</div> <div>      Quentin ignored the question.  "Why is she trying to find me?  What happened in Collinsport?"</div> <div>      "Shut your mouth and just listen to me!  Petofi is here, now, in Chicago.  He is looking for you, and he will find you if you're not very careful--you and your precious Beth!  I don't think you'd like that, Quentin."</div> <div>      Beth drew her breath in sharply.  "My God, he's here now!"</div> <div>      Angelique looked at her briefly.  "Yes, dear Beth.  And instead of preparing and being ready for this--although he KNEW it was going to happen--Quentin has been behaving like a lovesick schoolboy!"</div> <div>      Quentin held Beth tightly.  He could feel her about to strike out or make an angry retort and he didn't want her to do that.  Angelique was glaring at him again.  She said spitefully, "I have done just about all I can do for you now, Quentin.  Call Nora--now.  Don't go there.  The house is being watched.  Do what you must to protect your family.  And come up with a plan to deal with Petofi--quickly. Oh, and one more thing, Quentin.  Where is your portrait?"</div> <div>      Quentin hesitated, then replied, "I told you it was locked up."  At Angelique's intense look, he added, "All right, Fred Bishop-my lawyer-has it locked in a vault in his office building in Rockport."</div> <div>      "Give me the key-NOW."</div> <div>      "What for?"</div> <div>      "If you value your freedom, you'll trust me and give it to me.  Where is it?"  When Quentin began pulled out his wallet and began to go into one of the small inner pockets, Angelique's eyes widened with surprise and irritation.  He pulled out a key and handed it to her.  She shook her head at him.  Contemptuously, she said, "I might have know you'd be foolish enough to carry it with you.  What if he'd caught you now?  How easily he would've retrieved it from you!"  She put the key into her clasp purse, and then she looked at Quentin and Beth. "You are on your own now-both of you, the gypsy, and your friends.  I warn you, though--take care.  I would hate to see all my effort wasted."  She brought her hand up, and he flinched.  She smiled mockingly, caressed his cheek gently, then turned and walked down the street.</div> <div>      "I know she said she helped you, Quentin, but I really despise that woman," Beth said through her teeth. "Should you have given her the key to the vault?" </div> <div>      "I don't understand her, my love, but I've learned to trust her.  She's usually right, even if she is obnoxious about it.  We need to call Nora."</div> <div>      They turned and went back into the hotel to call Nora.  Mrs. Cleary answered.  "Ah, Frank! Tis good you called!  Mrs. Billings has been near frantic, hopin to hear from you."</div> <div>      After a few moments, Nora was on the line, sounding every bit as frantic and upset as described.  "Uncle Quentin, where have you BEEN?  We are just getting ready to leave, and I didn't think I'd be able to reach you before we left.  I am SO upset with you!  You should've told me where you were staying!  Do you have any idea how many hotels there are in Chicago?  And I didn't even know what name you'd registered under!"  She sounded exactly like Judith then, who'd scolded him in the same tone of voice when he was a child.</div> <div>      "I'm sorry, Nora.  What's going on?  Is it Jamison?"</div> <div>      "No, it's Father!  There was some kind of accident with the nanny and the children--something about wild dogs.  And Father had a massive stroke!  The doctor says it's very serious, so we're leaving now!"  She broke into sobs.  "I don't know if he's going to live, Uncle Quentin!"  Quentin drew his breath in sharply, feeling sick.  "Are you there?"</div> <div>      "Yes, I'm here, Nora," he answered finally, beginning to tremble.  "Nora?  Where is he?  Collinsport Hospital?"  At that, Beth grabbed his arm to provide support.</div> <div>      "Yes--he's too ill to be moved anywhere else.  Do you want me to wait for you?"</div> <div>      "No--go on.  I'll meet you up there with Beth.  I have to take care of a few things here, and then we'll be on our way."</div> <div>      "All right, but don't delay too long.  I only hope I can get there--"  Nora broke off, too emotional to complete her sentence.  "Goodbye," she managed to choke out and hung up.</div> <div>      Quentin hung up and looked at Beth, stricken.  She put her arms around him to comfort him.  "Is it Jamison?" she asked quietly.</div> <div>      "No," he answered in a stunned voice. "It's Edward," he went on thickly.  "He's had a stroke.  The doctor said it was serious.  And Nora said something about some kind of an accident with the children--Elizabeth and Roger.  I have to see him, Beth."</div> <div>      "Of course you do."</div> <div>      "I have to talk to CaraLinda first--you heard Angelique.  He's here--now."  Quentin thought rapidly.  It helped him control the panic he felt.  "We'll have to take Peter and Katie with us, Beth.  I wouldn't feel safe leaving them here--not with Petofi here."</div> <div>      Beth's eyes widened in sudden terror.  "Do you think he'd find out about us so soon?"</div> <div>      "He's a calculating, persistent, clever man--that's how he became as powerful as he has.  I really don't want to take that chance with the children, do you?"  Quentin thought.  "I could take you all to New York.  Maybe you could stay with the Healeys…"</div> <div>      "I don't want you to go to Collinsport alone," Beth objected.</div> <div>      Quentin kissed her.  "My Beth!" he exclaimed gratefully.  "Thank you--I have a feeling I'm going to need you, very badly.  But the children?"</div> <div>      "We'll figure it out, Quentin."</div> <div>      "We'll have to slip in and out of the hospital, you know.  We can't take them with us to Collinsport."</div> <div>      "Aren't you going to Collinwood?"</div> <div>      "Not after what Angelique said.  I think Bartelli-Petofi-caused all this.  I don't want the rest of the family to be endangered any further.  I'm sure he's having the house watched--expecting me to show up there."</div> <div>      Beth put her hands to her face, becoming pale.  "Oh, my God, what an evil man he is!"</div> <div>      Quentin turned from her and picked up the phone to call Dave.  He explained rapidly what had happened.</div> <div>      "So that devil-man is here again," Dave said softly, not without fear in his voice.  "Look, Franky, you're welcome to come here so we can talk about this here thing.  Only problem is, that ole devil-man may be watching me too."</div> <div>      That was entirely possible.  Quentin was silent, frightened and worried.  "Have you seen anyone around, Dave?"</div> <div>      "Not yet, but you better believe I'm gonna be lookin now."  After a slight hesitation, Dave continued, "Listen, about going to New York--ole devil man might know about that family of Ruth's.  He's a VERY thorough man, buddy, we know that for sure."</div> <div>      "Oh, my God," Quentin whispered.</div> <div>      "Listen, Franky, what about Cholly?  Take your family to Cholly.  Ole devil-man might know `bout that trouble between you two. He won't think you'd go to him after that fight."</div> <div>      "That's true," Quentin answered, thinking.  "Do you think Cholly would help me?"</div> <div>      "Yeah, I do, Franky. I really do.  You get to New York and take your family to Cholly.  Me, I'm gonna warn CaraLinda.  I know devil-man's gonna be lookin for you, but we'll see if we can't think of some way to keep him busy here until you can get back."</div> <div>      "Dave--"</div> <div>      "Don't worry, son.  CaraLinda has a big family.  They'll help--you don't worry about me.  You worry about youself and your family, you hear me?"</div> <div>      "Thanks, Dave," Quentin said gratefully.  "I'll never forget what a good friend you really are."  He hung up, hoping it wasn't the last time he'd be speaking to Dave.  He looked at Beth, who was looking back with huge but determined eyes.  "We're going to New York first.  Let's get the children."</div> <div>      They told Annie the truth--that Edward had had a stroke and they had to get to Maine as quickly as possible.  She didn't understand why the children had to go, but Beth covered up by explaining that even under these unfortunate circumstances, it would give the rest of the family an opportunity to meet Peter and Katie.  That seemed to satisfy Annie.  They packed the bare necessities and left in a cab.  Quentin asked to go to the airport.  Beth looked at him, surprised.</div> <div>      "I can fly a plane, Beth," he explained.  "I don't want to waste time with a train."  He shook his head as if to clear it because he felt his eyes filling with the unwanted tears again.  Beth put her hand over his.  "It's just that I have a feeling we're all out of time."  He looked out the window of the cab, hoping he was wrong.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" > </FONT> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17: Beth"><U>17:  Beth</U></A>    <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="19: Petofi Strikes"><U>19:  Petofi Strikes</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Taking Wooden Nickels"><U>Taking Wooden Nickels</U></A>    <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U>Cassie's Writing</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>