Disclaimer: Thanks to Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide, CBS, TNN and Hallmark Channel for bringing this wonderful to us. And thanks to those seven wonderful actors for bringing their characters to life.
Thanks Rowan for the beta and all the assistance you gave us in completing this story. Your help was immeasurable, sister.
Chris Larabee zipped his bag closed and set it on the floor. Looking around the room he mentally catalogued the items he'd already packed. Walking into the bathroom, he double-checked that he hadn't forgotten anything.
He'd spent the last month getting everything in order at the office so that he could make this trip to Ohio. He spoke several times a week to his daughter, Danielle, and to Michael McCarter, the man who had raised her. Ever since Dani had come into his life, he'd planned a trip to Ohio to meet the man who had raised the young girl as his own, even though she was Chris' daughter.
Chris smiled. His daughter. He got a kick every time he thought of her, which he did often. It had only been a month since she had shown up on his doorstep, looking for him. A teenager whom he'd never known existed until that moment. And now he was on his way to see her again and meet the man she called 'Dad.'
Chris' biggest regret was that he hadn't been in her life from the very beginning. But he'd come to terms with the reasons behind her mother keeping her a secret from him. He didn't like it; he didn't agree with it. But he had come to understand and accept it.
"Chris, you ready to go?"
"Be right down, Vin," he called back. Chris picked up his bag and left the room, flipping the light off as he walked out the door.
"Buck is outside already. I won't swear to it, but I think he's anxious for you to be gone," Vin teased.
"More likely he's anxious to see Maria. He plans to spend the night in Reno and hook up with a lady friend. It's the only reason he was so quick to offer to drive me to the airport."
"I wondered about that. You be sure to give Dani a hug for me, Cowboy."
"I'll be more than happy to." Chris smiled at his friend as he grabbed his bag and walked out the door. "You got the numbers, right?"
"I've got them Chris. You've asked me that four times just this morning. You got your ticket?"
Chris patted his jacket pocket, but didn't hear the familiar crinkle of paper. "Where...?"
"Chris, let's go!" Wilmington yelled from outside.
"My ticket! Where the hell is my ticket?" Chris was turning around, looking all over, allowing Vin to see the missing tickets in the side pocket of Larabee's bag. He grabbed Chris' arm to stop him from moving again. Reaching down, he pulled the tickets from the bag and handed them to his friend.
"Thanks. Sorry, I guess I'm just a bit nervous."
"No? Really?" Tanner smiled at his normally self-assured and calm friend. "Larabee, c'mon, you're gonna be late!"
"Keep your pants on, Buck!" Chris turned to Vin. "On second thought, maybe that wasn't the best way to put it," he mumbled. Tanner laughed.
"C'mon, pard. Let's get a move on," Buck shouted as he strode through the door. "I don't want to keep the ladies waiting." He grabbed Chris' bag from his hand and walked back out.
"You are going to keep to the speed limit, aren't you Buck?" Chris called after him as he and Vin followed the big man out the door.
"We shall see, pard, we shall see," Wilmington said with a huge grin on his face. He put Chris' luggage in the back seat of his truck.
"Buck, I do plan on making it to Ohio in one piece. If you do anything to jeopardize that I will have to shoot you."
Buck immediately sobered. "Don't worry, Chris. I'll get ya there in one piece. I promise. I wouldn't do anything to hurt that little girl."
"I know, Buck. I just wanted to remind you of the reason for this trip."
"Understood, Pard. But I sure am looking forward to seeing Maria again, too!"
"You'll never change, Buck."
"Aw, hell, Chris, who would want me too?"
"He's gotcha there, Cowboy," Vin remarked.
"Yeah, if he ever changed, it would the first sign of Armageddon."
"Have a good trip and take lots of pictures," Vin ordered.
"You got it. I'll call you later tonight."
"Just enjoy your trip."
Chris climbed into the truck, closing the door behind him. Vin leaned on the window. "Call you if have any problems," Chris told him.
"I think I can handle it. Buck, get him out of here."
"See ya, Vin," Buck called, starting up the motor and putting the vehicle in gear.
Tanner slapped a hand on the truck roof and backed away, watching the truck move off down the road. He turned and headed toward the barn.
"Chris!"
At the yell, Larabee turned around. He felt the smile growing large on his face as he watched his daughter make her way through the crowd toward him. He dropped his bag as she got closer, prepared when she lunged toward him.
"Angel! Oh, I missed you!" he exclaimed as wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm so glad you came," she said.
They stood in each other's arms for a long minute before Dani finally released her hold and stepped back. She smiled up at him.
"So, how have you been?" she asked. "Did you have a good flight? How's Vin? And Casey and Buck and JD and..."
Chris laughed. "I had a great flight and everyone is fine. Which reminds me..." He pulled her into another hug. "This is from Vin." He tightened his arms around her again.
She laughed and hugged him back.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, having to keep reminding himself that this was his daughter that he was hugging. He leaned back and looked down at her face. Her smile lit up her face as she gazed up at him. Times like this were when he reminded him the most of her mother.
"You ready to go?" he asked quietly.
She nodded. "I can't wait for you to meet Dad. He's been looking forward to your visit. But I think he's a little nervous too."
Chris laughed. "He's not alone," he admitted, reaching down for his bag. He put his other arm around Dani's shoulders and the pair began walking down the concourse. As they walked they talked about what had been happening in their lives.
Dani put the car in park and turned the key. She glanced at Chris. Her father was about to meet her other father. She was nervous, excited, and scared all at the same time. Taking a deep breath, she opened her door and led Chris up the walkway to the front door.
She opened the door and walked in, followed by Chris. "Daddy, we're home," she called out.
"In the living room, Dani."
"Put your bag here, Chris. I'll take it upstairs later." She grabbed his hand and walked down the hall.
Chris had seen several pictures of Michael McCarter in the scrapbook that Dani had brought with her on her trip to Tahoe. But the man before him was a ghost of that man. Anyone who knew him would have been able to tell he was ill. The big, strapping man he'd seen in the pictures wasn't the same man who sat before him. Chris tried to keep his shock from showing on his face.
"Chris, this is my father, Michael. Michael, this is Chris." Dani watched anxiously as the two men met for the first time. Michael stood slowly and reached out a hand.
"Chris Larabee. It's nice to finally meet you."
Chris shook his hand. "As often as we've talked recently, I feel like we already know each other, but it's good to meet you in person."
Michael gestured for Chris to sit down. Sitting back in his recliner, Michael was joined by Dani, who perched on the arm of his chair, placing a hand on his shoulder.
A flash of jealously flared through Chris briefly at seeing her with Michael, but he stifled it. He wanted a relationship with his daughter and he knew that this man would be a large part of that relationship.
Michael patted her hand and grinned at her. "Honey, could you get me something to drink?"
"Sure, Daddy. Juice, water, iced tea?"
"Some juice I think."
"Be right back. Chris, you want something to drink?"
"Some tea would be great, thanks, Angel." Both men watched her leave the room, avoiding looking at each other.
"I can't imagine this is easy for you," Michael commented. "You want her to treat you like a daughter should treat her father, and yet you have to watch her be that way with me."
Chris looked up, almost expecting to see a smirk on Michael's face. But he didn't. All he saw was concern and understanding. So he was honest in his reply.
"It is hard," he admitted. "I guess I got spoiled when she was in Lake Tahoe. I could almost pretend that you didn't exist." He shrugged apologetically.
"I know. I feel that way too, sometimes. It was the hardest thing in the world to encourage her to find you. I was afraid I'd lose her."
"I don't think that will ever happen. That girl loves you."
"Yeah, I know she does. And I want you to know, up front, that I won't do anything to interfere between the two of you."
"I just want to get to know her," Chris insisted. "I want her in my life. Enough time has been wasted."
Michael nodded his agreement. "I understand why Amy did what she did. Several times, I tried to convince her to contact you. I always wanted to adopt Dani, but couldn't without your permission. And yet, I was afraid that if Amy did tell you about her, you would take her away from me. Talk about a Catch-22. But she was my daughter in every way. I've given this a lot of thought, especially in the months since Amy died. I think we can both be involved in Dani's life without causing any hard feelings. I know that girl has enough love for both of us."
Before Chris could respond, Dani returned to the room carrying three glasses. Handing one to Chris, he walked over to Michael's side. "Did you take your pills, Daddy?"
When he shook his head, she walked down the hall, returning with a several bottles of prescription medication. Reading the labels, she doled out the medications and watched as her father swallowed each one. When he was finished, she returned the bottles to the bathroom, then rejoined the men in the living room.
For the remainder of the afternoon, the two men just got to know each other better. Both knew that they needed to put aside any feelings of jealousy or anger for the benefit of the young woman they each called daughter.
Dani flitted around like a nervous butterfly, lighting here and there, before jumping back up again. Finally, Michael grabbed her hand.
"Dani, honey, sit down. You're tiring me out just watching you."
Chris chuckled. He'd been thinking the same thing.
"Sorry, Daddy, I guess I'm just antsy."
"No kidding," he said with a smile. "Why don't you go fire up the grill. I marinated those steaks you bought yesterday. You can make your mama's potato salad."
"I can make a tossed salad too," she said. "Chris, you're gonna love Daddy's marinade."
"I can't wait to try it. Can you use some help?"
"No, you stay here. Daddy, your game is on in a few minutes, isn't it?"
Michael looked at the clock, then reached for the remote control. "You like baseball, Chris?"
"I've been known to kick back and watch a game or two."
"You a Reds' fan?" Michael asked hopefully.
"I was as a kid, since the Reds were the closest team to where I lived in Indiana. But lately I've been watching the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies."
"Then you're in luck, cuz the Reds are playing the Diamondbacks today. Should be a good game. Randy Johnson is pitching for the D-Backs, and Ken Griffey, Jr. is back in the lineup for the Reds."
"Sounds like it'll be a good game."
"You want a beer?"
"Sure."
"I'll be right back."
Chris settled back and watched the pre-game show, while Michael and Dani started preparations for dinner. His gaze drifted away from the television when father and daughter moved onto the back porch. He watched through the window as Michael lit the barbeque grill. The two laughed easily with each other, and Chris again had to push back that jealousy. He closed his eyes.
"Chris? You okay?" The voice startled Larabee, who opened his eyes to find Michael leaning over him. He looked around, but didn't see Dani nearby. "She's outside," Michael said.
The blond leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Sorry. I was watching the two of you. I...ah...I envy you. You've had her in your life so long."
"And you have the rest of your life to have her around you."
"Yeah. My friend, Josiah, would tell me that it's what happens now that's important. And I know he's right, in here," Chris said, tapping the side of his head. Then he lay his hand against his chest. "But in here, it still hurts that I wasn't told about her. That I wasn't given the opportunity to be a part of her life from the very beginning."
Michael handed Chris his beer, then moved to sit back in his recliner. "Chris, I can't pretend to know how you feel. But I do know that Amy agonized over her decision, even as recently as last year. She constantly wondered if she'd done the right thing all those years ago. And it may be selfish of me, but I'm glad she made that decision. Amy and I couldn't have children together. It gave me the chance to be a father."
Michael shrugged, not apologizing for his feelings. Chris smiled at this man who had won Amy's heart. He was honest, blunt and sincere. And Larabee could definitely relate to that. He was a little surprised to find himself opening up to this man, who was still really a stranger. But he felt comfortable with Michael. Maybe because they had Dani in common, Chris didn't know.
"You know, it's funny. I look at you and Dani, and wonder what it would have been like to have been in her life since she was born. And at the same time, I wonder... Did Dani tell you about my son?" Michael nodded. "I wonder sometimes what Adam would be like if he'd lived. He'd be almost ten now. I used to watch him and imagine what he'd be like as a teenager; what he'd be like as a father; what kind of work he would do; even what kind of woman he would marry. I tried to picture what my grandkids would have looked like."
"Dani told me a little about your wife and son. She said they were killed a few years ago."
"Yes. I don't talk about it a lot. It still hurts. But I felt Dani had a right to know. Adam was her brother." Chris smiled. "Oh, I wish they could have met," he added wistfully.
"Chris, I just want you to know..." Michael turned his gaze away, looking outside to see Dani checking the fire in the grill. "I won't interfere if Dani wants to move to Lake Tahoe. I..."
"I would never ask her to do that!" Chris insisted.
Michael smiled. "I appreciate that. But Dani may decide on her own that she wants to be with you."
"This is her home," Chris said strongly. "As much as I would love to have Dani live with me, I will not ask her to make a choice."
"I'm not leaving, Daddy." Both men looked up and saw the young woman enter the room, anger showing on her face.
"Now, honey..."
"Daddy, I told you before, I will not leave. Especially not before I finish school. I plan on graduating from the same school I started at. I can visit Chris, but I won't be moving out there." Chris flinched. "Chris, I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you. Please don't think that I don't want to be with you, because I do. But I want to be with Daddy too."
Larabee nodded. He couldn't deny that her blunt statement had hurt, but he knew this was tough on her as well. He knew she was scared. She'd mentioned to both him and Vin that her father was sick. And from what he'd seen, she was right to be afraid. But it still hurt to have her state so unequivocally that she didn't want to live with him.
"Why don't I give you two a chance to talk," he said.
"No!" Dani cried. "Chris, please don't go. Don't let our argument send you out of the room. We've been having this same argument for months." She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head at Michael. "We're both pretty stubborn."
"She gets that from her mother," Michael said ruefully.
"Oh, I definitely get if from my parents. All three of them. Now, Chris, don't look at me that way. Vin and Buck told me all about you."
Michael laughed at the shocked look on Chris' face. "I guess she has us both pegged."
"And here I thought they were my friends." Chris shook his head.
The tension drained away with their laughter. Dani settled onto the sofa next to Chris, but still within easy reach of Michael. The trio watched the baseball game, with either Dani or Michael getting up periodically to check on dinner. Chris and Michael bantered good-naturedly over the game.
The trio finished dinner and made plans for the next day. Dani wanted to show Chris around town and later in the week planned to introduce him to some of her friends. Then all three turned in for the night.
A couple days later, Dani was out doing some shopping with her friend, Bailey Connor. The two men were sitting at the kitchen table. Mike had been sick during the night, not an uncommon occurrence with his medication. So he was eating a light breakfast, sticking to just toast and tea. Chris was having his usual eggs and bacon.
"So, Mike, when did you plan to talk to Dani about how sick you really are?"
Mike's hand stopped in mid-sip. Putting his cup back down on the table, he sighed. "I guess it's pretty obvious, huh?"
"And you know that if it's obvious to me..."
"It's obvious to Dani. Yeah, I know. I don't want to keep it a secret from her. But her Mom hasn't been gone that long. I was hoping that the meds would slow it down."
"Cancer?"
Michael nodded. "It's pretty advanced. The doctor's are talking Chemotherapy, but with no guarantees that it'll work."
"You haven't decided yet?"
"I'm not sure I want to put Dani through that."
"What about Michael? What does Michael want?"
His eyes misted up. "Michael wants to spend as much time as he can with his daughter. Michael wants to see her get married and have kids, and grow old. But I know that's not gonna happen."
"Then you gotta give her what you can. Whether it's more time or better time, that's what you have to decide."
Michael nodded. "I do need to tell her, but I'd like to wait a few more days. I don't want to ruin your trip."
"You won't ruin anything, Michael. In fact, you might make it easier for Dani. She can finally stop guessing and know for sure."
"It's not good news."
Chris nodded. "I know. But she's strong, like her mom. Give her the chance to prove that to you. Give her the chance to be there for you. If you want, I'll be here when you tell her."
Michael said nothing for a couple of minutes. Then he took a deep breath and let it out. "Okay. How about we do it Sunday or Monday. I know it'll be hard on her and I don't want to leave it until the last minute."
"All right."
"She may end up getting really upset with both of us and will need someone to talk to. I've been thinking about having Mrs. Connor come by."
"Are she and Dani close?" Chris asked.
"In the last few months, since Amy died, Dani has turned to Mrs. Connor for things that she doesn't think I'll understand. Woman-things, she says. Mrs. Connor's daughter is one of Dani's closest friends, so Dani has always spent a lot of time at their house. You met Bailey this morning."
Chris nodded. "It will be good for her to have her friends nearby, people she can turn to if things get to be too much for her."
"Yes. And you'll be close as well. I think she'll need you as much as anyone else." He took a sip of his tea and shook his head. He briefly closed his eyes. "God, I don't want to do this, but she has to know the truth. I'm just afraid it will be too much for her. Her mother hasn't even been gone a year, yet."
Chris took a sip of coffee. "I don't think I would have the courage to do it."
"Ha! Courage? I'm scared to death. I know how badly she was hurt when Amy died. I don't want her to go through that again. But, I know she will. I figure telling her now, giving her a chance to get used to the idea..."
"Michael, she'll never get used to it. She loves you. It's going to hurt either way. But this way, she at least has the opportunity to spend some time with you. Maybe that will make it easier in some way. I can't begin to imagine what you're going through, Mike. But I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will be there for Dani. And for you. We're family now."
Mike looked up from his cup of tea and smiled. "I appreciate that. Just knowing that Dani has someone eases my mind more than you could know. In fact, if you're agreeable, I'd like you to visit my lawyer with me. Although I never officially adopted Dani, she is the beneficiary of all my insurance policies. And until she turns eighteen, someone else will have to be in charge of all that."
"I'll do everything I can to help you...and Dani."
"Also..." Michael paused, looking down at his hands. He turned his cup in his hands, nervously rubbing his thumb along the handle.
"What is it, Michael?"
"God, I hate to ask this of you. I haven't know you all that long, but I don't have any family aside from Dani."
"Just ask." Chris set his cup down.
"My doctor is aware of the situation, I mean with you and Dani. And Dani isn't old enough to legally make some of the decisions that need to be made. I've already made out a living will, but I need to give my power of attorney to someone who can make medical decisions if I'm not able to. The doctor said that some of the medication can cause some hallucinogenic episodes."
Chris didn't say anything for several long moments. But as he glanced back up at the man sitting across the table from him, he knew he would help in any way he could.
"Michael, if that's what you need, I can do that for you. But we'll need to sit down and talk about everything in detail, so I know exactly what you want if and when that time comes. And I think Dani needs to be involved in those decisions."
"No! Absolutely not! I don't want her to have to deal with that."
"Michael..."
"No! No, I'm sorry Chris, but if you can't abide by my decision on this, then maybe I should ask someone else."
"Maybe you should, because I feel that Dani has the right to know everything. I won't be here, Michael, she will. She lives with you. She has to know what to expect."
"No. Once it gets that bad I'll have the doctor admit me to the hospital."
"And you don't think she'll know what's going on? Come on, Michael, don't kid yourself. She's not stupid. She's already been checking out the medications you take."
"What?"
"She told Vin that she knows that some of the pills that you take are used to treat cancer. She's worried about you."
"Oh, God! I can't make her go through this." He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, clenching his fists.
"You're not going to be able protect her from it, Michael. If you go through this, she goes through it. She loves you, cares about what happens to you. Do you plan to sugar coat this, make her think everything will be okay? You'll just hurt her more in the long run."
"When Amy died, it was relatively quick. She was badly hurt in that crash and only lived a few hours. Enough time for Dani and I to be with her and tell her goodbye. But this...the doctor said it will probably be just a few months, but that he has had patients who lived a couple of years. I can't tie Dani down to this town all that time. I can't watch her wait for me to die."
"Well, in the end, I guess it's your choice, Michael. I just hope you know what you're doing."
Several minutes of silence followed. Both men finished their breakfast and Chris helped Michael clean up. Later they settled outside on the back porch.
"So, tell me about these men that Dani keeps talking about. And Casey and Jules?"
"Where do I start?" Chris asked with a smile.
"With Vin," Michael suggested. "Dani seems to talk about him a lot. She's shown me the photos that she took. I understand he was the first one she met, even before she met you."
"Yes. I was out of town the day she came to the house."
"She talks very highly of him. She said that if she had a big brother, she'd want him to be just like Vin."
"I'm not surprised." Chris' grin softened as he thought about his friend. "He's come to care a great deal for Dani."
"When she got home from that first visit, she couldn't stop talking about all the new things the two of you showed her. She said Vin kind of set the tone for the whole trip. Did she tell you about that first time at your house? She was scared to death to confront you and he really eased her mind."
"No, she didn't mention it. But it doesn't surprise me. Vin Tanner has a way about him that could calm a bad tempered bobcat. Believe me, I know. He's one of the few who can calm me down when I really get riled up."
"I like him already. And Dani's friends have him tagged as the cutest of the bunch, judging by the comments I've overheard."
"Really?" Chris smiled. "Well, I can't wait to pass that tidbit on to Tanner."
"Just don't mention where you heard the information, Dani would kill me," Michael said with a laugh. "I can't wait to meet the rest of the group. She said Josiah is very spiritual and Nathan...if I remember correctly he was a doctor?"
"A paramedic...and a police officer. Nathan is highly intelligent and very compassionate. He thought about being a doctor, but decided he'd rather work on the streets, where he would be in contact with people immediately. He didn't want to wait until they made it to the hospital.
"And Josiah is the oldest of our bunch," Chris continued. "He's spent most of his life in the mountains. I recruited him from a local ski patrol unit. His father was a Protestant minister, but Josiah doesn't adhere to any specific religion himself. He says he likes to keep an open mind."
"Sounds like a most unusual man."
"They are an unusual bunch to say the least. Ezra Standish used to be a professional gambler." Chris smiled at the apprehensive look on Mike's face. "I know, not exactly the kind of person you want your daughter hanging around with. But he's a good man. It's true he's been in and around casinos all of his life, but I think that's a good thing. He can teach Dani who to avoid."
Mike seemed to think that over for a bit. "I admit, I've played the occasional game of poker myself, but to be a professional..." He shrugged. "I've been accused of being close-minded sometimes when it comes to people judging people. I'll reserve judgment until I get the chance to meet him. I know Danielle sure seems to like him a like. What about the other two, Buck and JD, right?"
"Right. Buck is my oldest friend. I knew him before I married Sarah. We met in college. He's one of the strongest men I know. He sure saw me through some tough times. And I gotta tell you, he took a lot of crap from me. After my wife and son died, I was a basket case. I didn't care if I lived or died. I took a deep nosedive into a bottle and barely kept from drowning. Buck Wilmington is the only reason I'm still alive today. I did some foolish, stupid, dangerous things back then and he saw me through all of them. And he busted my butt when I needed it."
Mike nodded. He understood the pain of losing a loved one. He couldn't begin to know what it would be like to lose a child. His respect for Chris Larabee went up a notch. Although he wasn't happy to hear that the man had turned to alcohol, it was obvious from the time they'd spent together that it wasn't a problem any longer.
"I can't wait to meet him. I have a feeling you're going to have your hands full with Dani. It's nice to know you have some good backup."
"The best. Between Vin, Buck and the others, I will definitely have some great help. Dani will be okay. You have my word on that." The two men exchanged looks of understanding.
"So, what about JD? He's another favorite of the gang. I think Dani's friends have him tagged as the baby of the group."
Chris laughed. "Don't let that baby face fool you. He is the youngest, but he's hardly a child. He's originally from Boston. I recruited him from the Massachusetts State Patrol. He lost his own mother recently, so he and Dani have a lot in common. He's closest to her in age, they like a lot of the same music... "
"... and he taught her a few things on the computer that she used to get an A+ on some of her school papers"
"Really! That's great. JD will be happy to hear that."
"She also talked about somebody named Casey and some other ladies she met?" Mike made it a question, since he wasn't sure he had the names right.
"Yes. Casey works in the office with us. She's kind of the receptionist slash secretary slash gofer. She answers the phone, coordinates our calls, proofreads our reports. She even makes coffee, which is a good thing, since she's the only one who can make a decent pot that everyone will drink." He smiled. "And Rain is Nathan Jackson's girlfriend. She also owns her own shop in town. She sells handmade Indian items, blankets, jewelry and the like."
"She's a Native American?"
"She is, but don't let her hear you call her that. She'll tell you that being an Indian was good enough for her ancestors and it's good enough for her. 'Being called by a politically correct name doesn't change how people treat you,'" he said, obviously reciting an often heard statement.
"I look forward to meeting her."
"Let's see. Dani also met Inez and Jules. Inez is an old friend of Vin's. She owns a bar and grill in South Lake Tahoe that the boys and I frequent. Makes the best enchiladas this side of Mexico. And Jules is the lady I see off and on. She's also of Indian decent, Shoshone to be exact. And she works with Search and Rescue, as a dog handler."
"Sounds like an interesting group of people."
"Very much so. Interesting, smart, professional. It's a good group. I hope you can meet them all."
"I'd like that."
"We should arrange a trip for you then. You let me know when."
"I'll have to think about that. Thanks."
The two men settled back and conversation turned to more mundane things.
"Daddy! Chris! I'm home."
"In the den, Dani," Michael called.
The teen set her purse and keys on the table near the door and walked down the hall to find her two fathers watching an old western on television.
"What, no baseball game?" she teased.
Michael looked at his watch. "Doesn't start for another two hours."
She shook her head and smiled. "Figures."
"How was your day, Angel?" Chris asked.
"We had so much fun! Kristie and Heather were there. I haven't seen them since school let out."
Chris' expression showed he didn't recognize the names. Michael helped him out.
"Kristie and Heather, the Barbie twins."
"Daaaddy!"
"Sorry, dear, but you have to admit those two both look like Barbie dolls."
"Well, yeah," she admitted. "But please don't ever say that to their face. I'd never live it down."
"So, tall, blonde, skinny...?" Chris ventured.
"And rich. And very, very fashion conscious," Michael explained.
"Just because they like to wear nice clothes..." Dani began.
"Honey, I like Heather and Kristie, but let's face it. They are very spoiled."
"Yep. And they know it too," she said with a grin, then changed the subject. "So, what's for dinner?"
"We thought we'd order in," Chris said. "Pizza or Chinese?"
"Oooh, pizza of course!"
"Told you," Michael said, to which Chris just nodded. "Why don't you grab the phone and the menu, Dani. What do you like on your pizza, Chris?"
"I like black olives and sausage, but as long as there aren't anchovies, I'll eat it."
"Great! I'll just order a large deluxe. That comes with sausage, pepperoni, black olives, ham and two kinds of cheese," Dani told him.
"Sounds good."
"Be right back."
Chris and Michael both watched the girl bounce out of the room. After she left their sight, the smiles left their faces. They had decided to tell Dani about Michael's illness and neither was looking forward to it.
Two hours later, dinner over and dishes cleaned up, Dani came back into the room with a soda for herself and the two men. After setting a glass down near each man, she sat down on the opposite end of the sofa from Chris.
Michael exchanged a glance with Chris, then reached for the television remote and hit the power button.
"Daddy? Aren't you going to watch the game?"
"Maybe later, honey. We need to talk to you," Michael told her.
Dani noticed the serious expression on her father's face. She turned to look and Chris, only to see a matching look. Take a deep breath, she set down her glass. Biting her lower lip, she nervously tucked her hair behind her right ear and pulled her feet up under her body.
"Okay," she said quietly.
Michael got up and moved to stand in front of the sofa. "Move over, honey," he said.
The scared teen moved to the middle of the sofa, so she was sitting between the two men. She glanced at Chris again, then turned back to Michael.
"What is it?"
Michael reached over and took her left hand in both of his. Chris lay a supporting hand on her shoulder. Michael took a deep breath. Looking over her head, he locked eyes with Chris. Larabee nodded, ready for him to begin.
"Honey, Chris and I have been talking. And we think that there are some things you need to know."
"Is this about you being sick?" she asked softly.
"Yes, honey, it is."
Her bottom lip quivered. "Is...is it bad?" Dani squeezed his hand, his grip tightening around her fingers.
"Yes, it's bad." She closed her eyes and felt Chris rub his hand along her right shoulder.
"The pills...you're going to be alright, aren't you? You're taking all those pills." Her gaze was intense, pleading...begging him to say he was going to be okay.
He looked at Chris again. She saw the look and turned to face Larabee.
"Chris? Please, tell me. He's going to be fine. He has to fine!" she pleaded.
"Angel..."
"No! He's going to be fine!" She snapped a look back at Michael. Releasing his hand, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're going to be fine," she said, her voice cracking on the last word. "Please, you have to be okay," she begged.
Michael clutched her to him. "Oh, baby. I wish I could tell you 'yes', but I can't. I...the doctor says it's progressing pretty fast. Honey...I have cancer." He stopped when he felt her nodding and her whispered 'I know'. "Please believe me, I'm doing everything I can to fight this, but the doctors..."
"Doctors can be wrong!" she stated emphatically. "We'll find another doctor."
Michael pulled back to look into Dani's eyes. "Dani, honey, I've talked to three doctors already. They all say the same thing. The cancer has spread too far. They can give me medication for the pain and maybe Chemotherapy to slow it down some. But they can't stop it. And they can't operate on it, they can't remove it."
"But, there has to be something they can do. It's the twenty-first century! Cures are found everyday!"
"Honey...oh, baby. I wish...I wish I could tell you that could happen here, but it won't. The doctors can't cure this cancer. They can only slow it down."
"How...how long?" she murmured, tears welling in her eyes.
Michael briefly closely his eyes and wrapped his arms around his daughter again. He turned his face into her hair, breathing in the smell of her. He could feel her tears falling against his neck.
Chris watched the scene from just a short distance away. He also had tears in his eyes, hating to see his daughter in so much pain. Even though he'd known it was coming, it was difficult to watch. He reached out and rubbed his hand up and down her back, hoping to give her some semblance of comfort.
And knowing it would never be enough.
Dani was crying now in deep, breath-stealing sobs. Michael still held her close, unconsciously rocking her, tears falling freely down his face, crooning softly to her. "I know, baby, I know. I'm so sorry. You'll be okay. I'm sorry, honey, I'm sorry."
Chris edged closer. He placed one hand on Dani's shoulder, the other on Michael's. The rocking stopped as both looked up at him.
"Chris," she moaned, the pain evident in her voice, her eyes begging him to tell her it was all a lie.
"Shhh, Angel. Shhh," he said, stroking her hair. The petting seemed to calm her down, which in turn calmed Michael. Dani took a deep, shuttering breath and wiped a sleeve across her eyes, pulling away from Michael.
Her father took a hand in his. With his other hand her reached up and cupped her cheek. "I'm sorry, honey. I wish I could have found a better way to tell you."
"There is no easy way, Mike," Chris said. "Trust me on that one."
He released both and got up from the sofa, leaving the room briefly. When he returned, he carried a damp cloth. Sitting on the coffee table in front of the sofa, he wiped Dani's face with the cloth, then handed it to her. She fisted it tightly, periodically dabbing at her eyes.
"We still have some things we need to talk about, Angel. But if you need some time, you just say so."
For a long minute, she didn't say anything. Then she shook her head. "No, it's alright. After all, what could be worse than finding out your father is dy..." She gasped and put a hand against her mouth, as if to forced the words to stay inside. The tears that had never really stopped, started flowing again. She reached up with the cloth she till clutched in her hand and wiped her face again.
Michael slid his arm around her shoulders and Chris lay a comforting hand on her knee. "We'll get through it, Angel. The three of us—together," Chris assured her.
Michael nodded and placed his hand over Chris' hand on Dani's knee.
"You aren't alone, baby. You don't have to face this by yourself."
The weeping teen leaned her head down onto her father's shoulder. Then, moving the wash cloth from her right hand to her left, she reached out the right hand and placed it on Michael's.
"The three of us," she whispered, as their fingers entwined.
Three days later, the two men and Dani were in the office of Michael's lawyer. Michael had some bank accounts and investments that he wanted to be sure Dani had access to, but since she wasn't old enough to legally handle them herself, Chris had agreed to take over Michael's power of attorney.
"Good Morning, Michael. I'm glad you were able to make it in today. How are you feeling?" The speaker was a small man, in his late forties, with graying hair, and intelligent eyes shining from behind his wire-frame glasses.
"Feeling okay this morning, Jack, thanks. You know my daughter, Dani. This is Dani's father, Chris Larabee. Chris, this is Jack Taylor. He's aware of the situation."
"Mr. Taylor, good to meet you."
"Call me Jack. Michael has told me a little about you, Mr. Larabee. And about the situation regarding Dani's paternity. Michael, why don't I speak with you and Chris about the legal aspects of the medical issues now, and then we can bring Dani in later to go over the trust fund and college fund information," Taylor suggested.
"Actually, we've already talked this over, Jack. Dani is aware of all that the power of attorney entails and we've been honest with her about the living will and other paperwork. We stopped at the hospital this morning and talked to Doctor Carter and he answered all of her questions regarding all of that. She's well aware of my condition and what will happen as I get worse."
Taylor looked pleased. "I'm glad, Michael. I know how tough that must have been, but in the long run, I think it will be best, especially since Mr. Larabee doesn't live in town."
"We want to be up front with Dani about what's going to happen so that she's not afraid to question anything the doctors might do," Chris told him.
Taylor nodded and led all three to his office, gesturing for the trio to sit on the couch along the wall of his office. He retrieved several files from his desk and re-joined them, settling into a chair that sat across a coffee table from the sofa. Taylor's secretary interrupted briefly to bring in coffee, water and soft drinks, before leaving the office again, pulling the door closed behind her.
"As you may know, Mr. Larabee, since you are listed as Dani's father on her birth certificate, Michael was never able to officially adopt her. However, he and Amy have made arrangements for her future education and a significant trust fund. Most of the profits that Amy received from her children's books went directly into these two funds for Dani." He handed a file to each of the men and another to Dani.
Chris nodded as he opened the file he'd been given. "Please, call me Chris. This is the information on the trust fund and the education fund then?"
"Yes, you'll find packets on both Dani's trust fund and financial information for her college fund. Also, there are several papers I'll have you sign before you leave to take care of the power of attorney for Michael's care should it be needed. Michael tells me that he's already spoken to you about this."
"Yes, we talked about it. He said you would explain all the details."
"Basically, if Michael is incapacitated and unable to make his wishes known, you will make all decisions regarding his medical care. Now, he's already talked to his doctor regarding a living will. The doctor has completed all the documentation regarding Michael's wishes about life-prolonging measures. You will have to witness a DNR form, or a 'do not resuscitate' order, which stipulates Michael's wish for no heroic measures regarding life support."
"We went over that with the doctor this morning," Michael said. "We already did that paperwork and I have copies of it for you." He handed the lawyer an envelope he'd pulled from his jacket pocket.
"Very good," Jack said as he took the papers and made a note to have his secretary add them to his files.
For the next hour, the attorney explained all the paperwork. He had Michael and Chris sign the documents that were necessary to make everything legal. He explained the trust fund and college fund to both Chris and Dani, since once Dani turned eighteen she could opt to handle those herself.
Jack gathered up the papers, putting copies in each file. He would keep a set of all the paperwork they'd signed that afternoon, as would Chris and Michael. He set his file back on his desk and the group took a break, each grabbing a fresh drink.
"Michael, what about the other matter? Do you want me to get into that now?"
"I think we need to talk about it, only because I'm afraid of what he might do."
"Alright." Jack got up and walked back to his desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out a legal sized manila envelope. He sat back down holding the envelope in his lap and gestured to Michael to start.
"Dani, there is something that I haven't told you." His daughter looked concerned, but stayed calm as he took her hand and smiled at her. "Don't fret, it's just something that you need to be aware of, you and Chris both," he said glancing quickly at Larabee, then turned his attention back to Dani.
"About a month after your mother died, I had a visitor at the house. The man's name was Earl Flannery." Michael heard a muttered curse from Chris, but for the moment ignored it.
"Grand-dad came to see you?" Dani asked.
"Yes. I had never met him, since your Mom didn't want him at our wedding. You know that your mom had been estranged from him for some time. Especially since her own mother died six years ago." Dani nodded.
"What you need to know is that Earl has been making noise about taking custody of you."
"No!" Dani cried.
"Over my dead body," Chris agreed.
Michael exchanged a smile with Jack, who nodded and handed over the envelope in his hand. Michael opened it up and slid out the papers it carried.
"This is an affidavit from me and from Amy, that we put together not long after we married. Amy didn't trust her father. He'd tried to take Dani once before, a few months before she and I met." Michael handed the papers to Chris.
"Earl knows that I couldn't officially adopt Dani," Michael continued. "Now he's trying to make it seem that you didn't want her. Like I said, Earl tried to get custody of Dani away from Amy once before, trying to insinuate that she was an unfit mother. We discovered later that he had just filed bankruptcy after a series of bad investments. It all came about because of Amy's writing. She was required to make some personal appearances to promote the books. Earl said she was neglecting her child by being away for those appearances. Now, Madeline, Earl's wife, got him to back off at the time. But now that Amy is dead, it looks like he's trying again, on the grounds that I never adopted her and he is blood family."
Taylor took over the explanation. "After the Amy's mother died, Amy and Michael came to me and asked me how they could prevent him getting custody if anything happened to Amy. I suggested this affidavit to clarify the reasons you weren't involved in Dani's life until now. You'll see a statement in there from Amy, giving her reasons for not advising you about Dani, including the fact that Earl lied to both of you and tried to get Amy to give Dani up for adoption. That should come into play if Earl decides he wants to take this to court. Before you leave today, I'll get some information from you and I'll have a statement made up for you to sign, indicating your willingness to assume guardianship of Dani now that you're aware of her existence."
Chris nodded, flipping through the pages of Amy's statement. "I'll do whatever it takes keep that man from getting his hands on Dani. The fact that he lied to both of us all those years ago, telling me that Amy had left town and wanted no contact with me, and telling Amy that I was dead, should prove to any judge that he's not fit to care for a rat, much less a child."
"We believe he might be after the trust money," Taylor said. "After his wife died, he went through whatever savings they had left. And just before Amy died, he had declared bankruptcy. If he can gain custody of Dani before her eighteenth birthday, he would have total access to those funds. We need to prevent that."
"Tell me what I need to do. That man will not treat my daughter like he treated his own."
"Excellent! Let me just get some information from you." Taylor grabbed a notepad from his desk and began asking Larabee questions.
Thirty minutes later he showed them to the door, assuring Chris that he would get the statement typed up, then call for him to come back to read it over and sign it. Michael was due to take his medication, so they headed on back to the house where Chris agreed to cook dinner.
Over their meal, they talked about what to do for the remainder of Chris' visit.
"I've got another week and a half of vacation," Chris reminded them. "And we need to talk about you coming to Tahoe sometime soon, Mike."
"Oh, Daddy, it's so beautiful out there! The trees and the lake and horses and we can go to the Ponderosa and take a cruise on the lake and..."
"Take a breath, girl," Michael said. "I really would like to see your place, Chris. And to meet your friends."
"So, when would be a good time for you?" Chris asked, taking a bite of the meatloaf he'd made. "Just let me know so I can take some time off while you're there."
Michael turned thoughtful and serious. "You both know that with this cancer, there is no way for me to know what's going to happen a month from now, much less six months from now. I'll get weaker as the cancer takes over. If we're going to do this, I'd like to do it while I still have some strength, while I can still walk on my own."
They both nodded. Dani looked like she was about to start crying again.
"Chris, you said you've got another week or so of vacation now. So, I say, no time like the present."
"What do mean? You want to go back with me?"
"Yes. Dani goes back to school in three weeks. And I want her to come along. So, why don't we just return with you? We can spend a couple of weeks in Tahoe. It'll be a nice break from Ohio."
"Hmm. The only problem with that is once I get back I'm gonna have to go back to work. Unless you want to go in the next couple of days, you and Dani would end up at the house alone. I'd hate to do that to you."
"Easy fix," Dani said jokingly. "There are seven of you. We can spend some time with each one of you, that way Dad can meet everyone, but not all at once."
The two men stared at each other.
"You know, Mike, that might actually work. I know the boys are anxious to meet you and they won't say no to spending some time with Dani."
"I was kidding!" Dani cried.
"Nevertheless, it's a good idea," Chris said. "Let me make some calls and see what I can work out."
"Sounds good. I'll call Doctor Carter tomorrow and find out what I need to do and get his okay," Michael added. "I really don't see a problem with leaving in the next couple of days. That would give us a week there while you're still on vacation and another week after that."
"You're serious? You really want to do this now?" Dani said. The two men nodded. She grinned. "Awesome! I can't wait for you to meet Vin, Daddy. And Casey, and Buck, and JD...."
The two men laughed as she rambled on.
Ezra Standish was in the office late, finishing up some paperwork. The others had left just a few minutes before, so he was in the building alone when the phone rang.
He picked up the receiver on the second ring. "Standish."
"Ezra, it's Chris. Is Vin still there?"
"No, Mr. Larabee, he left about fifteen minutes ago," the gambler replied, glancing up at the clock on the wall near the door of his office.
"Damn. I couldn't get him on his cellphone, so I thought he might still be at work."
"You know how difficult it is sometimes in the mountains for the proper operation of cellular technology."
"Yeah, I guess I'll try him at home later."
"Is there some matter I could assist you with, Mr. Larabee?"
"No, thanks, Ezra. I just wanted to let him know that Michael and Dani are coming back to Tahoe with me this weekend instead of waiting until later in the fall. Vin and I had made some tentative arrangements, knowing he had planned to visit at some point, but he needs to make some calls to see if everything can be done by Sunday."
"I can certainly pass that information along to Mr. Tanner if you'd like."
"That's alright. I need to tell him that the flight might change as well. Michael just agreed to the visit, so I haven't had the chance to call the airlines yet. I'm going to try to get them on the same flight, so that I don't have to change my ticket. But if I can't, I'll have to call him with the new flight information."
"What day are you planning to return?"
"My flight is Sunday afternoon."
"Mr. Larabee, please allow me to handle the flight arrangements. I can guarantee you will be on the same flight."
"I appreciate the offer, Ezra, but it's just a matter of a few phone calls."
"Indeed, and I will be happy to make them for you. Now if you will give me the information on your current flight, I will handle the rest."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. I am happy to do this for you and your wonderful daughter."
Chris gave Ezra his flight information. "And Dani and Mike will be staying a couple of weeks. Dani starts class again in three weeks, so they need to be back before then. So, see if you can find a good return flight for them about two weeks from Sunday. I appreciate your help with this, Ezra."
"Think nothing of it, Mr. Larabee. I will call you back within the hour with the details."
"We'll be here."
"And I will contact Mr. Tanner with the updated information regarding the change of plans."
"Appreciate it. Talk to you soon then, Ezra."
"Goodbye, Mr. Larabee."
Standish pushed the button to release the call, and immediately dialed a number.
"Good evening, my dear. It's Ezra. I need a favor..."
Two hours later, Ezra called back. Dani handed the phone over to Chris.
"Mr. Larabee, if you could copy down some information, I think you will be happy with the arrangements I have made."
"Fire away, Ezra," Chris said, taking the pad and pen from Dani with a wink.
"I have canceled your flight for Sunday and your American Express card has been credited accordingly. You can fly out on Sunday afternoon at your convenience. I trust that meets with your approval."
"Sure, that will work. So what flight will we be going on, Ezra?"
"The Standish Express," the southerner replied with a smile.
"Standish Express? What exactly is that?" Chris asked.
"A friend has been gracious enough to lend me the use of a small aircraft for the weekend. As you know, I am required by law to fly a certain amount of hours each month in order to keep my certification current. This will, as Mr. Tanner so eloquently puts it, 'kill two birds with one stone.' I will receive the required flight time and you and your family will travel in comfort, without having to face the long and tiresome lines that you would normally face on common carriers."
"Ezra, I don't know what to say."
"Say that you approve of these arrangements and that you can't wait to see my handsome face on Sunday morning."
"I approve of the arrangements, but any comments about your handsome face I will leave to someone else."
Behind Chris, Dani piped up with, "He does have a handsome face and don't let anyone tell you different, Ezra."
"Another country heard from," Chris muttered. "I trust you heard that."
"Yes, indeed. The lady does have a discerning eye."
"Ezra, thanks for all your help on this."
"My pleasure, Mr. Larabee. I shall see you on Saturday, then."
"Call if you have any problems, Ezra. And we can pick you up at the airport if you want."
"Unnecessary, sir. I have already procured transportation."
"Okay, Ezra. See you this weekend."
The phone rang in the kitchen and Dani hurried to answer it before it woke Michael, who was napping on the couch.
"Hello."
"Miss Danielle? It's Ezra."
"Hi, Ezra. Did you make it into town?"
"Yes, I'm at my hotel. I called to give Mr. Larabee my room number and find out what time he wishes to depart in the morning. Is he there?"
"No. He's driving Mrs. Connor, our housekeeper, home. Her car broke down this morning and she needed a ride home," Dani explained.
"Well, can you pass along the room number and ask him to contact me when he returns."
"You can talk to him when you come here for dinner. We eat at 6:00."
"My thanks, Miss Danielle, but I do not wish to intrude. I'll simply order something from room service," Ezra said reluctantly.
"No, you'll join us. I'm not taking no for an answer."
Ezra sighed, then chuckled. "Has anyone ever told you that you are a stubborn young lady?"
"Frequently," she quipped.
"Like father, like daughter, I suppose."
"Which one?" Dani asked mischievously.
"Never mind. May I bring anything?"
"Just yourself. Mrs. Connor made a pot roast before she left. It's already cooking."
"Sounds delicious," Ezra said. "Let me freshen up and I'll get a taxi."
"Okay. Let me give you our address..."
Ezra had shown up in time for dinner, but not empty-handed. He gave a white bakery box to Dani when he walked into the house. When Dani protested, he quietly stated, "A gentleman does not accept a dinner invitation without providing something. Since dinner was already prepared, I deemed dessert an appropriate compromise."
Dinner was pleasant, with Ezra discussing his work in the casinos with Michael. He kept everyone laughing with tales of hapless would-be gamblers that frequent the casinos.
Once dinner and Ezra's apple pie were consumed, Dani and Chris took over the cleanup, while Michael led Ezra into the living room. Ezra gazed around the tastefully furnished room with interest. He turned when the CD player in the corner started playing. On the couch, Michael was holding the remote control.
"Sorry. I always enjoy some music after dinner."
"Music is always soothing," Ezra replied.
"Feel free to look over my collection. Between Amy and I, it's rather extensive."
Ezra perused the titles, smiling to himself as he spied a familiar name. "You enjoy Stephanie Miller?" he asked Michael.
"Oh, I don't think 'enjoy' is quite the word. More like 'immerse myself in her voice.' She's probably my favorite artist."
"I concur. She is most extraordinary." The talk turned to different songs and performers. They were still discussing the issue when Dani and Chris walked into the room.
"So, Ezra, what time does our flight leave tomorrow?" Chris asked.
"Anytime you wish."
"Well, I want to get into Reno early enough that it will still be light for the drive to my place."
"We are flying into Tahoe airport, so that won't be a problem. I think that as long as we leave Columbus by noon, we should be able to arrive in Tahoe with more than adequate time."
"Exactly what kind of plane are we flying in, Ezra?"
"I borrowed a friend's private jet."
"Must be some kind of friend," Michael remarked.
"The best kind," Ezra smiled.
"I guess," Michael replied. "I really appreciate this, Ezra. I wasn't looking forward to having to deal with a commercial flight."
Ezra waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. "I assure you that it was no trouble. I always try to log flight hours when I get the opportunity. By the way, I hope you don't mind, but we will have an additional passenger on the flight to Tahoe. He's a friend of mine that lives in Cincinnati. He's heading out to Tahoe on vacation and I told him that he was more than welcome to accompany us. I owe him a plane ride anyway. This way, I repay a debt at the same time."
"Can't see any problem with that," Chris said.
Ezra turned to Michael. "My friend, Ian, is also a physician. In the event that an emergency arises during the flight."
Chris stared at Ezra, who just returned his look with an innocent expression. "Gee, that's an amazing coincidence, Ezra."
"The very definition of coincidence often makes it appear amazing, Mr. Larabee."
"If you say so, Ezra." Chris said. Ezra just smiled.
They arrived at the airport around eleven the next morning. Ezra went to ready the jet while Dani, Chris and Michael waited in a luxurious 'standby' room at the airport. They had been there about twenty minutes when another man entered. He was in his early thirties with reddish-brown hair and gray eyes. He was huge, standing well over six feet tall and broad shouldered. His clothes were casual, but stylish. He looked around.
"I'm looking for Ezra Standish," he told them, his voice having the faintest hint of an Irish accent.
"He's out going through his pre-flight check," Chris said, holding out a hand. "You must be his friend, Ian."
He shook Chris' hand. "Aye, Ian Hennessy. How do you do?"
"Okay. I'm Chris Larabee, this is Danielle McCarter and Michael McCarter." He introduced the others.
"Ezra mentioned that you were a doctor?" Michael said.
"Yes, a general practitioner."
"Well, it certainly put my mind at ease when Ezra told us you were coming along. I'm having some health problems right now, so having a doctor on board certainly can't hurt."
"Well, I'm glad to help if I'm needed."
"It was certainly lucky for us that you happened to be going to Tahoe on vacation just now," Chris said, trying to confirm his suspicions. "And that Ezra owed you a plane ride." Unsurprisingly, the man laughed.
"Is that what he told you?" Ian said. "Ezra owes me nothing. In fact, I could never repay him for everything he's done for me. So when he called and asked me to accompany you back to Tahoe in case my services were needed, I didn't hesitate. Hell, if it wasn't for Ezra, I wouldn't be a doctor." He glanced at Dani and flushed. "Pardon my language, lass."
"I figured there was more to his story than just coincidence." Chris smiled, reminding himself to thank Ezra later for his thoughtfulness. Chris hadn't thought about what would happen should Michael have problems mid-flight. If something happened, the time it would take to divert to the nearest airport and land could well mean the difference between life and death.
"Ezra is a considerate man, but won't admit it to anyone, even himself."
"How is he responsible for you being a doctor?" Dani asked. Before Ian could answer, Ezra walked into the room.
"Ian!" Ezra said, walked over and attempted to shake Ian's hand. Ian smiled, ignored the hand and pulled Ezra into an enthusiastic hug, almost picking the smaller man completely up off the floor.
"It's good to see you, my friend," Ian said.
"And you," Ezra said, his face slightly flushed. He glanced around at the others, noting Chris trying desperately not to laugh. He straightened his clothes. "Well, the plane is ready. Shall we go?"
Leading them out from the stand-by room, the exited the concourse and were on the tarmac itself. There, sitting just a slight walk away from the terminal, was a Lear jet.
"Is that the plane we're going on?" Dani asked in awe.
"Yes."
"Wow."
"Man, Ezra, that must be a real close friend to allow you borrow a Lear jet," Chris said, shaking his head. He followed the group over to the jet and up the six short steps into the plane. The jet was just as luxurious as the stand-by room. Inside eight seats were spread out over the cabin of the plane. Four seats were up front, two were on either side of the plane, while the other four were arranged in a circle around the table in the rear. The seats were roomy and comfortable-looking, covered in a plush fabric. Ezra watched as Dani fussed over a seated Michael. While she was occupied with that, Ezra pointed out the small galley to Chris and Ian.
"There are refreshments in here," he said, pointing to a small refrigerator. "If you wish to get something now, feel free. Otherwise, I'll let you know when we get to our cruising altitude so that you can move about the plane." He pointed to the back of the cabin. "The facilities are back there. It will take me about ten minutes to finish the flight preparations. Then we'll be pulling out and heading to the runway." They both nodded and Ezra turned to go into the cockpit.
They quickly settled in and soon the plane was moving toward the runway. The engines hummed as Ezra prepared for takeoff. Soon, they were speeding down the runway and they could feel the plane's wheels leave the ground. No one said much during takeoff. Michael rested his head again the seat and closed his eyes. Dani was gazing around the jet with wide eyes, while Chris was watching Dani with a smile on his lips.
Ezra leaned out of the cockpit door and told them that they had hit their cruising altitude. Ian got up to use the facilities, while Chris got drinks for himself, Dani and Michael. When Ian returned to his seat, Dani resumed the conversation that had been interrupted at the airport.
"So, how is Ezra responsible for you being a doctor," she asked Ian again.
"Well, it was back when I was just get ready to start pre-med classes. The job I was working at the time was perfect for me. It was good pay, part-time and the hours would fit in perfectly with my schooling. Unfortunately, the owner suddenly passed away. His children sold the business and the new owners fired everyone. I tried for weeks to get a new job, but couldn't find anything that would pay me enough to pay for my schooling. I was on the verge of dropping out when Ezra stopped by to see me. He said that there was a poker game going on that weekend and told me I was coming. I tried to bow out, but he wouldn't listen. Said I needed to be around friends and relax."
"So what happened?" Michael asked.
"I won enough money that weekend to pay for my first two semesters of school."
"Wow. You must be good," Dani said.
"Hardly," Ian chuckled. "I'm a lousy poker player. I'm lucky if I can remember what beats a full house. I'm certainly not good enough to beat Ezra."
"You think he fixed the game?" Chris asked.
"I know he did. There is no other explanation. But he'll never admit it. Just like he'll never admit anything about the two 'grants' I was awarded, either. I tried to pay him back once I had my own practice, but he refused, saying he had no idea what I was talking about. So I took the money and made a donation to the local children's hospital in his name. I knew he wouldn't refuse that, as much as he loves kids."
Chris nodded, not surprised by this information. He knew that Ezra volunteered at the children's ward at the local hospital in Tahoe, as well as making donations. Although he didn't think that Ezra was aware that he knew.
The rest of the flight passed by quickly and soon they were beginning their descent into Tahoe airport. Once the jet pulled up to the hangar and the engines stopped, Ezra exited the cockpit and opened up the door. Ian and Dani helped Michael down the steps, while Ezra and Chris got the luggage.
At the bottom of the stairs, Chris could see Nathan standing by his Volvo. Ezra had thought of everything, Chris thought to himself. Behind Nathan was what looked to be a private hangar. "Dad, this is Nathan Jackson," he heard Dani introducing the medic to Michael. The men shook hands. "He's another member of Chris' team, and he's a paramedic, too."
"Nice to meet you, Michael. And to see you again, Dani." He looked up as Chris and Ezra walked over with the luggage. "Hey, guys. How was the flight?"
"Uneventful, Mr Jackson."
"Good." He looked at the plane and shook his head. "Geez, Ezra. When I saw that plane pull up, I almost choked. Where the heck did you get a Lear jet?"
"I borrowed it from a friend," Ezra replied. "Nathan, I would like you to meet Ian Hennessy. He's a friend of mine that accompanied us from Columbus."
"Oh, hi," Nathan said. "Is this your plane, Mr. Hennessy?"
"No. I'm just doing a favor for Ezra."
"What..." Nathan was interrupted by Chris, who asked for the keys to the trunk so they could load the luggage. When he turned back around, Ezra was talking to a man in coveralls that had come out from the hangar.
"Mr. Standish. How was the flight?" "It was fine, Mark. I appreciate the loan."
"Not a problem, Mr. Standish. You know you have an open invitation to borrow the jet whenever you like."
"Okay, that's everything," Chris said, drawing Nathan's attention away from Ezra. "We're ready."
"Aren't we going to wait for Ezra and his friend?" Nathan asked.
"No, Ezra left his car here at the hangar, and he needs to take his friend to his hotel." Chris got into the front seat, after making sure that Michael and Dani were comfortable. Nathan climbed behind the wheel and started the car.
"Vin, they're here," Josiah called from the living room.
"Be right there," Tanner responded. Vin plugged in an alarm clock then checked his watch before setting the time on the clock.
He walked out into the living room and joined Josiah at the front door. They saw a Volvo station wagon pulling up to the front of the house.
Chris Larabee got out of the front passenger seat and opened up the back door. "Josiah, can you give us a hand?"
"Of course, Brother Chris," the big man said, as he and Vin walked to the vehicle. Tanner walked around to the rear and waited for Nathan Jackson to pop the trunk, then began lifting out the luggage.
Chris reached a hand in and helped the man in the back seat exit the car. "Easy does it, Mike, no hurry."
Michael McCarter stood up on shaky legs for a moment as Nathan brought a wheelchair up next to him.
"Actually, I think I'd like to walk if it's not too far," McCarter said.
"Not far," Chris said. "And we'll give you a hand. Nathan, why don't you and Josiah help Mike into the house while Vin and I get the bags." Nathan and Josiah started walked toward the house with Michael. Chris reached out his hand. "C'mon, Dani, you can help your dad get settled."
Danielle climbed out of the car and hurried to catch up with the three men. Chris turned as Vin joined him, carrying several bags. He dropped a couple of the smaller bags onto the wheelchair that had been left next to the car. '
"Michael looks wore out," Vin commented.
"It was a long flight," Chris said, watching the four enter his house. He closed his eyes and shook his head.
"You okay, Chris?" Vin asked.
"Yeah." He sighed and opened his eyes. "I'm just not sure I can do this, Vin. It's been tough for Dani, hearing her worst nightmare being confirmed. I don't know if I can help her."
"Just be there for her, Chris. That's all any of us can do. She knows how sick he is. Sure it's gonna be hard on her, but we'll all help her through it. I think her dad will help her too."
"Yeah, he's a good man. I've only known him a short time, but I can tell, you know,"
"Yeah, I know. I kinda had the same feeling about you the first time I met ya," Vin said.
Chris smiled. "Feelings mutual, Cowboy. I'm glad you're here. I'm gonna need the support."
"Well, right now I need support, Larabee. Grab this bag." Vin shoved a large garment bag toward his friend, who snagged it and swung the strap over his shoulder. He picked up another bag from ground and placed it on the wheelchair and pushed it up to the porch. Josiah and Vin had put in a temporary ramp for Michael's visit which made it easier for Chris to wheel the luggage inside. He looked back and watched Vin struggling with a large bag. "Well, c'mon Tanner, quit dogging it."
"I'll get you for this, Larabee. Geez, what is in this bag? It must be Dani's. Only a woman could pack a bag this heavy. I'm gonna get a hernia." Chris laughed and entered the house, listening to the litany of complaints from his friend.
Later that afternoon, Michael walked down the hall into the great room. He didn't see anyone in the room but heard voices. Following the voices, he found a door that led out onto the deck. He saw Chris, Josiah and Nathan sitting in chairs. They looked up as he approached.
Nathan stood and helped Michael into a chair.
"How are you feeling? Do you need any of your pain medication?" he asked the ill man.
"No, I'm fine for now. Actually I feel pretty good, although I'm still a little tired. I think the nap helped. That plane trip really took it out of me. I'm glad we didn't have to deal with a commercial flight. It was really nice of your friend to fly us out here."
"Ezra will claim he only did it for the flight hours," Josiah said with a grin. "But in reality, he has a heart of gold. Plus, he's fond of Dani and would do anything to help her."
"We don't have anything planned tonight or tomorrow," Chris said. "So, you'll have a chance to catch your breath. We may hit the saloon for dinner tomorrow night if you're up to it."
Michael nodded.
"Is the room okay? Got everything you need?" Jackson asked.
"Yes, it just fine. Thank you."
Nathan had been in touch with Michael's doctor to verify what was needed to make his stay more comfortable. Chris and Vin had rented a hospital bed and other medical items that would be needed during McCarter's visit. And the others would be out over the weekend so that he could meet them all.
"Daddy!" Michael looked up to see Danielle running across the yard. She jumped onto the back deck and knelt down next to his chair. "How are you feeling? Are you okay? I'll get your medications. Do you need a blanket?" She ran inside.
"Damn, Nathan, she sounds just like you," Chris remarked. Jackson scowled at him, then at Josiah as the big man started chuckling.
"So, Michael, you've already met Nathan. I know you were exhausted when you got here, so let me formally introduce you to Josiah Sanchez. He's the one who used to work the ski patrol. He is also our resident hippie-throwback."
Sanchez laughed again raised a hand, two fingers in a 'V' shape. "Peace, brother. I'm glad to finally meet you, Michael. I've heard many good things about you. I admire what you've done for Danielle."
"It was easy doing for her and for her mother. I think I fell in love with Amy the first time I saw her."
"I know that feeling," Chris commented. The two men had had several long conversations about Danielle's mother. Chris had been her first love. And she had been his. He was out of town when she learned she was pregnant. Amy's father had lied to both her and Chris, causing the two lovers to be separated permanently. It had only been recently that Chris had discovered that Amy had given birth to his child. Danielle had come looking for him, seeking out the father she had never met.
And in the process, Chris had learned that Michael, the man who had raised Dani since she was seven, was dying of cancer. Dani knew her father was sick, and part of the reason for this visit was so that he could meet the other people who would be part of Dani's life now that she had finally met her biological father.
"And this is Vin Tanner," Chris said, introducing the long-haired man who had joined them on the deck.
"Afternoon," Tanner said. "You're looking a bit better since you got some rest." Vin shook hands with Michael, then bent down and grabbed a beer from the cooler that was on the deck.
"Feeling better too. You know, ever since Dani brought home those pictures that she took during her visit here, it seems that you've become the favorite topic of conversation with all of her friends. It's nice to finally meet the infamous 'Vin' that has all of my daughter's friends drooling on their schoolbooks."
"Daaaaddy!" Danielle screeched as she heard her father's comment, which also caused Vin to choke on the sip of beer he'd just inhaled. Nathan rushed to Tanner's side, slapping him on the back.
"You okay, Vin?" he asked, trying hard not to laugh. He gave up when he looked over at Josiah and Chris who were being anything but silent. The other two men were cackling as they pictured a gaggle of teenage girls ooohing and ahhing over a photo of their sharpshooter friend. Vin tossed the bottle cap at Chris, his aim accurate as ever as it bounced off the blond man's forehead.
"Thank you, Michael," Chris gasped as he fought for breath between laughs. "You just gave us ammunition against Vin for at least the next year."
McCarter looked over at Tanner, guilt written all over his face. "Oops. Sorry," he told the red-faced ex-bounty hunter.
Vin just waved him off. "Not your fault. You had no idea what buffoons I have to deal with. I'll get over it... eventually. Just please, don't mention it to Buck."
"Oh, he won't have to, Tanner," Chris said, still chuckling. "That's my privilege as your boss and friend."
"I know where you live, Larabee."
"Oooh. I'm shaking here, Vin." Larabee held out his hands, shaking them, pretending nervousness. "I can't wait to share this one with Buck."
"Oh, God." The others heard the plaintive plea and saw Danielle sitting on the deck next to her father's chair, her face buried in her hands. "I'm so embarrassed."
"Hey, it's okay, Darlin'," Vin said. "Heck, Buck will probably be jealous. He'll think he's losing his touch. Just be sure to tell him that those friends of yours didn't give his ugly mug a second glance."
She smiled up at him. "If it's any consolation, Vin, my teacher thinks you're hot too," she said. "And she's Chris' age." She shrugged.
"Well, I guess that means I got the young women and the 'old' women wrapped up, right old timer," he remarked to Chris.
"Don't push it, Cowboy."
It was Tanner's turn to laugh. He winked at Danielle and she smiled. She turned back to Michael. "Don't you dare say anything else," she growled, but with the smile still tugging at the corner of her lips. "Now, here's your pills." Dani handed her father a handful of various colored pills and a glass of water. "No arguments, you owe me one after embarrassing me in front of the guys."
"Sorry, honey. I didn't mean anything by it."
"I know, Daddy. Just don't do it again please." She whispered that last sentence.
"I won't dear. You have my word." He swallowed the pills and finished the water. "So, I guess this means I can't tell them that Linda wants to adopt them all?"
"Daaaddy!" Danielle once again buried her face in her hands.
"I guess that's a no," Michael said.
He joined in the laughter this time as he set down the glass and rubbed his hand on his daughter's shoulder. She looked up and slapped him on the arm. "And I thought Mom was joking when she told me it was a father's job to embarrass his children."
"Now, you know you're mother would never lie to you. It is our right. And just think, now you get two fathers trying to embarrass you. Twice the fun."
Dani's eyes widened as her head snapped up to look at Chris for confirmation.
He looked away, grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh, God!" she groaned.
It was after ten o'clock when Dani woke up. She slipped into a pair of sweats and a tshirt and left the bedroom. She knocked on the door to the room her father was sleeping in and entered after she heard a quiet 'come in.'
"Morning, Daddy. How are you feeling this morning?"
"Morning, honey. I'm still a bit tired."
"Did you take your pills?"
"Not yet. I just woke up a few minutes ago."
"I'll get them for you."
Dani left to get a glass of water. When she returned, she set the glass down on the nightstand, then reached for the medicine bottles. Doling out the proper dosage of each medication, she watched as her father downed them all.
A soft knock on the door had both turning to look that way. Vin stood leaning against the doorjamb.
"You folks up for some breakfast or would you prefer a sandwich?"
Michael looked over at the clock. "I hadn't realized it was so late. I'm sorry."
"No need to be. It's your vacation. That means you can sleep in if ya want to."
"I want to grab a shower first," Dani said. "Did you already feed the horses?"
"Yep, couple hours ago. But you could help me muck out the stalls," Vin said, teasingly.
Her face crinkled up in a grimace. Vin laughed. "How 'bout some scrambled eggs?"
Dani and Michael nodded their agreement. "Dani, honey, why don't you get your shower now, and I'll take mine after we eat," Michael suggested.
"Okay." She jumped up from the bed and hurried from the room. Michael pushed back the covers and started to move his feet to the floor. He winced at the stiffness in his body. He began to stand, but lost his balance. Suddenly, he felt an arm around his waist, steadying him. Looking up, he found Vin standing next to him. Neither said a word as the younger man helped him down the hall into the kitchen.
Getting Michael settled into a chair, Vin walked to the counter. "Coffee, juice or milk?" he asked.
"Juice sounds good. I haven't really been able to handle coffee very well since I started all the chemo."
Vin shook his head, reaching into the refrigerator for a carton of orange juice. "I don't know how you do it. I saw all those bottles of pills. You must be in a lot of pain all the time. I'm not sure I could be that strong."
Michael was surprised. "It's nothing heroic, believe me. I do what I must. I don't want to die any sooner than I have to. I have good days and bad days."
Vin nodded then set the glass of juice on the table in front of Michael. "I'll get the eggs started."
"Anything I can do?"
"No, but thanks." Vin pulled down a large skillet from the pot rack and set it on the stovetop and turning on the burner. Going back to the fridge, he pulled out butter and eggs. After placing a pat of butter into the skillet to melt, he cracked several eggs into a large bowl, than began to whisk them together. Pouring them into the now heated skillet, he stirred them together.
Dani joined the two men in the kitchen and Vin asked her to make the toast. A few minutes later, the three sat down for breakfast. Or rather, Dani and Michael had breakfast, while Vin had another cup of coffee and kept them company while they ate.
"Where's Chris?" Dani asked.
"He had to go in to work."
"I thought he was on vacation?"
"Some information came up on a current case. He needed to go in for a couple hours."
Dani nodded. "And how come you're not at work?"
"The vet is coming out to take a look at the new stallion Chris got. Somebody needed to be here to talk to him."
"Oh. So, are you going in later then?" Dani asked.
"Nope. The boss gave me the day off," he joked. "Why, got plans?"
Dani shook her head. "Would it be okay if I showed Michael around the ranch?"
"Sure, if you want. Michael, do you ride?"
"I know how to. But I'm not sure I'm up to it."
Dani looked sadly at her father. He always tired so easily now. And the festivities the night before had taken a lot out of him. They'd gone to the saloon for dinner and stayed later than they had planned. But everyone had been having so much fun they hadn't wanted to leave.
"Well, we can still take a ride if you want. I'll just hook up the wagon. It won't be real comfortable, but easier than riding a horse. The vet won't be here until about noon. You can grab a little more sleep and we can go out about one o'clock."
Michael smiled. "I would like to get a look around the area. I don't spend much time outdoors at home. Living in the suburbs, all I really have to look at is my own backyard. Not like here. But don't go to any trouble for me."
"No trouble," Vin assured him. "Dani can get together some blankets and such, and we'll make a nice cozy area in the back of the wagon." Michael started to protest, hating the idea of laying down for the whole ride. But Vin's next words assured him that the man wouldn't treat him as an invalid. "That wagon seat ain't the most comfortable thing in the world. You can sit up there with me when we start out, but if you get tired we'll have a place all set up for you to lay down."
Michael smiled at him gratefully. "That sounds good. I think I'll take my shower, then lay back down for awhile. Just wake me when you're ready to leave." With that, he stood from the table, and carrying his still half full glass of juice, walked back down the hall.
By one-thirty the trio was heading out. Vin kept it slow. Michael sat on the seat next to him, while Dani kneeled behind them, leaning on the back of the seat.
"Vin, can we take him up to the meadow overlook?"
Tanner shook his head. "The wagon won't get up that far. But I got another place in mind. It's just as pretty. Even you haven't seen it yet. Chris and I found it a few weeks ago."
"Cool!"
Michael laughed. "So, you and Chris live here together? How did that happen?"
"Yeah. My place burned down last year. Chris offered to let me stay here until I could get my place rebuilt. Only planned to stay through the winter."
"But?"
Vin smiled. "But...I like it here." Michael nodded. He could understand that feeling.
"Are you ever going to rebuild, Vin?" Dani asked.
He shrugged. "Don't know. Probably. One of these days when Chris gets tired of me hanging around."
"That'll never happen," she said confidently.
"You never know. He might decide to get married again someday. Don't think a new wife would appreciate someone else living in her house."
"It wouldn't matter if it was Jules, she likes you."
Vin laughed. "Yeah, we've become friends. But I don't think she'd want me living under her roof." He glanced over his shoulder. "You know something the rest of us don't?"
"What? Oh, no. I just...I really like her. I could see Chris marrying her."
"Darlin', I'm not sure Chris is ready for that yet," he warned her. "Don't push him, okay."
"I know...he still misses Sarah and Adam. But he can't grieve forever, Vin."
"Everybody grieves in their own way and for however long they need to. From the little bit I know about his life with Sarah, he loved that woman a whole lot. He won't let go of her for a long time, maybe never."
"Vin's right, Dani," Michael said. "I know it wouldn't be easy for me to see anyone replacing your mom. It would be hard to find someone who would measure up."
Dani smiled sadly at her father then wrapped her arms around him. "I still miss her so much, Daddy."
Michael squeezed the arms that hugged his chest. "I do too, honey. I do, too."
The rest of the ride was quiet. Fifteen minutes later Vin stopped the wagon in a small clearing that overlooked a valley.
"Oh, Vin this is beautiful!" Dani exclaimed as she jumped from the back of the wagon and ran toward the edge.
"Careful, Dani. I'm not sure how sturdy the edge is, so best not get too close."
She nodded and stopped a few feet away, mesmerized by the view. "It's so beautiful here. I can understand why you love it so much, Vin. Can we go riding up here sometime?"
Vin was helping Michael down from the wagon. "Sure. Maybe next visit."
She nodded and continued to wonder at the world around them.
The trio spent a couple of hours slowly exploring the area, with plenty of rest breaks for Michael. At four o'clock they started back to the house.
Chris walked out onto the back deck as the wagon rolled into the yard. A minute later Ian and Ezra joined him.
"Where's Michael?" Chris asked, concerned.
Vin gestured with his head into the wagon bed. "Just resting." The men met the wagon as it stopped. Ezra helped Dani down from the back, where she'd been sitting with her father, who was fast asleep underneath the blankets.
"Mike, let's get ya inside," Chris said, gently waking the other man.
"We back already? I think that was the best sleep I've had in a long time," he stated surprised.
"It's all that fresh air," Vin assured him. "It's good for a man's soul."
Tanner waited until the others had Michael out of the wagon and moving onto the porch before he guided the wagon back to it's place next to the barn. He unhooked the horses and brushed them down. Leading them into their stalls, he fed and watered them. He checked the other horses, noticing that they had already been taken care of.
Chris came outside a few minutes later and helped him finish putting the tack up.
"Michael all settled?" Vin asked.
"Yeah, Dani's taking care of him. And Ian wanted to check on him and make sure he was doing alright after the long trip." Vin just nodded. "Michael said he had a good time. He seemed pretty peaceful sleeping in the wagon."
"It was a good day for a ride. I showed Dani that new spot we found."
Chris nodded. "Thanks, Vin."
"My pleasure. I enjoyed it too." Both men knew the thanks were for more than just a ride in the countryside.
The two men quickly finished the chores before they went inside.
Later that evening, everyone sat around the large kitchen table. They'd just finished dinner.
"Mr. Larabee, there is something I'd like to ask you while the others are here."
"Sure, Ezra. What's up?"
"I was wondering if you and your guests had made plans yet for Friday evening?"
"No, no yet. Why?" Chris asked, curious.
"I happen to have a few extra tickets for a charity event that is taking place. It's for a new wing on the hospital. Stephanie Miller is going to be performing."
Chris was confused. "Stephanie Miller?" He noticed Michael's head swing around to look at Ezra. "I take it that appeals to you, Mike?"
Michael's eyes got wide with excitement. "I'd love to go. Stephanie Miller is one of my favorite singers. The chance to see her perform live would be a dream come true."
Chris smiled, then turned to Standish. "Well, Ezra, I'd say count on us being there."
"Splendid," Ezra said with a satisfied tone. "The event begins at seven o'clock and includes dinner and dancing. I will notify the others in the morning. You are of course more than welcome to bring Ms. Greywolf and Mr. Tanner, you may invite a guest as well."
"Thanks, Ezra. I guess I could go with Inez, she if she'd like to go. But, I don't really have anything to wear to a shindig like that. Heck, I don't even own a suit."
"Well, Mr. Tanner, it is a formal affair, so I've taken a few liberties. Black Tie Tuxedos will be expecting each of you to come in either tomorrow or Thursday to be outfitted. Just ask for Matthew. As for the ladies, Mr. Holmes at Chantilly Boutique will be expecting them. He has a wide selection of gowns and will be able to have any alterations ready in plenty of time."
"Sounds like you've thought of everything, as usual," Chris commented. "I actually have a tux myself. Of course, I'll have to dig it out of storage."
"No sense going to all that trouble, Mr. Larabee. Please allow me to do this for you."
Chris glanced around the table. The excitement on the faces of Michael and Dani convinced him. He smiled. "Alright. I'll give Jules a call in the morning and see if she can make it."
"Excellent. I looked forward to seeing all the misfits we work with dressed up," Ezra told him with a grin.
"You might be surprised," Chris said. "Buck was best man at my wedding. He actually is quite a dashing figure in a tux."
"Thanks for inviting us, Ezra," Michael said. "What about you, Ian? Will you be joining us?"
"Absolutely. Ezra warned me before I came out, so I brought my tux with me."
Ezra checked the time. "Well, Ian, we should be going. After all, I do have to work tomorrow."
"Yes, and he does have to be on time," Chris joked.
"Indeed. I'll talk to you tomorrow, then," Ezra said. After he and Ian left, the others settled in to watch a movie, before getting some sleep.
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