Home Free - Fern Michaels [78]
“Don’t say anything, Jack. If it’s true, Yoko will tell us when she feels the time is right. She might be afraid, considering what happened the last time. Asian people are often superstitious when it comes to things like this. Promise you won’t say anything, Jack.”
“I promise. That the sum total of your news?”
“No, I have more.” Nikki giggled. “Fergus and Elias are working at Yoko’s nursery, pro bono. They’re getting along like two peas in a pod. They make Yoko sit and drink tea, and they do all the heavy lifting. You know, hefting those Christmas trees to roll into the barrel so they can net them up. Fergus told Annie’s business is brisk, and Yoko is very happy when they tally up the receipts at the end of the day. And in February, Fergus is going to head up the security at Myra’s candy factory.
“Mr. Unger, who replaced Charles, is going to retire. Lizzie is working on getting Fergus the right paperwork so all that can happen. Annie is happier than a pig in a mud slide, I can tell you that.”
“That is a lot of news. You’re right. We have to spend more time together. I can’t believe I didn’t know any of this.” Jack grinned sheepishly.
“Wait, there’s more,” Nikki continued, giggling again. “I saved the best for last.”
“Hit me!”
“Gus Sullivan, Maggie’s new amour, went to her place for dinner last night and spent the night. I know nothing more, so do not ask questions. Maggie is definitely in love. She said Gus loves her, too. And, Gus has the inside track with some general who goes to Walter Reed for therapy. He’s going to ask him some questions this afternoon. Seems the general prefers weekends for his therapy so he can be in his office during the week. Just two military types who are sweating the same bullets and hoping they can walk away whole when it’s all over. She promised to call me when Gus reports back to her at the end of the session.”
“Yep, that was news.”
Nikki leaned across the table and hissed, “So, share. What’s your news?”
“I really don’t have any, Nik, unless you want to hear all about Harry’s idiosyncrasies. He wears boxers. He sleeps on the floor. He eats crap. He’s lost weight, but we’re putting it back on him. We have him on such a tight schedule, all he does is curse us. Bert actually bought earplugs. We train for two hours, and then we make him shower and eat a small protein meal, wait thirty minutes, and go at it again. It’s paying off. He’s got more stamina than ever. We call it quits at seven thirty, when Yoko gets home. Like it or not, he has to go upstairs with her. He’s getting ten hours’ sleep a night. He’s looking good. Actually, Nik, I’m so proud of the three of us, I could just bust.”
“That’s hardly newsworthy, Jack. That’s it!”
“Well, Ted Robinson stopped by a few days ago with a very pretty young lady on his arm. I think he wanted to show her off. She’s a real-estate broker in Arlington. Late thirties, early forties, nice-looking. Definitely in shape, and she was hanging on to Ted for dear life, and he was loving every minute of it. Her name is Rachel Ryan. Never been married, no baggage, as Ted calls it. We all liked her. Sweet personality, just right for Ted. And speaking of Ted, which makes me think of Maggie for some reason, what’s up with her hacker? Is he on the job?”
“Oh, good Lord, how could I have forgotten to tell you about that? Not only is he on the job, but he is on the job with Isabelle. They are now an item, as in a couple, as in love. Annie said she has never seen Isabelle this happy, but yes, they are working on what . . . you know . . . what he does. We should be hearing or seeing results in the next few days.”
Their food arrived just as Nikki finished talking, and they dug in. They chatted about the weather, the law, and nothing important during the meal. When they were finished, Nikki said, “This was a good idea, but I am stuffed. Dinner tonight will be a salad and some soup.”
“That works for me, but what about dessert?”
“Let’s go home and make some peanut butter fudge and hit the sheets.”
Jack leered at his wife. “As in . . .”
“You want