Gun Brooke - Course of Action

"Oh, Annie…" Carolyn breathed against Annelie's mouth. "I…I better freshen up before dinner…oh…"

Annelie let the passion flare for another minute before she relented. "I know you're right, but it's hard to let go. You feel so good."

Carolyn raised a hand and cupped Annelie's cheek. "So do you, so hold on to that thought. I'll only be a second."

Opening a bottle of Beaujolais Royale, Annelie thought about how Carolyn fit in her arms. She just feels so right. The sound of the phone ringing roused her from her daydream.

"Peterson."

"Hi, kiddo, it's Jem. How're you doing?"

Annelie gave a wry smile. "Okay. How are things in Florida?"

"I wanted to call yesterday but didn't want to disturb you. I know all hell's broken loose, and I figured you had Carolyn and Margo there helping you deal with everything."

"That's true, but I appreciate your call. It's been awkward and downright painful, but I'm handling it. Thank goodness, I'm not alone."

"Look, Annelie, I'm calling for a reason. The security guard where you live called, concerned since a media posse's set up camp just outside the gates. I'm not sure how they found out where you live."

Annelie closed her eyes, stifling a groan. "I guess they have their sources. That's all I needed," she murmured. "Thanks for letting me know. Can you get rid of them?"

"They're smart enough not to trespass, so we can't touch them. I know you'll be in New York a long time, so they'll probably give up when they realize you're not here." Jem paused. "Damn that man. I could wring his fucking neck!"

"Calm down. I need you to keep your cool. Have they approached any of the companies at your end?"

"Are you kidding? We've been swamped with calls, but so far we've told them no comment until the press conference. You okay with that?"

"Excellent. We'll fax you the statement Margo's going to give the press, probably tomorrow. I want you to give a press conference and use her statement. We have to keep a united front. It's vital to all our projects."

"Got it, kiddo. I'll try to control myself, but you know me. I'm ready to…" Jem was obviously bristling.

Annelie understood. She heard the doorbell ring and looked up.

"I'll get it," Carolyn said, coming out of the bedroom.

"Margo's here. Thanks for calling. Talk to you later, my friend. Take care."

Annelie overheard Carolyn greet Margo. "Hi, come on in. Hope you've got some good news."

"It's looking up!" Margo's Irish accent was more obvious than usual. "Where is she?"

"With our dinner. I just got home."

As the two women entered the kitchen, Margo hugged Annelie firmly. "Hello, girlie. How're you holding up?"

"Fine. Carolyn's agreed to move in with me while she's filming, so that helps."

Margo didn't as much as flinch, though Annelie detected a curious gleam in her eyes. "Sounds like a great arrangement." She winked at Carolyn. "It'll be closer for you, won't it?"

"Yes, but that's not the real reason. I just don't want to be away from her."

Oh, my…Carolyn, do you know what you're saying? Annelie stared at her lover. Carolyn's unexpected candidness took her breath away. Glancing at Margo, Annelie noticed her pleased smile.

"I'm glad you're sticking together. Let's get dinner on the table so I can let you in on what I've found out."

While they ate, Margo pulled out a stack of documents and handed them to Annelie.

"Here's what I've confirmed so far. The media is going nuts, mostly because of the Maddox movies. If things hadn't happened so close together, the press wouldn't have cared."

"Give me the short version," Annelie said, glancing reluctantly at the large stack of documents.

"These affidavits prove your father owed eleven years of child support and didn't pay a single cent. And his rap sheet includes doing time twice for drug trafficking and several DUIs. These complete telephone listings for your house in Florida and the apartment here prove he's lying about trying to call you. And no records exist to show he ever tried to reach you at either the Florida office or the law firm."

"Good job, Margo," Annelie offered, feeling some of the weight fall from her shoulders. "Anything else?"

"Copies of documents when your mother filed for sole custody of you. You were ten, and that's when she quit hoping he'd ever return, if I remember right. She wouldn't say a bad word about him, not even after the court awarded her full custody, Annie. I'd sometimes go off on a rant, but then she'd look at me with those mild blue eyes and remind me that you're his daughter. Without him, she wouldn't have you. Honest to God, girlie, she was a saint."

What would I have done without her silent strength? Annelie suddenly remembered the way her mother's hand had felt against the back of her head, one of her rare caresses. After she died, I didn't think I could survive without her. More than fifteen years but, to this day, I miss her. Oh, Mother…

Anna Clint had worked two jobs to support them while Annelie finished high school but had died just before her graduation. "Yes, she was a saint, in a lot of ways," Annelie said. "I don't think she ever raised her voice to me."

"You never gave her a reason, child. Not that you didn't exasperate her, always with your nose in a book or watching your favorite soap on TV—not getting enough sunlight according to your mom." Margo wrinkled her nose at Annelie and winked at Carolyn. "I don't have to tell you which soap it was, do I?"

"No, I can guess." Carolyn smiled. "But I'm not complaining."

"Yes, if she hadn't been completely starstruck with you then— who knows where the two of you would be now?"

"Hey, stop talking about me like I'm not here," Annelie grumbled good-naturedly. "Margo, is this enough to discredit my…father?"

"More than discredit him, girlie. This isn't simple mudslinging. Stuart Clint's trying to damage your reputation. By the way, several organizations you're working with have sent supportive e-mails and telegrams, Annelie."

"I've had several e-mails too. I hope they feel the same way when all this is over."

Margo nodded. "I'm sure they will. The custody papers help prove that Stuart refused to provide for you after you were seven. Even before that, your mother was the one who put food on the table. I know, because I was there and watched her stay up sewing till after midnight every night after she'd worked all day at her real job clerking at the courthouse. And what's more, he's never tried to contact you. This'll blow him right out of the water, sweetie."

"Some facts remain," Annelie objected, her voice almost betraying her. "He lives in poverty. He's on disability. In spite of everything, he's still my father."

Margo frowned. "You don't owe him anything."

"No, maybe not, but it wouldn't cost me much to get him into a program and buy him a decent home."

Carolyn exchanged glances with Margo. "You've got plenty of time to think about that after the press conference. By the way, when is it?"

"Tomorrow at three in the conference room at the office. I'll just stick to these facts. Then the ball's in Stuart's court. I also have our investigator digging for more information. He promised he'd be through by Thursday, at the latest."

Shuffling the food aimlessly around her plate, Annelie looked uneasy. "Sounds like you've got everything covered," she murmured. "I appreciate it, Margo. It's just…"

"Yes, I know." Margo reached for Annelie's hand and patted it. "I know, girlie."

Margo and Carolyn chatted while they finished their meal. Annelie gave up trying to eat any more. Listening to the other women talk, she leaned back in her chair and heard the familiar sound of her mother's voice in the far distance. After all, he is your father, Annie.