Taylor was in his office a few days later when he heard Laura come in. The “dogbells”, Copper and Penny, announced her arrival, and he could hear her talking to them. It was unusual for her to be home at mid-morning. Evidently her meeting had ended early.
“Taylor?” He heard her call out.
“In the office.”
As she came in she kissed him before depositing her briefcase, and the file folders that wouldn’t fit, onto the nearest chair. Her emerald eyes were sparkling and Taylor could practically see the waves of energy and excitement surrounding her.
“You’ll never believe what happened, Taylor!”
“You won the Pulitzer finally?”
“No, but don’t think I won’t. In fact, this may be it—the story that wins it for me.”
She sat down in the armchair across from his desk and tucked her feet up under her. Taylor smiled. Grandmother or not, she didn’t look a whole lot older than when he’d met her. Never mind that their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary was coming up on New Year’s Day.
“This must be really big, Laura. I haven’t seen you this excited about a story for awhile.”
“It is, Taylor. The Times wants me to go to Bosnia and do a story on the changes in the country over the last few years.”
“Laura, that’s still considered a war zone! You can’t be seriously thinking about it.”
“The war’s been over for years. The military presence is there to help in the rebuilding. I’ll have military escorts and my photographer. They’ve given me carte blanche in the focus of the story and I’m going to ask Chris to go along as my photographer.”
“Betta’s going to love that,” Taylor commented.
“Well, I hope she’ll be a little more supportive than you’re being.” Laura sat up and leaned forward. “Taylor, this is the chance of a lifetime. I have to take it. This is the story I’ve been waiting for all of my career.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“A month or so. It depends on what I find.”
“That could take you away over the holidays.”
“No, it shouldn’t. This is still September. I don’t leave until the end of October. Even if it went longer than a month,” she raised her hand at the look on his face, “and it won’t, I’d only miss Thanksgiving. You have to work that night anyway.”
“My working or not isn’t the point, Laura. You’re heading into dangerous territory. I’ve never stood in the way of your career and I don’t intend to now, but you can’t blame me for being worried.”
Her face softened and she came around the desk where he pulled her onto his lap. “Taylor, you worry if I’m crossing the street. This won’t be any big thing.” She kissed him softly. “This is my chance. My big break. Please, don’t give me problems about going.”
“Would you stay, if I did?”
She looked straight into his eyes, “No. I can’t.”
“Won’t is the right word, Laura. You won’t. And, as much as I hate the idea, I won’t ask you to give it up. All I ask is that you be careful. I want you back, safe and sound.”
“You worry too much,” she said with another kiss. “I promise I’ll be careful. You’re the one that will have your hands full with Annie. She’s so busy with all this senior stuff. But Rosina and the girls will help.”
“I think I can handle one teenage girl.”
Laura laughed. “Sure, Taylor. Piece of cake.”
“Snorting is so unladylike, Laura.”
“Sorry—not. I don’t think you realize how really busy she is.”
“Then stay home and help.”
“Nice try. It will be good for you to be Mom and Dad for awhile.
“Just don’t do something to make it permanent, please.”
“Stop worrying!”
“While you’re booking your schedule, you need to keep the first two weeks of January free.”
“Oh?”
“I thought maybe we’d take a cruise for our anniversary. Just you, me, a yacht—”
“And if I don’t want to go?”
“Doesn’t matter, wench. You’re being shanghaied.”
“Hmm…does that mean you’ll bring along the pirate costume?”
“I don’t need a costume for the kind of swashbuckling I have planned.”
Laura laughed. “OK, it’s a deal then. I’ll go do this job then I’ll run away from home with you.” She sealed her promise with a kiss that brought the discussion to a halt. “Want to go practice your swordplay?” she murmured and laughed as he carried her to their bedroom down the hall.
(© 2004, Sabra Brown Steinsiek)
