"Look, 'Licia, when are you supposed to go to the clinic? Next Wednesday?"

"Something like that. I should be ovulating then. That is if my cycle stays regular.

Stress sometimes does strange things to a cycle." "I promised you a baby. You'll have our baby. No one, except the doctor and us, has to know that it wasn't conceived in the traditional way."

"This makes me nervous, Geoff."

"If parenthood didn't make you nervous, I'd be worried about you," he told me.

"What if this doesn't work?"

"Sometimes, it takes several months to conceive. The doctor told us that. Besides, it would be better for everyone concerned if you conceived closer to, or after, the wedding. People are going to be counting the months, anyway."

I laughed, almost bitterly. "At least, no one is going to have to know the truth about me. Are you sure that you want to marry me? It doesn't seem fair to you."

"I'm happy with our bargain. If I am ever less than pleased with it, I'll tell you. And I expect the same honesty from you."

"Of course. That goes without saying."

Geoff kissed me lightly on the forehead.

"Geoff, we could forego the visit to the doctor's. We could try to do things the old

fashioned way." I felt my face go red.

"Baby, I'd hurt you. I don't want to hurt you. When we make love, it should be

joyous, not something that strikes terror in your heart."

"Geoff..."

"You aren't ready to make love with me. And I won't settle for anything less.

Besides, you know that we'll probably never make a baby together in the time-honored fashion. You know that." "Yeah. I know." "If anyone's being unfair in this situation, I am. Not you. Your problem is something that can be overcome. My low sperm count is something that we have to live with." "At least we know that there probably won't be any unplanned pregnancies." Geoff laughed boldly. "I do love you, warped way of looking at the world and all." "Well, I suppose that I should go start breakfast. Waffles? Or something else?" "'Licia..." "Not on the menu." Geoff lightly stroked my face. "Too bad. Because I want a steady diet of 'Licia's tender smiles and sweet laughter throughout my life. I love you, Apple Juice." "I wish that I had never told you about the nickname that they saddled me with in graduate school." "It fits. Sweet, and tart, with just a hint of acid." "Gee, thanks. Should I be touched that you think so highly of me?" "It would be impossible for me to think any more highly of you. You are my life." "Don't put me on a pedestal, Geoff."

"I don't want a woman on a pedestal, 'Licia. I far prefer a woman of flesh and bone, someone who will laugh and cry with me, someone with whom I can share my thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams, disappointments. Someone very much like you."

"Geoff..."

The sound of the doorbell ringing incessantly shortened the conversation.

"Now, who could that be at this unG.o.dly hour?" Geoff asked.

Before I could answer, the phone began to ring.

"Popular, aren't you?" I asked as I fought back the panic that came now whenever I

heard the telephone ring.

"Wonderful timing. I'll go see who is at the door."

"The phone?"

"The machine will pick up in another ring. Why don't you start that breakfast that

you were threatening? Or was that an unfounded threat?"

"What do you want?"

The doorbell rang incessantly.

"Waffles. Anything. I could strangle whoever is at the door," Geoff replied.

*Chapter 13*

'Geoff'

Phil was at the door. I thought that he looked agitated. Well, tough, I thought, that

makes two of us.

"It's early for a social call. What's on your mind?"

"Geoff. G.o.d, I hate to have to tell you this," Phil said. "It's Al."

"What about 'Licia?"

"I'm so sorry, Geoff..."

"Hold it, Phil. Get a grip. Now, tell me what you are talking about."

"Al's house. There was an explosion and fire about a half-hour ago. The house is nothing but a pile of smoldering rubble."

"Oh G.o.d..."

"The fire department is there now. They are digging through the rubble to find her."

"Waste of time. 'Licia's in the kitchen."

The relief on Phil's face was easily read. "Thank G.o.d."

"Come on. She ought to hear this from you."

"Let me call this in, first. There is a crew busting their b.u.t.ts. They ought to know that there isn't a person trapped inside."

'Licia was breaking and separating eggs when Phil and I walked into the kitchen. "Waffles will be ready in about fifteen minutes, Geoff," she announced without turning around.

"You probably should sit down, 'Licia."

'Licia turned around. The puzzlement on her face became genuine concern when she saw Phil standing there.

"What's happened? You haven't called around for your health. What's wrong now?

Have they found Sarah? What is it? Tell me!"

"Al, just calm down."

'Licia hastily crossed herself after Phil told her the story. "Thank G.o.d for guardian angels."

Phil nodded. "We feared that you might have been buried under the rubble."

'Licia's face lost the rest of its color. "Is it known what caused the explosion?"

"Not yet. But, the state fire marshal's office will be investigating the incident."

"I'll call my insurance broker. Two claims in two days. The company is going to love me," 'Licia said as she fought tears. I knew what that little house meant to her. It had been a charming little place. Originally, the house had been a "granny house," a secondary house to which the older generation had retired when the kids had grown, married, and started a family of their own. And 'Licia had put her individual stamp on it. Yes, I knew what that place had meant to her.

"Just be thankful that you are able to make the claim," Phil said. "If you had been home last night, you wouldn't have been able to make the claim."

"Yeah. I do realize that. Geoff, will you put the eggs away, please? Excuse me, I need to get dressed. I need to see what is left of my house."

Phil looked at 'Licia's rapidly departing back. She had almost run to the back steps. "I'll see you later. We'll need to question Al about the explosion."

"It was arson. Wasn't it?"

"My money would ride on this being deliberate."

"'Licia's going to have a hard time in dealing with that."

"The department is understaffed as it is, we can't stretch resources to give Al protection. But, Geoff, she needs someone watching out for her."

"I understand. Private protection might be the best way to go. Although, I can't see 'Licia sitting still for the presence of several bodyguards in her life. Still, I'll see what I can do."

"Yeah. I can understand that. I had my doubts before. The person behind this is playing for keeps."

"I'll take care of her."

Phil smiled at me. "If anyone can, you can."

"The house is a total loss?" I hated asking that question.

"It's a pile of burning rubble."

The street was blocked off by police cars parked across the road at both ends of the block. The white van from the State Police Crime Services bureau was parked next to the police cars.

It was still early. The rain had stopped. Yet, from the look of the sky, that was, at best, a temporary cessation. Crowds were gathered at each roadblock, trying to get a view of the disaster.

A camera crew from the TV station was present.

"I have no comment suitable for publication," 'Licia said as the microphone was placed in her face. She pushed up the dark gla.s.ses she wore. A plain deep blue scarf was tied over her hair.

"Professor Jenkins," the young, black, woman reporter, Lori Blakely, asked. "I understand that you have had quite a string of bad luck of late."

'Licia shook her head. "I don't believe in luck, Miss Blakely. Goodbye."

"Professor Jenkins, why weren't you at home?" Lori continued.

'Licia smiled slightly, painfully. She removed the gla.s.ses with her left hand. Then she looked directly at Lori Blakely. "My guardian angel was sitting on my shoulder," she said patting her left shoulder with her right hand. "And I pray G.o.d that the angel remains there. Goodbye, Miss Blakely."

"Don't I know you?" Lori Blakely asked firmly. "You look familiar to me. You've been on television before."

'Licia placed the gla.s.ses back on her face. She turned and walked away.

"d.a.m.n the media," I said as we walked towards where her house had been.

"Get ready for the whole story to come out, Geoff."

"It doesn't worry you?"

"There's nothing that I can do about it," 'Licia said in a resigned tone. "If you are embarra.s.sed by my past, I'm sorry. If you want to be released from your promise to marry me, I will understand."

"We both have pasts, sweetheart. We both have lived through our share of h.e.l.l. Mine was in two tours of 'Nam. Yours came from LA. Both made us stronger. Both gave us our fare share of midnight regrets. We both just have had to pick ourselves up and move on."

She stood back from the pile of smoldering debris where her house had been. Bits and pieces of her house were scattered all over the neighborhood. Apparently, there had been quite an explosion. If not for the rain, the damage to the neighboring homes might have been much more severe when blazing bits had been blown away from the house. As it was, the houses on both sides of hers were missing windows.