Righteous Obsession (51 page)

“Thanks.  I appreciate it.”

Colin turned to Alethea as they left the hospital. 
“Did you have any plans for today?”

“I was going to look at wicker furniture, but other than
that, no.”

“I want to stop at mom’s office first and give her the
news about my scan.”

Amanda’s law firm was on the bottom floor of a
building on Clay, across the street from the Embarcadero Center and close to
both the Maritime and Embarcadero Plazas.  Hearing Colin’s news was a relief
and she said she would pass it along to his dad and Liam.  Colin asked how Deb
was doing and was happy to hear she was coming out of her shell a bit.

They left and went to the wicker store.  Once there,
it didn’t take Alethea long to find exactly what she wanted.  Within a few
minutes, she picked out a chaise and a swing for the front porch.  She also
chose a table with four chairs, another chaise and a small table for in front
of it plus a big arm chair and a rocking chair for the deck.

“It sure is nice being married to a woman who knows
exactly what she wants!”  Colin teased as he gave them his debit card.  They
arranged for delivery of the furniture later that afternoon.

“Are you planning to visit Luke and Nora eventually?”

Colin sighed.  “I don’t know.  Maybe, but not right
away.”

The furniture arrived later in the afternoon.  Colin
had a voicemail from Steve to call him.

Colin went upstairs to the office.  He closed the door
to dull the sounds of the delivery men and punched in Steve’s number on his
cell.

“Crowley.”

 “What’s up, Steve?”

“I had a call from John Richards of CNN and he wanted
to know if you’re willing to do an interview next Wednesday and talk about what
happened to you?”

“You can tell him I’ll discuss it, but not in specific
terms.  When Father Michaels is arrested and goes to trial, I don’t want his
attorney petitioning the court for a mistrial based on something I said in an
interview.”

“Okay.  I’ll pass the word along to him.”

“I’ve got to admit I’m really nervous about talking
about it.”

“I know and we’re cooperating to make this as easy as
possible.  You do know, it will be broadcasting in Europe also and Father
Michaels could see it?”

“I hope he does see it!  Maybe, it’ll make him so
angry, he’ll get careless and they’ll catch him!”

“We can certainly hope!  Anything else I should know
about?”

Colin knew he meant threatening letters or phone calls. 
“Aside from some nightmares still, everything’s cool.  McGregor’s doing a great
job!  Thanks for hiring him.”

“Well, I figured since he’s the only bodyguard you’ve
ever even halfway listened to I’d better grab him!”  Steve replied, laughing.

Colin laughed, too.  “I never argue with somebody
who’s bigger than me!”  He went downstairs after he finished talking to Steve. 
He heard voices on the front porch and went outside.  He found McGregor hanging
the porch swing under Alethea’s direction.  “Hi, McGregor.  Need any help with
that?”

“Nope.  I’m almost done, but thanks anyway.”

“Go look at the deck, Colin, and tell me if you like
how I’ve arranged the furniture,” Alethea urged.

“Will do.”  Colin walked out the back door and looked
around.  It looked very nice and he smiled as he reflected on the fact that his
house was beginning to feel more like a home.  He sat down in the big, roomy
chaise and soon found himself, nodding sleepily.  He awoke suddenly at the
sound of a motorcycle backfiring.  He yawned; glanced at his watch, amazed he’d
been asleep for nearly an hour.  He got to his feet, surprised that only a
slight twinge of pain greeted him as he straightened.  He went in search of
Alethea and finally found her on the balcony off the master bedroom.  She was
on her knees measuring the length and width of the balcony.  “What are you doing?”

“I want to see how big this balcony is.”

Colin closed his eyes, put his fingertips to his
temples and said jokingly, “I foresee another trip to the wicker store and a
move in our future.”

Alethea playfully swatted his rear end as he helped
her to her feet.  “Okay.  I do want to buy another chaise for out here.”  She
confessed.  “This is the master bedroom and it’s much bigger.  You’ve got to
remember there are two of us now.”

“And you’ve got more clothes than me!”  Colin teased. 
“And the closet is much bigger in here, too!”

“Would you mind if we moved in here after I redecorate
it?”

“Not at all.  I don’t care which room I sleep in as
long as it’s with you.”

Alethea kissed his cheek.  “Thanks.”

His cell rang. He pulled it out, tapped the screen and
said, “Hello?”

“Hi, Colin!  I called earlier, but I couldn’t reach
you,” Amanda said.

“We went shopping for some outdoor furniture.”

 “Well, I’m glad to hear things are getting back to
normal,” she said and paused before continuing, “Deb told us she wants to start
school when it begins next week.”

“Do you think she’ll be able to handle it?”

“Your father and I tried to talk her into letting us
hire a tutor for the first semester and starting the second semester.  She
thanked us, but said if she doesn’t start now she may not do it at all.  I’m
going to take her to register tomorrow morning.”

“Well, maybe it will be good for her to be around kids
her own age.”

“I hope so.  Is Alethea busy?”

“She in the kitchen.  Do you want to talk to her?”

“If she’s not busy.”

“Okay.  Hang on for a moment.”  He took the cell into
the kitchen and gave it to Alethea.  “Mom wants to talk to you.”

Alethea took the phone from him.  “Hi, Amanda!  What’s
going on?”

Colin wandered out on the deck while she was talking
to his mother.  It was a comfortable evening with a gentle breeze blowing. 
Alethea came out on the deck when she finished talking to Amanda and gave his
cell back to him.  “Should we eat out here tonight?”

“I was just thinking that.”  He helped her set the
table then they sat down to eat.  Colin made short work of his burger and got
up to get another one.  “These are really good!  What’s up with mom?”

“Amanda and I are taking Deb shopping for school
clothes tomorrow.”

“You’ve got really good taste in clothing so it will
be good for Deb.”

“Thanks!”  Alethea said, giving him a kiss.  “I
checked my e-mail earlier and Jazz offered me the job of interviewing
Metallica.  Since I don’t have to leave town I accepted the assignment.”

“It’s certainly a plum assignment!  I know journalists
who’d jump through hoops to interview them.”

“I told him any time except next weekend was fine, but
we have definite plans for next weekend.”

“I’m going to call the Red Victorian and make the
reservations tomorrow.”

They cleared up the supper dishes then came back
outside and sat on the chaise.  Colin put his arms around Alethea and pulled
her close to him.  She rested her cheek against his chest.  “This chaise is
really comfortable,” Colin remarked.  “I fell asleep on it this afternoon.”

Alethea grinned mischievously.  “I know.  You were
sound asleep and snoring when I checked on you.”

Colin rolled his eyes.  “How embarrassing!”

They sat outside for a while, talking.  Alethea told
him about some of her ideas for redecorating their home.  Colin told her he was
thinking of adding an enclosed pool to the house.  He was going to have an
architect, from a firm that specialized in Victorian reconstruction, look the
house over and draw him a blueprint.  The thought of having a pool again
excited Alethea.  They sat silently for a short time, enjoying the clear night
sky and the distant view of the San Francisco skyline.  A bright beam of light
suddenly coming around from the side of the house startled them.

“Is that Buck already?”

Colin looked at his watch and whistled.  “It’s almost
eleven-thirty!”

McGregor shut off his flashlight as he saw them. 
“You’re up late tonight,” He remarked.

“Yeah.  It so gorgeous out that we lost track of the
time,” Colin replied.

“I’m going to bed.  I’ve got a full day of shopping ahead
of me,” Alethea said as she got to her feet.

“Better have a big breakfast, too.”  Colin jokingly
advised.  “In San Francisco, mom’s shopping trips are legendary!”

“Thanks for the warning.  Goodnight, Buck.”

“Night, Alethea, Colin,” McGregor replied, switching
on his flashlight and continuing his search of the premises.

They went inside.  Colin checked the doors to make
sure they were secure then set the alarm.  Alethea undid her braid and began
brushing her hair.  Colin pulled his T-shirt over his head and tossed it over a
chair.  He stood behind Alethea, staring at his scar.

“What’s wrong?”  Alethea asked, putting down her
brush.

Colin sighed.  “Nothing.  I was just studying the
souvenir Father Michaels left me. This is the first time I’ve really looked at
it.”

“Well, I prefer to think of that scar as a souvenir of
your survival.”

“I never thought about it that way,” Colin admitted. 
“You know, I realized today except for a slight twinge when I got up after
falling asleep on the chaise; I haven’t felt any pain all day.”

“Good!  I’ll warn you right now – I’m planning on
making up for lost time next weekend!”

“I’m looking forward to it!”  He got into bed and shut
off his bedside lamp.  Alethea shut off her light and slipped into bed beside
him.  She kissed him goodnight then settled herself in her usual position and
quickly fell asleep.  Colin fell asleep easily enough, but another nightmare
about Father Michaels invaded his peaceful sleep.  His eyes jerked open and he
lay there, listening to his racing heart.  He glanced over at Alethea and she
was sleeping undisturbed.  Thank God for that much!  The nightmare’s fear began
to loosen its hold on him, but it was still a long time before he could fall
back to sleep.  By the time Colin awoke the next morning, Alethea was getting
ready to leave.  She saw he was awake, smiled and apologized.  “Sorry, I woke
you.  I was trying to be so quiet.”

“It’s okay.  I can go back to sleep once you’re gone.”

The doorbell rang and Alethea picked up her purse. 
“That’ll be Amanda and Deb.”  She bent and gave him a kiss.  “There’s fresh
deli meat for your lunch.  I’ll see you later.”

Colin pulled the pillow over his head, rolled over and
fell back to sleep.  When he woke again, it was twelve-thirty.  Bleary-eyed, he
stared at the clock in disbelief then got to his feet.  He quickly showered,
shaved and dried his hair then got dressed.  He came downstairs and into the
kitchen where he poured himself a glass of the herbal tonic.  He went outside
to get the mail and came back in with a handful.  He tossed most of it on the
television after skimming it.  There was a letter from Alethea’s parents and a
letter from Caitlin for him.  He placed the letter from Alethea’s parents where
she’d see it first thing and took Caitlin’s letter and his glass of tonic out
on the deck and sat down.

In her letter, Caitlin wrote that she and her father
were well.  She wrote that the judge had sentenced her mother to three months
in jail for contempt of court.  She mentioned the letter from Father Michaels,
but said it gave no definite clues to his whereabouts.  She stressed that her
father had immediately called Detective Madison and turned it over to him.  She
ended her letter by saying that she did understand his feelings towards their
father, but hoped he wouldn’t close the door permanently on a future
reconciliation.

Colin put down the letter.  He supposed anything was
possible, but presently he was still too angry to even consider it.  He left
Caitlin’s letter with the letter from Alethea’s parents and went into the other
room.  He dragged out his practice amp and picked up his favorite guitar.  He
frowned suddenly and lowered it back into its stand.  He wanted to play, but
was afraid the size and weight of it would tax his injury too much.  Colin pushed
aside the coffee table, got down on his knees and pulled a guitar case from
underneath the couch.  He opened it and took out an unusual looking guitar.  It
was only about half the size of his other guitars and weighed between five and
seven pounds, but it had no head stock or tuning pegs.  He had purchased the
Steinberger guitar a year ago, but hadn’t yet used it on tour.  He figured with
its smaller size and lighter weight, it wouldn’t irritate his injury and he
could play longer.

He took it and his amp outside, put his earplugs in
and started to play.  “Damn!”  He exclaimed after running through his favorite
warm-up song, ‘Purple Haze’
©
.  “I be a tad rusty, methinks!”  He played
it a couple of more times, working out the kinks.  By the fourth run through,
he felt more confident about his playing.  Suddenly his stomach let go with a
growl that was louder than his guitar.  Colin glanced at his watch, realizing
it was nearly two.  He went into the kitchen and made himself lunch.  Staring
at the San Francisco skyline reminded him to call The Red Victorian and make
their reservations for next weekend.  He found the phone book, looked up the
number and called.  After listening to a polite description of the rooms and
their prices, he reserved the Peacock Suite for next Friday and Saturday
nights.  He returned to the deck, replaced his earplugs and started to play
again.  He ran through a medley of Unforgiven’s most requested songs, but his
playing still sounded a bit stiff.  It felt slightly awkward and hesitant, not
fluid as it usually was.  He sighed in frustration.  Hopefully, if he practiced
for an hour or two every day, his playing would be up to speed by the time
Unforgiven went back out on the road in October.

Amanda pulled her Grand Prix into the driveway behind
Colin’s Patriot.  Alethea turned to her and asked, “Would you and Deb like to
come in and have something cold to drink before you go home?”

“That would be wonderful, Alethea.  I’m parched!”

“I’m thirsty, too.”  Debbie said.

Amanda got out of her car.  “Is that a guitar I hear?”

“Colin must be playing on the deck.”  Alethea
answered.  The three of them walked up on the porch and Alethea unlocked the
front door.  “Sit down and make yourselves comfortable.  I’ll tell Colin we’re
home.”  Alethea went outside and had to clap her hands over her ears.  She
tapped Colin’s shoulder.