Public Secrets Part 47

liked, and the idea of New York appealed. "For the music and the

statement."

"You go for the statement." Stevie grinned. "I'll go for the naked

birds."

"We'll get Pete to fix it up. What do you say, Bev?"

She didn't like New York, but she could see Brian's mind was set. And

she didn't want to spoil the easy, peaceful mood of the last weeks.

"It'll be fun. Maybe we can take Darren and Emma to the zoo and through

Central Park before we fly home."

EmmA WAS THRILLED. She remembered her first trip to New York well, the

big bed in the hotel room, the soaring thrill of standing on top of the

world, the glorious rides on the carousel in Central Park. She wanted to

share all of that with Darren.

She tried to explain all the wonders of it to him as they prepared for

the trip. As Alice Wallingsford packed up the nursery, she kept Darren

out of mischief with his favored farm.

"Moo cow," he said, holding up the black spotted white piece from the

set. "Want to see a moo cow."

"I don't think we'll see a moo cow, but we'll see lions at the zoo."

She made a roar that had him squealing.

"You're getting him too excited, Emma," Alice said automatically. "And

it's nearly bedtime."

Emma just rolled her eyes as Darren danced around her. He was wearing

his Oshkosh overalls and little red Keds. For Emma's approval, he

struggled to do a sloppy somersault.

"All that energy." Alice clucked her tongue, though in truth she was

charmed by the boy. "I don't see how we'll get him to sleep tonight."

"Don't pack Charlie," Emma put in before Alice could drop the stuffed

dog into a packing box. "He has to ride on the plane with me."

With a sigh, Alice set the worn dog aside. "He needs a good was.h.i.+ng. I

don't want you sneaking him into the baby's crib anymore, Emma."

"I love Charlie," Darren announced and tried another somersault. He

landed heavily on his Playskool TI tool bench, but instead of crying,

picked up the wooden hammer to play a tatoo on the colored pegs. "I

love Charlie," he sang to his own rhythm.

"Be that as it may, sweet thing, he's getting a bit smelly. I don't

want germs in the bed with my baby."

Darren sent her a sunny smile. "I love germs."

"It's a heartbreaker you are." Alice picked him up to bounce him on her

hip. "Now Alice is going to give you a nide bath before bed, with

bubbles. Emma, don't leave those pieces spread about," she added as she

paused in the doorway. "You can have your bath as soon

as Darren's finished. Then you can go down and say good night to your

parents."

"Yes, ma'am." She waited until Alice was out of sight before she got up

to get Charlie. He did not smell, she thought as she buried her face in

his fur. And she would put him in Darren's crib, because Charlie

watched over him when she was sleeping.

RLY WISH YOU MDN'T asked all those people over tonight."

Bev fluffed the pillows on the couch, though she knew such niceties were