Detective Mike

Chapter 11

Shelly brings him back his cup and she sits on the floor with hers by his feet. Jan and Marlene come back to sit by him on the couch. She talks to her mother about some school problem from her homework and Marlene explains it to her. Shelly throws in an odd word but mostly she stays quiet. Mike gives up watching the TV and engages her in conversation quietly.

"You're growing up, Shell. Have you noticed the other kids doing the same?"

"Some of them." She grins, "Some of them will never grow up."

"There's always a few like that. Class clowns we called them."

"One girl has grown so tall this year. The kids tease her but I don't know why, she is still the same person she always was."

"The rest of you will catch up to her. I hope you don't tease her."

"No, I think it's cruel."

"Are some of the kids cruel with you and Jan?"

Shelly looks at him curiously, "Just the usual."

Mike urges, "Tell me about the usual, Shelly."

"They tease Rick and Jan about being Indian and me about being..." she stops and looks away.

"Yes, go on."

She looks back up at him and bites her lip, "They say you're not my daddy but I know you are. They don't know you like we do." Marlene has gotten quiet and he can tell both her and Jan are listening.

"I guess they never saw your great grandmother Mariah Fraser. I have seen pictures of her as a girl and she was the sweetest blonde haired beauty. She must have looked just like you when she was young." He glances at Marlene, "Have you got any pictures of Grandma Fraser?"

"I do and I'll get them." She gets up and goes to a set of bookshelves on the wall of the living room. She moves to one side the Family Bible and brings two old albums to the couch. She opens one and everyone gathers around her.

"That's Mom and Dad with the old car Dad had."

Shelly exclaims, "That's a car?"

"Well your grandpa cut the back of it to make a bed to haul wood but yes, it was a car of the day. And this is Dad and his father in England."

"That's grandpa? He was just a boy then." Marlene nods.

She muses, "I think Mom's family is in the other album." She changes albums letting the girls poke through the one she opened first.

She finds what she's looking for, "See, Mom's Dad was an Englishman. That's your great grandfather Benjamin Fraser and on this next page is a picture of his bride when she came from Scotland. See Shelly, she does look like you. And there they are together. I think they were on their honeymoon then, they were going on the cruise ship down from London."

Shelly is staring in fascination at the young blonde bride. She murmurs, "I am just like my great grandma. Why didn't you give me her name instead of Jan?"

Marlene explains, "When you were born I had just met your Aunt Caitlin. We were living in Ontario then. We both liked the name Shelly so we chose Caitlin as your second name after your aunt."

Mike adds, "When you were born, Jan, your great grandmother Mariah had been very ill and she was much on our minds then. It pleased her to have a great grand child named after her so you ended up Janet Mariah Claymore."

Shelly fingers the picture, "Can we get a blow up of this picture, Mom?

Marlene smiles, "Which one would you like?"

Shelly studies the bridal picture and then the honeymoon picture. She turns the page and finds another shot of Mariah. She just can't make up her mind. Mike says quietly, "We'll get you copies of all of them of her. How's that?"

She smiles up at him, "Thank you, Daddy."

Jan looks forlorn, "Me too? I have her name."

"Okay, a set for both of you." Jan beams in a pleased way.

They spend an hour browsing through the albums and are just finishing up when Rick comes in. Marlene looks at her watch and says, "Hey, time for two young ladies to get their showers. It's passed bedtime. Let's go!"

She takes the girls upstairs and Mike goes to put the albums away. He spots another album at the bottom and pulls it out. As he opens it a tear forces it's way down his cheek. He sees Marlene's neat printing under photos of his mother and dad. They are old pictures of his he had in a box. He even sees the most recent picture of his son, Michael; the baby Nina had that died. Shelly, Jan and Rick smile at him from the pages and a new page has pictures of Emma and Shannon together. He finds pictures of Anne and Cathy with Nina. Then he finds Shawn Jeffery Claymore-Hart and he chokes back a cry. His son's wan face and bulging eyes hurt him deeply but he feels a strong bond of love for the unfortunate child. He puts the album away.

Marlene says quietly from behind him, "Do you have much to do in the morning? I can help you pack the trailer after lunch if you like."

Her turns to her and studies her fine moulded features. His heart aches at the beauty he sees in her and he comes around the couch to take her in his arms. Gently he kisses her lips barely touching them, moving over the textured softness tasting and sensing their shape. She moves her lips to brush his and they close on each other. Lost in the moment they stand in their own living room in the shadows simply enjoying the presence of each other.

It's a magic moment that is over too soon and she sighs. "What brought that on, lover?"

"I was thinking of what I'm going to do to you when I get you in bed."

"That was no passionate kiss, lover. That was pure love."

"Yes, it was." He regards her, "I guess I don't have much to do in the morning, we can pack the trailer almost any time you like."

Smiling she nods at him and says, "Lets go to bed."

Friday, March 7th/97

Mike knows when he opens his eyes that it's late. He recalls twice when Marlene was up nursing Emma during the night. Dimly he thinks she might have been up one more time but he's not sure.

She feels so familiar breathing in his ear softly with her head on his shoulder. Both of her breasts are flattened against him and she has one arm around him. One leg is thrown over his and he can feel the heat from her loins on his piss hard on. He closes his eyes again and lets her sleep.

The phone rings and she stirs. Mike reaches out and lifts the receiver. She snuggles tighter to him as he speaks into the phone.

"Good morning."

"Is that Mike Claymore?" It's a man's voice.

"Yes, what can I do for you?"

"Uh, this is Dr. Harry Giffin, Mike. I let that other guy go last night. He's sending me the final billing this weekend. Can I get you on the job right away?"

Mike muses, "Better to get him paid off first. Is there any hurry?"

"I guess not but I would like to get some definitive results."

"Call me as soon as his cheque clears. Is that satisfactory?"

"I guess. I'll do that Mike."

"Okay, thanks for letting me know the situation, Harry. I'll be there when we have a clean field of operations. Have a good day."

"Good day Mike."

He hangs up and Mike does the same. Marlene says drowsily, "Who was that? Sounded like a client."

"Mmm, it was."

"Do we have to get up?"

"Sounds like the kids have got themselves off to school."

"Good," she wiggles her bottom suggestively as she snuggles and hugs him. She bites at the side of his neck then nibbles on his ear. Mike moves his hips to rub her with his now engorged erection. She gushes lubricant all over it and herself as she moves herself on top of him locking her lips to his.

Emma whimpers and Marlene moans, "Oh no, little one. Not now." She lies still waiting to see what the baby's going to do. Everything is quiet so she covers his lips with hers again and cautiously moves her hips straightening one leg. She rubs herself on him and positions herself.

"Wahhhhhhhh!!"

"Oh damn!" She slides off him and goes to the basinet. "Oh, my poor little one, that diaper is so wet." She looks back at Mike and giggles, "So are we! Are you getting up?"

Mike chuckles, "I'll get a clean diaper for you. Would you like to bring her in the shower with us?"

Marlene nods with a twinkle in her eye. They take Emma for a shower and then Mike goes down to put on coffee while she diapers the baby. She comes down and plunks the baby in his arms while she goes back for the basinet and then pours herself a cup. She sits next to them and opens her robe.

"Give her here, lover."

Mike watches her nurse the babe and sips his coffee. He asks, "Do you want to sort out the pictures for the girls when you're done there? I'll drop them off on my way to the campground this afternoon."

She nods as she changes Emma's position a bit. "I think Shelly did wonder if she could be someone else's child or if you weren't her father. It's funny what runs through the minds of children. It might have been only an unconscious worry but I think we set her mind at ease."

"I think I might suggest she attaches a picture of her great grandmother into the front of her school binder so she can have it with her. She can show it off to a few friends and alleviate some of the teasing that way. I wish it was that easy to solve the teasing the other two are getting."

Her eyes soften, "Oh Mike, if they knew you like we know you they would never tease them for being part native. You are the most wonderful and kind man I have ever known."

Mike puffs up his chest, "And a truly great lover," he laughs, "and modest, to boot!" She kicks him and stubs a bare toe. She winches as she laughs. Emma rolls her eyes around and tries to see him without stopping her nursing. Mike moves around behind her so Emma can see him and moves his fingers around for her to watch.

"Michael, stop distracting her!"

Mike kisses the side of her neck and her ear then lets on he's going to bite it. He chuckles as Emma watches his every move. Finally he stops his teasing and says he going down to the office.

"I'll call you when I have breakfast on... or brunch."

"Okay," he heads down the stairs. Checking faxes he finds that Trudy has sent him a lot of information on the directors. She points out that she is doing up a report for him and she hasn't gotten all the information in yet. He glances down what she has and it's basically what she had told him on the phone. He debates in his mind then decides to give Mrs. Montgomery a call just to let her know he is actively working on her case.

He makes the call and a gentleman answers.

"May I speak with Mrs. Montgomery, please?"

"I'm afraid she's out. Is there anything I can do for you? I'm Mr. Montgomery."

"I don't think our personal feminine hygiene products would interest you, sir. Do you have a daughter or any other female in the home?"

"My daughter is out as well. We have a maid here. How about her?"

Mike chuckles good naturedly and says, "Sure, why not."

He hears some commotion and then a few definite words, "...save it for me then, honey." She comes on the phone, "Hello."

"Ginny, it's Mike. Don't let on you know who I am. Okay?"

The line is silent a few seconds then, "What can I do for you, sir?"

"I'm supposed to be telling you about our line of female hygiene products. I told Fred I was a salesman for them."

"Oh, you're making me blush here."

"Can you pass the message to Mrs. Montgomery that I have some preliminary information for her if she calls me before three? Please don't let anyone else hear you give her the message."

"I would love to try that. Please send me a sample, if you can."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes, it is."

"Thanks Ginny, I owe you one."

"Yes, you do and I'll be waiting for it. I hope it comes soon."

Mike chuckles as she rhymes off her name and address then bids him a good day. She hangs up and he envisions her going back to jump on Fred. He mutters, "What a lusty Italian vixen!"

He digs into some more paperwork until he hears Marlene's voice summoning him for brunch. Quickly clearing his desk he jots a couple things on a pad and then heads up the stairs. He finds the pictures from the album on the table.

Sorting through them he picks out the one that most closely resembles Shelly and puts it on top. In this shot Mariah must have been still in school and she is resting on a slight rise with a full skirt spread out around her. The shot has been artificially coloured but Mike's sure his friend at the local camera shop can do some copy work on it and come up with a near perfect likeness.

It's sharp enough that Mike is sure it can stand some enlargement and that's what he plans on, two five by sevens of this shot and copies of the rest. He'll have the one five by seven framed in an inexpensive but tasteful frame for Shelly's dresser. The other one can go in her binder.