Star-Spangled Bride

every Sunday in the hoosegow on the Hudson.'

'It's a big risk. He's one tough customer. It's always hard to deal with people who think they're in the right.'

'We'll just have to prove him wrong. He's already made one mistake. He said I was risking everything.' She smiled lovingly up at him. 'You're everything. I've tried my darnedest, but you're too stubborn to let me lose you.'

'You bet I am.'

'We'll, since I have everything, I just need the proper setting to put it in.'

EPILOGUE

'Ronnie! Where the devil are you?'

'In the kitchen,' she called. 'And stop shouting. I'm trying to get this blasted cake to rise.'

Gabe came into the kitchen. 'You're cooking?' he asked warily.

'Last week I interviewed the chef at that four-star restaurant in Marasef and he said anyone could cook if they concentrate. He says he uses meditation to enhance his creations.'

'And that makes the cake rise?'

'Well, I figured it couldn't hurt.'

'Do I have to eat it?' he asked uneasily.

'It would be supportive.' She peered through the glass oven door. 'It's not doing anything. Why are you home early? I thought you said you were lunching with the sheikh.'

'I got a call at the office and I canceled it.' He paused. 'The call was from Pilsner.'

She tensed, her glance flying to the calendar on the wall. 'I've got another eight months. He can't change my deadline.'

Gabe nodded solemnly. 'He's doing it. He says it's a foolish waste of time to continue with this campaign of yours. He wants me to personally escort you to Miami for trial.'

'What?'

'Got you!' Gabe laughed and picked her up and whirled her in a circle. 'No way.'

Excitement soared through her. 'I'm going to murder you. What did he really say?'

'He just got the news about the Emmy they gave you on the story about illegal aliens. He said the story was slanted and overly sentimental.'

That didn't sound promising. 'It was the truth and darned good investigative reporting.'

'He's tired of receiving reports on your charity work with UNICEF.'

'They're embarrassing to me, too, but how else can you get gold stars?'

'He said having to handle those thousands of petitions from people asking that you receive amnesty and be made a citizen was causing his entire staff to threaten to quit.'

'Gabe!'

'He said you're the most persistent woman on the face of the earth. I agreed with him. He also said you're a nag without equal in the-'

'Tell me,' she interrupted.

'He said if he didn't give in, he was sure you'd discover the cure for all known killer diseases plaguing mankind just to make him look bad.'

She held her breath. 'And?'

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet jeweler's box. 'He said to be sure and give you this.'

'He sent me a present?'

'Well, it's really from me.'

She opened the box. An exquisite pearl choker with channel-set rubies and sapphires glittered on a bed of black velvet.

I thought the theme was fitting for a Star-Spangled Bride.

I'll give you the matching necklace when you become a citizen.

The words Gabe had spoken when he had given her the red, white, and blue earrings on their wedding day five years ago came back to her now.

She looked up eagerly from the necklace and the answer was in his face.

He said the words anyway. 'We're going home, love.'

Iris Johansen

***