Part 14
It was after 7:00 when Cassy's doorbell rang.
"Who is it?" Cassy asked from behind the closed door.
"It's me Cass, open up."
"Tom? Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me. Now open up."
"Is it the same Tom who left work early today to do some mysterious errand while your partner had to cover for you with Harry when she was completely in the dark?"
"Cassy, open up the door. This stuff is heavy."
Cassy opened the door and could see Tom struggling under the weight of boxes. He carried them inside and set them on the coffee table.
Cassy peered inside. "What did you bring me?"
Tom moved the boxes away from her. "First you say you're sorry for making me wait outside carrying these boxes while you threw a fit."
Cassy raised her eyes at him. "Don't push it Ryan."
"Apology accepted. Since you asked me so nicely, I'm going to tell you what I did after I left the precinct. I had ordered some items and I had to get to the post office before they closed to pick them up."
"Why couldn't you just tell Harry that? Or me, for that matter?"
"I wanted to surprise you and I didn't want Harry to know."
"Now I am definitely curious. What have you done now?"
Tom reached into the first box and pulled out a stack of books and handed them to Cassy.
She looked down at the titles. "What To Expect When You're Expecting, Mommy- To-Be, First-Time-Dad," She set them down and pick up another set.
"Six books by Dr. Benjamin Spock and three on baby names. Tom, you've gone a little overboard again."
"Cass, do you want to see what else I have in here or do you want to criticize?"
Cassy thought about it for a second. Curiosity weighed more than the criticizing Tom. Besides, that could wait until later.
"Gimme."
Tom grinned and opened box number two. "This box, my dear Cassandra, contains items that will remind you and anyone who sees you of this upcoming event."
"Oh yeah?" Cassy wasn't sure she liked what he was hinting at.
"Yeah. Open." He handed her the box.
She opened it slowly, unsure of its contents. She pulled out a tee-shirt. "A tee-shirt, Tom? That's what all this hoopla was for? A tee-shirt?"
Tom grinned. "Just read it."
"Fine." Cassy grumbled as she unfolded the shirt. "What does it say? 'I am a Tom and Cassy Production.'"
Cassy looked at Tom, who was trying to hide a grin, with a look of confusion followed by horror. "Thomas Ryan, did you actually have this made up?"
"I did." Tom grabbed the tee-shirt from Cassy. "It's a joke Cass. I saw it advertised in a magazine and I had to have it. You don't think it's funny?"
Cassy grabbed the tee-shirt back. "It's wonderful. I love it." She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "What else did you bring?"
Cassy opened another box and pulled out more items. There were bottles, bibs, newborn diapers, booties and blankets all with 'A Tom and Cassy Production' printed on each one.
"You went overboard on this, you know that don't you?" Cassy asked as Tom packed everything back in the boxes.
"Yeah, I know. But it made you smile, and that's all that matters."
"Tom Ryan, you're an okay guy."
"Aw. Cass, you're embarrassing me with all the flattery." He carried the boxes to the hall closet. He came back and sat down next to her on the sofa. "There was a message on my machine from my dad when I got home from the airport."
"How is he?"
"Concerned about me."
"Oh? And why is that? What have you done?"
"For one thing I haven't called them in a while."
"Shame on you, Thomas. Why haven't you called your parents?"
"Because they will want to know what's new in my life and I can't lie to them and tell them 'nothing' when I know that they are going to be grandparents soon. They have this uncanny parental way of knowing when I'm lying."
Cassy felt guilty. "I know what you want me to say. You want me to say that I'm ready to announce to the world that we're having a baby."
"Is that so wrong? I want people to know that I'm going to be father. I want my parents to be thrilled at the prospect of a grandchild."
Cassy sighed. "I want the same things. I want to call my sisters and tell them they're going to be aunts. I want Claudia and me to shop for baby clothes. I just need more time."
"How much time?"
Cassy knew that her time for remaining hidden was coming to an end. Very soon it would be obvious to everyone. "I'll tell you what Tom. As soon as we solve this case, we'll let everyone know."
Tom grinned. "You mean it?"
"Yeah, I mean it."
Tom's smile faded. "But that will mean that you'll be placed behind a desk."
"I'm okay with it. Really I am. Or at least I will be." Cassy yawned.
Tom could see how tired she was. He, too, was exhausted. Was it only yesterday they were still in California? "We'll discuss this more later."
"Sure thing."
As Tom reached the door he could see Cassy stretched out on the sofa sleeping.
End of part 14
To Part 15