The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella (116 page)

“Hey, Jette.  I’m calling you guys with another wedding offer.  Celebrity News Network just made an offer of one and a half million dollars to televise the wedding live on their channel.  It’s the biggest offer so far.  What do you want me to tell them?” he asks.

This is the third offer we’ve gotten.  TMZ and E! both made offers that we quickly turned down without a second thought.  “Give them the same response we prepared for the others.  I’m not turning my wedding into a three-ring circus.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that.  It’s a lot of money to turn down, though.  I just want to make sure before I respond.”  I can hear him tapping away on a keyboard, probably drafting our response.

Before he hangs up, I decide to dig for a little dirt.  “So, Sparky, is anything new?  What do you and Emmy have planned for today?”  Maybe he’ll let something slip. 

“Emmy and Reese are going shopping, their usual Monday routine.  Marcus is coming over to watch last night’s Knicks game.  You know – same shit, different day.”  He sounds bored with the conversation.  I don’t think he’s hiding anything.

Evan slides open the door and Maddy comes barreling in, heading straight for her water bowl.  He mouths to me, “Who is it?” and I silently answer, “Adam.”  He shrugs his shoulders and taps on his watch, telling me we’re losing time.

“Listen, Adam, Evan’s done and I think he wants to leave.  I’ll tell him you called.”

“No problem, Jette.  Have fun at the museum.  Bring me back some Astronaut Ice Cream,” he chuckles as he hangs up the phone. 

“What did Adam want?” Evan asks as he finishes off a bottle of water.

“Well, we got another offer to get married on TV,” I tell him.

“How much this time?” Evan asks.

“One point five mil,” I tell him.

He cocks an eyebrow at me and asks, “What did you tell him?”

“What did you want me to tell him?” I ask.

“Juliette, there’s no way in hell I’m getting married on national television.  It’s bad enough that they show me in the locker room barely out of the shower – I will not have them broadcasting us making our wedding vows.  I hope you told him no.”  He looks at me with a cautionary expression.

“I did.”  He looks immediately relieved.  “Did you tell Adam we were going to the museum today? He asked me to bring back some of that silly Astronaut Ice Cream.”

He nods. “I called him while you were in the shower.  He has contacts in their security department.”

“Oh yeah, security.”  When I originally suggested a trip to the museum, I was thinking that we were normal people making normal plans.  On a chilly, rainy day, going to the museum seemed like a great idea.  But now that I stop and think about it, there’s nothing simple about an NFL quarterback going to a public place in the middle of football season.  Now the museum will probably need to call in additional security, all because I’m bored.

“Evan, we don’t have to go.  We can always rent a movie and stay in all day.  It might not be such a good idea to drag you through a crowded museum right now.  I wouldn’t mind.”

Evan is now standing directly in front of me.  He takes my chin in his hand and tilts my head up to look at him.  He looks at me with such devotion, it makes me feel even worse for having suggested he put himself on display for my entertainment.

“We are not going to stop living our lives just because it may get a little complicated.  My life will always be complicated, as long as I’m in the NFL.  This is what you signed up for when you agreed to become my wife.  We’re not going to hide – got it?”

I can’t help but smile, mostly because he’s right.  We can’t hide just because things aren’t simple.  Life with Evan is many things, but simple and easy are not among them.  “Got it,” I agree.

“Good.  Then let’s get that adorable ass of yours in the car so we can go.  We have one stop to make along the way, so let’s hustle.” 

I stretch up on my tiptoes to kiss him before I ask, “Can I ask where we’re stopping, or is it a secret?”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I thought it would be fun to bring another girl on our date.”  I shoot him a look of warning.  He had better be kidding.  “She’s never been to the museum before and I want to see her face light up when she sees her first dinosaur.”

“This date of yours, she wouldn’t happen to be in preschool, would she?” I ask.

“Not today she’s not.  I called my sister Callie and asked her if we could take Regan with us.  She agreed, but we have to take your Kia and Regan’s car seat.”  He looks at me for approval.  “I hope that’s okay.”

I wrap my arms around his neck.  “It sounds perfect.  Let’s go – she’s waited long enough to go on a date with her Uncle Evan.”

“And her Aunt Juliette,” Evan corrects me.  I don’t have any brothers or sisters.  I didn’t think I’d ever be lucky enough to have anyone call me Aunt.  I like the way it sounds.  Another gift Evan has given me – a family.  If he never gives me anything else but this, I will have lived a full and rich life.

Causing a Stir

W
e park our car in the restricted lot and Evan escorts us to the main entrance.  We find ourselves in the Theodore Franklin Rotunda, standing beneath the skeleton of a barosaurus, its long neck stretching nearly the length of the room.  Little Regan holds tightly to Evan’s leg, unwilling to venture too close to the colossal display. 

I’ve seen four security guards since our arrival.  I have no doubt they are here because of our visit.  Evan convinced me to see things from a different perspective.  The need for additional security has given these employees an opportunity to earn some overtime pay.  Since Christmas season will officially begin with Black Friday in just a few days, they may be grateful for our visit rather than inconvenienced by it.

I urge Evan to move on to another display – the longer we stay in one place, the more likely it is that someone will recognize him – but he tells me he’s waiting for something.  Fortunately, it’s a Monday during the school year, so the museum is not very crowded today. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a young man in his mid-thirties heading straight toward us.  My initial reaction is to brace for an enthusiastic greeting from a football fan.  But as his image becomes clearer, I notice his suit jacket, bow tie, and the museum credentials pinned to his lapel.  His nametag identifies him as Hugh, and he is all smiles as he approaches our small group.  He holds out his hand to Evan first, “Mr. McGuire,” then to me, “Miss Fletcher,” and even offers a hand to Regan, “Miss Warren”.  Not surprisingly, Regan disappears behind Evan’s hulking body.  Hugh just gives her a friendly pat on the head, looks up at Evan and me and asks, “Ready to start your tour?”

I look quizzically at Evan.  “When I called for additional security, they insisted on a private tour.  I thought it might be nice,” Evan explains.  I should have known.  Nothing with Evan is ever uncomplicated.

Hugh takes us through a set of doors and right into the Hall of African Mammals.  In the center of the room is a freestanding group of elephants.  Regan is beyond excited.  She races toward the benches that surround the display and tries to climb up, getting up-close and personal with the majestic creatures.  Evan is quick to react, and he reaches little Regan before she gets too far.  He holds her up close to the elephants as Hugh tells us about the exhibit.

Regan finally notices the other twenty-eight dioramas surrounding us.  She joyfully bops around, hopping from display to display, calling out the names of the animals as she sees them – lions, gorillas, ostriches (which she calls “big birds”).  She stops dead in her tracks when she gets to the water hole diorama.  “Auntie Jette, come see the zee-ba wif me!” she chirps, dragging me by the hand toward the glass case.  Evan and Hugh have no choice but to follow dutifully and listen as Regan points out the giraffe, “funny monkeys” (baboons), and more elephants.  Seeing these animals through the eyes of a child is an experience like no other.  No wonder my mother was willing to come here so often.

This scene is recreated over and over as we make our way through the Halls of Asian Mammals, North American Mammals, Primates and Small Mammals.  Aside from the occasional flash of a camera, Evan and I aren’t interrupted during our tour.  When we arrive at my favorite display, the Hall of Ocean Life, Regan is beginning to show signs of exhaustion.  She is expressionless as we sit on one of the many benches, gazing up at the giant blue whale hanging from the ceiling, her eyes looking suspiciously heavy. 

I pull out a juice pouch for her, along with her favorite snack of carrot sticks.  We take a break and sit for as long as it takes Regan to finish her afternoon snack. 

The short break is exactly what Regan needed.  She catches her second wind and heads straight toward the walrus display.  Evan follows quickly, never allowing her to be more than a few feet away from him at any time.

Hugh is babbling on about the coral reef display, but I don’t hear a word he says.  My mind is completely occupied watching Evan dote on his niece.  He is sweet and patient with her; he adores her.  It’s clear the feeling is more than mutual. 

As the room begins to get more crowded, I notice three young women, not much older than me, walking purposefully toward Evan.  They are chatting excitedly, and I know what’s about to happen.  Evan is so focused on his niece, he doesn’t even notice until it’s too late.  I scan the room, but there are no security guards near us at the moment.

I reach Evan’s side just as the small brood approaches, giggling.  “Excuse me, but are you Evan McGuire?” one of the girls asks as she beams up at him, all starry-eyed and flirty.

Evan does his best to keep the situation under control.  Regan has found a hiding spot behind his legs, shielded from the prying eyes of these strangers.  “I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to keep it a secret,” he whispers, flashing his killer smile and perfectly white teeth.  I know what he’s trying to do, and it usually works.  He can get them to go away by sweet-talking his way out of it.  I do my best to stay out of the way and let him work his magic.

“I told you!” She turns to her friends, obviously feeling smug about her accomplishment.  Her friends start chattering, and I swear they’re giving me dirty looks. Starry-Eyed Girl hands me her camera phone and asks, “Do you mind?  Just one quick picture?”  With Hugh standing beside me, I must look like a museum docent.  She quickly places herself snugly at Evan’s side.

Hoping to appease them and end this situation quickly and painlessly, I begin to raise the camera and point it at them.  When she slips an arm around his waist, he’s pushed to his limit.  He gently but forcefully removes her arm from his waist, takes the camera phone from my hand, and gives it back to her.  “This is my fiancée, and she will
not
be taking our picture.  Please find someone else to take it so we can finish our tour.”  Regan is now holding on to my leg for dear life.

Flirty Girl hands the phone to one of her friends, who snaps a picture, and off they go.  Evan picks up Regan and carries her as we walk to our next exhibit.  “I’m sorry about that, Princess.  Sometimes people like to say hi to me.  You did a great job staying away from strangers.  Auntie Jette and I will always keep you safe.”

“Mommy says you’re a stud muffin and I should stay by Auntie Jette when ladies come to say hi.  She says ladies like stud muffins.  Are you a stud muffin, Uncle Evan?”  Hugh and I have to chuckle at that little exchange.

“Well, missy, your mommy is usually right about most things.  I don’t know.  Maybe I am,” Evan teases as he puts her back on the ground. 

Now Regan is bouncing up and down chanting, “Stud muffin, stud muffin,” over and over again as we make our way through the museum.

Hugh checks his watch and informs us that we have a scheduled stop at the Rose Center for Earth and Space.  Evan takes Regan right over to see the Moon rock while Hugh chats with one of the employees.  After a few minutes, he motions for us to join him.  The employee unhooks the rope and Hugh leads us through a maze until we find ourselves entering the doors to the planetarium.  The room is completely empty.  We are the only ones here.

“Dr. Tyson has arranged for a private viewing for your group.  Make yourselves comfortable.  I’ll be in the control room.  Let me know if you need anything at all, Mr. McGuire.”  Hugh excuses himself, leaving us to select our seats.  We choose seats in the center of the theater, with Regan sitting between us.  Evan drapes his long arm over the back of her seat and rests it on my shoulder, giving me a comforting squeeze.

Regan is babbling excitedly with Evan about this big room.  She wants to know where the movie will be shown.  When Evan points up at the ceiling, she’s awed.  While he explains to her what she can expect to see, my mind travels back to Evan’s phone conversation earlier this morning.  The words “restricted”, “private”, and “discharged” reverberate through my mind.  When we arrived, we parked in a restricted lot.  Now we’re sitting here for our private show.  What could he have meant by “discharged”?  I’m not quite able to sort that out.  Throwing caution to the wind, I decide to simply ask him.  “Evan, I have to admit something.  I think I overheard you arranging all this on the phone today.  You really thought of absolutely everything.”