Bryn smiled, and he handed the phone to her. "She's got three little urchins tugging at her. They want to talk to you."
They did talk to her, all three of them, grabbing the phone from one another. They were full of enthusiasm. Brian--she thought it was Brian--told her all about his new bow and arrows. Keith was all excited about sleeping in theteepee . "It's made out of animal skins! Real animal skins, Aunt Bryn." She Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
didn't have the slightest idea of what Adam was saying. When he got excited his speech still got garbled into a language that only another four-year-old could possibly understand.
She sent them all kisses over the phone, warned them to be good and promised that she'd be there in no time. Then Gayle was back on the phone with her.
"I just wanted to set your mind at ease," Gayle said cheerfully. "They really are having a great time."
"They sound like it. I admit I was worried about the psychological effect all this might have on them."
Gaylelaughed, a pleasant, husky sound that reminded Bryn of Lee. "Don't worry, they're absolutely normal. At least Phil says so. And he should know."
"He should?"
"Umm.He's a child psychologist. Didn't I ever tell you that?"
"No, and I never thought to ask," Bryn murmured sheepishly. "What do you do?" she added with sudden curiosity.
"What else? I'm a violinist with the Philharmonic."
"What else?" Bryn mused with a laugh in return.
"Anyway, we're so anxious for you two to get here! Mom and Dad are coming in next weekend, and they can't wait to meet you!"
"That's wonderful," Bryn murmured a little nervously.
"Well, let me go now and deal with these little Indians. Nothing new, is there?"
"No," Bryn said regretfully. "Nothing new, but nothing bad has happened, either."
"Well, we'll see you soon."
Bryn handed the receiver back to Lee and he hung up the phone,then pulled her into his arms. "Are you going to spend the day studying that new stack of blowups?"
Bryn nodded, fitting herself comfortably against him. "I glanced at them last night, and I still don't think that you can see anything clearly. Every time I blow them up the result becomesgranier . I don't know, Lee. We may never be able to see anything. There is a couple coming out of the motel...but..."
She felt Lee shrug. "Keep at it, okay? That Hammarfield is sleazy."
"Lee, that's a value judgment!" Bryn cautioned.
"It's not personal. Politicians tend to be a little sleazy. It's the name of the game. The public wants its servants perfect, but no one's perfect. So keep looking. I know that things have been quiet, but there's alwaysa calm before the storm, you know."
"Is that why you're being so calm?" she teased.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"Hmmm...maybe..." he began, but they both started as the doorbell began to chime. Lee sat up, gazing at the bedside clock. "Eleven," he groaned. "That's someone from the band."
He had mentioned last night that they were having a practice. Bryn jumped out of bed, padding across the room to quickly grab underwear, jeans and a T-shirt from a drawer. She glanced back with a frown at Lee, who was still lying lazily in the bed and watching her with amusement. "What are you doing?" she demanded with exasperation.
He chuckled."Enjoying the view. There's nothing like watching a nude dancer fumble her way into her clothing."
"Very amusing," Bryn retorted, throwing a pair of briefs at him. "You're the stickler for time! Get dressed. I'll get the door." She paused before leaving him. "I thought you said the sound was already mixed. What's the session for?"
"Christmas carols. We've been asked to do an album, and our business manager wants it released by October." "Rock Christmas carols?"
"Hey, that's been my lifelong ambition! I can be the Bing Crosby of rock 'n' roll."
Bryn shrugged with a smile and left him, pelting quickly down the stairs. Checking through the peephole, she saw that Mick and Perry, as well as Barbara and Andrew, were standing there, chatting as they waited. Bryn twisted the key that turned off the security system,then unbolted the door.
"See! I told you!" Barbara chuckled to the others as they stepped inside. "They've been in bed all morning."
"Hmmm," Bryn murmured dryly. "And what have you been doing?"
"Nothing illegal, immoral or terribly exciting--but at least healthy," Andrew said with a feigned sigh.
"We've been golfing."
"Golfing!"Bryn exclaimed, staring at Barbara. As long as she'd known Barbara, she'd never heard about her friend golfing.
Barbara grimaced. "It was all right. Except I landed in one of those sand traps and they made me take another point for it!"
Mick shook his head at her terminology,then reminded her, "That's the way the game is played, Barbara."
"Well, I still think you should just have let me pick the ball up and then swing at it."
"We did!"
"Yeah, with an increase to my score!"