Consequences

In case you wondered how Chick and Reggie came to this point of putting makeup on and crashing Betty and Cole’s love fest, this is what happened: It was

simple. Chick felt guilty because of Reggie and Betty’s heartbreak and knew he was responsible for it. So he went to Reggie’s office one evening when everyone

was gone and he knew he’d find Reggie working alone. He also knew Reggie often stayed late to drink the night away before he went home. So he appeared in

front of a drunken Reggie to propose the idea of regaining his family because he feared for Reggie’s sanity. Reggie was drinking so much it was obvious he would

need to ‘dry out; in order to function. So Chick made Reggie a proposition. “If you clean yourself up, I’ll help you get Betty and the baby back.”

“What?” Reggie bellowed. “Do you mean it!?”

“Of course I mean it, Mantle. I’m not one to play games. You sober up and we’ll talk. I’ll be back in a few days for your answer.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Reggie grabbed Chick’s arm. Chick gently extracted himself from Reggie’s grip.

“No, Mantle, I have to see for myself you mean it. I can’t have my sis and niece with a lush. See ya soon.

“Chick!” Reggie called. But Chick was gone as suddenly as he appeared.

True to his word Chick returned in a week a very eager and sobered Reggie Mantle, and they planned for hours over lunch and dinner on how to get Betty back

into his life.

***

“Daddy, don’t you think Reggie’s been gone long enough?” Veronica missed Reggie, even though he hadn’t been gone for 24 hours. She had paid her father a visit

to get sympathy from him. It worked.

“Baby, I told you to give the man some space. You’re going to chase him away.” Hiram Lodge was becoming very impatient with his beloved only child. She was

going to push young Mantle out of her life as sure as Hiram knew Reggie longed for his lost wife and baby. He could see the haunted look in Reggie’s eyes that he

didn’t even bother to hide.

“Okay Daddy. It just that I love him so much, and....” At the sight of her tears, Hiram relented. He hated for his darling to be unhappy.

“He had to go visit his family in Michigan. Let him enjoy his visit. I’m sure he’ll call. Plus he’ll only be away for a week. Give him a chance to miss you. Come on

dear, let’s go out to eat. Your mother is going to meet us at Mirage at seven o’clock.” Hiram placed his arm around Veronica to comfort her as he walked her out of

his office to meet her mother for dinner.

“Anything you say, Daddy” a doubtful Veronica answered. She had a bad feeling about this sudden trip of Reggie’s. He sprung it on her two nights ago after they

had sex.

“Ron, my parents want me to go to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan to see my Uncle Brian. He’s not well, and my Mom wants to see him. He’s her baby brother, you

know. I want to see him too. He’s always been so good to me.” Veronica nuzzled closer, wrapping her arms around him.

Chick Cooper had taken pity on him and had a hastily thought of plan to help him get Betty and Angela back, He vowed if he didn’t succeed in getting Betty back

as his wife, he was going to move near her and his baby. Even if she married Cole. He would keep a secret watch over them because he couldn’t live otherwise.

***.

“Sissy, I need your help.” a distressed Chick called Betty. She was horrified because he had never sounded afraid before, not even when they got the terrible news

their parents were dead.

“What’s wrong Chick?”

“I have a colleague whose cover has been blown and the enemy knows all of the safe houses. Plus he’s been injured. I want Polly to stay there and help take care

of him. I can’t risk taking him to a hospital. I’ll have a doctor I know come there. I need you to .....” After giving Betty all the little details of what things they would

need for the injured man, he added, “Can I bring him there? I promise to protect you and Angel.”

“I trust you bro. Bring him here.” Betty flew around the apartment with Polly to get the guest bedroom ready for their guest.

***

“Bring him this way” Betty said as she opened the door and let the three men in: “Sis this is Bryce Howard and Dr. Wells.

“Thanks for your help Miss...” He reached out slowly to shake her had. She felt an electric shock run through her body. He had trouble catching his breath.

“Call me Betty, come in Bryce. Don’t try to talk.” Betty hid a gasp as she got a good look at Bryce. He was beautiful.  She felt guilty that she was lusting after an

injured man when she had been so close to giving herself to another. Chick had indicated that Bryce had been shot in the chest while on some secret mission, and

needed a safe place to recover. She showed Chick and the doctor where Bryce was to stay while recuperating from his wounds. The two men half carried the

injured Bryce to his room and shut the door.

“Wow Bets, Bryce is hot. I may make a play for him myself when he’s well,” Polly whispered.

“That’s nice sis”, Betty said, not really paying attention to her sister. She was too busy wondering why she had such a strong reaction to a stranger. Polly watched

her sister, laughing to herself. Her sister felt a connection to her husband, even in deep disguise.

***

After what seemed like hours, but in reality was twenty minutes, her brother and doctor Wells came out of the guest room, shutting the door behind them.

“Doc here says Bryce will make it, but he needs some soup or something.”

“I have some chicken broth heating on the stove now.”

“Would you mind giving it to him SIs? I need to make my rounds and meet my associates.”

“Uh,s ure Chick.”

 At that moment, Angela’s little voice cut in, “Momma, momma”

Betty went into the nursery and picked up the little girl, holding her close. “I think Angel’s better. She wasn’t feeling too well earlier.” Betty handed Angel to her uncle while she went to fix Bryce’s soup. While Betty went into the kitchen, Chick  called out “ I’m going to take her to meet Bryce so he doesn’t scare her,” as he took his niece to meet their guest.

“Bryce, here’s my little Angel. Angel, this is Bryce. Say Hi.”

Angel looked at Bryce with piercing green eyes. She was silent for so long both men held their breath, waiting for the storm. She hates me! Reggie thought

She hates him, Chick was thinking.

Just as Betty came into the room with the tray of food, Angel blurted out “Da Da!” The only sound in the room was the tray falling to the floor, the breaking of dishes

and glass loud enough to sound as if a bomb went off int he apartment.