Ever Increasing Steele Part 27
While Mildred's phone call to Sarah Turner had yielded promising results she still had to wait for them and time simply wasn't on her side. Sarah had promised to have the books sent over so that Mildred could look through them, a task Mildred was keen to begin straight away. Steele however had other ideas and insisted on her leaving for the day and starting fresh in the morning. To her credit Mildred had put up a good fight but in the end had conceded defeat and agreed albeit with great reluctance to listen to reason.
Once they knew Mildred was safely on her way home, Steele and Laura also left for the day knowing they'd need rest to be prepared for the possibilities of what the next day could hold. Yet despite the gravity of what could eventuate as they journeyed to pick up Sophie from Mrs Fraser's place Laura smiled.
"Care to share?" Steele said.
"One thing we can be certain of, well one of many is that Mildred would never give us cause for worry."
"Apart from being too damn dedicated at times."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No, not really but Laura you saw her, why I had to practically prise her off of the desk."
Laura smiled, "She does take the job very seriously and I'm grateful." She glanced at his strong profile before adding, "I'm equally grateful that you take care of her, that you appreicate her dedication and yet make sure she doesn't over do things."
"Inasmuch as I can, but Laura I'm not the only one, you do all those things too."
"We're a good team, Mr Steele."
Now it was Steele's turn to smile, "That we are, Mrs Steele." He said taking her hand and kissing it, his eyes never wavering from watching the road ahead as he did.
The distance to Mrs Fraser's house was traveled all too soon and before long they were pulling into her driveway. They were keen to pick their little girl up and leave quite quickly, the need to be home being suddenly strong for them both. The car had barely stopped when the door to the house was flung open and Mrs Fraser's cam bounding out, the grin on her face declaring her excitement. This was not going to be a grab and dash, the older woman obviously had something to show them, something she was extremely enthusiastic about.
Laura caught Steele's eye and winked, she really wanted to get home but she knew this was important. "Next time." she said.
"Let's not linger long, eh." Steele said.
"Just long enough."
"Hello!" Mrs Fraser said beaming. "I hope you've got a few minutes to spare, I have some things I want to show you."
"For you, Mrs Fraser we'll make time." Steele said placing his arm around the woman's shoulders.
"More photos for her book?" Laura said grinning.
"Yes! But more too!"
"What else could you possibly have?" Steele said, "the mind boggles."
"Video!" Mrs Fraser said proudly, "I have your gorgeous daughter on video!"
Steele grinned, "My daughter on film, fancy that."
"Oh and she's a natural." Mrs Fraser said as she ushered them into the house. "You're going to love it."
"I daresay we will, could well be my favourite film now."
Mrs Fraser beamed with delight thrilled with his response which seemed to her to be high praise. "The girls have got it all set up, come into the living room and see."
Laura and Steele naturally fell behind leaving the very excited and happy Mrs Fraser to lead them into the living room. The atmosphere in the house was jolly, happy and a million miles away from the stress of the day making Laura happy it had happened on this particular day.
Sophie was thrilled to see them and launched herself into her father's arms then giggled happily when he sat on the floor with her on his lap before gesturing to Laura to sit on the seat behind them.
The video was wonderful and gave them another insight into the time Sophie spent away from them. She was engaged in all manner of activities and surrounded by a lot of love. It made leaving her with them so much easier.
"Well, what did you think?" Abby asked, "Is it a cool film, Mr Steele?"
"Best I've ever seen."
"Wow!" Claire said, "You've seen billions!"
"Well probably not.." Steele looked around and shrugged, "yes, you're probably right." he said, "What did you think Laura?"
Laura stood and smiled, the little tears in her eyes glistening, "I think", she said before hugging them all, "I think that it's wonderful oh and I like your choice of films, Mr Steele."
Once they knew Mildred was safely on her way home, Steele and Laura also left for the day knowing they'd need rest to be prepared for the possibilities of what the next day could hold. Yet despite the gravity of what could eventuate as they journeyed to pick up Sophie from Mrs Fraser's place Laura smiled.
"Care to share?" Steele said.
"One thing we can be certain of, well one of many is that Mildred would never give us cause for worry."
"Apart from being too damn dedicated at times."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No, not really but Laura you saw her, why I had to practically prise her off of the desk."
Laura smiled, "She does take the job very seriously and I'm grateful." She glanced at his strong profile before adding, "I'm equally grateful that you take care of her, that you appreicate her dedication and yet make sure she doesn't over do things."
"Inasmuch as I can, but Laura I'm not the only one, you do all those things too."
"We're a good team, Mr Steele."
Now it was Steele's turn to smile, "That we are, Mrs Steele." He said taking her hand and kissing it, his eyes never wavering from watching the road ahead as he did.
The distance to Mrs Fraser's house was traveled all too soon and before long they were pulling into her driveway. They were keen to pick their little girl up and leave quite quickly, the need to be home being suddenly strong for them both. The car had barely stopped when the door to the house was flung open and Mrs Fraser's cam bounding out, the grin on her face declaring her excitement. This was not going to be a grab and dash, the older woman obviously had something to show them, something she was extremely enthusiastic about.
Laura caught Steele's eye and winked, she really wanted to get home but she knew this was important. "Next time." she said.
"Let's not linger long, eh." Steele said.
"Just long enough."
"Hello!" Mrs Fraser said beaming. "I hope you've got a few minutes to spare, I have some things I want to show you."
"For you, Mrs Fraser we'll make time." Steele said placing his arm around the woman's shoulders.
"More photos for her book?" Laura said grinning.
"Yes! But more too!"
"What else could you possibly have?" Steele said, "the mind boggles."
"Video!" Mrs Fraser said proudly, "I have your gorgeous daughter on video!"
Steele grinned, "My daughter on film, fancy that."
"Oh and she's a natural." Mrs Fraser said as she ushered them into the house. "You're going to love it."
"I daresay we will, could well be my favourite film now."
Mrs Fraser beamed with delight thrilled with his response which seemed to her to be high praise. "The girls have got it all set up, come into the living room and see."
Laura and Steele naturally fell behind leaving the very excited and happy Mrs Fraser to lead them into the living room. The atmosphere in the house was jolly, happy and a million miles away from the stress of the day making Laura happy it had happened on this particular day.
Sophie was thrilled to see them and launched herself into her father's arms then giggled happily when he sat on the floor with her on his lap before gesturing to Laura to sit on the seat behind them.
The video was wonderful and gave them another insight into the time Sophie spent away from them. She was engaged in all manner of activities and surrounded by a lot of love. It made leaving her with them so much easier.
"Well, what did you think?" Abby asked, "Is it a cool film, Mr Steele?"
"Best I've ever seen."
"Wow!" Claire said, "You've seen billions!"
"Well probably not.." Steele looked around and shrugged, "yes, you're probably right." he said, "What did you think Laura?"
Laura stood and smiled, the little tears in her eyes glistening, "I think", she said before hugging them all, "I think that it's wonderful oh and I like your choice of films, Mr Steele."