speed.
"I wrote several letters, all were returned unopened. It was the damn security I set in place. It kept everyone out." His voice cracked.
"We should be glad the place is secure." Kaitlyn had breathed a little easier when Robert told her what he had done. There had been moments over the last two years when she had wished for news but the twins' lives were so much more important.
"I only hope the lab in Tower City will prove indomitable and that Nessa's expertise with the computers data bank will keep them save." Robert said.
"With Nessa manning the tower computer security system, I'm sure it will be." Kaitlyn smiled at the thought of her girls all grown up and so very capable. She yearned to embrace them.
"And Tori doing everything to undermine its strength." Robert turned from the window, striding to the liquor cabinet to pour himself and Drake a shot of whiskey. He held up his glass, "To my girls."
Drake accepted his glass, "To your girls."
"Perhaps that is not a bad thing. She will test it with experimentation and Nessa will discover its weaknesses." Kaitlyn frowned and hoped all she said was true. The system would need testing and she prayed the girls remembered how to access the secret tunnel from their room.
"Always the optimist," Drake said. "I hope your confidence in the girls is valid and their safety insured."
"The world is filled with pessimism. I prefer to look at the glass of water as half full." Kaitlyn paced the parlor. "What I am most worried about are the friends who are really their enemies. People can be bought. I hope they have learned to trust no one."
"Tori will rebel at the idea of a betrothal. Where on earth did you come up with the idea? And if Cameron and Tori are to be wed, she will have to learn to trust him and possibly the Phantom," Drake said.
"Trust no one, my mantra. I discovered the idea of a betrothal in an old romance novel I discovered in the archives. I was trying to recuperate and was bored to tears. I had been on my back for months and needed to relieve the tedium," Robert said, stroking his chin and grinning.
"Days," Kaitlyn corrected. "It was only days that you were on your back."
"Well, it seemed like months. I had nothing to do so I read--read anything I could get a hold of--things I would have never considered days before." Robert looked pointedly at Kaitlyn seeming to say I acknowledge your time frame. "I jumped on the idea as a perfect solution to Tori's upcoming problems."
"Securing the lab before Quentin Morray could steal it?" Drake said.
"It does have its merits, although convincing the young couple this is best for them as well as the country will not be easy." Kaitlyn had heard a short version of Cameron's and Tori's encounter in the forest. She was heartily glad Tori did not have her dog with her.
"Cameron is honoring you and the commitment he made to you in the forest. Otherwise--" Drake said.
"He would have nothing to do with Tori if I hadn't asked him for that favor. At the time I had no idea I would ask him to marry my oldest daughter. I had merely hoped to bind Cameron to the cause and not just his research," Robert said through gritted teeth.
"A stroke of genius," Drake said, "and I don't believe you need to feel the least bit defensive. All will work out in the end.
"No genius, the betrothal was a necessity. I had always prayed my daughters would find true love, but now it seems at least one is being bartered as if she were chattel." Kaitlyn did not need to have the gift of sight to foresee the battle of wills yet to unveil itself.
"And no doubt she will fight Cameron until she finds herself in love with him," Robert said, musing out loud.
"Let us pray she falls in love. We did not raise our children to go down without a fight." Kaitlyn felt herself tearing up once again and turned away to hide her troubling emotions.
"Pray too no one is hurt in the
"I wrote several letters, all were returned unopened. It was the damn security I set in place. It kept everyone out." His voice cracked.
"We should be glad the place is secure." Kaitlyn had breathed a little easier when Robert told her what he had done. There had been moments over the last two years when she had wished for news but the twins' lives were so much more important.
"I only hope the lab in Tower City will prove indomitable and that Nessa's expertise with the computers data bank will keep them save." Robert said.
"With Nessa manning the tower computer security system, I'm sure it will be." Kaitlyn smiled at the thought of her girls all grown up and so very capable. She yearned to embrace them.
"And Tori doing everything to undermine its strength." Robert turned from the window, striding to the liquor cabinet to pour himself and Drake a shot of whiskey. He held up his glass, "To my girls."
Drake accepted his glass, "To your girls."
"Perhaps that is not a bad thing. She will test it with experimentation and Nessa will discover its weaknesses." Kaitlyn frowned and hoped all she said was true. The system would need testing and she prayed the girls remembered how to access the secret tunnel from their room.
"Always the optimist," Drake said. "I hope your confidence in the girls is valid and their safety insured."
"The world is filled with pessimism. I prefer to look at the glass of water as half full." Kaitlyn paced the parlor. "What I am most worried about are the friends who are really their enemies. People can be bought. I hope they have learned to trust no one."
"Tori will rebel at the idea of a betrothal. Where on earth did you come up with the idea? And if Cameron and Tori are to be wed, she will have to learn to trust him and possibly the Phantom," Drake said.
"Trust no one, my mantra. I discovered the idea of a betrothal in an old romance novel I discovered in the archives. I was trying to recuperate and was bored to tears. I had been on my back for months and needed to relieve the tedium," Robert said, stroking his chin and grinning.
"Days," Kaitlyn corrected. "It was only days that you were on your back."
"Well, it seemed like months. I had nothing to do so I read--read anything I could get a hold of--things I would have never considered days before." Robert looked pointedly at Kaitlyn seeming to say I acknowledge your time frame. "I jumped on the idea as a perfect solution to Tori's upcoming problems."
"Securing the lab before Quentin Morray could steal it?" Drake said.
"It does have its merits, although convincing the young couple this is best for them as well as the country will not be easy." Kaitlyn had heard a short version of Cameron's and Tori's encounter in the forest. She was heartily glad Tori did not have her dog with her.
"Cameron is honoring you and the commitment he made to you in the forest. Otherwise--" Drake said.
"He would have nothing to do with Tori if I hadn't asked him for that favor. At the time I had no idea I would ask him to marry my oldest daughter. I had merely hoped to bind Cameron to the cause and not just his research," Robert said through gritted teeth.
"A stroke of genius," Drake said, "and I don't believe you need to feel the least bit defensive. All will work out in the end.
"No genius, the betrothal was a necessity. I had always prayed my daughters would find true love, but now it seems at least one is being bartered as if she were chattel." Kaitlyn did not need to have the gift of sight to foresee the battle of wills yet to unveil itself.
"And no doubt she will fight Cameron until she finds herself in love with him," Robert said, musing out loud.
"Let us pray she falls in love. We did not raise our children to go down without a fight." Kaitlyn felt herself tearing up once again and turned away to hide her troubling emotions.
"Pray too no one is hurt in the
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