Gabe nodded solemnly. "He's doing it. He says it's a foolish waste of time to continue with this campaign of yours. He wants me to personally escort you to Miami for trial."
"What?"
"Got you!" Gabe laughed and picked her up and whirled her in a circle. "No way."
Excitement soared through her. "I'm going to murder you. What did he really say?"
"He just got the news about the Emmy they gave you on the story about illegal aliens. He said the story was slanted and overly sentimental."
That didn't sound promising. "It was the truth and darned good investigative reporting."
"He's tired of receiving reports on your charity work with UNICEF."
"They're embarrassing to me, too, but how else can you get gold stars?"
"He said having to handle those thousands of petitions from people asking that you receive amnesty and be made a citizen was causing his entire staff to threaten to quit."
"Gabe!"
"He said you're the most persistent woman on the face of the earth. I agreed with him. He also said you're a nag without equal in the-"
"Tell me," she interrupted.
"He said if he didn't give in, he was sure you'd discover the cure for all known killer diseases plaguing mankind just to make him look bad."
She held her breath. "And?"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet jeweler's box. "He said to be sure and give you this."
"He sent me a present?"
"Well, it's really from me."
She opened the box. An exquisite pearl choker with channel-set rubies and sapphires glittered on a bed of black velvet.
I thought the theme was fitting for a Star-Spangled Bride.
I'll give you the matching necklace when you become a citizen.
The words Gabe had spoken when he had given her the red, white, and blue earrings on their wedding day five years ago came back to her now.
She looked up eagerly from the necklace and the answer was in his face.
He said the words anyway. "We're going home, love."
Iris Johansen
