SERIAL Winner Takes All

Ellen wanted to say yes, but something held her back . . .

TYLER squinted at the clock by his bed, then picked up his phone and glanced at the Caller ID. Richard Lowell. At 5.30 in the morning?

He took the call. “Rich? What happened?” “Good morning to you, too. Hope you’re well.”

“Never mind all that. Have you found something out about Cindy?”

“Better than that, I’ve got photographic evidence. I thought I’d give you time to get down here, buddy. We’re going to the police.”

“Will they be interested?” Tyler asked, feeling suddenly deflated.

“I sure hope so. You asked me to do some digging, and I’ve hit the jackpot! It may not be admissible evidence in court, Tyler, but it will show the police where to look.”

“You’re not making any sense, Rich. Where were you last night?”

“Greggory’s,” Rich said succinctly. “That club on Canaan Street. I was in the next, very secluded booth to our friend, Cindy. And her friend, Gary. And they were being mighty friendly, believe me.”

Tyler sighed.

“I do. I never believed she’d changed her allegiance to the opposition. But in a club, at night? I thought it was just a political thing with Gary, not romantic.

“What makes you think the police will believe you, Rich?”

“Like I said, it may not be admissible in court, but we’ve got her. I have photos, with sound. She’s really dropped herself in it this time!”

Tyler was already heading for the shower. Less than fifteen minutes later he was in his car, speeding down the almost deserted freeway.

He had to admit there was something to be said for travelling at this time of day. Though a cup of coffee would have been nice.

Winter was coming, he thought, as he glanced at the temperature gauge on the dashboard.

The gorgeous fall tints of just a few weeks ago were well past their best, and many of the trees now zipping past him were bare.

He’d have to see about getting his snow tyres on soon if he was going to carry on hurtling back and forth from Maine to visit Ellen.

He smiled at the thought of Ellen. She was still in hospital, but her many cuts were healing. She was supposed to be having her last lot of stitches out today, and then they might let her out, bruised and battered though she still was.

Perhaps, when he saw her this afternoon, he’d have good news for her.

Tyler arrived at the police station a mere two and a half hours later, and was relieved to see Rich’s car already in the parking lot.

He identified himself at the front desk and was shown into Lieutenant Jeffries’s office.

Rich was sitting opposite the lieutenant, his phone in

his hand.

“Great, you’re early,” he said, standing up as Tyler appeared. “We’re just waiting for Cindy.”

Lieutenant Jeffries nodded.

“One of my men has gone to pick her up. I don’t reckon she’ll be going anywhere fast after that. Not for quite a while.”

The three men were able to hear Cindy before they saw her.

“What now?” she was shouting. “It’s illegal to go to a club now, is it? Talk about a police state! I’ve already told you, last night I was at Greggory’s. It’s a club near . . .”

“We know where it is,” a man’s voice said, as the lieutenant’s door opened and Sergeant Slattery showed Cindy inside.

“You!” she spat, seeing Tyler. “I might have known you were at the bottom of this. And who’s your little buddy?”

Rich raised his eyebrows, but even as she spoke Tyler saw recognition dawning in her eyes.

“I’ve seen you before.” “In Greggory’s last night, yes.” Rich nodded affably, fiddling with his phone. “In the next booth.”

He held up his phone so that she could see the screen, and Tyler thought he saw the first flicker of fear in Cindy’s eyes.

“So? You took a photo. It’s not illegal to, let’s see, what word would you use?” Cindy asked, regaining her confidence rapidly.

“Fraternise? There’s no law to say that I can’t see Gary socially just because I don’t work for him any more.” She glared brazenly at them all.

“There’s a soundtrack,” the lieutenant said softly.

“I’m sure there is. There was a very loud band last night,” Cindy countered.

Rich pressed the play button, then raised the volume. Music blared out, against a video of Cindy fanning herself with a menu and talking urgently to Gary.

But not a word of what they said could be heard over the band.

Cindy smirked.

“Going to get a lip-reader in?” she asked sarcastically.

She was still smiling as the band’s final chord was followed by a scattering of applause. Cindy’s recorded voice was loud in the sudden quiet.

“. . . real bit of luck Ellen’s in hospital.”

The Cindy on the video lowered her voice, but without the band she was still clearly audible.

“The way she was poking around she’d have traced that missing money she’s so concerned about to my account by now, and any more sabotage would be much harder to pull off. I bless that storm every day for cutting her to pieces.

“And when I’ve carried out our little plan tomorrow, your victory will be a done deal, Congressman!”

“I wish you could have been there to see it,” Tyler said later as he sat on Ellen’s hospital bed, both of her hands in his.

“The lieutenant was really mad – I guess he thought she’d made a fool of him. He got her bank manager there in minutes, and she had to confess she’d taken the money.”

He shook his head in wonder.

“She kept insisting it wasn’t much, and that she was entitled to it, seeing as how she’s underpaid and all.

“Then she said that she’d transferred money to Steve’s account just to make him look bad for the election, and that wasn’t stealing, so what was the fuss about?

“Jeffries arrested her, and he got Sergeant Slattery to handcuff her. She asked to make a phone call, and guess what?”

Ellen smiled at his excitement.

“They wouldn’t let her?” “Oh, they let her all right. Jeffries asked her who it was to, expecting her to say her lawyer, but she didn’t. She wanted to call Gary!

“So Jeffries made the call and – and this is the best bit – Gary wouldn’t speak to her! Said she was deranged and was always pestering him.

“On the video on Rich’s phone Gary’s got his back to the camera and you can’t hear him at all, so it’s hard to prove that’s not true, which means he’ll still be running in the election, I guess.”

Ellen closed her eyes and sighed.

“The sooner I get out of here the better,” she announced. “Where is that doctor?”

“Sweetheart, I know you want to get home, but you’re still pretty delicate. I don’t want you overdoing it. There’s no hurry, is there?”

Ellen looked at him. “Of course there is. The election’s in just a few days, Tyler, and Cindy’s been doing her level best to wreck Steve’s chances.

“He must be frantic. I need to get back to campaign headquarters as soon as I possibly can!”

“I don’t know that you realise how serious your accident was, Ellen. And you’re worrying too much about Steve. The election will be fine. You really need to take it easy.”

“I don’t understand how you can be so sanguine about it. The campaign’s a mess! There’ll be plenty of time to rest after the election.

“Plus I need to book my flight home – after all, my contract runs out at the end of next week. I’ll need to get back to the UK to see about finding some gainful employment.

“Not that I look very employable at the moment,” she added, “but all this bruising can’t last much longer, can it?”

She caught sight of Tyler’s shocked expression and continued.

“Come on, don’t look like that. I don’t look that horrendous, do I?”

“You couldn’t look horrendous if you tried. It’s just that I hadn’t realised you planned to go back so soon. Surely you’ll stay till Thanksgiving, at least?” “When’s that again?” Tyler rolled his eyes. “You’ve been here five whole months – how can you still be so un-american? It’s the fourth Thursday in November, Ellen. Every year. So, only another three weeks. You can stay that long, can’t you?”

“I can’t foist myself on your mother for even longer, Tyler – she’s been so kind, but I’m sure she’d like her spare room back. ”

“Mom would love to have you.”

“But I have to get home. And I have to get out of here to help Steve. I’ve only got two lots of stitches left and as soon as the doctor appears I’m leaving! And if he doesn’t appear very soon, I’m leaving in any case!”

Her face softened. “I’m rather relying on you to drive me,” she added.

Tyler bent and kissed her, then kissed her again, moving from her cheek to her mouth.

“I guess if you’re well enough to kiss this guy then you’re well enough to go home, young lady,” a voice said jovially, and Ellen and Tyler broke apart to see a smiling doctor, together with two nurses.

“Cindy’s really dropped herself in it this time!”

Barbara opened the oven to get out a tray of cranberry muffins and put one in front of Tyler.

“I’ll take one up to Ellen,” she said happily. “That girl needs fattening up after what she’s been through. She could sure do with a rest. She overdid things yesterday.

“I guess there’s no point hoping she’ll stay home today, is there?”

“Not a chance,” Tyler said. “She seems to think that if Steve loses it will be entirely her fault, you know that.

“Nothing I can say will make her take it easy. But at least you

persuaded her to stay till Thanksgiving.” He smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”

“My pleasure. And what a lot we all have to be thankful for,” Barbara said. “I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to it.

“Whatever happens in the election, it’ll be great. All my chicks here for Thanksgiving!”

“Last time I counted you only had two kids, Mom. Or does Steve count as a chick, too, these days?” Tyler laughed.

Barbara smiled and busied herself putting a muffin on a tray with some orange juice and coffee.

Actually she hadn’t been thinking of Steve; she’d been thinking of Ellen. If she wasn’t technically one of her chicks yet, Barbara thought with a smile, she was pretty sure she soon would be.

But she had the sense not to tell Tyler that.

“I am worried about Steve,” she said aloud. “He’s under enormous pressure.”

Ellen’s absence, and all this business with Cindy, had certainly not improved his chances.

He and Pattie had been doing everything they could, but Pattie hadn’t been very well recently, either.

Still, one way or another it would all be over tomorrow. Even if Steve lost, which Barbara was convinced he must.

“Do you think there’s the slightest possibility he might still win?” Barbara asked Tyler quietly, worried that Ellen might somehow hear her doubting question.

“I’m sure of it,” Tyler said, grinning.

There was a thump on the front porch as “The New York Times” landed by the front door, and Tyler jumped up to fetch it.

He started flicking feverishly through the pages of the main section as soon as he returned to the kitchen.

“I wish you’d just eat your breakfast, Tyler. I didn’t raise you to read at the table. Anyhow, you’ve got a busy day ahead – there’ll be plenty of time to read the paper later.”

Tyler grunted, but continued turning the pages.

“I’m sure glad you’re home today,” Barbara said in a more conciliatory tone. “I have a feeling Steve’s going to need all the support he can get.”

But Tyler wasn’t listening. “Here it is!” he yelled suddenly, shaking the newspaper open and pointing to the campaign photo of Steve. “Look!” “Look at what?” Barbara and Tyler looked up, to see Ellen standing in the doorway.

“I was about to bring you up a muffin, honey,” Barbara began, but Ellen was already reading the article over Tyler’s shoulder.

Barbara joined them, and her heart leaped.

“How did they know?” she asked wonderingly as she finished reading. “They seem to know all the details – every single thing Cindy’s ever done to sabotage the campaign.

“They know things even I didn’t know. And not just some little local paper, either – it’s ‘The New York Times’! People will really take notice of this!”

Barbara looked at her son’s triumphant face.

“Did you know about this, Tyler?”

“Well, I’ve been spending a lot of time in New York lately,” Tyler said, grinning at Ellen. “And one of my ex-colleagues works there now.

“I’d almost given up hope that he’d do a piece on it, though. This is really big coverage. Wow.”

The three of them heaved a collective sigh of relief.

Then Ellen suddenly spoke, and Barbara was pleased to see that she sounded stronger than she had since before her accident.

“Right, this could make all the difference. We just have to make sure that every single solitary voter reads this article today. Let’s go!”

The last 48 hours had passed in a whirl of activity, what with the frantic campaigning the day before the election, and lastminute interviews at the local radio and TV stations, who were all very interested in Cindy Ward’s shenanigans.

Not to mention staying up till the early hours on election day itself, and celebrating wildly at Campaign Headquarters when the results were declared. Ellen was surprised she could still stand up.

The newspaper article had ensured a landslide victory for Steve, and he and Pattie had been grinning like two Cheshire cats ever since the announcement.

Gary, on the other hand, while conceding defeat, was stonily telling every journalist in sight that he had been totally unaware of any misdeeds on Cindy’s part, and repeating over and over again that she no longer worked for him.

As most of the reporters in question were holding copies of “The New York Times” folded open at a large photo of Gary and Cindy in Greggory’s, he ended up announcing he wouldn’t be running again.

Today Ellen had come downstairs for a very late brunch to find Barbara cooking for a crowd and looking happier than she had all week.

“We’re having a celebratory supper,” she said when Ellen sat down.

“I thought we’d done all our celebrating last night,” Ellen said, laughing. “I haven’t been to bed that late since I was a student!

“When did you have time to make these?” she added as Barbara slid a plate of waffles in front of her. “You got to bed later than I did.”

“Maybe, but I’m not recovering from a nasty accident,” Barbara countered. “Anyway, I wanted to get started on dishes for tonight.

“It’s just going to be a small family affair,” she added quickly, seeing Ellen’s questioning look. “Just you, me and Tyler, Steve and Pattie, MaryBeth and a few of Steve’s friends.

“This is our private celebration, without the world watching. Just a couple of dozen. Should be fun!”

Yes, it should be, Ellen thought as she poured maple syrup on her waffles. So why wasn’t she feeling happier?

Was it the normal sort of anti-climax after being so busy, and so worried, for so long?

She took a bite of waffle and was horrified to find that her eyes had welled up. She was in real danger of crying! Why? She must just be overtired. Which wouldn’t be surprising.

But she didn’t think that was it, somehow. Thank goodness Barbara was stirring something on the stove and couldn’t see her.

In fact, that was maybe the cause – Barbara had made her waffles, even though she was so busy.

Well, not just for her, Ellen reminded herself. Probably more for Tyler.

She would miss Barbara terribly when she went back home.

She’d been like a second mother to her, and there had been more occasions than she would have thought possible when she’d needed Barbara’s support.

“These are absolutely delicious,” Ellen said. “Have you had any?”

“No, I had some breakfast a couple of hours ago, honey. Tyler was up real early, and I couldn’t persuade him to have more than a cup of coffee.

“He needed to go out and do a few errands, but he’ll be back by noon, he said.”

“So you made the waffles just . . .” Ellen could feel the lump in her throat returning.

“For you, that’s right! You need to get your health and strength back or your mom will think I

The campaign was under tremendous pressure

haven’t been feeding you!” Barbara turned to look at Ellen. “I’m sure glad you’re staying till Thanksgiving, honey. Welcoming strangers is what Thanksgiving’s all about.

“And round here it’s bigger than Christmas, so I wouldn’t want you to miss it. You arrived in time for the fourth of July and you’ll be here for Thanksgiving – your timing’s been perfect!”

“I’m going to miss you all so much,” Ellen said quietly.

Barbara frowned. “But you’ll be back. Sure you will! Don’t fret about it – today we’re just going to enjoy Steve’s victory!

“He owes you a lot, Ellen, and we are all well aware of that, I can tell you. Now, have another waffle.”

As Ellen had come to expect, Barbara’s “couple of dozen” seemed to mount up to at least 40 guests.

Tyler, Pattie, Steve and Ellen were soon busily passing plates, pouring drinks and adding logs to the roaring fire which Tyler had lit in the living-room.

Barbara herself had to be coaxed out of the kitchen, where she kept getting “just a few more things” out of the oven.

“Can’t I do that for you?” Steve asked. “You should be enjoying the party.”

“It’s your party, Steve. You should get back out there. See if you can persuade Pattie to sit down, for heaven’s sake. She shouldn’t exhaust herself.”

Barbara looked up and saw Ellen and Tyler, who had come for more supplies.

“Ellen shouldn’t be doing so much, either,” she admonished. “Go introduce her to some more people, Tyler. And someone answer the door!” she added as the doorbell rang.

Mary-beth was standing in the porch, shivering and holding an enormous box.

“It’s freezing out there,” she said as Tyler took the box from her. “I know it’s only November, but it feels like snow’s on the way. Could you put that somewhere out of the way?”

She saw Ellen looking at the box curiously.

“Barbara will know what it is,” she added with a meaningful look at Tyler.

When Tyler arrived back at her side, he put a hand on Ellen’s back and edged her away from the crowd.

“I guess everyone’s got something to eat,” he said. “I want to talk to you. Do you think there’s anyone in the den?”

The den proved to be empty, and he stood back to let her in, then closed the door firmly behind them. He seemed unaccountably nervous.

“I’ll have to go back and say a few words in a little while,” he began. “Congratulate Steve and all, I guess.”

He looked at her expectantly.

“That would be nice,” Ellen said after a moment.

Had he brought her in here just to tell her that?

“I wanted to talk to you first.”

Another pause. “OK.”

“I guess you know what I’m going to say.”

Ellen gazed at him, wondering if it was at all possible that she did. She’d fantasised about this sort of thing, but Tyler? He was sensible; hard-headed. It was too soon, and he wouldn’t do anything rash. Would he?

“No, I don’t think I do.” Tyler looked more confused than ever. This wasn’t like him. He was always totally in control.

Could he be going to say it had all been a bit of a holiday romance and he was sorry if he’d led her on?

Because a holiday romance must be what he saw it as. Except that it hadn’t been a holiday, of course.

“Sweetheart.” He took a deep breath and seemed to make up his mind. “You know I – you know that I love you.”

Once those first few words were out there was no stopping him.

“You know I love you. And I can’t bear the thought that you’re going back to England in just a couple of weeks. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do without you. Please would you not go?”

“Not go? I have to, Tyler, you know I do.”

“Couldn’t you stay here and . . .” Tyler suddenly dropped to one knee. “Please, my darling Ellen, please would you stay here and marry me?”

The door opened and Pattie made to come in. She backed out rapidly, apologising profusely.

Tyler closed his eyes and pulled a face, but then they both laughed.

“Big sisters!” Tyler said ruefully. “Can I do that over? I promise I won’t be so nervous this time.”

He smiled and gave a little cough.

“Please, Ellen Elizabeth Follett, will you marry me?”

There was a long pause, and Tyler stood up and took Ellen’s hands in his. He looked more anxious than she had ever seen him.

“Please?” he whispered. Eventually Ellen spoke. “Tyler, we’ve only known each other for six months – it’s not long at all.” She put a hand up to stop him as he began to interrupt, and carried on.

“The last few months have been wonderful – idyllic, really. I’ve never been so happy, in spite of all the things that have happened. And you know I love you. From the moment I met you, probably!

“I just feel that when I’m back in the UK this will seem like . . . a holiday romance. To you, I mean. I’ll be out of sight and out of mind”

She hurried on.

“I’m afraid that it’s the euphoria of last night talking – the excitement of the election, and everyone being so happy. You want to make me happy, too. A sort of fairy-tale ending.

“I’m frightened that you’re going to regret it. I couldn’t bear that. You need more time to think. This is just so spur-of-themoment,” she finished sadly.

Tyler held her at arm’s length.

“How can you think that? Sweetheart, how can you possibly think that? I’ve never done anything less spur of the moment in my life.

“No, really,” he continued, seeing her face. “I could have asked you on numerous occasions in the last couple of months. I wanted to ask you at the fund-raising dinner, but I was pretty sure you’d think that was too early.

“And I was dying to ask you in hospital when your lovely face was covered with bandages.

“But I didn’t want you making any decisions while you were still suffering the after-effects of anaesthesia.”

He paused, and looked at the ceiling.

“Actually, the first time I thought about asking you was at the baseball game on the fourth of July, when I bought you the baseball cap. If they’d sold engagement rings on that stall I would have bought one of those instead.” He looked back at her. “I love you, Ellen, and I think I always have.”

“Tyler . . .”

What could she do? She wanted so much to say yes.

“Don’t say anything. Maybe this will convince you.”

He crossed the room and dragged the box Mary-beth had brought to the party from behind the sofa.

“Open it,” he said gently, placing it in front of Ellen. “By the night of the fund-raising dinner I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were the girl I wanted to make my wife. So I bought it. For us.”

Ellen was lifting the layers of tissue from inside the enormous box, revealing the folds of

“I’m frightened it’s too soon and you’re going to regret it”

the Double Wedding Ring quilt. She drew in her breath and slowly let it out again.

Between them they lifted it out of the box and draped it over the sofa so that all its subtle colours caught the soft light.

“It is so beautiful.” She looked up at him, suddenly alarmed.

“It cost thousands,” she said, appalled. “What if you’d changed your mind?”

“I knew I wasn’t going to,” Tyler said simply, “so I bought it. With help from Mary-beth, of course. I wasn’t ready to face the gossip about it!

“I bought it for us, for our house, as an heirloom for our kids. So, Ellen, please, will you marry me?”

Ellen gazed at him, unable to speak.

“I will, of course, do the thing properly and ask your father for your hand. I need to meet your parents – do you know that I’ve never been to England?”

“Come for Christmas,” Ellen said tremulously. “Ask him then. He’d like that.” She frowned. “Oh, what about your mother? She’s expecting a full house for Christmas. Will she be disappointed if you’re not here?”

“I don’t think so.” Tyler smiled. “I get the feeling she’ll be in demand at Pattie’s house by Christmas. So that Pattie can take things easy.”

There was a soft tap on the door, and Pattie poked her head round.

“Time for your speech,” she said quietly, backing out again as fast as she could.

“Are we ever going to be able to finish this conversation?” Tyler whispered as they rejoined the party.

He went over to Steve and Pattie and held a hurried whispered conversation, and Barbara took the opportunity to go over to Ellen and give her a hug.

“I can tell by your faces,” she murmured, “and I’m absolutely thrilled!”

Eventually, when he’d checked that everyone had a glass of fizz, Tyler tapped his own glass for quiet.

The chatter subsided and the guests looked expectantly at him.

“I want to thank you all so much for coming out on this chilly evening,” he began. “I hope you wrapped up warm because it’s actually snowing outside!

“It’s great to have you here to help us celebrate Steve’s outstanding victory.”

“Thanks,” Steve said loudly, “but we said all that yesterday. Let’s cut to the exciting part!”

Steve’s friends exchanged puzzled glances, and Ellen looked up just in time to catch a triumphant look pass between Barbara and Mary-beth.

“As I was saying,” Tyler said, grinning, “I know Steve talked about the importance of family during his campaign, and it seems that Steve and Pattie are determined to do their bit – we’re delighted to announce that baby Leveque will be arriving late spring!”

The assembled guests went wild, and Pattie was surrounded by well-wishing friends.

During the furore Tyler bent down and whispered in Ellen’s ear, and she beamed back up at him.

The noise gradually subsided, and the guests realised Tyler hadn’t finished.

“Let’s hope Pattie’s timing is better in the spring than it has been this evening,” he continued, staring at his sister with mock indignation, as she hid her face in her hands.

“I have been trying to do my bit for the family, too, but I was interrupted by my big sister. Twice! Third time lucky, though, so here goes.”

He went down on one knee for the second time that evening.

“Ellen, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

And Ellen, of course, said yes.

The End.