Chapter One
Hutch slipped on the jacket to his black tuxedo, he looked at his reflection in the full length mirror. Starsky stepped out of a dressing room strapping on his cummerbund over a crisp white shirt, the bow tie still hung around his neck and the jacket slung over his arm. “Not bad,” He said, admiring himself in the mirror next to his blond partner.
“You or me?” Hutch asked.
“We are both lookin’ good, don’t ya think?”
“Welllll,” Hutch said, looking at Starsky’s bright blue tennis shoes. “You aren’t wearing those in the wedding are you?”
Starsky looked at his feet. “Oops, where did I leave‘em?” He disappeared back into the dressing room and came out carrying a pair of shiny black shoes. But he didn’t put them on.
Hutch sighed, “Come here.” Starsky turned toward his friend. Hutch positioned the tie and started the task of tying it. Starsky began to fidget, “Will you hold still?”
“I hate ties,” He grumbled. “Dress shoes too, are you sure I can’t wear my tennis shoes?”
“Starsk!”
“Fine! But only for you and Megan.”
Hutch took the jacket from his arm and held it out. Starsky shrugged into it. “See, that’s not so bad.”
“I guess not,” But he was already trying to loosen the bow tie. “You know you guys could get married on the beach and we wouldn’t have to worry about shoes and ties and…”
“Starsk,” Hutch said patiently.
Starsky smiled, “I’m just messing with ya.”
Detectives Ken ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson and David Starsky had been partners and best friends for years. They had been through everything together, always having each other’s backs. Happily they had both finally found love.
Sam came tearing into the room wearing a miniature version of their tuxes. Grayson Lawrence was trying to keep up wearing his own tux. Sam at seven, was a ball of energy.
Hutch grabbed the boy as he flew by, “Slow down buddy.” The detective couldn’t wait to marry Megan, he had not only fallen in love with her but her two children as well. Sam was going to be the ring bearer while Lucy, who was ten, would be their flower girl.
Grayson sat down to catch his breath. He wasn’t used to chasing little boys around but he was enjoying every minute of getting to know his grandchildren. He was Megan’s former father-in-law, his son, her husband Mark had been killed nearly four years ago in the line of duty.
“Are we about ready to get out of these monkey suits?” Starsky enquired. Which sent Sam into gales of laughter, he jumped up and started acting like a monkey. Starsky followed suit, they circled each other making chimp like sounds and waving their arms in the air.
Hutch looked at Grayson, “It’s like two having kids.”
“If I was thirty years younger I would be right there with them.” The older man laughed.
“Alright,” Hutch had to raise his voice to be heard over the noise. “Get changed before we get tossed out.”
It had been their final fitting, the wedding was in two weeks. The women were getting their final fittings also, flowers had been ordered, the church reserved, and RSVP’s received. It wasn’t going to be a big affair, mostly family and close friends. The reception was going to be at Huggy Bear's brand new bar. He had moved his business, The Pits, two doors down from the building that once housed the bar and his apartment because it had been torched. Huggy had kept the same feel as his old place had and that his customers had loved. It was a little bigger and had two apartments above the bar. One for Huggy and the second for his benefactor, Wilbur, an old family friend. Wilbur, a man everyone thought was homeless, owned the building.
With the tuxes safely secured in black zipper bags and stowed in the trunk of Starsky’s red Torino, the four headed to The Pits to meet the ladies even though it hadn’t officially opened yet.
Detective Teddy Carlisle looked down at the pale purple dress in frustration. She ran her hand over her protruding stomach, “I look like a house.”
“You look beautiful,” Megan smiled at her almost eight month pregnant Maid of Honor.
Kim Wilson and her cat Whiskers lived with Megan, Hutch and the kids. Along with her job she helped out with the kids when she could. Megan had asked Kim to walk her down the aisle since both of Megan’s parents were dead. The older woman had agreed. Kim came out of the dressing room in an elegant dark purple suit.
“Kim you look lovely,” Teddy complemented, “l, on the other hand.” She threw up her hands and eased herself onto the couch. The bridal consultant produced a glass of cold water, and handed it to Teddy. Teddy smiled her thanks as she took the water and downed half of it.
Tara, the consultant, addressed Megan, “Ms. Lawance, would you like to try on your dress to see if we need to make any final adjustments?”
Megan nodded, as they started toward the dressing rooms, Lucy came out in her frilly flower girl dress, it was also pale purple, she had on black patent leather shoes with socks that matched her dress. Lucy twirled in front of the mirror beaming at her mother. “I love the dress,” She exclaimed.
“You look very grown up, young lady.” Megan said before she disappeared into the dressing room to don her dress.
It was a simple, but elegant, white floor length, silk charmeuse with a sweetheart neckline. The consultant helped her slip on the dress and zipped up the back. Then held out white pumps for Megan to put on her feet. She had decided against a veil, instead picking a headband with ivory enamel petals, accented with round crystals and beaded leaves.
When Megan stepped out of the dressing room a collective ‘wow’ went up from everyone in the room. She stood in front of the mirror staring at her reflection. Her throat went tight as she thought back to her wedding day with Mark. They had gone to the courthouse, no church, no wedding dress, no family or friends. Isabella, his mother, had disapproved of their union so of course she and Grayson weren't there. Their reception consisted of a meal at the little diner where they had met.
Megan felt a hand on her back and turned to see Teddy standing next to her, concern written on her face, “Is everything alright?” The bride nodded, unable to speak. A tear slipped down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away. “Megan?”
“I-I’m okay.” Megan smiled, “I was just thinking.”
“Mark?”
“Yea. Am I awful thinking about him when I’m getting ready to marry Hutch?”
Teddy put her arm around Megan’s shoulders, “Not at all. And Hutch would understand.”
“Mommy?” Lucy came to stand next to her mother. She was very intuitive and had picked up on her mother’s distress.
Megan put her arm around Lucy, “I’m okay, go get changed sweetie so we can meet the guys.”
Lucy reluctantly left her mothers side, “I’ll go with her,” Kim offered, she needed to change also.
Megan nodded her thanks then turned back to Teddy. “I didn’t think I would feel so…” She didn’t really understand her feelings.
“It’s okay to move on. Mark would want you to.” Teddy hugged her, then looked Megan in the face, “You aren’t having doubts about marrying Hutch are you?”
“God NO!” Megan gasped. “Never! Mark and I didn’t have a wedding, we got married at the courthouse. I guess I feel guilty? Oh, I don’t know!” She waved away her emotions and smiled at Teddy. “Let’s get out of these dresses.”
Teddy laughed, “That is easier said than done.”
The Pits was a sight to behold, everything was brand new. With the insurance money and some more from Wilbur, no expense was spared. Dark hardwood floors, light gray walls, the bar was also dark wood with a high gloss finish, bar stools with red leather tops lined the bar. Booths were around the edge of the room also in red with dark wood table tops. The center of the room was filled with small tables and chairs. A jukebox stood in one corner and a pool table and several pinball machines were in the back half of the room.
Angie, Huggy’s cook, was over the moon with the new kitchen, he had worked odd jobs while the bar had been out of commission hoping to come back. Huggy was able to get back a few of his favorite waitresses but some had moved on to other jobs they didn’t want to leave.
Huggy ran to unlock the door when heard the knock, he threw open the door to welcome in his friends. Sam ran in giving the black bar keeper a high five. He went right to the back to the pinball machines with his pocket full of change.
“How’s it hangin’?” Huggy asked as the three men entered.
“Place looks great!” Starsky exclaimed, they had visited off and on while the construction was on going.
“Thanks man!” Huggy grinned.
Hutch nodded his approval as he stepped in followed by Grayson. Grayson had become a permanent fixture with the family who had welcomed him with open arms. After divorcing Isabella, he had moved from New York to California to make up for lost time with Lucy and Sam. He would never get back the years he had lost with Mark but he was determined to be in his grandchildren’s lives.
Starsky walked to the back to play pinball with Sam while Hutch and Grayson sat at the bar. Hutch ran his hand along the rich looking wood and let out a low whistle, “You have classed up the joint.”
“I just hope not too much. I would like to have my regulars back, well most of them anyway.” Laughed Huggy. He grabbed mugs which he filled with beer and a glass of soda for Sam. “So how are the wedding plans comin’?”
“We have the tuxes in the car, the ladies are getting their dresses today. Looks like everything's a go.” Hutch was grinning from ear to ear. “How is the menu for the reception coming?”
“ANGIE!” Huggy yelled for his cook.
Angie, an older man, came out of the kitchen wiping his hands on a stained apron. He had a napkin in his hand that he was studying as he walked. He slapped it down on the bar in front of Hutch and Grayson, “What do you think?”
Hutch picked up the napkin, squinting at what was written there. Most of the words were illegible, “What’s this?” He pointed at one of the words.
Before Angie could answer, the door of The Pits opened and Lucy walked in followed by Megan, Teddy and Kim. After saying hello, Lucy went to play pinball with Starsky and Sam.
Megan went to Hutch giving him a bone crushing hug and a longer than usual kiss for them being in public, “What’s this all about?” Hutch asked
“Aren’t I allowed to miss my groom?” Megan gave him another kiss and took the napkin out of his hand. She scanned it, then nodded. “Looks perfect, Angie.”
“Thank you ma’am,” Angie smiled at her. He had never been asked to provide food for a wedding. “Now, I can’t make one of those fancy cakes.”
“I got that covered,” Grayson said as he smiled at Kim. She was going to make their wedding cake but when Grayson had offered to buy one she had agreed. “Or. I guess I should say, we got it covered.” He winked at Kim who blushed clear to her roots.
Megan gave her friend a curious look and made a mental note to ask Kim later what was going on with her and Grayson.
“You could read that chicken scratch?” Hutch asked. Angie made a face at the detective and returned to the kitchen.
Megan laughed, “Did you forget I’m a nurse, I read bad handwriting all day long.”
“Mom!” Sam climbed up on the bar stool next Hutch, “Starsky cheats!”
“I do not!” Starsky grabbed Sam.
Sam giggle, “Do to,”
“Do not!”
“Do to!”
“Okay break it up!” Teddy laughed as she leaned on Starsky, she seemed to always be exhausted these days
He guided her to one of the tables, “Sit, do you want something to drink?”
“I’ll just have to pee again.”
Starsky kissed her cheek, “I love you.”
Huggy came around the bar to stand next to Hutch, “Hey man, can I talk to you and Starsk a sec?” He whispered in the detective's ear.
Hutch nodded, he grabbed Starsky’s sleeve as he and Huggy walked toward the stairs that led up to Huggy’s apartment, pulling him along with them.
The three men climbed the stairs, Huggy’s apartment was to the right, he opened the door, it was sparsely furnished. “What’s up?” Hutch asked.
“It’s Wilbur,” Huggy began.
“Yeah, where is he?” Starsky asked, looking out at the closed door of the second apartment that was Wilbur’s.
“That’s just it man,” Huggy frowned. “I haven’t seen him in three days.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Hutch wanted to know.
“What do you think I’m doin’?” Huggy said, “Wilbur doesn’t always sleep here. But it’s always just a night, two at the most, and before you ask,no…I don’t know where he goes.”
“You don’t ask?” Starsky questioned.
“He’s a grown ass man, and I ain’t nobody’s mama.” Huggy grumbled.
Starsky walked to Wilbur’s door and knocked, getting no answer, he tried the knob which turned in his hand. He pushed the door open. The apartment was more bare than Huggy’s.
He turned and looked at Huggy, who shrugged, “We have been putting in all our time down stairs.”
Stepping in, Starsky surveyed the room, there were three closed doors, Hutch walked in behind his partner. They opened doors, one was a small bedroom, one a closet and the other the bathroom room. Nothing looked out of place.
A few items of clothing hung in the closet. The bed, which consisted of a mattress and box springs, sat directly on the floor and was made neatly. There was a towel hanging on the back of the door. A few toiletries sat on the counter but the medicine cabinet was empty.
Huggy stood with his hands on his thin hips, “Well?”
“We aren’t psychic.” Hutch answered. “But we’ll look into it.”
“Thanks man.”
When they got down stairs the women were ready to go. Everything was in place for the reception and Megan wanted to get the dresses hung before they got wrinkled.
“We’ll be right behind you.” Hutch kissed Megan’s cheek. He looked at Sam, “Are you going with mom or with us?”
“You!” Sam grinned, then headed back to the pinball machines.
“We will never get him out of here.” Hutch shook his head as he followed the boy.
Starsky put his arm around Teddy, “Get some rest. Hutch and I need to check something out.”
“What’s going on?” Teddy looked interested. Being as far along as she was, Captain Dobey had put her on desk duty and she was missing the action. Her partner, Lori Chapman had been temporarily assigned another partner.
“Nothing to worry about.”
“I’m not worried, bored is more like it.”
Starsky leaned closer and whispered, “Seems Wilbur might be missing.”
Teddy's eyes went wide, “Really?” She whispered back. “I want to help.”
“It might be nothing.” Starsky hoped, he didn’t want anything to put a damper on the upcoming festivities. Teddy looked at him, a look he knew all too well, “We’ll keep you in the loop…happy?”
“Extremely.”
Hutch dropped Grayson at the man’s tiny apartment before driving home. Starsky walked the block to the apartment he was sharing with Teddy. An apartment that was far too small for them once the baby was born. They had been putting off looking for a bigger place. They both enjoyed being close to Megan and Hutch.
Sam burst through the front door, the little boy always knew how to make an entrance. “MOM!” He yelled as he ran upstairs. Hutch followed carrying the tuxes.
As Hutch started up the stairs to hang up the bags the phone rang. He laid the bags across the back of the couch and picked up the phone, “Hello?”
“Hi sweetheart.”
“Mom?” Hutch immediately looked uncomfortable. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I was calling to confirm with your bride. It would have been nice if you had told us you were getting married.” Kathryn Hutchinson said, sounding hurt.
“Confirming?”
“Megan thought your father and I would like to come to the wedding.” Hutch’s face froze. He had no problem with his mother but his father was not someone he really wanted at his wedding.
“Are you going to bring up the tuxes so I can hang them up?” Megan said as she came down the stairs. “Who’s on the phone?”
Hutch just looked at Megan then finally said, “It’s for you.” He handed her the phone, grabbed the bags from the couch and headed up stairs.
After hanging up, Megan went in search of Hutch, she found him sitting on the bed in their room. “You should have asked me before inviting them.” He looked up as she came into the room. “Where did you get their number? Starsky!”
“Don’t be mad at him. I pestered it out of him.”
Hutch was mad, he had told his partner never to call his parents unless something happened to him. And certainly not give their number to Megan. Not even Dobey had their number. “If I had wanted them here I would have invited them.”
Megan sat down next to him. “Why wouldn’t you want your parents here?” She was confused.
“How many times have I ever talked about them?”
Megan looked at her hands, twisting the engagement ring on her finger. “Never. I just thought…” she didn’t know what she thought. “I’m sorry.”
“Damage has been done now.” Hutch sighed.
“Your mom seems so nice.”
“She is nice, it’s not her, it's my father.” Hutch moaned. Richard Hutchinson had butted heads with his son since young Ken was old enough to express his own opinions. And when he didn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps to be a minister things got even more strained between father and son. “Just when were you going to tell me they were coming? Or were you just planning on blindsiding me on our wedding day?”
“I was waiting until I heard back.” Megan explained, now regretting her decision to invite them.
“And when did you extend the invitation?” Hutch knew Megan wouldn’t wait until the last minute to ask.
“Right after we set the date.” She admitted.
“Don’t you find it funny it took my mother all these months to accept? She was trying to get my father to come. That has to tell you something right there!” Hutch snapped.
He got up, got his gun from the locked box in the closet. Pulled out his shoulder holster, put it on and inserted his gun. Grabbing a jacket he threw it on. “Where are you going?” Megan asked.
He hadn’t planned on telling her about Wilbur, but what did it matter now, their day was going to be ruined by his father, he was sure of it. He was always critical of anything Hutch had done. “Huggy hasn’t seen Wilbur in three days, Starsk and I are going to check it out.”
“I hope he's alright,” Megan went to hug Hutch but he turned and walked out of the door.
Chapter Two
Starsky had just come into the living room when there was a loud bang on the front door. He hurried to the door, Teddy was asleep. Starsky opened the door to find a very angry Hutch standing there, “What’s going on?”
Hutch stalked in and snapped, “What the hell were you thinking? I trusted you!”
“W-what?” Starsky sputtered, he was totally lost.
“I told you to never call them unless I was dead!” Hutch angrily tossed at him. “And you give Megan their number knowing how I felt!”
Recognition dawned on Starsky’s face, he finally understood what Hutch was so angry about. “Hey man, Megan isn’t an easy woman to say no to.”
“Is this some kind of joke to you?” Hutch wanted to know.
“Hutch, I’m sorry.”
“Everybody is sorry, but that doesn’t help the fact that my parents are now coming to the wedding!”
“They’re coming?” Starsky was rather surprised. By the way Hutch talked about his father, the man wouldn’t show up.
“I’m sure my mom wore him down, took her a few months, but she did it. If nothing else, she is persistent.” Hutch said a little calmer.
“Maybe your father has mellowed out,” Starsky suggested.
“I really don’t want to find out.”
“Ask them not to come.” Starsky suggested.
Hutch just looked at him, “Wouldn’t that go over great?”
“Then I’ll run interference,” Starsky offered.
Hutch grunted, “You don’t know them.”
“And whose fault is that?”
Hutch just looked at his partner but didn’t answer his question, instead he asked “Are you coming with me to look into Wilbur being MIA?”
Starsky glanced at the closed bedroom door. He really wanted to stay with Teddy, “Yea, yea, we promised Huggy.”
“Let’s get this over with. He is probably hanging out in the park or something,” A grumpy Hutch said.
“Are you going to be grouchy?” Starsky wanted to know as he grabbed his gun and jacket.
“Probably,” Hutch sighed.
“Well get over it.”
Megan found Kim in the kitchen enjoying a cup of coffee. “What’s going on with Hutch?” Kim asked, sipping her coffee and munching on a cookie.
“I overstepped,” Megan poured herself coffee and leaned against the counter. “I called his parents and invited them to the wedding.”
“The man has parents?” the older woman quipped.
Megan smiled into her cup. “Apparently, I guess I should have known better since he never talks about them. His mother is lovely though.”
“So how mad is he?
Megan shrugged, “I guess I’ll find out when he gets home. Seems Wilbur is missing.”
Kim looked concerned, “I hope he is alright.”
“Me too,” Megan agreed, then changed the subject. “So you and Grayson?”
“Me and Grayson what?” Kim tried to play innocent but she was blushing like she did at the bar. Megan just looked at her friend with her eyebrows raised. “Okay, okay so we are…hanging out? Is that what you call it?”
Megan giggled, “Call it what you want, I think I see a budding romance.”
“Would that be weird for you?”
“Why would it be weird, he’s not my father and even if he was, he would be lucky to have you.” Megan nudged Kim with her hip, “You two make a cute couple.”
Kim rolled her eyes, “He’s fifteen years older than I am.”
“So.”
She shrugged, “He’s such a kind man.”
“And Isabella just rode roughshod over him.” Megan said, “He never got to really know Mark. Maybe that is why I felt like I needed to invite Hutch’s parents.”
After putting out an A.P.B. on one Wilbur Curtis, Starsky sat behind the wheel of the Torino, while Hutch, still looking sullen, stared out the windshield. “So where to? Emergency rooms or the morgue?” Starsky said as the car roared to life.
“Aren’t you just a bundle of cheer,” Hutch muttered.
“Well, we can sit here and wait for someone else to do our job for us or we can do it.” Starsky quipped.
“Morgue,” Hutch picked.
Starsky wrinkled his nose, he hated going to the morgue. It was in a dimly lit basement where there always seemed to be a chill in the air and the coroner creeped him out.
The pair walked into the outer office which was empty, “Quentin isn’t here, let’s go,” Starsky said relieved, all he wanted to do was be back outside in the sunshine.
They were almost out the door when a female voice asked, “Can I help you boys?”
Starsky visibly sighed, they had been so close to escape. They both turned slowly to see a beautiful young woman standing there in blue scrubs, her dark hair tucked up into a matching cap. She had a mask pulled down under her chin and was stripping off surgical gloves. Her hazel eyes flashed in amusement as she watched them try to slink away.
“Detectives Hutchinson and Starsky,” Hutch said.
“Amelia Shearden,” She said, after tossing the gloves in the trash she extended her hand toward them, “What can I do for you, Detectives?”
“What happened to Quentin?” Starsky wanted to know but not really caring. The man had always made him uncomfortable with his sunken eyes and pale skin, he looked like a corpse.
“Florida.”
“Excuse me?” Hutch questioned, not understanding what she meant.
“He retired to Florida,” Amelia answered, “Listen, is there something I can help you with? I’m very busy. Quentin abruptly left and there is a backlog of bodies.”
Starsky made a face at the word bodies, he had seen many dead bodies over the years but he had never grown used it. He wondered how the coroner could do it day in and day out, especially one as young and pretty as Amelia.
“We are looking for an older black gentleman, probably in his sixties, about this tall,” Hutch held his hand just under his chin, “As far as we know he has no identification on him so he would be listed as a John Doe. He would have come in the last few days.”
Without hesitation Amelia shook her head no, “Nobody like that has come across my table.”
“You’re sure?” Starsky asked.
She looked perturbed, “Yes, I’m sure.”
Starsky sighed in relief, “I guess we need to head out.”
“You two up for a drink later?” Ameila winked at them.
The detectives looked at each other, “He’s taken,” Hutch said, jerking his thumb at his partner.
“He’s even more taken,” Starsky looked at Hutch.
Amelia shrugged her shoulders, “You can’t blame a girl for trying. I’ll keep an eye out for your missing guy.”
“Thanks,” Hutch said as they beat it out of the coroner's office.
Once outside, Starsky gave a little shiver, “Could you date a girl that has her hands inside of dead bodies all day long?”
“Don’t be so gross Starsk.”
“How is that gross? Creepy maybe…”
“Just get in the car.” Hutch exhaled.
After checking several hospitals and coming up empty they decided to stop for a drink at Sally’s, it didn’t hold a candle to The Pits but they weren’t ready to face Huggy until they had something concrete on Wilbur.
Old Sally was behind the bar when the pair walked in. No one was sure just how old the woman was, she sported a nest of white hair and large framed black glasses. She had crystal blue eyes that missed nothing that went on in her place. Sally always had a lit cigarette tucked in the corner of her mouth.
“Starsky! Hutch!” She exclaimed in the gravelly voice of a heavy smoker.
“Hey Sally,” Hutch said, waving away the cloud of smoke exhaled in his face.
“Going to miss you two once Huggy opens his place.” She said as she poured two beers. “How’s The Pits comin’ along?”
“It’s looking good, we were in there earlier today.” Starsky answered, taking a long drink of the beer she had pushed in front of him.
“You’ll still drop by to see this old gal after it’s open, won’t ya?”
“Sure we will,” Hutch grinned at her. Sally meandered down the bar dropping ash from her cigarette onto the surface as she went to wait on two more customers who had taken seats at the bar.
“Ya still mad?” Starsky asked, he hated it when Hutch was mad at him.
“Will you stop asking me that!”
“I’ll stop asking when you stop being mad.”
“No, I’m not mad, at least not at Megan, she didn’t know any better. You did!”
Starsky sighed, “So you’re still mad at me?”
Hutch drained the last of his beer and set the glass on the counter. “Let’s go. He waved at Sally as he slapped some bills on the counter.
“So you’re still mad at me?” Starsky repeated in a whiney voice.
Hutch didn’t answer but a small smile played on his lips, he was enjoying torturing his friend. Maybe next time Starsky would think twice before handing out his parent’s phone number.
Starsky shuffled to the driver's side of the Torino and looked across the top of the car at Hutch, “Come on Hutch, l am your best man.”
“Are you?”
Starsky looked horrified at the possibility that Hutch would strip him of being his best man. “YES I am!”
Finally Hutch decided his partner had been punished enough. “You are, and you’re forgiven.” Letting him off the hook. “But if you ever do that again, I swear!” Hutch wagged his finger across the top of the car.
Starsky crossed his heart, “I promise.” Smiling, he jumped behind the wheel.
Hutch shook his head as he climbed into the car.
Teddy stretched, and rolled over with difficulty to sit on the edge of the bed. She was annoyed with how long she had napped. She hated being stuck behind a desk, away from the excitement, doing endless paperwork at work. Soon she would be on maternity leave, then what would she do with her time? There was no baby’s room to decorate since both she and Starsky had been dragging their feet finding a new place to live.
“I’m back,” Starsky called as he closed the front door.
“In here.”
Starsky made his way to the bedroom to find Teddy trying to get out of bed, “Need some help?”
“You have to ask?”
He grinned at her, “Come on beautiful,” Holding out both hands to her, Starsky pulled Teddy to her feet.
“I don’t know if beautiful is the word for it.” She quipped. “I’m going to look like a parade float in two more weeks.”
Starsky shook his head, disagreeing with her. “You will show up the bride.”
Teddy snorted, “I’ll be lucky to fit in my dress.”
Starsky tried to pull Teddy into his arms but her stomach got in the way. They both laughed, he rubbed her stomach, “Can’t wait to meet you,” he purred softly to the baby bump.
Teddy laughed again, “Me either.” But for a different reason, she was tired of carrying around the extra weight.
“You know we need to start picking out some names.”
“More importantly the baby needs a room, it’s going to get crowded in here.” Teddy looked around the bedroom that still looked like it belonged to a bachelor. She had never been a girly girl, more of a Tomboy, climbing trees and playing cops and robbers with the boys. Her mother had to bribe her to wear a dress. She really liked Starsky’s bedroom with the dark colors, and heavy wooden furniture. But it wouldn’t do for a baby's room.
“We’ll start looking next weekend,” he promised.
Teddy nodded reluctantly, “I just wish this place had another bedroom.”
“We will find a great place,” He kissed her check, “Let’s start looking around here. Maybe we will get lucky and find something close to Hutch and Megan?”
She nodded then remembered why he had gone out, “Hey, any news on Wilbur?”
Starsky shook his head, “Good news is he wasn’t in the morgue, or in any of the hospitals we checked.”
“That doesn’t mean something hasn’t happened to him.” Teddy made her way into the kitchen.
Starsky followed, “That was cheery.”
“That was a horrible thing to say!” Teddy admitted, as she dug around in the refrigerator. “There is nothing in here I want!” She slammed the door.
Starsky looked at her in surprise, Teddy wasn’t prone to outbursts. “Are you alright?”
First she nodded, then shook her head no, as tears spilled down her cheeks. Angrily she wiped the tears away. Starsky guided her to the couch. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” He asked, puzzled.
“It’s Allen all over again!”
“What are you talking about?” Starsky was now completely confused.
“I don’t want to stay at home. I love you, I love our baby but I can’t give up my job!” Teddy whaled a new batch of tears threatening to fall.
Starsky dropped to his knees next to her and took her hands in his, “What are you talking about? Nobody said anything about you staying home. Look at Megan, she works and has Sam and Lucy!”
“But they aren’t babies.”
“They were babies. Have you talked to her about this?”
“No, I already feel like a horrible mother.” Teddy took a deep breath and looked into his blue eyes. “Do you hate me?”
“Babe, I could never hate you. You’re just scared, so am I.” Starsky gently pulled on the end of her auburn hair.
“You’re scared?”
“Of course, I’ve never been a father before. I’m scared, excited, happy, but I don’t know anything about taking care of a baby.” Starsky told her, “And I don’t want you to think for one minute I want you to stop being a detective. You are too good at your job.”
“Just follow in your partner’s footsteps, you will be the perfect dad.”
Starsky had to admit that Hutch was a wonderful father to Megan’s kids. He just hoped he was half as good.
Chapter Three
Megan sat in a lounge chair in the backyard with a glass of wine. The kids were engrossed in cartoons and Kim was getting ready for her date with Grayson. Dinner was in the oven. She closed her eyes enjoying the October day, a light wind was blowing, the breeze was cool but not cold. It had been a long day. The final fitting was taxing enough but the argument, if you could really call it that, with Hutch didn’t end the afternoon well. Megan was waiting for him to come home so she could apologize.
Starsky had dropped Hutch home, he walked slowly up the sidewalk. His anger was gone and replaced with disappointment, not with Megan or even his partner but with the situation. He had wanted their wedding day to be perfect. But now that his father would be there he didn’t know what to expect.
Hutch walked through the house and opened the back door, breathing in the cool evening air. He smiled seeing Megan, eyes closed, wine in hand. He silently walked over to her and pulled the glass from her hand and took a drink.
Her eyes flew open and she looked up into Hutch’s smiling face. “Hi,” she said tentatively.
“Hi, whata doin’ out here?”
“Just relaxing before dinner.”
“I’m sorry!” They both said at the same time then laughed.
“What do you have to be sorry about?” Megan asked Hutch.
“I overreacted.”
“I should have asked you first.”
“You didn’t know how I felt.”
“That's the reason I should have asked.” Hutch sat on the edge of the lounge. “I hope you aren’t mad at Starsky. I had to pry the number out of him.”
Hutch shrugged, “I tortured him for a while before I let him off the hook.”
“You are so bad.” Megan leaned over and kissed him. “Are you going to torture me?”
“Maybe later,” He winked at her.
The back door opened, Kim stepped out wearing a knee length red dress. Hutch whistled, “Oh stop it,” Kim laughed. “Just wanted to let you know I’m leaving. Gray will be here in a couple of minutes.” Kim ducked back in the house before either of them could respond.
“Gray? Like in Grayson Lawrence?” Hutch asked.
Megan nodded, “Who would have thought? Seems like they have a little romance going on.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“Kim asked me the same thing. Why would I care? I think it’s great! He deserves to be happy.” She exclaimed, then added, “So does Kim.”
“Mom,” Lucy yelled out the back door, “The timer on the oven is going off.”
“Coming!” Megan sighed as she got up. Hutch threw this arm around her shoulders.
Sam met them at the door and grabbed a hold of Hutch’s jacket. “Come watch cartoons with me!”
Hutch handed the wine glass back to Megan. He scooped up Sam and headed for the living room.
“No fair!” Lucy said exasperated. “We are left to do all the work!”
Megan laughed at her daughter, “You can go watch tv, there isn’t much to do in the kitchen.”
The salad was chilling in the refrigerator and the lasagna was ready to come out of the oven. “Hey Hutch, call Starsky and Teddy, see if they want to come down for dinner.”
Lucy opted to help her mother and was already setting the table adding to more plates. She knew there was no way Starsky would turn down a meal. She thought of him as an uncle and though she hadn’t called Hutch daddy like Sam did, that was the way she thought of him.
Starsky snatched the receiver on the first ring, he listened for a few minutes then said. “We are on our way.”
“Where are we on the way to?” Teddy questioned.
“That was Hutch inviting us to dinner.”
Teddy looked relieved, she needed some girl time with her best friend. They both changed clothes and walked the block to the house. Hutch was already standing with the front door open as they came up the walk. He hugged Teddy and clapped Starsky on the back.
“How ya doin’ dad?” Hutch grinned at his friend. Starsky looked at him and rolled his eyes. “That bad?”
His partner sighed, “I’m not used to all this emotional stuff. She thought I wanted her to quit work and stay home with the baby.”
Hutch chuckled, “I can’t be much help. I wish I had advice for you. I haven’t been through your side of it.”
“I’m hoping Megan can assure Teddy she can be a mother and work.”
“Megan seems to have mastered it, but she doesn’t do it alone. Kim is always here to help. You and Teddy too. You guys won’t have to do this alone.”
Lucy was filling glasses with ice and Megan was cutting into the steaming lasagna when Teddy walked into the kitchen. “Where’s Kim?” She asked.
“Out with grandpa,” Lucy giggled.
“Ahhh… so there is something going on with those two, I was wondering!” Teddy handed Lucy an empty glass. “They have seemed cozy the last couple of weeks.”
“I think it’s been going on longer than that.” Megan picked up the cut lasagna and carried it to the table. “Can you grab the salad Teddy?”
After dinner, Megan and Teddy took bowls of ice cream out to the back yard and stretched out in the lounge chairs, while the guys and kids ate theirs in the living room in front of the tv.
“I could use a gallon of this,” Teddy said, sticking a spoonful of Rocky Road in her mouth and savoring it.
“How ya doin’? Megan looked at her friend. With all the wedding planning they hadn’t had a lot of time to sit and talk.
Teddy shrugged, “Being crazy. Starsk is so patient with me. I’m not myself, I am not a crier and everything seems to make me cry.”
Laughing Megan waved her spoon at her friend, “It’s going to be fine. Once the baby is born you will get back to normal.”
“But what if I can’t handle working and taking care of a baby?” Teddy sounded near tears. “You are so great at it, and you have two.”
Megan sat on the edge of the lounge and looked at Teddy, “Honey, when I had Lucy I was anything but great. I won’t lie, it was rough. Mark was there but we had no one else. You’ve met Isabella, I sure couldn’t ask her for help. I had a few friends but they were all nurses in the same situation.”
“What did you do?”
“We got through it, Mark and I worked opposite shifts so we could take care of Lucy. By the time Sam came along we were old pros but it still wasn’t easy.”
“See, that is what I’m afraid of.”
Megan took her hand, “You have us, Kim, your mom and dad are wonderful, they can’t wait to be grandparents.”
Teddy smiled as she threw her arms around Megan. “Thank you, Starsky said I should talk to you.”
“I’m always here for you.”
Monday morning Teddy sat at her desk in the squadroom shuffling papers. Starsky had stopped at the vending machine while Hutch leaned on the wall waiting for his partner to make a selection. “Come on Starsk, just pick something.” Hutch was impatient to get their day started. They were going to call the hospitals they had checked in person to see if Wilbur had shown up. They had been avoiding seeing Huggy but that wasn’t an option any longer.
As the two detectives walked into the squadroom, Dobey bellowed for them. “I swear that man is psychic.” Starsky said around the bite of the candy bar.
Hutch knocked, then opened the door, “What’s up Cap?”
“Get in here,” Dobey commanded. They stood in front of his desk wondering what they had done wrong. “Who the hell is this Wilbur Curtis you two put an A.P.B. out on?”
Starsky flopped down a chair in front of Dobey’s desk. “You know Wilbur, the guy that helped us with the counterfeit money and the fire at Huggy’s.”
Dobey nodded remembering the case. So much came across his desk it was hard to remember every name. “So why the A.P.B.?”
“He’s missing Cap, it's been…what 6 days now?” Hutch explained, and then looked to Starsky for confirmation on the number of days.
Starsky thought for a moment, “Yep, this is the sixth day.”
“Street people disappear all the time.” Dobey looked annoyed.
“This is different. He has an apartment above Huggy’s new place.” Hutch said.
“We have checked the morgue and hospitals.” Starsky started to put his feet up on Dobey’s desk then thought better of it. “We are going to call the hospitals again just to double check then head over to Huggy’s.”
“Fine, then get to work on a real case.” Dobey barked.
“You’re all heart Cap,” Starsky quipped as they left Dobey’s office.
Back out in the squad room and at their desks, they began the task of calling emergency rooms. Coming up empty, Hutch sighed, “I guess it’s time to pay Huggy a visit.”
“If something has happened to Wilbur what is going to happen to the building?” Starsky asked. Hutch shrugged as they headed to the parking lot.
Huggy was behind the bar arranging glassware when Starsky rapped on the door with his knuckles. The barkeeper put the last glass on the shelf then meandered to the door thinking it was someone wanting to know when he was opening.
He unlocked the door and pulled it open, he was surprised to see Starsky standing there with Hutch not far behind. “My man!” He exclaimed, “How’s it hangin’?”
“It’s hangin’,” Starsky responded.
“When are you going to open Hug? Looks ready.” Hutch observed.
“Two weeks from today.” Huggy went behind the bar, “How about a beer? On the house,” he grinned.
“Thanks but we’re on the job.” Hutch answered, then asked, “Why two more weeks?”
Huggy grinned, “After the reception. I don’t want anything to get ruined.”
“That’s nice but not necessary.” Hutch sat down on one of the bar stools.
Huggy shrugged, “My gift.”
“The reason we are here…” Starsky began.
“Wilbur’s dead isn’t he?” Huggy asked with a pained look on his face.
Starsky leaned on the bar, “We haven’t been able to find him. We have an A.P.B. out and we have been to the morgue and checked the hospitals, twice.”
Frowning, Huggy turned to fiddle with the glasses he had just arranged, “He helped me pick these out.”
“We aren’t giving up,” Hutch promised.
The door opening caught their attention, there was nothing but a silhouette, “Bar’s not open yet, come back in two weeks,” Huggy called.
“If I came back in two weeks I’ll miss the reception,” said a familiar voice.
Huggy squinted at the figure that moved closer, as the door closed and the brightness diminished, he was shocked to see Wilbur Curtis standing there. The man was dressed in a brand new black suit, black hat and black shoes. He was carrying several bags from clothing stores in one hand and a beautiful wrapped package in the other.
All three men gaped at Wilbur, finally Huggy broke the silence by asking, “Where the hell have you been?”
“I left you a note,” Wilbur replied.
“Well I never saw a note. Starsky and Hutch have been looking for you.”
Wilbur glum, “I sure didn’t mean to worry you. I didn’t mean to be gone so long.”
“You could have called,” Huggy huffed.
“I should have.”
Huggy finally noticed his friend's clothing, “Did you rob a bank or a department store? Where did you get the fancy duds?”
Wilbur chortled as he set down his purchases, “Huggy my friend, there is a lot you do not know about me.”
Starsky and Hutch looked at each other, wondering if Wilbur Curtis was some sort of con man. A criminal they were going to have to arrest and crush Huggy’s hopes of finally having his livelihood back.
Hutch leaned close to Starsky and whispered in his ear, “You checked him out. We know Wilbur owns the building, but did he have any kind of record?”
“He’s clean.”
“Or just hasn’t gotten caught yet.”
Wilbur walked behind the bar to stand next to Huggy, he was almost a head shorter. “I am not a criminal, so you two can stop whispering.” He addressed the detectives. They both turned slightly red at being caught. “Hey, you are just trying to protect Huggy.”
“So what’s the deal?” Starsky asked.
Wilbur gave them all a big toothy grin. “I’m a very rich man and eccentric, I guess that is what you would call it. My family made a killing in the oil business, I’m the only one left now, my sister just died. All the inheritance is mine” The old man explained.
“B-but why live like a bum?” Huggy wanted to know, if he had that kind of money he would have himself a fancy house and car. Not working his fingers to the bone in a bar day in and day out.
“Money just never meant much to me. I helped out your mama as much as she would let me. Your pop made me promise to let you earn your own way.” Wilbur explained further. “But I guess it’s time I live a better lifestyle. And my boy I want you to benefit too.”
Huggy looked around the bar and realized even though the furnishings didn’t look like it, everything was expensive. Wilbur had spared no expense. “That don’t explain where ya been.”
“I went to Texas to get my money and bury my sister.”
“Man, you should have said some’em. I would have gone with ya.” Huggy said.
Wilbur shrugged, “You had enough on your plate.”
“Glad you are back, we can cancel the A.P.B.” Starsky said. With the mystery solved, the detectives headed back to the station.
Chapter Four
With only a handful of days left before the wedding, things moved into high gear. Double checking on flowers, going over the food with Angie one last time, getting the decorations for the bar. It was all falling into place until frantic knocking brought Megan to the front door and a tearful Teddy standing there with her maid of honor dress draped over her arm.
“It doesn’t fit!” She wailed.
Megan pulled her friend into the house. “Go up the stairs and put it on, let's see how bad it is.”
“It’s bad, trust me,” Teddy sniffed. She headed up the stairs, Megan started to follow when there was another knock on the door.
Sighing Megan opened the door to find her future in-laws standing there. Kathryn Hutchinson had her arms full of wrapped gifts, Richard also had several gifts, one clearly a wedding gift from the way it was wrapped.
“Mr and Mrs Hutchinson!” She exclaimed, with everything going on she had totally forgotten what day it was.
“We aren’t early are we? We decided on Wednesday, right?” The woman looked distraught.
“Yes, Wednesday, the days have just gotten away from me with so much going on,” Megan smiled, “Come in.”
Teddy started down the stairs to see what was keeping her friend but stopped when she saw the couple. She was holding on to the front of her dress, unable to zip it, looking totally miserable.
Kathryn deposited the gifts on the couch, “These are for the children,” She smiled back at Megan.
A smile Megan knew well, it was clear Hutch had gotten his smile from her. Both his parents were tall, blue eyed and blond although it was streaked with gray. Richard Hutchinson looked like an older version of his son. “Here let me take those,” she took the presents from him.
“Oh my,” Kathryn said as she caught sight of Teddy on the stairs. “What’s the matter dear?”
“I can’t zip my dress, it fit when we picked it up,” she groaned.
Kathryn headed up the stairs, “Come on, let me take a look.” Megan followed the older woman, leaving Richard standing in the living room, watching the woman disappear upstairs.
Hutch, carrying a bouquet of red roses, got out of the Torino. He noticed the strange car but didn’t think much about it. He turned to wave at Starsky, who he knew would be back at the house soon. Hutch whistled as he approached the front door. He was off for the next two and a half weeks, as were his partner and Teddy.
He started to put his key in the door but noticed it was open. Cop instincts kicked in, he pulled his gun and pushed the door open slowly and looked around. A man stood in the middle of the living room, his back to Hutch.
Hutch stepped into the room, his weapon trained on the stranger. The senior Hutchinson turned locking eyes with his son then dropped his gaze to the .357 pointed at him. “Father?” Hutch asked hesitantly.
“Kenneth!” Richard exclaimed, “Is this how you always greet your guests?”
Hutch looked at the gun in his hand, “Sorry,” He slipped his gun back in its holster. “The door was open.” His father looked at his son perplexed. “We don’t leave the door unlocked.”
“I see.”
“Where is Megan?”
“Some sort of dress emergency, the ladies are upstairs.” Richard answered.
“Have a seat, I’ll be right back.” Hutch headed upstairs taking the steps two at a time still clutching the flowers. He found Megan, Teddy and his mother in their bedroom.
Kathryn had straight pins sticking out of her mouth as she mumbled directions to Megan. Teddy gave Hutch a woeful smile as she tried not to move for fear of getting stuck. The older woman put the last pin in the dress and looked up to see her son in the doorway, “Kenny!” She exclaimed as she crossed the room to hug her son.
“Mooom,” Hutch drawled.
She laughed, “Sorry, Ken.” She turned to Megan and Teddy, “He hates it when I call him Kenny.”
“I’m not five anymore.” He kissed her cheek. Then he looked at Megan, “Can I talk to you?”
They went out into the hall, he haphazardly handed her the roses that didn't look too fresh anymore. “What are they doing here?”
“The wedding dummy or did you forget?”
“I didn’t think they would be here today!” Hutch grouched.
“I told you!” Megan was exasperated.
“I guess I wasn’t listening.”
“You never do when it comes to your parents,” Megan hissed. “Now go down stairs and keep your dad company…Kenny.”
Hutch shot her a look but left without further comment. He found his dad sitting on the couch. “Want a beer?” Hutch asked as he passed through the living room.
Richard got up following his son into the kitchen. “Yes.”
Hutch grabbed two bottles from the fridge and opened the cabinet to get a glass. His father never drank out of a bottle. He poured the brew into the glass and handed it to father. Then popped the top of his beer and took a big gulp.
They heard the front door open, Kim and the kids entered, Sam talking a mile a minute. “MOM!” He yelled.
“She’s upstairs.” Hutch called.
“Hutch!” Sam exclaimed excitedly to find the detective home. He came running into the kitchen full speed, he came to a screeching halt when he saw Richard. “Who are you?”
“Sam, this is my father,” Hutch explained.
Sam looked up at Richard, “I’m Sam! Are you going to be my grandpa? I have one already but I wouldn’t mind having two.”
Richard looked at Hutch then at Sam. He crouched down, “I guess I am or will be in a couple of days.”
“Cool!” Sam exclaimed, “Do you like cars? I have a bunch! Ya want to see them?” Sam grabbed Richard’s hand dragging into the living room.
“I see your parents made it,” Kim said as she and Lucy walked into the kitchen. “Where is everyone?”
Hutch rolled his eyes, it was already chaotic and there were still three days until the wedding. “Teddy had a dress emergency.”
“Oh dear,” Kim sighed, she left to find the women.
Lucy came around the counter and hugged Hutch, “What’s that for?” He smiled at her as he put his arms around her.
“You looked like you needed a hug.”
Hutch nodded, a hug and a stiff drink he thought. There was a loud knock on the front door. “Must be Starsk.”
The door was barely open, “Where’s Teddy? Is she here? I got home and she was gone!” Starsky asked frantically. The closer her due date got the jumpier he got.
“Upstairs,” Was all Hutch said to his friend. Taking his beer, he sat down on the couch and was surprised to find his father playing cars with Sam. Hutch couldn’t remember him ever playing cars with him or much of anything for that matter. “How was the drive?”
“Long,” Richard responded. He looked up at his son. “You know you could come visit your mother once in a while, she misses you.”
For a moment Hutch thought that his father had mellowed with age, but there it was. He didn’t care if his son came to visit him, just Kathryn. “I’ll try to do better.” He was sure that Megan would make it happen even if he didn’t want to.
Starsky had bolted up the stairs, not sure what to expect. He slid to a stop in the bedroom door breathing a sigh of relief when he saw Teddy with Megan, Kim and a woman he didn’t know helping Teddy out of her dress.
As soon as she was free from the dress Teddy threw herself into his arms. “The dress was too tight.”
Kathryn smiled kindly at Teddy, “We’ll get it fixed up.” Then she addressed Starsky. “David! I would know you anywhere. Ken talks about you all the time.”
“Mrs. Hutchinson, nice to meet you.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Starsky was surprised, Hutch never mentioned that he talked to his mother.
She grinned at him, “Call me Kathryn.”
“I guess I’ll head downstairs with the boys, since everything is under control.”
Hutch stood as Starsky came down the steps, “Father, this is my partner, Dave Starsky,” he introduced the two men. “Starsk, this is Richard.”
Starsky stuck out his hand, “Mr. Hutchinson, good to meet you.”
Richard shook his hand, “You don’t try to shoot your guests do you?”
“Wha’?” Starsky looked confused.
“Don’t mind him.” Hutch gave his father a perturbed look.
Lucy came walking in carrying a peanut butter sandwich which she gave half of to her brother. “Don’t make a mess,” she admonished him. She sat down next to Richard, “You look like Hutch.”
“I think he looks like me.” Richard joked, smiling at her, “And what’s your name?”
“That’s Lucy, my sister, you will be her grandpa too.” Sam said around a big bite of sandwich. He looked over at Hutch, “Is there a grandma?”
Hutch smiled, “My mom is upstairs helping Teddy.” He knew she would love having grandchildren.
Sam crammed the last of the sandwich in his mouth and took off upstairs, Lucy sighed, “I better go with him.”
“Why do the kids call you Hutch?” Richard wanted to know.
“Hutchinson? Hutch, it’s a nickname.”
“Hummmmm,” Richard clearly disapproved.
Hutch grabbed Starsky by the arm propelling him through the kitchen and out into the backyard. Where he began pacing back and forth. “What is with you?” Starsky wanted to know taking the beer bottle Hutch was tightly
clutching before it shattered.
“What is with me? Richard Hutchinson is what is with me.”
Starsky flopped down and stretched out in one of the lounge chairs taking a drink from the bottle. “He seems okay.”
“Okay? Okay? What’s wrong with Hutch? Everyone calls me Hutch. I like Hutch!”
Starsky sat up straddling the lounge, “Sit.” Hutch sat on the end. “You’re acting crazy.”
“That man pushes all my buttons. He always has, always will.”
Starsky put his hand on his friend's knee, “Breath buddy, just breath. This is about you and Megan. You are worried your dad is going to ruin your wedding day, it’s going to be you if you don’t chill out.”
Hutch closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “You’re right. At least he is being nice to Lucy and Sam.”
“Is that what is bugging you?” Starsky asked. “He’s being nice to the kids?”
“No…yes…maybe?” Hutch dropped his head into his hands, “I feel like an idiot! But my father barely gave me the time of day. Do you know how many times he played cars with me? Played anything? Not even catch in the backyard? Zero, zip, nada!”
“At least your father is still alive.” Starsky said somberly.
Hutch’s face softened, “I’m sorry buddy.”
Richard stood at the back door watching the two men, he didn’t hear Megan come up behind him. “They are very close, like brothers, maybe better than brothers. They risk their lives everyday. Those two have each other’s backs no matter what.” Her voice was full of love for both of them. She smiled at Richard. “Your son is a good man.”
Friday morning found Hutch working on a backlog of reports. “Hutchinson!” Dobey barked as he came into the squadroom finding his detective at work. “What the hell are you doing here? You are getting married tomorrow.”
Hutch looked up at his captain, “Cap, I…uh.”
“In my office.” Getting up slowly, Hutch followed Dobey. “Sit!” The Captain commanded.
Reluctantly the detective sat, he wasn’t in the mood to talk. It was bad enough that his father was going to be at the wedding but thanks to Kim’s offer of her room to his parents, they were staying at the house. Grayson had asked Kim if she would like to stay with him while the Hutchinson’s were in town.
“I just needed some quiet.” Hutch sighed as he leaned back in the chair. “The house is like Grand Center Station.”
“And you came here?“ Dobey shook his head.
Hutch grinned sheepishly, “Starsky has Teddy’s parents at their place. Our house is full of people, flowers, gifts, who knows what else. I just needed a minute. Megan told me to go!”
“Good woman you got there.”
“I do.”
“Save that for tomorrow,” Dobey joked. “Anything else going on?”
“My father is here.” Hutch sighed. “My mom is great, my father not so much. He wanted to know why we didn’t ask him to marry us?”
“Why didn’t you?”
Hutch rolled his eyes, “I wasn’t planning on my parents coming to the wedding.”
“Ah fathers and sons, I can understand that.”
There was a tap on the office door and Starsky poked his head in, “There you are, partner.”
“Starsk, what are you doing here?”
“Lookin’ for you,” Starsky sat down next to his friend. “Hey Cap.”
“Can’t you two stay away from this place?” Dobey wanted to know.
Starsky shrugged, “I was just lookin’ for Hutch. I gotta trunk of stuff that needs to go to Huggy’s, you want to help?”
“How can I say no?” Hutch got up and looked at their Captain, “Thanks Cap. See you, Edith and the kids tomorrow.”
Dobey nodded, “We’ll be there.”
The two detectives drove separately to Huggy’s, Hutch knocked on the door while Starsky opened his trunk and began gathering bags.
Two more cars pulled up, Megan, Lucy and Kim, got out of one. Teddy and her mother, Marie, and Kathryn got out of the other. All excitedly talking at once as they walked toward The Pits.
Starsky, loaded down with bags, joined the group of women. “There’s more in my trunk.” He announced.
Huggy came out to help, chocking open the door. He got the remaining items from the Torino, “Come on in ladies.”
Megan stood with her hands on her hips surveying the room. It was going to be a great space for their reception. Hutch joined her, putting his arm around her shoulders. “Are you ready for this?” He asked softly.
Megan nodded, “Are you?”
“I’ve been ready.”
Chapter Five
The morning of the wedding dawned clear, Hutch had spent the night with Starsky, while Teddy stayed at the house. It seemed appropriate that he spent his last night with his best friend. They had foregone the typical bachelor party and there hadn’t been a wedding shower, they already had all they needed.
The two friends had sat on the couch drinking a few beers and eating pizza. They both had been through their share of heart breaks, but now Hutch was just hours from being married with a ready made family. And Starsky on the verge of fatherhood.
Hutch tipped his beer bottle toward Starsky, “You know I love you man. Nothings going to change.”
Starsky touched the bottle with his, “Love you too. But things have already changed, for the better, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Hutch pulled his friend in for a quick hug.
As the pair were putting the finishing touches on their tuxes, there was a knock at the door, Starsky yelled come in. Grayson, dressed in his tux, opened the door. He had dropped Kim off at the house so she could help the bride and get dressed. He stepped in followed by Richard and Sam who had insisted on coming. Richard had on a dark blue suit which brought out the blue in his eyes so very much like his sons. Sam strutted around in his tux, with a pale purple carnation pinned to his lapel. Grayson and Richard also had carnations. Richard carried two more wrapped in cellophane.
The two detectives came out of the bedroom, Richard walked to his son, “May I?” The older Hutchinson asked, holding up the flower. Hutch nodded. Richard handed the second flower to Grayson for Starsky. He looked Hutch in the eyes, as they were the same height, Richard carefully pinned the carnation on Hutch’s jacket. “I’m proud of you Ken.”
Hutch looked back at his father, tears pricked the corner of his eyes. “I’m glad you and mom came,” Hutch admitted.
Grayson pinned the carnation on Starsky’s jacket. The detective straightened his bow tie, “What do you say we ready to get married?” Starsky grinned.
“I can’t wait for you to be my daddy,” Sam piped up as he grabbed Hutch’s hand.
Hutch ruffled the little boy’s hair, “I can't wait either.”
The wedding was being held in a small chapel, wisteria grew over the arches to the entrance of the white washed chapel, that was built in the early 1940’s. The inside had rich mahogany pews and walls, stained glass windows, and beautiful crystal lights that hung from the ceiling. It was breathtaking. Hutch and Starsky stood at the front of the chapel waiting for the bride to come down the aisle. All the guests were seated, Dobey and his family, the Hutchinson’s, Huggy and Wilbur dressed in their best. Teddy’s parents, Marie and Frank Carlisle. Also Lori Chapman, her husband Ben and their two boys. There was a smattering of officers that were friends of the detectives.
A nod from the pastor and the music started, the wooden doors at the back of the chapel opened, Teddy was the first down the aisle, her long auburn hair in ringlets, a bouquet of white carnations which were Megan’s favorite flower. The pale purple dress fit to perfection even though Teddy was very pregnant. She was smiling, her eyes locked on Starsky who was smiling back at her.
Sam was next, carrying a small pillow with the wedding rings. He was proud and stood up tall as he walked to the front to stand next to Hutch. Then Lucy, looking very grown up, carrying a basket of white and purple rose petals that she scattered on the floor as she made her way to the front, then stood next to Teddy.
All the guests stood as Megan appeared in the doorway, Kim on her left and Grayson on her right. Kim had wanted to bow out of walking Megan down the aisle thinking that Grayson should be the one. But the bride had insisted that both of them escort her.
Megan was a vision of loveliness in her white gown, her dark hair pulled up with the headband she had picked out holding her hair. She carried a huge bouquet of pale purple carnations.
Megan looked down the aisle, her eyes only on her groom. Hutch lit up when he saw her grinning from ear to ear. Starsky put his hand on his friend's shoulder as they watched Megan walk toward them.
With the wedding over, the celebration moved to The Pits. Huggy and Wilbur had strung white lights over the whole room. The food Angie had prepared filled long tables and all the table tops were covered with white table cloths with vases of fresh flowers. The wedding cake Grayson had sprung for sat in the middle of one of the smaller tables. Appropriately, Huggy Bear played bartender and was behind the bar. Wilbur was greeting the guests as they arrived, other friends that hadn’t been at the wedding came for the party. All the kids went to the back of the room where the pinball machines were. Someone started up the jukebox. It was the perfect party to end the perfect day.
Hutch and Megan slow danced in the center of the room oblivious to what was going on around them. Teddy stood off to the side watching them, Starsky came up behind her nuzzling her neck. “You want to do that?” He asked.
Teddy rubbed her protruding belly, “Might be a little difficult.”
“I wasn’t talking about dancing.”
Teddy turned and looked at him, “Why Detective David Starsky, are you asking me to marry you?”
“I am,” He grinned at her.
“In that case, yes I will!” He slipped a ring box from his pocket. “You have been thinking about this for a while.”
“I have.” Starsky opened the box and slipped an emerald cut diamond on her finger.
Teddy admired the ring, “It’s beautiful. Let’s not say anything right now, tonight belongs to them.”
Starsky nodded in agreement as they watched the happy couple.
Hutch and Megan cut the cake, with Starsky and Teddy at their side. Sam came up and tugged on Hutch’s jacket. Thinking the boy wanted cake, Hutch handed him a piece but Sam didn’t take it. Instead he held up his arms. Hutch picked Sam up, he wrapped his arms around the detective's neck, “I love you daddy.”
Megan’s eyes were shiny with tears as she put her arms around her two favorite guys. Lucy joined in the family hug, “I’m glad you are our dad.” She told Hutch.
The couple would tell the kids later that Hutch planned on adopting them.
As the party went late into the night, families with young children were leaving, the Dobey’s came to give their well wishes. “I don’t want to see you back in the office for two weeks, got that.” Dobey said gruffly.
“Yes sir,” Hutch gave his captain a mock salute. He kissed Edith’s cheek, “Thanks for coming.”
Teddy sat sideways in one of the booths, a glass of water next to her looking very uncomfortable. “How are you doing?” Marie Carlisle asked, joining her daughter. Teddy gave her mother a pained look. “Are you alright? Would you like us to take you home?”
“Can you get Starsky?” Teddy gasped.
Alarmed, Marie hurried to grab him from the dance floor where he was dancing with a giggling Lucy. She tapped him on the shoulder, “Teddy needs you.” Then she went to find Frank.
He immediately went to Teddy’s side, “You okay babe?”
She shook her head no, “I think I need to go.”
“It is getting late, I’ll tell Hutch and Megan we are going home.”
“Not home,” she gasped, “The hospital, I think I’m in labor.”
“What?” Starsky’s face went pale, “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want to ruin the party.”
“Megan!” Starsky shouted above the music.
The bride turned to see Starsky frantically waving for her. Megan touched Hutch’s arm then rushed across the room. She took one look at Teddy and being a nurse knew exactly what was going on. “We need to get you to the hospital!”
Hutch arrived at the booth just in time to hear the word hospital. He motioned to his mother. Everyone was beginning to realize something was going on. Kathryn, along with Richard, joined the growing group around Teddy.
“Mom, can you and dad take the kids back to the house when they are ready? We are going with Teddy and Starsk to the hospital.” Hutch asked. It wasn’t lost on him that he had called his father dad, probably for the first time ever. But he felt as though they might have a fresh start in their relationship.
“Of course,” Kathryn agreed.
Kim came rushing over followed by Grayson, Starsky was helping Teddy to her feet. “We’ll stay here until everyone leaves,” Kim offered.
“No, you can’t leave your reception,” Teddy said looking distraught as Starsky helped her up.
“Don’t be silly!” Megan said, taking Teddy’s left hand, she felt the ring and looked at her friend's hand. She looked at Teddy then Starsky as a big smile spread across her face but she didn’t say anything.
Hutch paced the waiting room, along with Teddy’s parents. Starsky and Megan, dressed in scrubs, were in the delivery room with Teddy. As time wore on more friends began showing up. Lori, Teddy’s partner, came after getting her boys settled at home with their dad. Kim and Grayson came after the party wound down. Huggy and Wilbur shooed them out knowing Kim would want to be at the hospital. Huggy finally showed up in the wee hours of the morning bringing coffee for the group that had gathered.
Hutch made several calls to the house to keep his parents and the kids up to date on the progress of the birth.
It was nearly eight in the morning when a tired looking but elated Starsky appeared in the waiting room. “It’s a girl!” He announced.
Hutch threw his arms around Starsky, “Congratulations man!”
Frank shook Starsky’s hand and he got a tearful hug from Marie who asked if she could see her daughter. “You both can go. They are taking the baby to get checked out, she is a couple of weeks early but the doctor said she looks well.”
When Marie and Frank entered the room, their daughter was smiling but tired. Marie took Teddy’s hand and like Megan, felt the ring, “When did this happen?” Marie asked, holding up her hand for Frank to see.
“Last night,” Teddy said sleepily.
“I’m glad he’s going to make an honest woman of you,” Frank joked, “Congratulations honey.”
The room door open and Megan walked in carrying
the baby, Starsky following close behind her. Megan placed the baby girl in Teddy’s arms. “She’s perfect.” Megan informed them. “Do we have a name?”
Teddy nodded, “Lily.”
Starsky leaned over to get a closer look at the tiny bundle, “She’s so little.” He kissed the baby on the head then Teddy on the lips. “We ready for this mom?”
“I guess we better be,” she replied, yawning.
Megan took the baby back, “I’ll take her to the nursery so you two can get some rest.”
Hutch was cooling his heels in the hall outside the room when Megan emerged. She took the baby over so Hutch could get a look at her, “Ken Hutchinson, meet Lily Starsky.”
“She’s beautiful.” Hutch admired the baby.
“There is news, but I’ll let your partner tell you.”
“News? What news?”
“Go see them, I’m taking the little one so they can get some rest.”
Hutch knocked on the door, Marie pulled it open, she and Frank were headed to their hotel room to get some sleep. “Congratulations again, thanks for inviting us to your wedding.” She said.
Hutch walked into the room, Starsky was laying next to Teddy who was nearly asleep, “Hey buddy,” he whispered, not wanting to disturb Teddy.
But her eyes popped open the moment she heard Hutch’s voice. She held out her hand to proudly show him her engagement ring.
Hutch took her hand and kissed it, “About time!”
“Your turn to be my best man,” Starsky said, winking at his friend.
“Lily is just beautiful,” Hutch smiled at them.
“Would you and Megan be Godparents?” Starsky asked.
“We would love to,” Megan said as she slipped back into the room.
Three months later
Starsky stood on the beach dressed in white cotton pants and shirt and no shoes. Hutch stood next to him dressed much the same, the breeze ruffling his blond hair. The same pastor that had married the Hutchinson’s was presiding over a very different kind of wedding this time.
Sam stood between the two men, Megan and Lori on the other side in calf length pale yellow dresses. Folding wooden chairs were set up in the sand with an aisle down the middle. Starsky’s mother and brother, as well as Teddy’s parents, Kim and Grayson, and Lori’s husband and boys were in attendance.
Teddy, in a long white eyelet dress, stood cradling Lily in her arms instead of a bouquet of flowers, the baby sound asleep, obviously as to what was going on around her. Frank stood next to his daughter and granddaughter ready to walk them down the aisle. Lucy in a yellow sundress was going to lead the way.
Kim had a cassette player ready to play We've Only Just Begun. The pastor nodded at her and Kim depressed the button. The song began to play softly, Lucy walked scattering daisies from the basket she was carrying.
Then Teddy, Lily and Frank followed, as Teddy arrived at her groom's side Lily made little noises in her sleep.
Starsky pulled back the blanket to look at his daughter, he smiled, first kissing her then Teddy. Teddy laid Lily in Megan’s arms so she would be able to exchange rings with Starsky.
As the wind picked up and waves crashed behind them, the pastor got down to business marrying the couple. After the I do’s were said, everyone headed to the parking lot. Once again the party would move to The Pits but it would be a much smaller affair.
Hutch walked with Megan who was still carrying Lily, he peeked at his Goddaughter that was now awake and would need to be fed soon. “You want to hold her?” Megan asked, passing the bundle to her husband. “You’re going to need the practice.”
Hutch took Lily in his arms making sure she was covered against the wind. He began walking across the sand to where Teddy and Starsky were standing, suddenly her words registered with him. Hutch stopped and turned to stare at Megan.
She smiled at him, “You will have about eight months to figure it out.”
Hutch grinned at her then put a protective arm around Megan’s shoulders as they walked toward Starsky and Teddy and the rest of their lives.
The End