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"I can just imagine it," laughed Charlie, "the graduation ceremony flooded with media and Wallace Shipley fans! Adam, it wouldn't be fair to the other students. Besides, I don't feel as though I'm missing out on anything!"

He grinned the familiar smile that always made Charlie feel warm all over. Adam felt more at ease, for this was the happiest he had seen her all morning.

"If the GED is what you want, it's all right with me," he said. "That nap must have done you a world of good."

"I have a confession to make," admitted Charlie, "I woke up fifteen minutes ago. I was listening to you from the staircase!"

"Oh, you were, were you!" he exclaimed, in playful indignation, making a grab for her hand.

Charlie, however, was too quick for him, and laughing, went to check up on her father, who was watching TV in the living room.

"Are you comfortable, Daddy?" she asked him, adjusting the throw pillow behind his back.

Chuck continued to stare at the screen, seemingly oblivious to his own daughter.

"Do you know who I am, Daddy?" asked Charlie, struggling to see any recognition in his blank eyes.

For a minute, a look of strained frustration crossed his face. Seeing he was becoming agitated, Charlie calmed him down.

"That's all right," she assured him, "I know you love me, even if you don't know it yourself. I'm all right. You don't have to worry. Everything is going to be fine."

She patted his hands and kissed his cheek, but Chuck made no response that told Charlie he understood her. Leaning her head upon his shoulder, Charlie rested on the couch with her father. Since this was all she had of him, it would have to be enough.


Later that afternoon, when they had just finished eating lunch, Melvin arrived.

"Well, well!" greeted Melvin, bounding through the front door after Adam opened it long enough for him to duck inside. "You and Charlie are creating quite a stir!"

"I'm really sorry to call you away from your family on Thanksgiving," apologized Adam.

"That's all right," said Melvin, flashing his white teeth in a wide grin, "that's what you pay me the big bucks for!"

Just as he said this, a loud cry started outside the house.

"Wal-lace! Wal-lace! Wal-lace!" they chanted.

"How on earth did those fans get my address?" asked Adam, peeking through the curtains.

"I see HIM!" cried a fan.

Adam quickly pulled away from the window.

"They've been clamoring all over the front lawn," he continued, "and some even got through the backyard gate! Not to mention, my phone has been ringing off the hook with people asking if they can come visit me, and have an autograph!"

"I was afraid this was going to happen," sighed Melvin, setting his attaché case on the coffee table. "Someone posted your home address and telephone number at a Wallace Shipley fansite on the Internet," he explained, "and before I was aware of what was going on, it was too late. I had them remove the information, but as you can see, the word already went out."

"Great," muttered Adam under his breath.

"What's all this I hear on the news of an attempted break-in last night?" asked Melvin. "And more importantly, why wasn't I informed immediately afterward? Do you know what they're saying? That it was Charlie's former lover that tried to break in and kidnap her!"

"That's ludicrous!" emphatically denied Adam.

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