Let's Make a Deal (Bob and Nikki Book 11), стр. 82

“I’m here to testify, it is. It’s better since we can be reasonably sure the Ambassador will come off his ship in the morning, and not a squad of Marines.”

“Sounds like I haven’t been getting the whole story from Will. I may have to call your pretty wife, and see what she will tell me.”

“Do what you think best, Phonelia. I better let you go, I’m sure there are things you need to be doing. Let me know how that system turns out.”

“I will. Talk to you later, Bob.”

“Bye, Phonelia.”

I thought for a minute, and decided to call Max. “Hi, Bob. What can I do for you today? Goats? Extra-long bows?”

“Believe it or not, I just called to see how things were going with you.”

“As well as can be expected, I suppose. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened lately. We did patch up a couple of saucers, but it wasn’t anything too hard. No bounties coming in trying to make us think they were in a bad way, or anything like that.”

“Moving Gail in wasn’t too bad?”

“We haven’t gotten that far. She just has a drawer and a couple of feet of closet.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t want you to move in with her.”

“She understands I need to be here for business reasons.”

“Good deal. Glad to hear you are finding some happiness.”

“Do you have any new mods for the saucers we’re fixing up?”

“Not that I know of. Do you have Scotti’s comm code?”

“I do. I’ll give her a call. Any idea when we might see you?”

“Soon, I hope. I’m ready for a break. I was hoping that we could be planetside when Nikki had the twins.”

“That would be nice. Tricky for you, though.”

“How do you mean?”

“You don’t really think Nikki is going to have those kids without her Mother coming to stick her nose in, do you?”

“Thanks so much, Max. I was just getting to the point I thought things were going to get less stressful for a bit. Then you go and wind me right back up. Do you think she’ll bring Jimmis?”

“Probably. You know she doesn’t want you to meet him, don’t you?”

“I do. Nikki said he would like to meet me, and his stepsister. That’s going to cause problems, no doubt.”

“What is it you always say? ‘Problem for another day’ or something like that?”

“You’re right. I just don’t want to cause trouble between Nikki and her Mom.”

“Good luck with that. I never did figure that one out.”

“Nice talking to you, Max. I’ll let you know, when we head that way.”

“Good talking to you, Bob. It’ll be good to see you both.” The line went dead, and I sat back and thought about how far I had come, so fast. I was just getting a good reverie going, when Gene said, “The Emperor is on the line for you, Commodore.”

“Put him on, Gene.”

“Good morning, Commodore. Would you like to finish up our business today?”

“Very much, Your Majesty. When were you thinking of getting started?”

“I have a few things to wrap up. I could be on your ship in, say two hours?”

“Sounds excellent. We’ll be expecting you. Looking forward to it.”

“As am I. See you then.” The line went dead.

I asked, “Gene, have preparations for the Emperor’s visit gotten underway?”

“Mrs. Wilson had the crew begin them as soon as he said he wanted to have the meeting over here, Boss. The hall where we usually have weddings has been set up to receive him.”

“I’m sure he’ll want a tour of the ship. Do we have some of those hall carts, a little nicer than the standard?”

“Mr. Topper has some bots working on that, Boss. They should be finished in plenty of time.”

“So, what’s left for me to do?”

“Come up with some kind of official sounding address to give at the ceremony.”

“Oh, I see. They left me the hard part.”

“Mrs. Wilson said you would see it that way. She prepared a training course on public speaking, if you’re interested.”

“If I had more time to integrate the information, before I had to use it, I would be more than happy to take it. As it is, I’m afraid it might do more harm than good.”

“I’m not sure I understand, Boss.”

“If I take it now, and try to give a speech in two or three hours, I will sound like whatever Nikki thinks a public speaker should sound like, rather than Bob Wilson, after getting an education in public speaking. It will sound artificial, and the Squirrels will think I’m trying to pull something. That’s not an impression I want to leave them with.”

“Now I understand, Boss. Should I schedule you to take the course later, then?”

“If you would, remind me after the Squirrels have left the system, please.”

“Of course, Boss.”

Reassured preparations were well in hand, I decided to try and come up with some ideas for a speech. I had a few points written down, when Jeeves came in. He said, “Boss, if you want to be ready when the Emperor gets here, you better come get dressed.”

I got up and followed him to the cabin. We were the only ones there, and I asked, “Where’s Mrs. Wilson? Shouldn’t she be getting ready, too?”

Jeeves replied, “She already finished.”

I touched up my shave, and got into my uniform. I said, “As much of a circus as this process has been, I feel like wearing the uniform that Topper made, but I suppose that’s not the best idea, is it?”

“Mrs. Wilson didn’t think so. She had Jackie lock it up in the armory, until the Emperor leaves.”

“That answers that, then.” When I was ready, a hall cart was waiting outside the door.