I don't own Goren, he belongs to DW

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The Newell household was in its normal state of activity. Gloria Newell was coaxing her five-year old daughter Erin to eat breakfast. "Erin, finish your juice. We don't want to be late for school."

Emily Newell was stuffing her homework into her backpack, reciting the President's Day poem she memorized the night before. "Emily, I think you've got that poem memorized by now. I think we all do!" Gloria told her.

Looking up from his newspaper, Emily's dad said, "Hey kiddo, I'm taking six boxes of cookies to work. Does that take care of all the deliveries?"

"Uh, I don't know. I think we have to take some to Mr. Goren," Emily replied.

"Oh, that cop across the street? Haven't you called him?"

"I tried and so has mom," Emily shrugged.

Gloria added, "I've left messages. I guess he works strange hours."

"The guy seems a little strange. Strange hours seem appropriate," Mark mumbled.

"Mr. Goren isn't strange daddy. He's fun. He does magic tricks," Emily stated.

"Is that so? How do you know that?" Mark asked his daughter.

"Me, Carrie and Jeremy were at Mario's with Carrie's mom. Jeremy was trying to show us a card trick and Mr. Goren saw him and he helped him. He even showed him a new trick. Then he pulled a pencil from behind Carrie's ear," Emily replied excitedly.

"Daddy, what's a hunk? Mommy says Mr. Goren is a hunk. Is a hunk the same thing as a cop?" Erin asked.

Gloria Newell felt the blood drain from her face. She was glad the tumbler was plastic or it surely would have shattered under the pressure of her hand.

"Uh, no…Erin… a cop is another word for a policeman. Why don't you ask your mother what a hunk is?" Mark said.

"Oh crap," Gloria thought to herself. Gloria ran her hand over her daughter's blond hair and said, "Sweetie… a hunk is just like your daddy. Hunks are tall, handsome and strong. They're gentle and wise…just like I said…your daddy." Mark shot a look at his wife. Emily started giggling.

"What are you laughing at?" Gloria asked.

Emily rolled her eyes, "At you. Daddy isn't a hunk. Everybody knows a hunk is a hottie! Mr. Goren is a hottie…daddy isn't a hottie!" Emily exclaimed. Gloria was biting her lower lip, trying not to laugh at her daughter's latest assertion.

"Wait one minute young lady. What ever gave you that idea and where did you hear such a thing?" Mark asked.

"Mom and her friends," Emily replied. Gloria looked at Emily not believing her very own daughter just betrayed her. "Kristen's mom, Rachel's mom, even Mrs. Price says he's a hottie."

"Mrs. Price, eighty year old Mrs. Price?" Mark asked.

"Yeah, she says she can tell he's got the goods by the way he walks. What does that mean?" asked Emily. Gloria and Mark looked at each other stunned.

"Uh… I think what Mrs. Price was saying is that he's good at what he does, just like you're good at memorizing poems. He's probably proud of his work and it shows," Gloria replied. That explanation was good enough for now and it answered the question.

The tiny muscles in Mark Newell's jaw started twitching and he said, "I've heard enough. Good Lord Gloria, you're a Girl Scout leader. What kind of talk is going on during those meetings? And what is wrong with Miriam Price?"

"Girls, the bus is going to be here soon. Go brush your teeth and get your coats on," Gloria said, derailing the conversation. Mark Newell bowed his head and rubbed his temples as his two daughters left the room. Gloria stood in the kitchen doorway.

"Evidently this Goren leaves quite an impression on the women in this neighborhood, young and old. What's he got that the rest of us don't?" Mark asked.

Several thoughts popped into Gloria's mind…brushing them aside she answered, "Oh get over it. He's nice to the kids and old ladies. So I notice a good looking guy?" She walked out of the kitchen and soon returned. Tossing the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue on the table, she asked, "What about this?

"These are pictures, this guy lives across the street, and… my wife and nine year old daughter think he's…" Mark replied, throwing his hands in the air.

"You know it doesn't mean anything and let's not forget the blonde that used to live downstairs," Gloria answered. She wrapped her arms around her husband's neck and said, "Don't worry, your girls will always love you. Sometimes women enjoy harmless sightseeing. It doesn't mean anything. You know I love you."

Mark patted his wife's hand and said, "I know. It's just hard hearing my nine year old daughter say those things."

"Just wait a few more years," Gloria sighed.

Mark rose from the table and kissed his wife, "I'll walk the girls to the bus stop. Do you think they have any books on magic at the toy store?"

Gloria smiled and kissed her family goodbye and whispered to Mark, "Don't worry. I'll have a little talk with Miriam Price."

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Gloria picked up the phone and dialed her friend, Teri. "I've been busted, by my own daughters no less," Gloria told her friend. She explained what happened at breakfast.

"Guess that rules him out for community night," Teri sighed.

"Yeah, suppose so… oh well it was a good idea while it lasted," Gloria laughed. She hung up the phone and finished cleaning up the kitchen. After a quick shower, the next phone call would be to Mrs. Miriam Price.

An hour later, Gloria was sitting at Miriam's dining room table. "Oh, I understand…I'm sorry honey. At my age I forget what it's like to have little ones around. I'll try to be a little more discreet when I'm around the girls," Miriam said. She then leaned over and whispered, "I forget my manners when I see that fine specimen of a man. I'll tell you, if I were twenty years younger, I'd have him!"

"Eeewww, if you were twenty years younger, you'd still be too old for him," Gloria thought.

"Just try to remember not to say anything in front of my girls?" Gloria asked.

"Sure thing honey," Miriam replied.

With that taken care of, Gloria could take care of some errands and think about the night's dinner. She was making out a grocery list when the phone rang. "Hello, Mrs. Newell? This is Robert Goren."

The little hairs on the back of Gloria's neck stood up and goose bumps broke out on her arms. She couldn't believe how smooth and sexy he sounded over the phone. Calmly Gloria answered, "Yes, yes… I suppose you're calling about the Girl Scout cookies."

"Yes I am. I'm sorry I'm so hard to reach. I've been busy at work. I'm leaving work early today. Could I come over and pick them up?" he asked.

Gloria gulped. She could just imagine him standing at her door. She could also imagine her husband's reaction to him standing at her door. "Uh, that won't be necessary. Emily will bring them to you after school. How does four o'clock sound?" Gloria asked.

"That's just about time I was planning on getting home, that will be fine," he replied.

"Four it is then, bye," Gloria said. "Wow, what a voice," she thought. After wiping the perspiration off the receiver, she went back to writing her grocery list. She laughed at the morning's events and shrugged them off. Gloria Newell would make sure dinner would be extra special.

Very well written, Peyton. I could literally feel Gloria's distress at the breakfast table. I remembered "A February Day" from last year and loved it too. It's short but very sweet. Goren's interactions with kids . . . it's one of the reasons I love him!

I loved this, Peyton. I was giggling all the way through and wondering, now what would I do if I lived across the street from Det. Goren. This was a great treat at the end of a long Monday at work!

AWSOME.
Love it.

I loved Mrs. Price!!! She reminded of a friend of mine. That was pretty much her first response
the day I was over at her place and turned on CI...

Such a great little story. I cannot believe I hadn't found this before now. I think I would be as guilty as Gloria if Robert Goren lived across the street from me.

I could hear their disappointment at being "outed" and not being able to invite him for community night.

You did a great job with this, Peyton!

I stumbled onto this gem of a short story and I'm so glad I did.
Peyton, you really have a way with the short stories! Good job.

Thank you.

Peyton, I just found your story and think its great. You're a talented writer and I look forward to reading more of your work

Well, thanks lovebug. Check out Selfish Bastard and The Cabin. By the way, I'm still trying to finish The Cabin.

Very clever and very fun.... I'm grinning from ear to ear! Nice work, as usual.

Also, thanks to lovebug for bumping this up!

YAY!!! finishing The Cabin - I like that one too!

I really enjoyed your writing. Thanks for sharing!