The Beginning by Tina Anne Page B

increase security, especially with all of the construction we’ll have going on.”
    “I already took care of it,” he said.
    “So we’ve hired more guards?”
    “HR is on it right now. In addition, the local police have agreed to help. Chief Campion and I had a meeting, and he is so excited to see the park get going again that he offered all the help he can. Which, in this small town is not a lot.”
    “Did you say his name was Campion?” I asked.
    “Yeah, Marlowe Charlie Campion. Apparently his parents were big mystery buffs.”
    “Apparently. But, he can’t be in charge of security here. Is HR hiring for that?”
    “We’re searching nationwide, but for now, I’ve called in another favor. He’ll be here tonight.”
    “Who, another famous person I should know?” I smiled at him.
    “No, he’s not famous, but you know him.”
    A feeling of dread came over me. “Your Dad!”
    “Mom, don’t get mad. He knows his stuff and he volunteered to help.”
    “Yeah, but…wow. Why didn’t you at least discuss it with me first?” I didn’t know what to say. It’s not that I had any bad feelings toward Frank, but this was my world and I was very uncomfortable with him entering it. Or taking over like he always does.
    “There’s more,” Frankie said.
    I just looked at him. More? What like Frank was going to move here permanently? Like he already married Minerva and she was coming too? Like he was going to shoot me and put me out of my misery? “What?” I said out loud.
    “Minerva is coming too. They are staying in separate rooms. When she heard that Michael LaGivens was here she was excited and wanted to meet him. I thought you’d be ok with it since your divorce was amicable.”
    “Yes, yes it was. I hold nothing against your father. I even like Minerva, we became friends. But, it’s going to be weird. What if they show affection in front of me? I don’t know how I’ll react. What if your father refers to this as one of my little projects? I may just have to kill him if he does.”
    “Dad and I talked. He’s going to be on his best behavior.”
    I rolled my eyes at that. Frank didn’t know what best behavior meant to other people.
    “He knows his stuff, Mom. He’s taken every training class he could, he reads books on police procedures and he has years of experience.”
    “That’s true.”
    “And he’s doing it for free. Using his vacation time.”
    “Yeah, cause God knows he couldn’t use it to take a vacation with me.”
    “Mom!”
    “I’m sorry, but I asked him to and he said no. But you’re right. I will tuck away any resentment I may have and focus on Adventure Universe. After all the park is the only thing that matters right now.”
    “It’s Adventure Planet.”
    “No, I think Adventure Universe makes more sense. If all of the areas are planets themselves and they revolve around a sun, then it’s a universe. Right?”
    Frankie was silent for a moment. “Wow. That is pretty smart, Mom. I like it. I’ll call Pete and have him look in to changing it legally.”
    “Besides, it’s a really cool title. We need to rename the planets too. I mean the names are descriptive, but way, way too simple.”
    “Ok, any ideas?”
    “I’m still working on it. I’ll let you know if I come up with something.”
    “Cool. So what’s next on the agenda?”
    Together we looked at the list of tasks we had listed on a legal pad. So far the group of experts had started on things such as revamping the restaurants; building offices to replace the existing sheds and trailers in the rear of the park in the employee only area; saving rides whenever possible as well as designing and constructing some new ones; redesigning all of the landscaping to fit the theme of each area; redesigning not only the restaurants but their menus as well; adding an employee cafeteria that served the same food we sold in the park; adding employee break areas to each “planet”; and building Broadway quality theaters for