What's happened so far: It's 1950, and Martin and Hester have started dating. They've overcome what could be considered the "class" problem, but now they've got the problem of Hester's parents.....

"Well Hester?" asked David Winslow.

"Yes, it was." Hester said.

"Who is he?"

"He's my boyfriend, Dad."

"Boyfriend?" David looked confused.

"Yes Dad. Remember, I told you about him last night."

"Oh yes, your boyfriend!!!" said David as he remembered.

Hester looked at her mum.

"Oh honey," said Rose Winslow to her daughter, "you know your father never listens to anything when the game's on."

"Dad, I was talking about him all night."

"Remember Dave?" asked Rose. "His name's.....Marvin."

"Martin."

"Yes, I knew it was something like that."

"Sorry dear," said David to his daughter. "Can we meet him?"

"I'll go upstairs and get him."

Hester did so. When she was gone, Rose turned to David.

"Honey, where were you last night? Martin was all Hester was talking about!!!"

"Sorry dear," said David sheepishly, "but the game was on and you know what I'm like with baseball."

Meanwhile, upstairs, Martin had put back on his suit from the dinner last night - it was all he had with him. He thought he'd look just a bit silly in Hester's clothes!!! Hester knocked on his door.

"Come in," said Martin and she did so. "Hi honey, why the knock?"

"Marty," said Hester, "my parents are downstairs and they want to meet you."

They walked down the stairs.

"Mom, Dad, this is Martin."

"How do you do?" Martin said politely.

"Marty, this is my dad David, and my mom Rose."

Everyone said their hellos to each other.

"So Martin, what do you do?"

"I'm a policeman. With the Seattle Police."

"Really? My brother-in-law is one too. Do you know a Detective Lee?"

Hester smiled. It seemed like things would be fine.

-----

"I'm having dinner with her parents on Saturday night," Martin told Artie at work next day. "They were quite nice, so I'm looking forward to it."

"Saturday? Oh God."

"What's wrong?"

"Saturday is when our precinct plays 25th at baseball. You're on the team."

"Oh God, I am, aren't I?" said Martin in desperation. "I can't be at Hester's place and on the team at the same time!!!"

"So what are you going to do?"

"I'll ask around to see if anyone else is available. If not, I'll see if I can move the dinner to Sunday."

-----

"Hi Jake, its Marty. Listen, what are you doing this Saturday?"

"Hello Marty."

Martin looked around. It was Hester. She was on her way home from a murder scene and had stopped at the station.

"Hi Hester," and he blew her a kiss. "Then on the 'phone, ".....oh, that's too bad. Well, wish your mom good luck, hope she gets well soon. Bye."

"What was that about?"

"Well, Hester, about Saturday....." And he explained.

"Hmm, this is a problem," she replied. "We can't change the dinner, my parents have had these reservations for months. Tonight was the only night available. We only just managed to get the extra seat for you."

Martin looked worried.

"...but I'll try and help you find a substitute. I'll ask Dad as well, he might know someone."

"Thanks honey. See ya later."

"Bye Marty," said Hester as her boyfriend went back to work.

-----

Friday night came and Martin still hadn't got a replacement. It seemed like everyone was busy on Saturday. By now Martin was getting very, very worried.

David Winslow's connections hadn't been much use either, but Martin was grateful to him for trying. There were just a few people Martin hadn't asked. Joe Pearson, the station's best player, was coming back from a vacation in Vancouver on Saturday night. Martin wondered what time he would be home.

"He's due back about 6ish," Lt Casey told Martin when he inquired about it. "He won't want to play ball, though, he'll be too tired."

"Look sir," said Martin, "I need to at least ask him. This dinner is very important and I must at least try."

"OK," said Casey, "here's his hotel number. He's in room 29."

"Thank you sir," said Martin and rushed off to the 'phone.

-----

Saturday night arrived. Martin was waiting at the baseball field anxiously. Joe had agreed to play, but had warned Martin he would only be able to do so if he were back in time.

It was 5.57. The game started at 6.30 and Joe wasn't there yet. Martin looked around. The other players were getting ready. Martin felt a little odd standing there in his "posh clothes". He had warned the team they might be one man down, and they hadn't been that sympathetic.

"If we lose Crane, it'll all be your fault," they had said.

Come on Joe, where are you? Martin thought to himself.

-----

At the restaurant, Hester and her parents were worried. They knew about the baseball game but were still wondering whether Martin would make it there on time.

With them were some other relatives. Amongst them was Hester's uncle, Frasier. His real name was Pete, but he was referred to by his middle name because there were 3 Petes at the station. He was David's recently widowed brother-in-law, who was also a cop. Frasier and Hester were very close and he'd been let into the secret.

Other relatives were not so down-to-earth. Hester's snobbish sister was there. Elizabeth had "married big" - she'd married a chap named Royston, who was quite well off. Elizabeth would never settle with marrying a policeman and thought her sister was silly for even dating one.

"Hester, this boyfriend of yours is late," she said in an I-told-you-so voice.

"He's trying to help his baseball team," said Hester.

"Typical policeman," said Elizabeth. "Always playing with balls rather than being with their 'birds'. Honestly Hester, I don't know how you manage. Royston doesn't do anything like that."

"Royston doesn't even know what fun is," muttered Hester to herself.

"Now, now, Elizabeth," said Rose. "Martin will be here."

"I hope he does," said Hester to her mum.

"Hester, a man like that will always keep his promise," said Rose. "Martin is a sweet young man and I know he'll be here."

-----

It was 6.15. Martin had almost given up hope. He walked over to his team.

"Sorry guys, I gotta go. I don't think Joe's coming," he said to them.

"Well Crane, I hope for your sake we win, or you're in big trouble," said the pitcher, a bad tempered 29 year old named Red.

Martin turned away. "You'd better not let us down Crane!" yelled Red.

Martin walked out of the ground and over to his car. He heard the screeching of tyres, and Joe Pearson's car came skidding into the car park.

"Joe, you're here!"

"Yep, I'm here, You'd better get goin' Marty, or you'll miss you date!"

"Thanks Joe," said Martin as he drove off.

-----

"He isn't here yet Hester," said Elizabeth.

"He'll be here!" snapped Hester. She was getting very fed up with her sister.

Uncle Frasier came up to her.

"Give him time, dear. He'll show up. I know Marty Crane, he's never late. He's a good guy."

"Thanks, uncle Frasier."

"You're welcome."

They heard the screech of tyres. Martin's car came over the horizon, and pulled to a stop.

"Here he is," said Hester, and she ran over to her boyfriend.

"Hmph, what an old car," said Royston. "I wouldn't be seen dead in that old thing."

"Shut up," said David. "Martin, hi. Let's go to dinner....."

-----

"Good evening sir," the waiter said to David Winslow. "May I take your.....Marty?"

"Louis?"

"Marty, good to see you again!!!"

"Excuse me," said Royston, "but we want to order our meal."

"Oh sorry," said Louis and took everyone's order. Once he'd left, everyone turned to Martin.

"Who was that?" asked Hester's mum Rose.

"Oh, that was an old school friend, Louis," explained Martin, trying to ignore Royston and Elizabeth's smirks. "After school I joined the police and he moved to Tacoma to work for a store. He obviously moved back to Seattle recently."

"So Marty," asked Rose, trying to change the subject which she could feel Martin wasn't comfortable discussing, "Do you have any siblings?"

"Yeah.....yes, I do. A brother Walt and sister Vivian, both younger. Plus my mom and dad." Martin was beginning to feel more at ease. Hester's parents listened with interest. When Louis arrived with the meals, everyone stopped talking. Except Martin. He was telling Hester a funny joke about some lawyers and was just coming up to the punchline.

".....well, there has to be a first for everything!!! Ha ha ha!!!"

Hester giggled. Then they realised that the restaurant had fallen silent. David and Rose were sitting there trying very hard not to laugh (at the joke, not at Martin), and Elizabeth and Royston, along with most of the other patrons in the restaurant, were sitting there in shock.

Martin coughed, and then sat down and ate his meal without another word. Throughout the meal he felt like everyone was watching him. It was a weird feeling, and not one he liked.

The manager came over.

"Sir, I'm afraid I'm going to ask you to leave," he said. "I've received numerous complaints about your behaviour and so you must depart. Please be a stranger."

-----

"I don't believe it, that idiot lost us our reservations," Royston said to Elizabeth as they left the restaurant.

"Look Royston, I'm sorry," said Martin for the 12th time. "I was just telling a joke."

"There was no need to laugh that loud," said Royston. "When a gentleman tells a joke he just laughs quietly to himself."

"Come on Marty," said Hester. "Let's go and get changed and go to Duke's. Mom, Dad, Frasier, you want to come?"

"No thanks," said David. "We have to go and apologise to the manager."

"I'm sorry Mr Winslow," said Martin.

"Never mind Marty, it wasn't your fault. I'll have to remember that joke, the guys at work will love it." He smiled as he, his wife and her brother left.

Once they had gone, Martin and Hester began to go to Martin's car. Elizabeth went up to Martin.

"Of course, you do realise she's only dating you to get over Robert."

Martin froze.

"Who's Robert?"

Hester looked at her boyfriend. She had hoped this would never come out in front of him.

"Who's Robert?" Martin repeated.

Hester sighed. "He's my ex."

"Robert was a cultured chap, a gentleman. Perfect for Hester," said Elizabeth smugly. "But he didn't want to go out with her any more so she's dating you to get back at him."

"That's not true!!!" exclaimed Hester.

Martin turned to her. "Is it?"

"No, let me explain. Robert is Royston's friend. They set me up on a date with him, and we didn't click. So I dumped him. But that wasn't good enough. He kept pestering me, he wasn't a gentleman at all. Then he....he....."

"He was perfect for you," said Elizabeth, raising her voice a bit.

Ignoring her sister, Hester whispered to Martin, "He attacked me."

Martin was shocked. Royston and Elizabeth walked over to see what was going on.

"Royston, sis, he didn't dump me. That's just what he told everyone in your social circle. I dumped him because we didn't get on well. Then one day, he attacked me."

The three looked shocked.

"Hester, I'm sorry, we didn't know....."

"Luckily I was able to beat him off, and he was arrested. Spent a month in jail."

"Hester," asked Elizabeth, "which month was this?"

"September 1948."

"Ah, he said he was in Rhodesia!!!"

"Well now you know. I only told Mom, Dad and Uncle Frasier. They guided me through it and it was then that I decided to become a psychiatrist. To help people like myself."

Martin put his arm around Hester. "You're very brave," he whispered to her. "Where is he now?"

"He left Seattle and moved away."

The four walked home together.

-----

Martin was amazed at how Hester and her sister had made up. He was amazed at how different Elizabeth and Royston were in private. They seemed fun - at times. When they weren't putting on their "public act" as Martin had called it. He envied the Winslows and wished his family were like them.

His family. It was time for Martin to introduce Hester to his parents. Next week, a month after the restaurant incident, they would arrive back in Seattle. They had gone to Olympia for a friend's wedding, and Walt and Vivian had gone too. It would be good to see them again, but something was bugging him.

The night before the meeting, Martin and Hester walked around the Elliot Bay area.

"I was here this afternoon," said Martin. "Artie and I had to chase some punk through the streets. Shot a shop assistant."

They looked at a sign. "Elliot Bay Towers. Under Construction. Due Complete November 1952."

"I'd like to live in one of those places," said Hester. "Looking out over the view of Seattle, many floors up, it would be beautiful."

"Uh-huh," said Martin.

"Marty, is something wrong?"

"No, not really."

"Marty, you're worried about something. I'm a psychiatrist, I know these things." She smiled slightly. Still no answer. "Come on Marty, I told you about Robert and over the past few weeks you've helped me a lot. You've helped me and my sister get closer and now I want to help you."

"Well, OK. It's about my folks."

"I'm still meeting them tomorrow, aren't I?"

"Yeah, but.....I guess I'm nervous. I just hope you get on well with them."

"You got on well with mine. In fact they like you so much you're like the son they never had."

"That's just it. I get on better with your parents better than my own. My father's a cop. He's always out working. Always was when I was a kid. It meant we had enough money, but we never got close because he was never there." He paused. "If I ever have kids, I swear that will never happen to them."

Hester said nothing so Martin continued. "My mom and I were better, but mom was a nurse. She was out whenever my dad wasn't. It's amazing they found time to have a kid, let alone 3. My parents love me to death, but they were so busy I just never got as close with them as I'd hoped for. That's why I get on so well with your folks."

"Marty, if they love you, you don't need to worry. I'm sure we'll all get on well tomorrow night."

"You're right. They are eager to meet you. Oh, and I do apologise but Vivian has just bought this annoying record which she plays all the time."

"How old is she?"

"13."

"Ah," smiled Hester.

-----

The next night Martin's car pulled up outside his parent's house. Next door was a removal van.

"Ah, the new neighbours must be moving in. Mom says Walt hopes they have a pretty girl there," chuckled Martin.

The two walked up and rang the doorbell. A woman answered. This was Martin's mom.

"Hi sweetie!!!" she said as she cuddled her eldest child. Then: "And this must be Hester." Everyone said hellos as Martin's father, Sgt Crane, walked down the stairs.

"Hello son," he said in a gruff voice.

"Mom, Dad, bro, sis, this is Dr Hester Winslow. Hester, this is my dad, Marty Senior, my mom Lorraine, 17 year old Walt and 13 year old Vivian."

"I'm nearly 14," squeaked a voice.

Lorraine had cooked a pasta for dinner. She returned to the kitchen to check up on it as Martin Senior spoke to his son.

"So Junior, this is Hester then?"

"Yes dad. And could you please not call me Junior? I am the oldest," said Martin.

"Sorry son, I just find it weird calling you Martin when its my name too. Anyway, hello Hester."

"Hello Mr Crane."

"I believe I've heard of you. Dr Winslow, right?" She nodded. "I've heard about your work. You seem to be doing OK for a girl."

"Don't mind him," said Lorraine as she entered. "He was an old friend of your predecessor, Dr Ranberg."

"Hey Hester," said Walt. "You got any sisters?"

"Walter!!!" Lorraine exclaimed. Then to Hester, "I'm sorry dear."

"Never mind Mrs Crane," Hester replied. Then to Walt she said, "Yes, I have one sister Elizabeth."

"Is she a babe?"

"She's 26 and married."

"Oh, never mind."

At the dinner table Lorraine served up the pasta when the telephone rang. Martin Senior went to answer it.

"Hello, Crane residence.....who is this? Babs? Vivian!!! It's Babs on the 'phone." Vivian went to the 'phone. "Hi Babs, it's me. No, really????? He said that???"

"Tell her your dinner's ready," said her father.

There was a noise from the kitchen. "Damn, the dishes have fallen down again," said Lorraine as she went into the kitchen. "Martin, I keep asking you to fix that shelf."

"I'll get round to it soon," Martin Senior responded. "Vivian!!! Hurry up!!!"

The doorbell rang. "Walt, answer that please," called Lorraine.

"Do I have to?"

"Yes you do."

"It's not fair," mumbled Walt. "I do all the work."

Martin turned to Hester. "A typical day at the Crane residence. I'm sorry, things aren't this busy normally." As he finished speaking Walt called out "Dad, it's Sgt Burrows!!!

"Finally, I put the dishes away," said Lorraine as she entered the dining room. Vivian had quickly hung up the 'phone and Walt was back at the table. After a minute or two Sgt Crane made it back to the table.

The family were eating when Hester suddenly started coughing. "Are you OK?" asked Lorraine.

"Yes Mrs Crane, I'm fine, thank yo-" and she coughed again, this time much harder. Suddenly she threw her head back and coughed very loudly.

"What's wrong honey?" Martin asked worriedly.

"Mrs Crane, you didn't by any chance add any pepper into this pasta?"

"Why yes, its a Crane family recipe."

"No offence but I'm allergic to pepper."

"Is there anything we can do?"

"No, thank you, I just need to take my tablets. Please excuse me."

Hester left the table and went into the living room. She picked up her handbag and took out her medication. It was a tablet for her allergy. Hester had been allergic to pepper for as long as she could remember. He mom was too. Maybe that was it.

Damn, I knew there was something I had to tell Martin about, she thought as she went outside. The fresh air normally helped her out. Popping the tablet into her mouth, she crunched it and swallowed. It was a horrible taste but she'd have a drink to make it go away.

Glancing around, she saw the street where the Cranes lived. One of the street lamps wasn't working. It flickered in the darkness of the October night. Hester looked to her right. The neighbour was leaving his house with the trash can. She looked closer. He looked familiar.

No, it couldn't be. "Harvey?" she called out. Harvey was one of her schoolmates at high school. Then the figure walked closer.

"Hester?"

Hester dropped her medication in shock.

"Robert?"