"You said you thought you should meet each other's families and stuff," Hayley pointed out. "So now
you talked to his mama, and he talked to your daddy."
"I know what I said, but he just went tramping over there. And he had her call me without letting me know first. He just goes off, at the drop of a hat." She picked up Lily, cuddled her. "He gets me
stirred up."
"I kinda miss getting stirred up that way." She turned sideways in the mirror, sighed a little over the post-birth pudge she was carrying. "I guess I thought, even though the books said different, that everything would just spring back where it was after Lily came out."
"Nothing much springs after having a baby. But you're young and active. You'll get your body back."
"I hope." She reached for her favorite silver hoops while Stella nuzzled Lily. "Stella, I'm going to tell
you something, because you're my best friend and I love you."
"Oh, sweetie."
"Well, it's true. Last week, when Logan came by to bring Lily her doll, and you and the boys came outside? Before I went in and he popped the big Q? You know what the four of you looked like?"
"No."
"A family. And I think whatever your head's running around with, in your heart you know that. And
that that's the way it's going to be."
"You're awfully young to be such a know-it-all."
"It's not the years, it's the miles." Hayley tossed a cloth over her shoulder. "Come here, baby girl.
Mama's going to show you off to the dinner guests before you go to sleep. You ready?" she asked Stella.
"I guess we'll find out."
They started toward the stairs, with Stella gathering her boys on the way, and met Roz on the landing.
"Well, don't we all look fine."
"We had to wear new shirts," Luke complained.
"And you look so handsome in them. I wonder if I can be greedy and steal both these well-dressed young men as my escorts." She held out both her hands for theirs. "It's going to storm," she said with a glance out the window. "And look here, I believe that must be our Dr. Carnegie, and right on time. What in the world is that man driving? It looks like a nasty red box on wheels."
"I think it's a Volvo." Hayley moved in to spy over Roz's shoulder. "A really old Volvo. They're like one of the safest cars, and so dopey-looking, they're cool. Oh, my, look at that!" Her eyebrows lifted when Mitch got out of the car. "Serious hottie alert."
"Good God, Hayley, he's old enough to be your daddy."
Hayley just smiled at Roz. "Hot's hot. And he's hot."
"Maybe he needs a drink of water," Luke suggested.
"And we'll get one for Hayley, too." Amused, Roz walked down to greet her first guest.
He brought a good white wine as a hostess gift, which she approved of, but he opted for mineral water when she offered him a drink. She supposed a man who drove a car manufactured about the same time he'd been born needed to keep his wits about him. He made appropriate noises over the baby, shook hands soberly with the boys.
She gave him points for tact when he settled into small talk rather than asking more about the reason
she wanted to hire him.
By the time Logan arrived, they were comfortable enough.
"I don't think we'll wait for Harper." Roz got to her feet. "My son is chronically late, and often missing
in action."
"I've got one of my own," Mitch said. "I know how it goes."
"Oh, I didn't realize you had children."
"Just the one. Josh is twenty. He goes to college here. You really do have a beautiful home, Ms. Harper."
"Roz, and thank you. It's one of my great loves. And here," she added as Harper dashed in from the kitchen, "is another."
"Late. Sorry. Almost forgot. Hey, Logan, Stella. Hi, guys." He kissed his mother, then looked at Hayley. "Hi. Where's Lily?"
"Sleeping."
"Dr. Carnegie, my tardy son, Harper."
"Sorry. I hope I didn't hold you up."
"Not at all," Mitch said as they shook hands. "Happy to meet you."
"Why don't we sit down? It looks like David's outdone himself."
An arrangement of summer flowers in a long, low bowl centered the table. Candles burned, slim white tapers in gleaming silver, on the sideboard. David had used her white-on-white china with pale yellow
and green linens for casual elegance. A cool and artful lobster salad was already arranged on each plate. David sailed in with wine.
"Who can I interest in this very nice Pinot Grigio?"
The doctor, Roz noted, stuck with mineral water.
"You know," Harper began as they enjoyed the main course of stuffed pork, "you look awfully familiar." He narrowed his eyes on Mitch's face. "I've been trying to figure it out. You didn't teach at the U of M while I was there, did you?"
"I might have, but I don't recall you being in any of my classes."
"No. I don't think that's it anyway. Maybe I went to one of your lectures or something. Wait. Wait. I've got it. Josh Carnegie. Power forward for the Memphis Tigers."
"My son."
"Strong resemblance. Man, he's a killer. I was at the game last spring, against South Carolina, when he scored thirty-eight points. He's got moves."
Mitch smiled, rubbed a thumb over the fading bruise on his jaw. "Tell me."
Conversation turned to basketball, boisterously, and gave Logan the opportunity to lean toward Stella. "Your daddy says he's looking forward to seeing you and the boys on Sunday. I'll drive you in, as
I've got an invitation to Sunday dinner, too."
"Is that so?"
"He likes me." He picked up her free hand, brushed his lips over his fingers. "We're bonding over oleanders."
She didn't try to stop the smile. "You hit him where it counts."
"You, the kids, his garden. Yeah, I'd say I got it covered. You write that list for me yet, Red?"
"Apparently you're doing fine crossing things off without consulting me."
His grin flashed, "Jolene thinks we should go traditional and have a June wedding."
When Stella's mouth dropped open, he turned away to talk to her kids about the latest issues of Marvel Comics.
Over dessert, a rustling, then a long, shrill cry sounded from the baby monitor standing on the buffet. Hayley popped up as if she were on springs. "That's my cue. I'll be back down after she's fed and
settled again."
"Speaking of cues." Stella rose as well. "Time for bed, guys. School night," she added even before the protests could be voiced.
"Going to bed before it's dark is a gyp," Gavin complained.
"I know. Life is full of them. What comes next?"
Gavin heaved a sigh. "Thanks for dinner, it was really good, and now we have to go to bed because of stupid school."
"Close enough," Stella decided.
"'Night. I liked the finger potatoes 'specially," Luke said to David.
"Want a hand?" Logan called out.
"No." But she stopped at the doorway, turned back and just looked at him a moment. "But thanks."
She herded them up, beginning the nightly ritual as thunder rumbled in. And Parker scooted under Luke's bed to hide from it. Rain splatted, fat juicy drops, against the windows as she tucked them in.
"Parker's a scaredy-cat." Luke snuggled his head in the pillow. "Can he sleep up here tonight?"
"All right, just for tonight, so he isn't afraid." She lured him out from under the bed, and stroking him as he trembled, laid him in with Luke. "Is that better now?"
"Uh-huh. Mom?" He broke off, petting the dog, and exchanging a long look with his brother.
"What? What are you two cooking up?"
"You ask her," Luke hissed.
"Nuh-uh.You."
"You."
"Ask me what? If you've spent all your allowances and work money on comics, I—"
"Are you going to marry Logan?" Gavin blurted out.
"Am I—where did you get an idea like that?"
"We heard Roz and Hayley talking about how he asked you to." Luke yawned, blinked sleepily at her. "So are you?"
She sat on the side of Gavin's bed. "I've been thinking about it. But I wouldn't decide something that important without talking to both of you. It's a lot to think about, for all of us, a lot to discuss."
"He's nice, and he plays with us, so it's okay if you do."