LITMIR.BIZ

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coffee cake, freshly warmed in the oven, and hot chocolate,” he said, as the warm, sweet scent filled the room. “Mom, will you cut the cake?”

      Reluctantly, Phyllis picked up the knife and thrust it through the cake. It parted tenderly beneath the blade in perfect slices.

      “It looks wonderful,” Mike said.

      Daniel beamed. “It tastes even better. Mary’s a really good cook.”

      Phyllis served up the slices, then sat down in her chair. The horror of what they’d just endured had been lessened by the warmth and comfort of this home. Up until she’d walked into the kitchen, she hadn’t been able to get the smell of burning wood and smoke from her nostrils. Now all she could smell was hot chocolate and cinnamon. She was clean and safe and everything they’d lost could be replaced.

      Then she looked at Daniel, watching the animation on his face as he talked to Mike about his plans for the future and knew there was one thing she’d almost lost that was irreplaceable—her relationship with their son.

      “How’s the cake, Mom?”

      Phyllis blinked, then made herself smile and take a bite.

      “Very good,” she said, although the guilt she was feeling threatened to choke her. “I wonder if this is from a mix.”

      “Nope. It’s out of one of her old cookbooks. She collects them, you know. One of her favorite things to do is to prowl antique stores for cookbooks, although she hasn’t had a chance to do that for quite some time now. Hope is a pretty demanding little squirt.”

      Mike chuckled. “Then she takes after you, boy. I well remember how many nights you kept your mother and I up. You had your days and nights turned around for a good four months. I used to tease Phyllis about finding a way to return the merchandise.”

      Daniel laughed. “Yes, that’s the thing about having a family. You’d better be darn ready to give up every indulgence you once enjoyed.”

      “It’s fine if you’ve had a hand in the decision to be a parent,” Phyllis said.

      The smile froze on Daniel’s face.

      “Mother, I’m going to chalk that up to the stress you were under tonight. But I better not ever hear you say another denigrating word to Mary or about her…do you understand?”

      Phyllis paled. “I didn’t—”

      “Yes, you did,” Daniel said. “And Mary didn’t tell me. I heard you myself, remember?” Then he looked at both of his parents and sighed. “She didn’t get pregnant…we did. And I couldn’t have been happier. I have been in love with Mary almost from the first date. I’d already put a down payment on an engagement ring when she told me she was pregnant. It didn’t change anything I’d planned except the date.”

      Phyllis looked stunned. “But you never said…I didn’t know that—”

      “Mom…I was twenty-six and long past telling you everything that went on in my life. The fact that I introduced you to Mary on our second date should have been warning enough that I was serious. How many other girls had I brought home before her?”

      Phyllis frowned. “None.”

      “I rest my case.”

      She looked at Mike and then sighed. “And I apologize. I was wrong.”

      “Fine…but I’m not the one who deserves the apology, am I?”

      Phyllis stifled a groan. The last thing she wanted to do was face her daughter-in-law with this guilt. But she’d already lost a lot this night. She didn’t want to lose what was left of her family as well.

      “I’ll tend to it tomorrow.”

      Daniel gave her a cool look. “And I hope with more meaning than you just implied.”

      Phyllis had the good grace to blush.

      Chapter 3

      Mary woke up on the sofa with the first rays of morning sun shining in her eyes. The last thing she remembered was sitting beside Daniel and—

      Oh lord! Mike and Phyllis were here!

      She sat up with a jerk and then jumped to her feet. What must they think?

      When she dashed into the kitchen and found it neat and gleaming, she groaned. Another mark against her. Phyllis would find a way to insinuate how Daniel had to do all the work. She pivoted quickly and started down the hall, expecting the doors to open and see accusing fingers pointed in her direction. Instead, she was met with the soft, but familiar, sounds of muted snores from the spare bedroom.

      Thankful that her in-laws were still asleep, she peeked into her bedroom. Their bed was empty and she could hear the shower running. Daniel was up and getting ready for work. His diligence at the law office was starting to pay off and she knew he didn’t want to give anyone an excuse to deny him a future partnership.

      With a small sigh of relief, she moved across the hall to the nursery and pushed the door inward. Hope was lying on her back, waving her arms at the Mother Goose mobile hanging over her crib.

      “Good morning, pretty girl,” Mary whispered.

      The baby turned toward the sound of her mother’s voice and started to squeal.

      Mary laughed as she picked Hope up and then laid her down on the changing table.

      “A dry diaper and a warm bottle, in that order, little lady. How does that sound?”

      Hope squinched her face into a tiny grimace and squeaked in disapproval when Mary began unsnapping the legs on her one-piece pajamas.

      “Oh, it can’t be all that bad,” Mary crooned, as she deftly cleaned the baby and fastened a new diaper in place. “I’ll hurry. I promise. Okay?”

      A couple of snaps later and Hope was good to go. Mary picked her up, cradling her against her chest as she walked out the door, cherishing the feel of baby curls under her chin as well as the satin-smooth texture of Hope’s delicate skin.

      She met Daniel in the hall, and to her surprise, he was wearing sweats and a T-shirt, rather than his usual suit.

      “Daniel, you’re going to be late.”

      “I’m staying home today. I’ve already called in.”

      Mary felt a small surge of panic. “Is that okay?”

      He knew her fear stemmed from more than worry about his job, but there was nothing much he could do other than what he’d already done.

      “It’s more than okay,” he said. “They were very sympathetic to what happened to Mom and Dad. I had no pending court cases and the paralegal is still gathering research for that brief that’s due next week, so my work will not suffer.” Then he wrapped his arms around Mary and Hope and gave both of them a quick kiss. “Besides, I’d rather spend the day with my two best girls than go sift through the constant mess of our judicial system.”

      Mary nodded, but the frown on her face stayed in place as they walked toward the kitchen.

      “You shouldn’t have let me sleep last night. What must your parents have thought?”

      “That you were exhausted and that you make damned good coffee cake.”

      She paused. “Really?”

      He smiled and took Hope out of her arms. “Yes, really. Now go heat up Miss Thing’s bottle. I’ll feed her while you make us some coffee, okay?”

      Mary’s heart swelled with love as she handed the baby to Daniel. Their dark hair and stubborn chins were so identical it was almost comical.

      “Okay, and I think I should start breakfast. Your parents probably have a lot to deal with today and won’t want to be delayed.”

      “Honey…take it easy,”

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