y climbed onto Doris' la

singsonged, planting

nie apologized ruefully. Then she made a fac

nie," Doris rep

at the boy who, likewise, gave in return a bit of hi

Doris asked, stroking the little boy's h

arah and Grace and Jacob! We played tag and hide-and-seek and we even got ice cream after. The ice cream shop had chocolate and vanilla and strawberry and even some fancy flavors

an Evans wa

prise Brad had deposited i

hey had both admitted to fidelity and agreed to stop using condoms. Since s

oapy hands over her birth control patch and found ou

pt smooth skin. She'd looked over the other side, praying she might have forgotten that sh

irth control until the next three days and she wasn't

ration as she'd tried to remember t

s careful in the shower, never soaping in the region directly. She'd lost one the first month when she start

ding days, but the last clear impression she had of it had been a wee

hat first time making love after their weeks-long separation, had been rough, urgent,

ipped her when the test

the man she'd loved, the more the panic and fear had worn off. After a w

rmised Brad

e to shower the same love to his son. She'd prepared to tell him about the b

were

her friend and s

were wide and unblinking. Her eyebrows were raised high on her forehead, and her entire body seemed to be frozen in place. The expression on

u remember your Auntie Evy I always tell you about. . .? Well, this is your A

d in a high-pitched voice,

. Meet my so

o form on her lips. She couldn't believe how

straight and silky, cut in side swept long bangs. His eyes were a rich, deep green, flecked with gol

s were full of boldness, intelligence, and curiosity as he smiled lookin

She was totally spellbound by him. "Oh my God! He'

's lap and wrapped two plump arms around Evel

was close to explodin

lap. "Bye, Mummy. Bye, Auntie

h an affectionate kid," Evely

t cuteness fool you. He can be

pond but cast her

gged, smili

e to explain why your son has Brad's eyes? Wha

d is his father!" Doris re

sappeared. After I and Brad ended our relationship, I totally lost it, mentally and emotionally. I went through a lot that

g to you and you kept from me," she whispered. Hurt. "What happened to always

eeks and weeks turned months and months turned into years. And before I knew it, I totally lost th

eally scared, you know. I thought something terrible had happened to you and no one knew. I

an eyebrow at

rely scared," she added hastily. Then more slo

"You know how I'm always the bigger person, trying to make up first,

to one side, and raised her well-

wned. "Lis

y, go

ere just y

was h

Ye

at f

audelaire to mediate the dispute betw

Baudelaire? Chairman of Baudelaire Hotels?

odded. "

now. The buzz of that matt

then she frowned instantly, letting out a groan saturated with frustration. "Oh,

air in surrender. "Okay, okay

ecause I'm interested in him or because

u su

. I'm

believe you." But she sounded the o

r son and that ass-" She drew in a deep breath. "T

We're talking about Brad here.

e stand me up? And he didn't even have the decency to call and at least make an excuse for h

Evelyn threw the question casual

ly stretching out into a wicked gri

l are you scheming in

again and then dump them in the cruelest way ever," she declared. "Though he wasn't previously in lo

won't work out and I think you're just using thi

r fingers on her

rembled i

es those past four years and they did not hesitate to talk, laugh and cry about

issed your ranting and raving," she breathed, breaking o

o you? When did you turn into a crybaby? I'm th

lyn sniffled. "

other arms for like the

"As much as I don't want this to end..." she admitted. "I have t

! Of course. We don't want to

hat driver? I rode

You can d

time we saw each other and defeating my fear of dri

cking space next to Evelyn's car, already loath

s' hands and gave them a cheerful squeeze. "W

cou

Evelyn pulled her head back out. "Oh, by the way. . .

rinned diabolically.