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  She’d use the opportunity to return Lisa’s text message. As usual, while in the midst of her own crisis, Lisa would come through for Alison.

  Marian pulled a kitchen chair out and sat, the dogs sitting at her feet. It was the first time she’d been in Dave’s house, and after living in Ted’s palatial place, it was really a dump.

  “Sorry about that,” Alison said, returning from the bedroom. “The second her eyes close, I take advantage of the freedom. I’ll get coffee. We also have every baked good known to man. Are you hungry?”

  “I’d love something. I never did have a very curvy figure, and that trip to Bali used up anything I had available.”

  Alison arranged a plate of muffins, pastries and donuts, enough for five people, on a plate. “They’re from yesterday, but they use so many preservatives in these things, they’ll never get stale. I might stuff my face, as well.”

  “How long have you and Dave been together?” Marian asked, taking a cream-filled cruller.

  “Just since last fall, and now I’m moving out. Lisa’s letting me use the upstairs apartment at her new house.”

  “I thought they were going to raze that place,” Marian said, not asking why Alison was moving.

  “It’s one of the last original beach cottages here. She’s dreaming about renovating it if she buys it. Right now she’s renting. Pam’s house was similar to it, she said, and they gutted it, and you see what she’s done with that one. Gorgeous.”

  “So why are you moving?” Marian finally asked when Alison brought their coffee over.

  “Marian, I wonder if we should go there. The reason might hurt you.”

  Confused, Marian frowned while Alison placed the mug on the table. “I’m not following you.”

  “It involves Will.”

  “Will means nothing to me aside from being an acquaintance.”

  “If you’re sure, I’ll tell you. Will’s been coming around here since you left. I admit, I brought him down the day he came to your house looking for you. He’s hot! I was hugely pregnant, so my intentions weren’t to seduce him, and anyway, Dave was already home when I brought him in.”

  “Will was here?”

  “He tried to get Pam to let him into your house. Then Ted happened by, and you know he wasn’t going to allow it. So I invited him to come back for a drink. We were at Pam’s having coffee, and I guess Will got bored. We walked out together, and I invited him down.”

  “What happened next?” Marian asked, a little worried that if things got too cozy at Dave’s house, Will would reveal the goods on her.

  “We were probably ten feet from Pam’s house when Will told me he was a swinger.”

  Alison watched Marian closely, but maybe because she was a shrink, her emotions were indiscernible.

  “Yes, he was, is a swinger. I, however, was not, and I’d broken up with him before I left for Bali. If he was at the house, he might have been trying to reconcile with me. But I guess he found another playmate.”

  She looked at Alison with a smirk, who, in spite of just having had a baby, was in excellent shape, with a flat stomach and not an extra pound on her curvaceous frame. Marian could hate her if she really wanted to.

  “Yes, well, the reason I’m moving is because the playmate is Dave. I don’t want my daughter exposed to it.”

  Surprised, Marian looked around the house again. There was evidence that another child lived there, older than an infant.

  “Did he have a party here?” Marian asked.

  “Just the two of them. I’ll admit, I was curious, but like I said, I was pregnant. When Dave told me Will was going to move in, I said I’d leave, and he didn’t protest.”

  “I wonder if they’ll be exclusive. Will has always liked women, so I’ll be surprised if he is monogamous.”

  “Oh no, even though Dave denies it, I think they’re going to have parties here. He’s just waiting for me to leave. It feels dangerous to me, like if word got out, it could hurt his business.”

  “Swinging is right up the organic food business’s alley!” Marian said, cackling, spraying powdered sugar all over the table.

  “Ugh, I’m not sure. I’m pretty liberal in my ideas, but that is not anything I could live with on a regular basis. Lisa’s house with the simple decorating and many kids is what I want right now.”

  They sat in companionable silence, drinking coffee. “If you need any help moving…”

  “Thank you. I might take you up on it. Lisa’s going to have her baby today, so I want to get in there before she’s discharged.”

  “Oh! So they’re going to deliver her,” Marian said. “I never had children. I suppose I’ll regret it someday. You can become self-absorbed if you’re not careful. I don’t even have a dog.”

  They looked down at Pam’s hounds, sleeping hog-tied.

  Pushing her chair away from the table, Marian stood up. “I’m serious about helping you move. I have a big car. It’s only a couple of houses down.”

  Marian felt ready to put roots down there on the beach. She’d do what she could to blot out the stench of Will Carlson. Then it hit her that he was going to be her neighbor.

  “You’re right about Dave’s business possibly being compromised. If I see anything with my own eyes, I’ll approach him. Does Pam know?”

  “I don’t think so. I was going to say something to her today. Now Dave might bring Will to her Memorial Day party. That would be pretty ballsy.”

  “Will is relentless,” Marian said. “I wouldn’t put it past him to try to get Pam and Randy involved.”

  “Ha! Good luck with that,” Alison said, stifling a yawn as she stood.

  “You should get some sleep while your little one sleeps,” Marian said. “What a balance motherhood is.”

  “I enjoyed the coffee klatch,” Alison said. “Let’s do it again. And I think I’ll be okay moving. Dave will help me. We’re fond of each other. And he really wants me out as soon as possible.”

  Marian left with the dogs, eager to get them home and then return to the comfort of her own home. She was going to list her apartment in Manhattan and buy Ted’s house. He’d hinted that it was going to be for sale, and she didn’t want to have it sold out from under her. Getting in touch with Ted was another thing on her agenda.

  The fog was sticking to the beach, practically ensuring that few day-trippers would be there for sun and fun. There were shell seekers and strollers, but no beach chairs and umbrellas, which was fine with her. Approaching Pam’s house, she saw Randy opening the veranda door. She waved to him as the dogs pulled her through the sand toward their master.

  “You’re home early,” she said.

  “Lisa’s going to deliver today. I just came home to change out of my suit and get over to the hospital.” He reached for the dogs’ leashes. “Thank you so much for taking them.”

  He didn’t invite her inside, and she didn’t press it. Randy was a different guy when he was on location. Voices echoed throughout the house.

  “My daughter is here,” he said. “We’re going to the hospital together.”

  “Good luck and congratulations. Ask Pam to holler when she has a moment.”

  “I will,” he said, lingering at the door.

  Marian turned to leave, feeling like she’d been dismissed, but it wasn’t a big deal, she rationalized. They were busy with a new grandchild coming.

  After he closed the door, Randy turned to Laura and Ryan. He was certain Ryan’s presence was not going to be welcome at the hospital.

  “I’m going to let Pam know you intend on coming along,” Randy said.

  “Dad, she must know. Ryan’s been texting with Lisa.”

  “And is Lisa okay with you showing up?” Randy asked.

  “She says she is. Legally, she can’t keep me away from the baby,” he said.

  “Ryan, chill out,” Laura snapped, frowning. “Don’t go into it with an attitude.”

  “I’ll be back,” Randy said.

  Randy left the kitchen t
o change clothes. He’d never expected Laura and Ryan to leave the city. They were both busy, and Peter was not happy with them leaving, but didn’t dare voice it, his facial expressions more than enough.

  Closing the bedroom door, Randy called Pam. “Can you talk?”

  “I’m walking out into the hallway,” she said. “Are you home already?”

  “I am, but I have news. Ryan insisted on coming.”

  “He’s unbelievable. Why stir the pot now? I don’t get it.”

  “You know how selfish Ryan is,” Randy said. “Laura is not happy.”

  “But she knew what he was like, so why is she surprised?” Pam asked.

  “She thinks he’s being irresponsible by not being involved.”

  “Let him see the kid once like he did with Alison, and that will be that. Frankly, I’m just as happy he’s not interested. Frankly, Randy, I’m surprised you’re so accommodating about him being with your daughter.”

  This was the first time Pam had made reference to Laura dating Ryan. Violet’s words that morning about Ryan being in love with Laura echoed through her head, but she didn’t repeat them. Randy was fond of Ryan, which Pam found surprising. Why would any father want their daughter to end up with a guy that had Ryan’s history?

  “Pam, I can’t explain it. I’m even a little stunned that I’m going along with it. It has something to do with Jack, but I’m not sure exactly what.”

  Feeling like she’d taken a punch to the gut, Pam didn’t respond. Either Randy had lost his mind, or he didn’t understand the consequences of what Jack had done.

  “We’ll be over in about half an hour,” Randy finally said. “Is she in a room yet?”

  “Yes. Randy, I’m not feeling this, just an FYI. Don’t expect me to jump all over Ryan. He knows I’m annoyed.”

  “I won’t,” Randy said. “I’m sorry I’m causing you more worry and concern.”

  Sighing, Pam decided to give him a break. “I’ll get over it,” she said. “See you in a few.”

  She walked back to Lisa’s room. Steve had stepped out, and a nurse was at the bedside, starting her IV.

  “That was Randy,” Pam said.

  Wincing when the nurse pushed the needle into her vein, Lisa avoided making eye contact, sure that Pam must know Ryan was coming.

  “I guess you know, then,” Lisa said. “I couldn’t say no to him. Go ahead and be angry.”

  “Lisa, really?” Pam figured it was hormones at work and didn’t get offended. “I should have told Randy not to say anything to him. It’s your baby, your delivery. You can have who you want.”

  “Trust me, he’s not going to be in the room.”

  “I’m trying not to freak out!” Pam said, her voice shaking.

  “I’ll be fine,” Lisa said. “Just relax.”

  At that moment, Nelda came barreling through the door.

  “Oh my God, Mother, I forgot to call you!”

  “I’m so pissed off right now I could kill you,” she said, seething, with a finger pointed at Pam. “And, Lisa, thank you so much. If I remember correctly, I was the only person who showed up for Marcus’s birth because your mother here was still pissed off that you had stolen her boyfriend!”

  “Noni, keep it down, will you?” Lisa asked, biting her tongue to keep from laughing while Pam gasped.

  Lisa’s son Marcus was Dan Chua’s son, the man Pam had dated after Dave. Dan had revealed Pam’s secrets, and when she found out about it, she promptly broke up with him. Soon he was in Lisa’s arms, and it didn’t take them long to get married.

  Nelda’s words resonated around the room. “It’s true!”

  “I know, and I am so grateful you were there. If you’ll calm down for a minute, I’ll tell you what happened and why we didn’t have time to call you.”

  Lisa explained about the baby not moving and discovering she had severe preeclampsia, necessitating an emergency C-section.

  “Someone would have called you as soon as things calmed down,” Pam said. “We’re just waiting for Ryan to arrive…”

  “Why on earth is he coming? Won’t Dr. Steve be annoyed?” Nelda asked.

  “Steve knows the story, Noni. We’re adults. We’ve made the decision to be together in spite of the drama. Ryan will probably do the same thing to me that he did to Alison.”

  “What a guy,” Pam said.

  “Why in the hell does everyone let him get away with so much?” Nelda cried.

  In unison, Lisa and Pam shouted, “Because of Jack!” and laughed.

  “It’s really not funny,” Nelda said.

  “We know it’s not,” Pam replied. “But that’s life. Get over it so this baby has a chance at happiness.”

  “What is it?” Nelda asked.

  “Happiness? Don’t ask me,” Pam replied. “I have no idea.”

  “No, smart-ass, what’s the sex of the baby?”

  “Oh, sorry. It’s a girl,” Pam said. “Where have you been?”

  “Aw! Another girl. She’ll be Morgan’s Irish twin.”

  “I think Irish twins are from the same mother, Noni,” Lisa said, laughing.

  “What’s her name?” Nelda asked.

  “Madelyn,” Lisa said. “We’re sticking with the M theme. Miranda, Megan, Marcus, Morgan and now Madelyn.”

  “Where’s Miranda anyway?” Pam asked.

  “Fredericka will get her from the bus when she picks up Diana,” Nelda said. “Who’s getting your kids, Lisa?”

  “Daniela, since Julie and Dan are right across the street now.”

  “Yes, God forbid the man should have to take his own sons while you have a baby,” Nelda said.

  Steve walked in followed by Randy, Ryan and Laura. Lisa squirmed a little bit, knowing she was not looking her best with her eyes almost swollen shut in a puffy face, no makeup and in a hospital gown.

  They crowded around her while Steve slipped his arm around her shoulder in a gesture of possession. Randy leaned over to kiss her cheek.

  “Wow, that was a fast nine months,” Ryan said, checking Steve out.

  “Actually, it was the longest nine months of my life,” Lisa said. “But thanks anyway.”

  “Okay, time to go!” A nurse and the transport team came in to take Lisa to the OR. “It’s baby time!”

  Pam and Nelda came over to kiss her and say goodbye, and Steve went with her, daring Ryan to ask to come along. But he didn’t, lagging back with Laura.

  “I’m going to get coffee,” Randy said. “Anyone want to come along?”

  “Yes, we’re coming,” Pam said, grabbing Nelda’s arm.

  “We’ll stay here,” Ryan said, waiting for them to leave. “Well, I’ll soon be a dad again.”

  Laura didn’t speak, thinking of what her life had been like without a father. The effort her mother had made on her behalf, though courageous, couldn’t replace a dad. When she found Randy, as great as he was, there was still the emptiness within her because he hadn’t been there during her childhood.

  “Now isn’t the time to discuss my concerns about that,” she said.

  “And what are they?”

  “Do you really want to start this now?” she asked.

  “We have at least an hour,” he said, looking at the wall clock. “Shoot.”

  “I don’t like the way you aren’t involved with Morgan, and if you do the same thing with this baby, it might be a deal-breaker for me.”

  He didn’t speak right away, trying to focus on what she was saying. It made a big difference to him what Laura Long thought. Surprisingly, since Lisa wasn’t available to him, Laura was an excellent replacement. He was in love with her as much as he was capable of being in love.

  But he didn’t trust himself around kids. It was as simple as that. A victim himself, he was afraid he’d victimize. How could he relay this information to her?

  “Can I ask you a question?” he asked in a soft voice.

  “Of course. Ask away.”

  “Why do you care if I’m involved with the bab
y?”

  Staring at him, she tried to determine if he was being sarcastic. “Besides the fact that it’s the decent thing to do?”

  “I’m pretty sure Lisa doesn’t want me to be involved. And now that lover boy is there, well, he’ll step in to that role.”

  “Is it Lisa’s decision to make?” she asked.

  “I think it is,” Ryan replied. “She has her reasons.”

  He thought, Here we go.

  “So you have talked to her about it,” Laura stated.

  “We talked about it regarding her other children. We decided it was just better if I didn’t get involved with them.”

  She looked at him carefully, waiting. There was something deeper, scary knowledge she thought she might be able to live without.

  “We’ve only been together a short time, but perhaps now is a good a time as any to bring it up. I don’t want to have children. I never did. I thought maybe once I had a serious boyfriend, I would change my mind, but I think you and I are pretty serious, and I don’t want your children, either.”

  Her statement made them laugh.

  “Okay, well, that works because of my health issues,” he said, getting serious.

  “Yes, although my decision doesn’t have anything to do with AIDS.” They sat silently for a while. “My childhood sucked. We were broke all the time; my babysitters were always dogging us at the last minute. I was left alone or with inappropriate people a lot. Not knowing who my father was until I was an adult was horrible. I understand my mother’s reticence to tell me—her excuse was that she was afraid he’d reject me, thinking that would be worse than not knowing him. I’m not sure I can be involved with a guy who would do that to his kid.”

  “But if the mothers don’t want me involved…”

  “Tough shit, Ryan! That’s what lawyers are for. I don’t believe you are an animal who would hurt your kid. And if your impulses are that uncontrollable, we need to break up right now.”

  “I’m not that confident,” he whined.

  “Get some help, then. I’m serious. We’re through if you don’t take positive action right away. You have two little girls! Two little lives you can help guide to success or screw up big time. Take your pick.”

  His phone beeped. It was Randy. Come around to the nursery window for a glimpse of Madelyn Marie Smith.