“Without a hat or a wig?” he teased. “We’ve got a quiet little town here. We don’t need some rogue cabbie recognizing you and calling in the fleabag journos.”
She laughed in spite of her nervousness. “Fleabag journos. Good one.”
“I’m coming to get you as soon as you’re ready to go.” He kissed her again. And then, with obvious reluctance, he released her.
She grabbed the door latch and gave it a tug. A moment later, she was forcing her feet to carry her up the front walk and onto the big porch with a swing at one end. On the other, a grouping of comfy cushioned chairs and wicker tables invited a person to sit down and relax.
Marching straight to the wide front door, she punched the bell, giving herself no chance to chicken out. She should have called first, but she hadn’t been able to make herself do it. This way, at least she was here.
Her heart did a somersault inside her chest as the door swung open. A cute woman with strawberry blond hair and a baby attached to the front of her in a sling, gave her an automatic sort of smile. “Hello?”
Madison stuck her hands in the pockets of her comfy old cargoes and managed a wobbly, “Hi.” She meant to add,I’m Madison Delaney. I wonder, is Daniel Bravo home? But somehow the simple words refused to take shape.
That left her and the strawberry blonde just standing there staring at each other as the baby made goo-goo sounds, tiny fists stuck out from either side of the sling, waving randomly.
Madison tried again. “I’m, um, here to see—”
The woman silenced her with a gasp. Apparently, recognition had dawned. “Madison?” she asked. “Madison Delaney?”
“Um, yeah. I know I should have called but—”
“Omigod!” the woman shrieked, causing the baby to let out a bleat of distress and wave its little fists all the harder.
“Sorry, really. Imeantto call, but somehow, I—”
“Oh, don’t you even worry about that. I’m Keely, Daniel’s wife. And this is Marie.” She smiled down at the baby and stepped back. “Come in, come in.”
Madison ordered her feet to carry her over the threshold. “I hope it’s okay, I mean, that you’re not busy or anything?”
“Of course, it’s okay.” Keely beamed. “It’s more than okay. Everyone will be so excited that you’re finally here.” She moved in and offered a sort of half hug. Madison half hugged her in return, glancing down at one point to see the nearly bald head of the baby attached to the front of her. “Daniel will be thrilled,” Keely went on. “He just got home a few minutes ago. He’s upstairs in the shower but he’ll be down any—”
“What’s all the excitement?” A plump, gray-haired woman with excellent posture and a small child on either side of her stood at the top of the stairs.
“Auntie G!” exclaimed Keely. “It’s Madison! She’s finally here.”
“At last.” The woman started down the stairs slowly, the two children on either side of her, each holding one of her hands. They were maybe two or three years old, a boy and a girl. “Careful now,” the woman warned.
“We are caweful!” exclaimed the boy.
“Mad-sen, hi!” said the girl, holding the railing with her other hand, getting both little feet on each step before taking the next one.
The boy echoed the girl. “Hi!”
They had to be Daniel’s twins by his first wife, Lillie, who had been Keely’s cousin. Lillie had died shortly after the children were born. Their names came to her. “Hi, Jake. Hi, Frannie.”
Both kids shouted, “Hi!” all over again.
Keely chuckled. “What can I tell you? Never a dull moment around here. You’ll stay for dinner?”
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to. But it all felt so surreal—and Keely was waiting expectantly for her answer. A no just wouldn’t fly. “I would love to stay for dinner.”
The older woman and the children made it down the final step and joined them. “This is my aunt, Gretchen Snow,” said Keely. “She’s also Frannie and Jake’s grandmother.”
Gretchen let go of Jake to offer a hand. When Madison took it, the older woman pulled her in for a quick hug. “I’m so glad you’re here at last,” Gretchen said. She smelled utterly amazing, like vanilla and almonds.
Jake chose that moment to dart off, giggling.
“That boy,” said Gretchen on a huff of breath. Releasing Madison, she called, “Jakey, come back here, young man!”
