Part 34 (2/2)

by the nursery window. There had been rain that morning, but the sun

was out now, and bright. She thought that by afternoon she could take

the baby and Emma for a walk in the park.

”I'm going to put him down now, Emma.” Bev s.h.i.+fted her blouse to cover

her breast. ”He's fast asleep.”

”Can I hold him when he wakes up?”

”Yes, but only when I'm with you.”

”Miss Wallingsford never lets me hold him.”

”She's just being cautious.” Bev smoothed the blanket over Darren before

she stepped back. He was nearly five months old now, she thought.

Already she couldn't imagine her life without him. ”Let's go down and

see about baking a nice cake. Your Dad loves chocolate cake.”

Knowing she had to be satisfied with that, Emma followed her out.

Alice paused in the hallway, holding fresh linens for the nursery.

”He should sleep awhile, Alice,” Bev told her. ”His tummy's full.”

”Yes, ma'am.”

”Emma and I will be in the kitchen.”

An hour later, when they'd taken the cake out to cool, the front door

slammed. ”Your Dad must be home early.” Bev automatically fluffed her

hair before she hurried out of the kitchen to greet him. ”Bri, I didn't

expect you until ... what's wrong?”

He was dead pale, his eyes red-rimmed and bleary. He shook his head as

if to clear it as Bev held out her hands to him. ”They've shot him.”

”What?” Her fingers clamped down hard on his. ”Who? Shot who?”

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