Part 47 (2/2)

charmed by the boy. ”I don't see how we'll get him to sleep tonight.”

”Don't pack Charlie,” Emma put in before Alice could drop the stuffed

dog into a packing box. ”He has to ride on the plane with me.”

With a sigh, Alice set the worn dog aside. ”He needs a good was.h.i.+ng. I

don't want you sneaking him into the baby's crib anymore, Emma.”

”I love Charlie,” Darren announced and tried another somersault. He

landed heavily on his Playskool TI tool bench, but instead of crying,

picked up the wooden hammer to play a tatoo on the colored pegs. ”I

love Charlie,” he sang to his own rhythm.

”Be that as it may, sweet thing, he's getting a bit smelly. I don't

want germs in the bed with my baby.”

Darren sent her a sunny smile. ”I love germs.”

”It's a heartbreaker you are.” Alice picked him up to bounce him on her

hip. ”Now Alice is going to give you a nide bath before bed, with

bubbles. Emma, don't leave those pieces spread about,” she added as she

paused in the doorway. ”You can have your bath as soon

as Darren's finished. Then you can go down and say good night to your

parents.”

”Yes, ma'am.” She waited until Alice was out of sight before she got up

to get Charlie. He did not smell, she thought as she buried her face in

his fur. And she would put him in Darren's crib, because Charlie

watched over him when she was sleeping.

RLY WISH YOU MDN'T asked all those people over tonight.”

Bev fluffed the pillows on the couch, though she knew such niceties were

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