Part 25 (1/2)

”We're going to be late,” Andie said, as she bent over in the closet. Everything in there was a mess, as usual. She'd kept promising herself she was going to give their closet a good spring cleaning. This was the third springtime that had gotten away from her. ”We're going to be late and I can't find my black pumps.”

”Did you mean these?”

She turned slightly and saw Jeff dangling a black patent-leather shoe from each index finger. She blew a strand of hair off her face and straightened. ”Those are the ones. Great. Is everything else ready?”

”We're just waiting on you.”

She pushed back the sleeve of her black robe and glanced at her watch. ”Oh, we're going to be late.”

”We're not going to be late,” Jeff said, handing her the shoes. ”Everything is ready. Jamie is dressed, Mitch.e.l.l's bag is in the car and Bobby is keeping watch to make sure no one gets dirty.”

Andie rolled her eyes. ”He's the one who gets dirty the most.” She slipped on her shoes and tugged at her gown. ”How do I look?”

Jeff grinned. ”Like a lawyer.”

Andie turned and glanced at herself in the full-length mirror. Her long hair hung down the back of her black graduation robe. ”I feel old. Do you know how long it's taken me to get through law school?”

Jeff came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. ”Yeah, I know. But you had a few distractions along the way.” He nudged her hair aside and started nibbling on her neck. ”And I can hear one of them in the living room.”

”Mo-om, Mitch.e.l.l's crying”came the confirming call.

”Bobby, check his diaper for me,” she yelled back.

”That's gross.”

”I'll check,” Jeff said, giving her a quick squeeze before walking into the other room.

Two-year-old Jamie came toddling in. ”Mama, we go in the car,” she said.

”I know.” Andie smiled at her daughter. Two children, a new house, a husband and now a law degree. It had been a busy three years. She resisted the urge to glance at her watch again. They wouldn't be late for her graduation, she told herself. They couldn't be.

”He's dry,” Jeff said. ”But we'd better go.”