Part 57 (1/2)

”Maybe I'll make an exception this once.”

Sara held her breath as his fingers tangled in the ribbon.

The doorbell rang. ”Foiled again.” Nik handed the box back to her.

”I'll go see who it is.”

Swallowing her disappointment, Sara let the box drop to the cream sofa as she followed him to the door: ”As if we didn't know.” Nik threw open the front door. The simple action set off a chain reaction. Seven people came trooping in, one at a time. Packages, greetings and warm embraces all mixed together in a swirl of affection and holiday cheer.

Surprised, Sara hugged her father. ”Dad, I thought you were coming later.” She took his heavy sheepskin jacket and folded it over her arm.

”So did I.” He nodded at Kane as he placed his contrii but ions to the holiday loot beneath the tree. ”But the detective outranks me.”

Kane added to the booty spilling out from under the tree as Jennifer helped Katie off with her coat. ”We decided to save your father from having to drive by himself, and picked him up,” Jennifer explained. She shrugged out of her sweater and handed both it and Katie's coat to Sara.

For the moment Sara left all the outerwear she'd collected on the sofa.

She looked at Jennifer with concern ,

empathizing. The baby was due any time now. ”Can I get you anything?

Jennifer shook her head. This was her third time around and she had become a veteran. She knew what to expect. ”An extra cup of energy would be nice, but thanks, I'm fine.”

”She tried to do everything herself. Again,” Kane complained , giving Sara a quick kiss h.e.l.lo.

Jennifer winked at her sister-in-law. ”It was a ploy to get him more involved with decorating the tree and the house.”

”She refuses to believe that I'm all thumbs when it comes to things like that.” Kane held up his hands as if that was conclusive evidence.

Julia and Brom were dividing their time equally between Jennifer's house and Nik's during their stay in California. Julia laughed, placing a finely manicured hand on Kane's arm. She looked at Sara.

”The house is a veritable winter carnival,” she confided. ”For a man who's all thumbs, I'd say Handsome's coming along just fine.”

Brom edged his way to Sara through the crowd. ”And how are you? ”

He took Sara's hands in his, pleased at the transformation he had witnessed in his cousin in the past six months. She had bloomed and become the Sara he remembered.

She squeezed his hands. ”Never better, Brom.” Sara looked over her shoulder at Nik. ”Never better: '

Brom nodded, releasing her. He stepped over toward Nik, who was down on the floor indulging in a huge hug being bestowed upon him by Katie.

”So, married life agrees with you.”

Nik rose to his feet. ”Yeah.” He indicated Sara. ”Too bad she doesn't very often.” It had taken him a while to convince Sara that arguments between a husband and wife were natural and didn't signal the beginning of the end, but he had finally gotten the point across. Now she argued with relish and abandonment.

Sara smiled confidentially. ”

” I like to keep him on his toes. ”

”That she does,” Jennifer testified, thinking of some of the heated debates that took place at the restaurant.

Nik brought in the tray he had carefully prepared. A variety of hors d'oeuvres covered every inclq of it. ”Anyone want anything to eat?”

Brom was the first in line He chose two different hors d'oeuvres, his mouth watering on cue. ”Why do you think we came all this way? It certainly wasn't to see your ugly puss again.”