Part 61 (1/2)

Kate stood there in the doorway, smiling, wearing a raincoat and carrying a garment bag.

”I let myself in,” she said as he jumped to his feet.

”h.e.l.lo, babies,” she said, shrugging off of her wet coat. She dropped her bag on the floor and set her purse on the coffee table.

”I can't believe it's you,” Peter said excitedly. ”What are you doing here?”

She bent, hands on her knees, and smiled brightly at Isle.

”Look at you, little girl. This is the first time I've seen you in person.” She looked up at Peter. ”Hey, what kind of welcome is that? I thought you'd be happy to see me.”

”I am, I am!” he said touching her arm. ”I just can't believe you're really here.”

”Congratulations,” she said, retrieving a copy of the ”Los Angeles Times” from her purse. ”And to you, too,” she said waving the front page of the business section at Isle. Beneath the headline was a picture of Peter holding Isle, flanked by Byron and Ivy.

”Back to Wallaby,” Kate said. ”Sure surprised me.” She opened her hands before Isle. ”May I?”

”Of course,” he said, placing Isle gently in Kate's arms. ”Be careful, you have to support her head. Like this,” he said, taking Kate's hand and carefully cradling it beneath Isle's neck.

”That's right.”

For a few precious moments he let his hand remain beneath Kate's before pulling away. Watching her holding the infant Peter felt a swell in his throat, wis.h.i.+ng it could be like this between them again, always.

Kate sat down on the sofa.

”So, is it true?”