“I’m not laughing. Do you expect to live with Cal and me? Do you have some strict aversion to long-term care homes?”

He made a face. “No one likes those places, but what are you gonna do? No one wants to be a burden, either. Will you just promise me you won’t see Helen stuck with an old man who needs a lot of care? She’s younger than I am but she’s no spring chicken herself. And she should enjoy what’s left of her life. Especially since she’s got a grandbaby coming...”

“She has a grandbaby coming?” Maggie asked.

“Well, didn’t that slip right out. It’s not officially a grandbaby since it’s a great-niece, but since Leigh’s like a daughter, this would be like a grandchild. And it would be appreciated if you’d just keep that to yourself for now. I warned her I wasn’t that good with secrets.”

“Leigh’s pregnant?” Maggie said. “Well, isn’t that exciting. I’m assuming Rob’s the father?”

“I’m assuming that, too.”

“Well, do they have plans?”

“The issue right now is that there are no plans. He wants plans, Helen wants plans, and yet there are no plans. According to Helen, Leigh is not quite ready to make a commitment for whatever reason, though rumor has it Rob has been ready. Don’t ask me how this is going to come out.”

“Is something wrong?” Maggie asked. “Has she said she can’t make a commitment because of XYZ?”

“Help me with XYZ,” he said.

“You know—is there some reason she can’t make a commitment to the baby’s father? Like there’s something wrong? Like he’s got a drinking problem or gambling problem or lots of debt?”

“I suppose we all have our secrets...except me. I don’t have any that I can think of. Have one or two things in my past I’d rather not talk about but I don’t think they’re shameful. Mostly stupid,” Sully said.

“Me, too,” Maggie said with a laugh.

“Yeah, that last boyfriend of yours before you met Cal was an ass. I don’t know where your head was.”

She cleared her throat. “You don’t know the half,” she said.

“Unless Rob Shandon is a master of disguise, I think he’s a good guy. But then what do I know?”

Maggie rested her basket of vegetables on her hip. “What you know is you want your future figured out and taken care of so you don’t leave any of your loved ones in a bad spot and I admire that. But you’re not going anywhere for at least twenty years. I’ll talk to Cal about how he can make a legal thing for you. Have you talked to Helen about this?”

“I’ll get to that,” he said. “First I have to get her polka dot pajamas moved into my house.”

“Polka dot, hmm?”

“Very stylish,” Sully said.

* * *

Leigh hadn’t seen Rob in days. He and Finn had gone to Boulder for Finn’s orientation and they’d both been very busy since he’d returned. In fact, doing a little memory check, it had been two weeks since there’d been any meaningful physical contact between them. And soon he would be taking Finn back to Boulder to move into the dorm.

She called him on Sunday evening. “Aren’t you coming over?” she asked.

“I really have to check on the pub tonight. Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

“Yes, I need something! That thing you do! When we’re alone and undressed!”

He chuckled deep in his throat. “The baby’s okay?” he asked.

“The baby is fine, as far as I know. Will I see you tomorrow?”

“Would you like to have dinner?” he asked.

“That would be wonderful,” she said. “Will you bring something or would you like me to surprise you?”

He laughed again. Probably at the very idea of her cooking. “I’ll bring something.”

It had been so long for them; from the time they first became intimate they had not gone more than a whole week. Until now. She was getting frantic. She thought she might tear his clothes off with her teeth when he walked in the door. She was itchy and anxious all day. She went home from the clinic and showered, fixed her hair, moisturized and donned easily removable summer lounging pants and a loose shirt.

She called Helen’s cell and was relieved to hear that she was staying at the Crossing to have dinner with Sully. Leigh was a little perplexed by this friendship her aunt had with Sully. She hadn’t known Helen to have a friendship this consuming; Helen usually spent her time with many friends, not one little old man who was not even a writer.

But she was too consumed with Rob to worry about that. When she opened the door for him, she hurled herself into his arms. He dropped the take-out bag and put his arms around her. His lips found hers and he kissed her in that way that brought her great joy.

Then he put her on her feet. “Are you feeling good?”

“Oh, excellent!” she said.

“I want to ask you a couple of things,” he said. “Can we sit down? At the table, maybe? I got you some good pasta from Capriasta’s.”

“You went all the way to Aurora?” she asked.

“Anything for you,” he said with a smile. “Does that sound good?”

“I’m starving all the time.”

“Good. Then we’ll feed you all the time.”

He set up a couple of plates on the table and opened the foil container between them. He unwrapped bread but threw the plastic utensils in the trash. He got out stainless steel flatware and poured her a glass of water. He got himself a beer from her refrigerator, kept there for him.

“We usually eat after,” she said.

“I know. I haven’t asked you anything about our situation for a couple of weeks.”

“It’s been a pretty good couple of weeks, except that I’ve missed you,” she said just under her breath.

“I didn’t want to push you,” he said. “I want you to think it through, take your time. But I also thought maybe it’s not such a great idea to have a lot of sex while you’re trying to decide how you feel about our future.”

“Oh, really? And why is that? We don’t need birth control.”

“What we need is perspective,” he said. “It’s hard for me to keep a sane head when all I want to do is make crazy love to you. I don’t want it to cloud my judgment or yours.”

“My judgment is just fine, thank you.”

“Good. Then tell me again why we’re not working on a way to join forces to have this baby.”

“Because I’m not really there yet,” she said.

“Okay, I wouldn’t want to rush you,” he said. “How can I help you get ready? Because you’re in a certain condition that could use a family to support you. I’d love that to be me.”

“What’s wrong with everything just as it is?” she asked.

“That’s not going to work for me, Leigh. I want to be in my child’s life every day. For that matter, I’d like to be in your life every day. We both have long hours. It would be such a relief to at least sleep together. Wake up together.”

“I’ve barely seen you recently. Do you know how long it’s been? Two weeks! I guess you’re not as wild for me as you say.”

“Oh-ho,” he laughed. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, keeping my hands off you.”

“Then why are you?” she asked.

“Because I don’t want to settle for this life,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong—I’m really grateful that we found each other. If you weren’t pregnant and this meeting up a few times a week for a quickie was the best we could manage, I thought I’d be happy with that and not complain. But things have changed and we have larger issues. Now, what are you so afraid of?”

“I don’t know!” she said. “Have you thought about how awful it would be if I moved in with you and the boys and it was terrible and we had to break up? I’m not sure I can face something like that! Move in with you, have a baby, go through a breakup and move out? With a baby?”

“What in the world would cause us to break up?” he asked. “We’re good together.”

“I barely remember,” she said, stabbing at her dinner.

He hadn’t taken a bite.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to go on like this,” he said, his voice soft but serious. “I don’t like the idea of creeping in here for a nooner or quick dinner session, scratching your itch, then disappearing to my own house alone while you and my baby stay here. I want you to let me be a part of your life. If you can’t do that, tell me right now. We’ll work out some arrangement for shared custody.”

She slammed her fork down. “What are you talking about?”

“If you can’t give me a chance, I’m still going to take part in raising my child. I’d like us to do it in the same house. If we can’t, we’ll do the next best thing.”

“Please, Rob. Don’t talk that way. How would you take care of a baby? You work long hours!”

“So do you,” he said. “And we’re both good at what we do. If we worked together, we could back each other up. If we don’t join forces, we’re going to probably get nannies and babysitters.”

“And you think you’re going to force me into a decision by refusing to make love? You really think that’s going to work?”

“Leigh, that wasn’t my intention,” he said. “It’s just that you don’t have much flexibility on this issue. I might have too much.”

“What does that mean?”

He shrugged. “You’re getting everything you need. But I’m not. I need to feel the love.”

“Oh God, you think I don’t care about you?” she asked, tears coming to her eyes.

“Honestly? I think you care very much.”