“Only when very lonely and tired.”

“When you’re lonely and tired, you should come to me. While you can.”

“I do, Your Majesty. Now, are you going to...what does Grace say? Get it together.”

“Just hold me a minute, will you?” she asked.

“Is my best talent,” he said, pulling her close. He stroked her back and she rested her head on his shoulder. “See? Everything is okay.”

She sighed. It was okay. Some people didn’t get this much love in a lifetime. Even after being one of the most impossible mothers in the world, she had her daughter home and she was surrounded by people she loved. In the house that had been built around her.

Sixteen

Winnie was not a bit surprised that even Blake showed up for dinner. Charlie had told him she had taken a fall and he wouldn’t stay away. And Charlie had, as promised, cut his workout a little short. Grace had closed the shop early and Troy brought home spinach lasagna, garlic bread and pie and ice cream. Grace was putting out plates while Lin Su warmed the dinner and bread.

“I’ll set a place for you if you’ll stay, Blake,” she said.

“Tonight I’d like to stay,” he said.

Winnie looked up in surprise. “You don’t have to indulge in our blue-collar food just because I twisted my ankle,” she said. “We won’t be offended if you want to go home to your tree bark, lawn clippings and yak livers.”

He grinned at her. “I’ll take extra vitamins,” he said. “I’m not getting ready for a race right now.”

“You won’t train?” she asked.

“Of course I will, but I won’t follow the rigid protocol—oh, never mind. You’re never going to ease up on my diet. So, I’ll have a beer.”

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Troy said, nearly lunging for the refrigerator.

“Tell us what the baby doctor said,” Winnie asked.

“We’re right on schedule and in perfect health, if a little overweight. I’m going to call Ginger and explain that it wouldn’t be a good time for me to come to the Lacoumette farm for her wedding. Peyton can stand up for her.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Winnie said to Grace. “Can I please have a glass of wine? I’ll want a straw in it, of course, so I’m not wearing it by the end of dinner. Grace, please go to the wedding. You’ve been looking forward to it. Soon enough you’ll have a new baby and a very infirm mother holding you down. This might be one of your last chances to get away.”

“I’ll be home,” Blake said. He automatically got up and went to the wine rack in the kitchen, selecting a bottle. He showed it to Winnie like an experienced waiter.

“Lovely,” she approved.

He went to the kitchen to open it and pour. He fixed a glass for Mikhail, as well. “I’ll be available if you need help getting around or if you have errands,” Blake said.

“That’s very kind,” Winnie said. “I’d rather you take my nurse on a proper date. Mikhail and I will be fine. We just need a little assist from Lin Su before she leaves for the evening. I’m not going to foolishly try to reach my walker again.”

“A movie, maybe,” Grace said. “Either a really scary one or a really romantic one.”

“Take her to the cliffs up north where the waves are huge. That worked on Grace,” Troy said, then he lifted his eyebrows, à la Groucho Marx.

“I want you to go to the wedding, Grace,” Winnie said again. “The leaves are turning and it’ll be beautiful.”

“We even had thoughts of asking if Charlie could go,” Grace said. “I think he’d get the biggest kick out of it.”

“Charlie is allergic,” Lin Su said, bringing the dish of lasagna to the table. “And while I so appreciate all of you planning my social life, I assure you, I’m very capable of taking care of that myself.”

“I’m not going to be allergic now,” Charlie said. “Nothing’s blooming!”

“There are animals,” Lin Su said.

“Outdoor animals,” Grace said. “Besides, Scott and Peyton are going. You can’t ask for a safer trip than that.”

“I would prefer he not go.”

“I knew it,” Charlie said inconsolably.

“I bet you haven’t had many trips or nights away from your mother, have you, Charlie?” Winnie asked.

“Oh, sure, I travel like mad.”

“I propose a choice,” Blake said. “I know it doesn’t trump his mother’s decision, but Charlie can go with us to a movie or to the farm with Grace and Troy. And his doctor, of course.”

“Oh, let me think,” Charlie said. “This is a really hard one. I just don’t know if I can choose...”

Everyone at the table laughed. Except Lin Su.

“We could always let you choose the movie,” Blake said.

“Aw, man,” he said, grabbing his head in both hands. “You’re killing me!”

Lin Su put the basket of garlic toast on the table.

“Sit down, Lin Su,” Winnie said. “No one is going to tell you what to do. You’re the mother. Just a little loving interference.”

“I can take care of my own social life,” she said again.

“Of course you can, darling,” Winnie said. “Now, Grace, I want you to plan to go this weekend. After my other leg and my arms follow suit, you might not get away until my granddaughter goes to school.”

“I really don’t care, Mama. You and the baby are my priorities right now.”

“That’s really so lovely of you, darling. Now tell us all about this new employee you have...”

Grace began to serve plates of lasagna. “Ronaldo. I think I’m in love, provided he continues to behave himself. He has a very moody side, but he promises to control it.”

“I’d have a better shot at Ronaldo than you would,” Troy said, grabbing and passing the bread.

There was a lot of laughter, everyone talking at once, teasing one another, no one exempt from the interference at the table. Winnie noticed Lin Su was conspicuously quiet for a while. No wonder—people were interfering in her love life, her mothering decisions, everything but her patient care. She certainly was not singled out—everyone was in everyone else’s business. But as Lin Su kept an eye on Winnie’s plate, offering assistance to move a wine or water glass, to help her spear a piece of lasagna, she finally came around. The only one who didn’t take a lot of ribbing was Blake, probably because he was newest at the table.

Winnie thought about the fact that had she been at home in San Francisco, she would very likely have taken her dinner in her bedroom with the company of the TV. It would have been an expensive and difficult meal prepared for her by a chef, and the housekeeper or nurse who delivered it to her probably wouldn’t even stay in the room while she ate unless she needed help.

This is all I need, she thought. This oddly constructed family.

* * *

“Do you really have an interest in going to the farm with Grace and Troy?” Lin Su asked Charlie as they walked across the beach to their loft.

“I think it would be cool,” he said.