The phone rang at nine a.m.: "Annie? This is Kermit."
The fears felt by every mother when the phone rings were immediately dispelled by the friendly voice. "Hello, Kermit. It's nice to hear from you. How are you? And how is Karen and Holly?" The clock meant nothing to this ex-mercenary, only the need to communicate. But social calls usually came later in the day and this appeared to be a social call.

"All fine. I have a favor to ask."

Kermit was trying to keep his voice emotionless, but she was sure she could hear a smile trying to break through.

"If I can, you know I will, dear." Annie, you know you're curious!

"Annie, I have a special friend coming to see me today; he, um, could give us some information about Paul. Could I bring him over this evening?" Yes, Detective Mister Kool Griffin was definitely in a good mood.

"That sounds intriguing, Kermit, but why don't you come for dinner instead? Around seven? Is that all right?" Paul used to bring his special friends to dinner occasionally; they always turned out to be mercenaries and were very charming. It would be interesting to see who Kermit called 'friend.' Besides, anyone with news of her knight errant husband was welcome in her home.

"I'm sure he'll be as delighted as I am. I'll bring some wine. Red or white?" Whatever Kermit had in mind, his grin showed clearly through his words.

Shortly after that call, she had removed three steaks from the freezer for dinner. The next call, from Carolyn, came just as she put the steaks in the refrigerator to defrost.

"Annie? I have a big favor to ask. Is this one of your days at the Center?" Carolyn, her eldest stepdaughter, mother to twenty-two-month old Bobby and now working part-time for the police department, only had one reason ever to call her for help.

"Would you like me to take your son today? Of course I will. He is such a dear!"

Carolyn laughed. "Thank you! Can I drop him off on my way to work? I have to be at the Precinct today, and my regular babysitter can't come. I'll be back about 5. Would you like to come back here with me for dinner? Todd will fix the meal while I pick you two up - or do you think Kelly would like to come, too?" She said it all in a rush leading Annie to believe she was running late. Annie could hear the baby in the background demanding to talk to 'Mere,' his attempt at the French 'grandmere.'
"No, Carolyn, I already have guests coming tonight. Kermit's bringing someone over-someone who knows something about your father. Why don't you and Todd just plan to come over here and eat with us? That will give Kelly more time to play with Bobby, too."

"Sounds like an interesting idea. Let me check with Todd, just to warn him, but I'm sure it's all right. See you soon." As Carolyn hung up, Annie could hear her yelling for her son. Annie sighed wistfully; she had acquired a ready-made family when she married Paul and had never gone through the frustrations and joys of two-year olds.

Annie retrieved the steaks and traded them for a roast. As she felt the specially-labeled packages of meat in the freezer, she made a mental note to call the butcher for another side of beef. Paul had found the only meat supplier who could keep them supplied with high-quality beef and provide braille labels.

There were no more telephone calls, but as Annie was planning the meal, she remembered that Peter was also likely to come by, with his little girl. Since Laura was born, barely six months ago, Peter had taken to dropping by several times a week---just to visit, to allow Grandmere to baby-sit, or just for dinner. She was still amazed at the changes wrought in him by that child. Taking the brands of a Shaolin Priest might have changed his body and mind, but receiving that baby had changed his heart and soul! She still could not believe that Jordan Macguire had given birth to that precious bundle and then turned it over to Peter to raise-rejecting both the child and the father. Even knowing that the relationship between Peter and Jordan had died before Peter knew Jordan was pregnant hadn't stopped him from accepting paternity with no questions. He was a very special person!

Carolyn ran in just past ten. "Sorry I'm late, Grandmere--neither of us could find our clothes and then, well, he is trying to be a big boy and use the potty, but he forgot and I had to change him and… well, we finally made it. Sorry I have to run…" She finally ran out of breath and had to stop.

Annie kissed Carolyn hello and then took Bobby from his mother to exchange big kisses with him. Before Carolyn could start talking again, Annie beat her to it. "Carolyn, would you mind picking up a few things on your way back here? I've got the entrée and the potatoes, and I'll make biscuits--there's enough flour and milk--but I have nothing for salad and we should have a fresh vegetable. Would you mind, please? Do you need a list?"

Carolyn thought. "Hmmm, okay--there's a supermarket not far from the Hundred and First; I can stop there easily on the way back. And I think I'd better write it down… just to make sure I don't forget anything. This database search I'm doing is driving me crazy. It crowds everything else out of my mind. Twice I've forgotten to get more Pull-ups for Bobby."

Carolyn kissed her baby and her stepmother. "I've got to go! I'll be back with these a little after five. Bobby, you be good now! Take care of Grandmere. Remember, Mommy loves you!" Then she said with a laugh, "Have fun, you two!" and left.

Annie spent the afternoon playing with Bobby until he was ready for his nap, then started work on the meal. More than once the thought occurred to her, I have nine people to feed tonight! Thank heavens, I'm not needed at the Center today! Three days a week, Annie taught beginning computer classes at the Sarah Blaine Community Center just outside of Chinatown, studied T'ai Chi under Master Caine, and played Mother Hen to the flock of lonely women dropped off by their grown children.

Carolyn was back around five thirty. The house was far noisier than when she left. Annie was bustling around the kitchen and Kelly, home from afternoon classes, was laughing and shrieking with Bobby over something she, Carolyn, might have to stop.

First she went to the kitchen. She gave Annie a hug and a kiss. "Here are the groceries you asked for. You want the salad greens and the tomato here to the left of the sink? The tomatoes were mostly picked over already, but this will do if you're cutting it into small pieces. And I found some great snow peas! Let's see; orange juice is in its place on the door, soda is on the bottom shelf. You're all set. Is there anything I can do now? Or should Kel and I clean up later?"

Annie let her ramble as she put everything where Annie could get it when necessary. "Thanks, Carolyn; you did a great job! I'll be fine here." She shooed her stepdaughter out of the room.

Carolyn found her sister and son in the living room. They were sitting on the floor and rolling a Nerf ball back and forth between them. Bobby was shrieking gleefully. Kelly looked up and giggled at the slight frown on her sister's face. "Now, Sis; remember: happy noise is nice noise!"

Carolyn conceded and joined them on the floor. She grabbed the ball from Kelly and tossed it and juggled it twice. "Okay, who should I send this to?" She pretended to roll it first to Kel, then to her son and then to Kel again. Finally, she rolled it toward her son, "Here, Bobby, catch it, Bobby. Oh, wow! Look! You caught it! Now send it to Aunt Kelly…"

A few minutes later, Annie heard the front door open and two people come in. She was about to go to the foyer when she heard Laura's squeal. All right, she thought, it's Peter and Laura, but, Laura doesn't walk like that… who is the other person?

She started to call out Peter's name, but hesitated. Someone was coming toward the kitchen. It wasn't Peter--she didn't even have to think about the pattern of Peter's walking, she knew it so well; but the other's? Those steps were ...familiar, but she hadn't heard them in a long time. By the time the new arrival had reached the kitchen, her nose had confirmed what her ears had refused to believe.

She dropped the lettuce leaves she was tearing for the salad, moved around the table in the middle of the room, and ran to the doorway, fully expecting to be grabbed, as indeed she was. She shrieked joyfully as she ran, "Oh, Paul, is it really you?"

She would have said more, but her mouth had already been covered by his.

Eventually they had to come up for air. Annie pulled back just a little and pretended to look annoyed. "So, you're Kermit's friend who knows something about Paul? Where is that green-glassed fiend? I'm going to kill him!" Then they kissed again, another long kiss.

While Paul had gone directly to see his wife, Peter had taken Laura to collect his foster-sisters. He had seen Carolyn's car with the baby's car seat, so was not surprised to find Bobby there, too. "Shush, guys, follow me. I have a big surprise for you."

Peter stepped back so that Carolyn was in the lead; she saw the visitor first and flung herself into the kitchen yelling, "Daddy!"

Paul had barely recovered from the kiss he and his wife had just shared, when he heard his oldest daughter behind him--just in time to save himself from being bowled over by her attack. Carolyn threw her arms around him and kissed him on his cheek. As she was about to tell him how much they had all missed him, Kelly ran into the room and added her hug to her sister's. They were crying almost in unison, "Daddy, daddy, welcome home! Can you stay? Are you okay now?"

After some thirty seconds of loud welcomes, they heard a screech from somewhere around Paul's knees. Paul tried to look down but his children were in the way. Carolyn gave a quick laugh, leaned down, and picked up her son. "Dad, this is your grandson, Paul Robert McCall," she said as she offered the youngster to her father. "We call him Bobby."

As Paul took the child, Bobby started to cry, but then immediately laughed at the playful expression on the big man's face. Carolyn quickly spoke to her son, "Bobby, this is your grandfather; this is my daddy. Say hello to him."

Bobby reached back to his mother, but kept his eyes on Paul's face. When Carolyn took him back, he reached back to his grandfather, as if in recompense, and then laughed when Paul grabbed his little hand and nibbled on the fingers.

Everybody asked the same questions. "How are you? Are you home for good? What are you doing next?"

Paul laughed and told them to be quiet. "I'm fine. I don't know yet if I can stay. I've been thinking only of coming home; let's just celebrate that now."

They moved into the living room, still chatting about his recuperation in Ste. Adele, his return home, what the rest of the family had been doing.

Annie stayed in the kitchen alone until Peter realized she hadn't followed them. She was working on the salad and didn't look up when he came in, nor did she turn to face at him when he spoke. Even though she could not see, she always faced the speaker "Mom, why are you in here?" He moved over to her and put his arm across her shoulders.

She hesitated, knowing that when she spoke, he would hear the bravado and hidden tears in her voice. He had always been as good as Paul at sensing her feelings. After a few moments, she said, "He needs to be with his children right now, Peter. You should be in there. Besides, I need to add more greens to the salad and cook more potatoes." The few moments of elation at finding her beloved in her arms again had vanished in a fit of jealousy. That she was jealous bothered her as much as him leaving with his children and grandchildren. She knew how important father and children were to each other, and this was the first time since they had begun to date that she felt any doubt about her place in his life. Her heart was jealous; her head knew that she was being ridiculous.

Peter put his arms around her and pulled her away from the counter where she was working. "Mom, I do know how you feel; and I'm sure I know why."

His words triggered a flood of memories and broke the dam on her tears. She thought of that night, almost three years ago, when she had been told her husband was dead. She was a widow. She thought of the phone call, fourteen months later--from Kermit, of course, calling from France, to tell her her beloved Paul was alive. She still remembered how she felt hearing Griffin tell her that Paul was far from healthy, but he was alive and in the coma he had been in since the attack that had all but killed him.

"Peter, for fourteen months I was a widow! My love for Paul didn't die, but the feelings became less important-they moved out of the forefront of my life. When I found out that he had not died, I was desperately delighted." She was also desperately afraid that, in adjusting to widowhood, she might have changed too much--that he would not love who she had become. She took a deep breath and wiped her face. "Dear Peter, you know the love between parent and child only matures. But the love between husband and wife can die. I know he was happy to see me, but is this a new beginning? Or is it the beginning of the end?"

Peter gave her a fierce hug and then wiped her face with a damp paper towel. "I know, Mom, just like when Pop came back into my life. I was afraid, too. And, see, it worked out for us! You'll be fine.

"Tell you what, Mom. Suppose I just stay here and help? Paul's holding Laura and they seem to be enjoying each other. I left because I was feeling a little out of place in there right now, too. Besides, I have to get Laura's meal ready."

Annie had the dinner almost ready to serve, but she was grateful for Peter's empathy. When the preparations were completed, they brought the food into the dining room only to find Paul and his daughters putting the last salad plate into position.

Kermit was leaning against the doorframe, watching his old friend being so domestic. He turned toward Annie and, letting her hear the grin in his voice, said, "Kelly let Todd and me in a few minutes ago. What do you think of my guest?"

Annie told him. "That was very mean of you, not telling me your friend was Paul." But she had a huge grin on her face and she was pulling him into a hug and kissing both his cheeks. "Thank you, thank you."

Kermit's sharp senses picked up a hint of conflict within Annie, but put it down to wedding day jitters, or first date jitters, or something just like it. He was not particularly worried, knowing that Annie and Paul had always been able to talk anything out.

"Since you two decided to hide in the kitchen and cook, we decided to set the table. We're too hungry to wait while you do this, too." Paul came over to seat his wife, and made sure that he sat between her and Peter. He rebuked both of them for deserting him, quietly but with a smile, saying, "How could you go off and leave me with these two over-active imaginations? 'Where is my trenchcoat,' indeed!" He made a funny face at Kelly and laughed. It was so good to be home!

The meal had been finished for a while, everybody chattering away, when Peter stood and started to gather dishes. "I have a class this evening so I have to leave. Come on, Kermit, let's show these people how to clean up." He was grinning, but he gave his partner a hard look that said, 'it's time to leave Paul and Annie alone.'

Kermit grinned back. He had noticed Annie and Paul holding hands under the table, but had been waiting for someone in the family to make the first move. As he got up, Carolyn pulled Kelly up. "Come on, we can't let them show us up." She was laughing at her foster brother, but she also recognized the need to leave. She turned to her husband and asked him to change Bobby and get him ready to travel.

As they were preparing the dishes for the dishwasher, Peter asked, "Kelly, do you have somewhere else you can stay for a few nighs? It might be a good idea to let Mom and Paul have the house to themselves."

Kelly thought for a moment. "Sure. I sometimes stay with this one friend; I can stay there. She wanted help with her homework anyway."

When Annie had attempted to help them clear, they all told her to let them handle it. So she sat and listened to the bustle around her. Under other circumstances, she would have found the clatter of dishware and chatter of family members comforting. Today she could feel her unease that had started with Paul's arrival growing as she waited for the after-meal cleanup to be completed. The return of her husband somehow caused her to feel a stranger in her own house. She could feel tears start in her eyes and wished for the sunglasses she only wore outside. And then she felt a hand on her shoulder. Peter.

He whispered in her ear, "Mom. It's only stage fright. You'll be fine. He loves you too."

She patted his hand in thanks as she felt the depression lift. After all, she really was extremely happy that Paul was there. She shook her head at the conflict of emotions warring inside her. It was about that time that Kelly sat beside her.

Kelly said, "The dining room and kitchen are all done. Would you mind if I stay overnight with Carol Wainwright? She asked me for help with her homework and we will probably work very late."

Annie gave her a quick kiss and said, "Of course you may. And thanks for cleaning up for me. Have fun."

There was a quick scurry to collect babies and belongings and to distribute hugs, and then everyone else was gone. Annie and Paul were alone--for the first time in over three years. They had walked to the door together to bid farewell to those leaving. She had moved along with him, as if the bond between them, having been stretched to its limit and then returned to natural size, had lost its elasticity and would not pull them together again if they separated too far. After he closed the door, they took hold of each other again.

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