“It’s not my fault.”Jane handed Billie the nightgown.She pulled it over her head and wiggled until it dropped past her knees.“Look at this.There’s a kitten on it!”She pointed at the offending appliqué.“I’ve told her a thousand times I want pajamas.”
“This was a gift from your grandmother,” Jane said, reaching for a comb.
“Let me.”Charlene took the comb and settled on the lid of the toilet.After positioning Billie between her knees, she began to tame her short cut.“I am so looking forward to you discovering boys.”
“Why?”Billie sounded suspicious.
Jane turned away to hide her grin.
“One day you’ll look up and the boy you thought was a terrific—” She glanced at Jane.
“Catcher,” she supplied helpfully.
“Catcher…will be a charming, handsome young man.”
“Not to me.”Billie cocked her head.“You’re not married.Mom told me.”
“I am not like most women.I prefer my men—”
“Charlene,” Jane warned.
“I was just going to say that I prefer them appreciative.”
“I don’t understand,” Billie said.She yawned and rubbed her eyes.
“You will,” Charlene said.“One day.”She leaned forward and kissed her cheek.“I’m so pleased you’re here.Both of you.”
“We can still be friends, even if you don’t know much about baseball.”Billie wrapped her arms around Charlene’s neck.Jane saw her friend hug her back.
“Thank you,” Charlene whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion.“Now, off to sleep.”
Jane settled her daughter in the big bed, handed her her worn teddy bear and plugged in the night-light she’d carted clear across the country.She and Charlene kissed her, then moved quietly into the hall.
“She’s darling,” Charlene said as Jane closed the door.“And you look as tired as she did.It’s late.We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Jane thanked her, walked to her door and pushed it open.
“Jane?”
“Yes?”
“I will keep quiet about—” she motioned toward Billie’s room “—everything.At least until you figure out the real reason you came back.”
Chapter Three
“Hi.You’re up.I thought I’d be the only one.Mom’s still in the shower.What’s for breakfast?”
Adam bent the corner of his paper and stared at Billie as she bounced around the kitchen.Today’s outfit was an exact duplicate of yesterday’s except her T-shirt and shorts hadn’t had time to get dirty.Yet.The red baseball cap covered most of her hair, the bill had been tugged down to her brows.A softball bulged from the oversize pocket of her denim shorts.
“You wanna play catch later?Mom says we have errands in town.Shopping, that kind of stuff.Oh, and to see about glass for the window.Did I tell you I was sorry about that?”
He shook his head.“No.”
“I am.Really.”She stopped in front of the table.“Whatcha reading?”
“The paper.”
“Did the Giants win?”
