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Laurens eyes widened. "Even after how I hurt you?"
"Love bangs us up a bit in this life, Lauren. But it doesnt go away. "
Lauren stared up at her. "When I was little, I used to have a dream. The same one, every night. I was in a green dress and a woman was there, re
aching down to hold my hand. She always said, Come on, Lauren, we dont want to be late. When I woke up, I was always crying. "
"Why were you crying?"
"Because she was the mom I couldnt have. "
Angie drew in a sharp breath, then released it on a ragged sigh. Something inside her gave way; she hadnt realized how tightly shed been wrapped until the pressure eased. This was what theyd come together for, she and Lauren. This one perfect moment. She reached out for Laurens hand, said gently, "You have me, Lauren. "
Tears streaked down Laurens face. "Oh, Angie," she said. "Im so sorry. "
Angie pulled her into her arms. "Theres nothing to be sorry about. "
"Thank you, Angie," she said in a quiet voice, drawing back.
Angies face softened into a smile. "No. Thank you. "
"For being nothing but trouble and keeping you up at night?"
"For showing me how it feels to be a mother. And now, a grandmother. All of those empty years I dreamed of my little girl on a merry-go-round. I didnt know . . . "
"Didnt know what?"
"That my daughter was already too old for playgrounds. "
Lauren looked up at her then. It was all in her eyes, the years spent in quiet desperation, standing at her window, dreaming of a mother who loved her, or lying in her bed, longing for a bedtime story and a good-night kiss. "I was waiting for you, too. "
Angie felt her smile shake. She reinforced it, wiped her eyes. "And who is this barnacle on your chest?"
"John Henry. " Lauren eased the baby out of the front pack and offered him to Angie. She took him, held him in her arms.
"Hes perfect," she whispered, feeling a heady combination of love and awe. Nothing filled a womans arms like a baby. She kissed his soft forehead, inhaled the baby-sweet scent of him.
"What do I do now?" Lauren asked in a quiet voice.
"You tell me. What do you want to do?"
"I want to go to college. I guess itll have to be community college for now. Maybe if I work for a few months and really save up Ill be able to take classes in the spring. It wasnt what I dreamed of, but . . . things change. "
"Even that will be hard," Angie said gently. Harder still would be watching all her friends--and David--go off to college in the fall. Shed lose them all. One by one, theyd go on with their lives. Theyd have nothing in common with a girl their age whod become a mother. It would break Laurens heart.
"Im used to hard. If I could have my job back . . . "
"Would it help if you had a place to live?"
Lauren gasped; it was a sharp, brittle sound, as if shed just washed ashore. "Really?"
"Of course, really. "
"I wouldnt--we wouldnt have to stay for long. Just until I had enough money for an apartment and day care. "
"Dont you understand, yet, Lauren? You dont need day care. Youre part of a loud, loving, opinionated family now. Johnny wont be the first baby to grow up in the restaurant, and he wont be the last. " She grinned. "And as you might imagine, I could find time to babysit. Not every day, of course. Hes your son, but I could certainly help. "
"Youd do that?"
