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“I actually have a friend who might be able to help us.”
“I thought you might,” Genevieve said.
“I gave him a call this morning.”
“I thought you might,” Genevieve repeated, a grin fluttering on her lips.
“He said to phone ASAP with any further info we could glean.”
“Phone him right now. It takes a few minutes to change a dirty diaper.”
Helen nodded in agreement and dialed the number. She connected with a man Genevieve surmised was an attorney with whom her sister had previously worked. Helen relayed the little information they knew about AJ Randall and his mother in a short conversation that ended just as Willow arrived with the toddler on her hip. Genevieve wondered aloud. “Where’s the nanny?”
“Willow doesn’t look happy.”
“You think the nanny ditched us already?”
Willow walked up and put the baby in the high chair. “Pour me a double, please.”
Helen filled a glass with milk from the pitcher and handed it to Willow. “The nanny scarpered?”
“She’s outta here.” Willow handed the boy a cookie. He shoved it into his mouth. “He’s not her kid. She’s done her duty.”
All three women stared at AJ. Willow sipped her milk. “Well,” Genevieve said. “What now?”
“Chocolate. Chocolate. And more chocolate. For me, anyway. Probably need to watch the kids’ sugar intake, or I’ll be paying for it later.”
“They can have a couple cookies apiece, can’t they?” Genevieve, in her guise of Nana, asked.
“Of course. Noah will polish off what’s left. He has a sweet tooth.”
“Oh?” Helen said. “And you know this how?”
A hint of color stained Willow’s cheeks.
Well, isn’t that interesting?
“We’re friends.”
“How friendly of friends?” Helen asked, wagging her eyebrows. “How’s his leg injury doing? I haven’t noticed him limping of late. Healing coming along? Doesn’t interfere with, um,activities, I hope?”
“Auntie! I am not discussing my sex life with you and my mother.”
“Spoilsport,” Helen observed. She winked at Genevieve.
Willow rolled her eyes, and then in a defensive move worthy of a Sunday afternoon on the gridiron, she waved and called, “Drew! Emma! Noah! Come get cookies! They’re warm from the oven!”
“Good play, Willow,” Helen said. “Good play.”
“More, peas. More, peas,” AJ said.
“He wants peas?” Helen asked.
“He’s sayingplease,” Willow clarified as her children came running up the hill, followed by Noah.
Genevieve held her breath as Willow introduced Drew and Emma to AJ. It turned out that the children were more interested in the cookies than in their younger half brother.She was a little shocked when Willow referred to the boy as their “brother,” and Emma and Drew didn’t bat an eyelash. Noah glanced from AJ to Emma, then back to the little boy again, and said, “Hi, AJ. I’m Noah. Can I have a bite of your cookie?”
“Mine!” the toddler said, turning away and protecting his prize.
