room, Mommy was still smiling, still humming the dance music. She stopped long enough to get Jenny undressed and read them both a story. Jenny, as usual, fell asleep before the story ended.
But Erin stayed awake, listening, even after kissing Mommy good-night. She heard Mommy and Daddy Matt talking in the other room, and then laughing. And then there was music again. She didn’t have to see through the door to know they were dancing.
Erin turned over and put her pillow on top of her head. That drowned out the music. But she felt like she heard it in her head. And she saw Mommy dancing, even with her eyes closed.
In Erin’s head, though, Mommy danced with the right person. She danced with Daddy.
But Erin was old enough to know that if her dream could come true, she wouldn’t be crying herself to sleep.
CHAPTER FOUR
ERIN AND JEN were due back on a three-thirty flight. Luke knew his mom and dad would want a private reunion with the newlyweds and the girls, so he filled in the time baking a batch of his special cookies. At five, he headed for his parents’ house on the beach.
When he arrived, Kristin’s green van was parked in the driveway. Luke deliberately relaxed his grip on the handlebars. The girls were still here. He hadn’t missed them.
Taking a deep breath, he switched off the bike and removed his helmet. He only wanted to see his daughters. Everybody could manage to stay cool for their sakes. Right?
Just as he put his hand on the doorknob, Luke decided to ring the bell instead of walking right in. Which was smart, he realized, when his mother opened the door.
Her blue eyes widened. “Oh…Luke. Hello. We weren’t…expecting you.”
“I wanted to welcome the girls home—”
A rush of footsteps sounded in the hallway behind his mother.
“Daddeee!” Jennifer launched herself into his arms. “We’re home!”
“Good to see you, Jenny Penny.” He hugged tight, trying to keep the bag of cookies intact, squeezing his eyes shut against tears.
Someone else tackled him at waist level. “Daddy, me, too. Me, too!”
So much for the cookies. “You, too, Bear.” He stooped to lift Erin up as well. “How was Mickey Mouse?”
“He’s big! This big!” Jen opened her arms wide. “I like Goofy better.”
Erin stared at him, frowning. “Where’s your hair, Daddy? What happened to your ponytail?”
“I got a haircut, Bear. I’m back on my regular job for a while.”
“It looks funny.”
Luke laughed. “Thanks. What did you do at Disney World?”
“I got my picture taken with Aladdin and the Genie, and Pinocchio and Hercules!” Erin counted on her fingers. “And Donald Duck!”
“Very cool.” His mother had closed the door and disappeared. Luke carried the girls into the living room, sat down on the couch and perched one of them on each knee. “What ride did y’all like best?”
That answer involved a serious discussion of all the rides they’d taken and the high points of each. Luke studied their faces as the girls traded ideas. They were a little browner than last week. The outfits they wore looked new.
He touched a bandage on Erin’s knee. “What happened here?”
Erin laughed. “We went on the teacup ride and it went ’round and ’round and ’round. And when I got off I was so dizzy I couldn’t walk, and I bumped into the edge of a bench.”
“You cried.” Jen pointed out.
“Just a little. You cried when the whale splashed you.”
“Well, you cried when—”
“Hold it.” Luke squeezed them both around the waist. “I get the picture. Did you go on Peter Pan’s Flight? That was your favorite when we went to the Magic Kingdom, Erin.”
“We went to Disney World before?”
“Sure, you and your mom and me. Jen was still a baby, but she came, too. We have…had pictures, remember? You and me in the boat, getting ready to fly?”
She shook her blond head. “Uh-uh. But we rode it this time. Jen was scared we would fall.”
Luke chuckled. “That’s what you thought when we went, too.”
“So there.” Jennifer stuck her tongue out at her sister.
“Jennifer Irene Brennan.” Kristin stood in the doorway, hands on her hips. “That’s rude and unkind and you will apologize to your sister.”
“I’m sorry,” Jen muttered.
“Ha-ha,” Erin taunted.
Luke shook her gently. “You don’t hit somebody when they’re down, Erin. You know that.”
She hung her head. “I know, Daddy.”
“I came in to tell you that Grandmother has supper just about ready.” Kristin’s voice was firm. “Go wash your hands.”
“Oh, boy!” The girls dashed past their mother into the back of the house. Luke stood up, the meeting he’d been dreading suddenly unavoidable.
“Hi, Luke.” The sun had streaked her hair and deepened her tan.
He cleared his throat. “Kristin.”
“Your…haircut looks good.”
“Thanks. I guess you had lots of sun in Florida.”
“Not a single rainy day. Do you want to stay for supper?”
“That’s okay. I just came to say hi to the girls.” He held out the bag of cookies. “I brought some dessert, though they’re probably mostly crumbs at this point.”
Her smile flashed and was gone. “Good over ice cream.” After a pause, she cleared her throat. “We’ve got some pictures—come and see.” She almost took his hand but then, with a self-conscious blush, turned and led the way into the back of his parents’ house.
Luke dragged in a breath and followed warily.
Matt and his dad sat in the family room beyond the kitchen. Their conversation stopped abruptly when Luke stepped in. The Colonel stood up. “Good to see you, son—and good to see that damn hair cut right for a change. How’s the security business?” His dad thought a real man’s place was in the Army. Cops were on the same level with building guards.
“We do our best,” Luke answered. “Have you had a good week?” The scent of apple-laced tobacco flavored the air.
“As good as usual.”
“Except that you were exhausted for several days,” Elena Brennan corrected. “I’m still not sure you’re up to par.”
The Colonel took a deep pull on his pipe. “All the excitement of the wedding, I guess.”
Luke could sympathize, though excitement wasn’t exactly the word he’d use to describe his own reaction. He turned his head to meet his brother’s stare. “Welcome home.”
Matt nodded. “Thanks.”
So much for the formalities. Luke walked back to the kitchen.
“Are you staying, Luke?” His mother turned from the counter where a baked ham and her homemade bread stood waiting. “I can make more sandwiches.”
“No, thanks, Mom. I just came to say hi to Erin and Jen.” He sat down at the kitchen table with the girls. “So tell me what else you did in Florida.”
Kristin