A Lawman for Christmas. Marie Ferrarella

her mother’s unease. “You’re afraid of what Dad’s going to say.”

      “Not say so much as feel,” Kate admitted. She twisted her fingers together. “This is a lot to spring on him.”

      Kelsey had always been honest with her mother. She saw no reason to change now, even if this wasn’t the easiest of subjects for a daughter to discuss with her mother.

      “This is a lot to spring on all of us, Mom.” Her mother looked a bit distressed. Kelsey quickly continued. “I mean, I know you guys love each other and all that, but I guess at this point in your married lives, I thought that your expressions of love were more or less restricted to holding hands and occasionally indulging in deep, soulful kisses.”

      Shaking her head in amusement, Kate ran her hands through the girl’s hair. “Someday, my darling daughter, when your skin isn’t quite as flawless as it is today, you’ll come to realize the true meaning in that poem.”

      That had come completely out of left field. “What poem?”

      “‘Come grow old along with me, the best is yet to be,’” Kate said, reciting her favorite line out of a poem by Robert Browning. And then she patted Kelsey’s hand. “Shouldn’t you be getting back to school? I don’t need a babysitter, honey.”

      “I’m not babysitting,” she protested a bit too quickly. “I told them at the school I didn’t know if I was going to be back today.” And then she backtracked a little. “At least I think I did. Everything after talking to you on the phone is still a little hazy. Besides,” she staked out a place on the sofa, “I thought I’d hang around here today, see if you need anything, need someone to catch you in case you faint again, things like that.”

      Kate took her daughter’s hand and drew her up to her feet. “I’m fine, really. Go back to work.”

      Well, she had left them in a bad way. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to get rid of me, Mom.”

      Kate grinned. She was gently guiding her daughter to the front door. “I am. I’ve changed my mind. I can handle this. Thank you for coming as quickly as you did—now go.”

      Kelsey paused in the doorway. She didn’t want her mother to think she was hovering, but she didn’t feel good about just leaving her. “You sure you don’t need anything?”

      Kate smiled. When she spoke, her accent was particularly strong. “Oh, a shot of my da’s liquid courage, maybe.” She reconsidered her words and gave Kelsey a rueful expression. “But then, I can’t have that for the next nine months.”

      “Speaking of ‘da,’ when are you going to tell Dad?” Kelsey asked.

      “Today,” Kate answered. She’d already made up her mind. But suddenly weary, she took a deep breath. “I just have to find the right words.”

      “How about ‘Hi, honey, I’ve got a new tax deduction for you’?”

      Kate shook her head. “Very funny, Kelsey.”

      “I wasn’t trying to be funny,” Kelsey told her mother. “I was trying to temper the shock with a positive piece of information.”

      “He’s not going to be in shock,” Kate protested. But then her words echoed back to her. “He’s going to be in shock, isn’t he?”

      “Can’t really blame him, Mom. You were in shock when you found out,” Kelsey reminded.

      But that was different. “It was for just a few seconds.”

      “With luck,” Kelsey deadpanned, “Dad’ll come out of his shock just before he has to rush you into the delivery room.” Kelsey leaned over and pressed a kiss to her mother’s temple. “Just kidding, Mom. After he realizes you haven’t just developed a weird sense of humor, he’ll be thrilled.”

      Thrilled was a rather powerful word. “I don’t know if I’d go that far…”

      Kelsey gave her a vague little shrug. “Might as well keep a positive attitude about this.” Reaching for the doorknob, she paused as a thought hit her. “Just make me a promise.”

      Raising five children had taught Kate never to make a promise until she heard all the details. “Yes?”

      “Don’t tell the guys without me there. I want to see their reaction. You can tell Dad,” she realized they needed their privacy for this, “but not Mike and the others unless I’m there. Please,” she added in case her mother didn’t think she was serious.