He turned, desperately relieved when the door jangled open.

“Dad!” And the man of the hour shot in like a bullet. “We saw your truck, so Mrs. Skully said we could stop. Hi, Kate.” He dumped his Star Wars backpack on the floor, grinned. “Listen, it echoes. Hi, Kate!”

She had to laugh, and even before Brody could, scooped Jack off his feet. “Hi, Handsome Jack. Ready to kiss me?”

“Nah.” But it was obvious he was half hoping she’d kiss him again.

“That’s a real problem with the men in your family.” She put him on his feet as a woman, a boy and a girl came through the door. The woman blew spiky bangs out of her eyes.

“Brody, saw your truck. I thought I’d drop Jack off, save you a trip. Unless you want me to take him home awhile yet.”

“No, this is great, thanks. Ah, Beth Skully, Kate Kimball.”

“Kate and I sort of know each other. Rod, no running in here. You probably don’t remember me,” she continued without missing a beat. “My sister JoBeth was friends with your sister Freddie.”

“JoBeth, of course. How is she?”

“She’s great. She and her family live in Michigan. She’s a nurse-practitioner. I hope you don’t mind me dropping in with the troops this way. I’ve been wondering what you’re doing in this old place.”

“Mom.” The little girl, blond and big-eyed tugged on sleeve.

“All right, Carrie, just a minute.”

“I’ll give you a tour,” Kate offered. “If you can stand it.”

“Actually, I’d love it, but we’re still on the run. Having kids turns you into a bus driver. I guess you don’t know, right yet, when you’ll be opening your dance school?”

“I hope to start taking afternoon and evening students in April.” She glanced down at Carrie, recognized the hope in those big eyes. “Are you interested in ballet, Carrie?”

“I want to be a ballerina.”

“Ballerinas are sissies.” Her brother sneered.

“Mom!” Carrie wailed.

“Rod, you just hush. I’m sorry about my little moron here, Kate.”

“No, don’t apologize. Sissies?” she said, turning to Rod, who looked pleased with himself.

“Yeah, uh-huh, ’cause they wear dopey clothes and go around like this.” Rod boosted himself on tiptoe and took several small, rather mincing steps.

The result had his sister wailing for her mother yet again.

Before Beth could speak, Kate smiled and shook her head. “That’s interesting. How many sissies do you know who can do this?”

Kate brought her leg up, braced a hand on her thigh and bringing her leg tight against the side of her body, pointed her toe at the ceiling.

Oh, my God, was the single thought that tumbled around in Brody’s mind.

“Bet I can.” Challenged, Rod grabbed his ankle, tried to pull his leg up, lost his balance and tumbled onto his butt.

“Rod, you’ll snap yourself like a turkey wishbone,” his mother warned, and with an arm around Carrie’s shoulder smiled at Kate. “Doesn’t that hurt?”