“All right but—hmmm,” Anna finished when Grace hurried past her and out the door. “Jumpy,” she muttered, then hit the outside lights. “It’s not quite dark yet, but it will be by the time we finish this.” She salvaged the last of the fries and switched off the stove. “Cam and Phillip better put a fire under it. Oh, God, it’s cute! Can you see?”

Too curious to resist, Sybill joined her at the kitchen window. She saw Grace standing on the dock, caught in the last light of the day, and Ethan just stepping onto it. “It’s a boat,” she murmured. “A little sailboat.”

“A ten-footer. They call it a pram.” Anna’s smile nearly split her face. “The three of them have been building it over at Ethan’s old house—the one he rents out? The tenants let them use the shed over there so Seth wouldn’t know about it.”

“They built it for him?”

“Whenever they could steal an hour. Oh, he’s going to love it. Well, what’s this?”

“What?”

“That,” Anna said and stared hard through the glass. She could see Grace talking, her hands locked together, Ethan staring at her. Then he lowered his head to hers. “I hope there’s not any . . .” She trailed off as Ethan drew Grace close, buried his face in her hair and rocked. And her arms came up around him. “Oh, oh.” Tears flooded Anna’s eyes. “She must be—she’s pregnant! She’s just told him. I know it. Oh, look!” She gripped Sybill’s shoulder when Ethan scooped a laughing Grace up into his arms. “Isn’t that beautiful?”

The two of them were wrapped around each other, making one silhouette in the last light of day. “Yes, yes, it is.”

“Look at me.” Laughing at herself, Anna yanked off a paper towel and blew her nose. “I’m a mess. This is going to get to me, I know it is. I’m going to want one.” She blew again, sighed. “I was so sure I could wait a year or two. I’m never going to be able to wait that long now. Not for that. I can just see Cam when I—” She stopped herself. “Sorry,” she said with a watery laugh.

“It’s all right. It’s lovely that you’re so happy for them. That you’re so happy for yourself. This is really a family occasion, especially now. Anna, I really should go.”

“Don’t be a coward,” Anna said, pointing her finger. “You’re here, and you’re going to have to face this nightmare of indigestion and noise just like the rest of us.”

“I simply think—” All she could do was close her mouth when the door burst open. Ethan was still carrying Grace and the pair of them wore huge smiles.

“Anna, we’re having a baby.” Ethan made the announcement with a catch in his voice.

“What, am I blind?” She brushed Ethan aside to kiss Grace first. “I’ve had my nose to the window. Oh, congratulations!” Then threw her arms around both of them. “I’m so happy.”