“How’d you get past the dragon at the nurses’ station?” Eve asked. “Visiting hours are almost over.”

Carrie looked up. “I didn’t see a dragon.”

“Don’t worry, little girl.” Relieved of the bouquet, Parr scooped her up. “There isn’t one. To answer your question, Eve, I turned on the charm. She gave me five minutes.”

“You have charm?” Eve looked at him dubiously. “I’m not seeing it.”

“That’s because we grew up together. Carrie, can you show me that new toy? Who gave you that?”

“Mary Beth. Put me back on the bed.”

He settled the little girl right in the middle and listened to her explanation of why Noah had to have two of everything. “I see. But there’s only one ark,” he said, opening and closing the stuffed door.

“Don’t confuse the issue,” Eve told him.

The baby began to fuss and Mary Beth looked up anxiously. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No. She’s probably hungry.” The experienced mother of two went over to the rocker and took Amanda back, putting her on her shoulder and patting her gently. It wasn’t long before the baby was squalling good and loud. “I take that back. She’s definitely hungry.”

A nurse came in.with a bottle of formula warmed and ready “We could hear her down the hall. This is just for backup, if you need it,” she said to Eve.

“Hope I don’t,” Eve chuckled. “I think I remember how to breastfeed. But thanks. I might not always say no to a supplementary bottle for her if I’m tired.”

The nurse set the bottle on the nightstand and looked meaningfully at Parr. “Your five minutes are almost up.”

He put a finger to his lips to hush Carrie, who seemed as if she was about to mention dragons. She sealed her lips tightly shut.

“I guess that applies to me too,” Mary Beth said with a sigh. “Carrie, can you help me with the gown?”

“Okay.” The four-year-old girl slid off the bed. She tugged at a sleeve and the whole thing slithered off. Mary Beth bunched up the peach-colored material and stuffed it into a tall basket for laundry.

“Daddy will be here soon,” Eve reassured Carrie. “Maybe we’ll let him burp the baby.”

Carrie giggled. “Okay.”

Her newborn daughter squalled briefly once again as Eve sat cautiously in the rocker and got her settled in the crook of her arm. Carrie watched with renewed interest.

“You know what they say. Three’s company. Five’s a crowd,” the nurse reminded Parr, pleasantly enough.

“Mary Beth and I were just going.”

Parr made good on that statement by slipping a hand under her elbow and escorting her to the door. Mary Beth cast a longing look backward at the room and sighed. “Bye, Eve. I’ll come by when you get settled in at home. But I’ll call first.”