Jimmy stopped. “Susan! I forgot to call Susan.” He headed toward the kitchen and picked up the phone, his hands shaking.

“Where do you keep the dishcloths?” Gail said.

“Uh, they’re in the drawer.” What was Susan’s number? He couldn’t remember. Then he saw Gail open Susan’s coupon drawer and corrected her. That little aside helped him remember the phone number.

“I’ve got the car seat,” Roy said. “And your suitcases.”

“Okay, thanks. Put them by the front door.”

“Well, what are these cookies doing in the coupon drawer?” Gail said.

Jimmy turned and stared at the box she held. “Wait, what? Where did you find those?”

“Hey, she’s here!” Roy said. “She’s pulling in.”

Jimmy hung up the phone and lowered his voice. “Stay calm. Stay calm, everyone!” He moved toward the front door. “I’ll tell her.”

“This is so exciting!” Gail said.

Jimmy took his place in the hall, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his heart as Susan walked in, oblivious to the excitement.

“Okay, I did not find our favorite ice cream but I did find our favorite cookies,” she said.

Jimmy took the bag from her and put it on an end table. He took the box of cookies from her and placed it by the bag, then took her hands in his. “We got the call.”

Susan’s face went blank.

“We have a son,” Jimmy said.

Susan spoke in a little girl’s voice. “We have a son?” Then a look of concern. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Susan turned her head slightly as if bracing herself. “Jimmy, are you sure?”

“The birth mother already signed the papers.”

At those words, the dam broke, and joy spread across Susan’s face mixed with tears. “A son,” she said, barely able to get the words out.

“Let’s go get him!” Jimmy said, moving toward the garage.

“We’ll look after the house,” Gail said. “You just go!”

Jimmy hurried to the garage with Susan following him. When he saw the luggage and car seat, he hit the garage door opener, then remembered something. He spun around and quickly retreated to the end table and grabbed the box of cookies, then hurried back to the garage and put the car seat and luggage in the back.

He put the box in the driver’s-side door. When Susan gave him a look, he said, “We’re going to be driving all day. My cookies will help me stay awake.”

Susan shook her head and smiled.

Melissa stared out the window at clouds that hung low and gray, like something ominous was ahead. The phone rang, startling her.

“Clive told me you left a message,” Brian said. He lowered his voice. “Where are you?”

“At the hospital.”

“What?”

“Brian, he’s here.”

“Who’s here?”