“Our housekeeper,” Natasha explained to Sydney while she sliced and chopped a mountain of vegetables. “She’s been with us for years. We gave her the month off to take a trip with her sister. Could you wash those grapes?”

Obediently Sydney followed instructions, scrubbing fruit, fetching ingredients, stirring the occasional pot. But she knew very well that three efficient women were working around her.

“You can make deviled eggs,” Nadia said kindly when she noted Sydney was at a loss. “They will be cool soon.”

“I, ah…” She stared, marginally horrified, at the shiny white orbs she’d rinsed in the sink. “I don’t know how.”

“Your mama didn’t teach you to cook?” It wasn’t annoyance in Nadia’s voice, just disbelief. Nadia had considered it her duty to teach every one of her children—whether they’d wanted to learn or not.

As far as Sydney knew, Margerite had never boiled an egg much less deviled one. Sydney offered a weak smile. “No, she taught me how to order in restaurants.”

Nadia patted her cheek. “When they cool, I show you how to make them the way Mikhail likes best.” She murmured in Ukrainian when Katie’s waking wail came through the kitchen intercom. On impulse, Natasha shook her head before Nadia could dry her hands and go up to fetch her granddaughter.

“Sydney, would you mind?” With a guileless smile, Natasha turned to her. “My hands are full.”

Sydney blinked and stared. “You want me to go get the baby?”

“Please.”

More than a little uneasy, Sydney started out of the kitchen.

“What are you up to, Tash?” Rachel wanted to know.

“She wants family.”

With a hoot of laughter, Rachel swung an arm around her sister and mother. “She’ll get more than her share with this one.”

The baby sounded very upset, Sydney thought as she hurried down the hall. She might be sick. What in the world had Natasha been thinking of not coming up to get Katie herself? Maybe when you were the mother of three, you became casual about such things. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the nursery.

Katie, her hair curling damply around her face, was hanging on to the side of the crib and howling. Unsteady legs dipped and straightened as she struggled to keep her balance. One look at Sydney had her tear-drenched face crumpling. She flung out her arms, tilted and landed on her bottom on the bright pink sheet.

“Oh, poor baby,” Sydney crooned, too touched to be nervous. “Did you think no one was coming?” She picked the sniffling baby up, and Katie compensated for Sydney’s awkwardness by cuddling trustingly against her body. “You’re so little. Such a pretty little thing.” On a shuddering sigh, Katie tipped her head back. “You look like your uncle, don’t you? He got embarrassed when I said he was gorgeous, but you are.”