“I know.” Clare had heard all about Maggie’s close bond with Eric, Andi’s son from her first marriage. Maggie had learned sign language to communicate with the hearing-impaired boy and was now almost fluent.

“Dad’s adopting Eric.”

“That’s a nice thing for him to do.”

“He doesn’t know his own father, so Dad’s like his dad already.”

“He’s just making it official,” Clare said with a smile. Oh, how this hurt. Jack’s life was all set, and hers was in shambles. She reminded herself that it had been her decision to let him go. Now she just had to find a way to live with it. “So the doctors are sending me home in about two weeks.”

Maggie’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Clare nodded. “I’m hoping you’ll want to spend some time with me.” I sound so pathetic. How will I ever compete with three new brothers?

“I’ll come to your house to catch up on my sleep,” Maggie teased.

Clare laughed and finished her cone. “Oh, I see. You’ll be using me?”

“Definitely.” Maggie giggled. “So Dad bought a house on Ocean Drive.”

Kate and Maggie had been staying with Jack and Andi at the hotel since the babies were born. He had moved out of what was now Clare’s house just before their divorce became final. “Did he?”

“Yeah, some gray place, gray house or something,” Maggie said with a shrug.

“Oh, Gray Hall.” Clare had been a Realtor before her accident and was well aware of the estate. “That’s a great old house, right on the water.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Of course it is. You know how weird he is about that.”

“Yes, I do,” Clare said, smiling at Jack’s need to live on the water.

“Anyway, I guess we’re moving in at the end of next week. Living at the hotel is getting kind of old, and they want to get settled with the babies and all.”

“I can imagine they do. When I get home, we’ll work something out so you can spend time with both of us, okay?”

“Sure. I’m glad you’re getting to come home.”

“Me, too. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

The door opened, and Kate came in. Clare was always amazed at how much her middle daughter resembled her, with the same unruly blonde hair and bright blue eyes. It was like seeing herself at eighteen except Kate had Jack’s height, which gave her a coltish stride as she crossed the room to plant a kiss on her mother’s forehead.

“What’ve you been eating, brat?” Kate asked her sister. “It’s all over your face.”

“Don’t call her that, Kate,” Clare admonished, sending an empathetic smile to Maggie.

“That’s okay, Mom. I’d fall over and die of shock if she called me Maggie.”