‘‘I am, I’m sorry. But I’m even more pleased. Oh, Ethan, it’s so wonderfully normal. He’s behaving just like an annoying ten year old after a rainy day. A couple of months ago he’d have spent that time sulking in his room instead of giving you a headache. It’s such tremendous progress.’’

‘‘He’s progressing into being a pain in the ass.’’

‘‘Yes.’’ She felt tears of delight sting her eyes. ‘‘Isn’t it marvelous? He must have been really annoying if it was enough to try your unflappable patience. At this rate he’ll be a terror by Christmas.’’

‘‘And that’s a good thing?’’

‘‘Yes. Ethan, I’ve worked with children who haven’t faced nearly the miseries Seth has, and it can take them so much longer to adjust, even with counseling. You and Cam and Phillip have done wonders for Seth.’’

Cooling off, Ethan sipped his beer. ‘‘You had a hand in it.’’

‘‘Yes, I did, which makes me as happy on a professional level as I am on a personal one. And to prove it, I’ll give you a hand with dinner.’’ So saying, she shrugged out of her jacket and began to roll up her sleeves. ‘‘What did you have in mind to go with the meat loaf?’’

He’d planned on sticking some potatoes in the microwave because they didn’t require any fussing, and maybe digging some frozen peas out. But . . .

‘‘I thought maybe some of those cheese noodles you make would go nice as a side dish.’’

‘‘The alfredo? Cholesterol city, added to meat loaf, but what the hell. I’ll fix them. Why don’t you sit down until the headache passes?’’

It already had, but it seemed smarter not to mention it.

He sat, prepared to enjoy his beer—and fix his sister-in-law’s wagon. ‘‘Oh, Grace said I should thank you for the recipe. She’ll let you know how it turns out for her.’’

‘‘Oh?’’ Turning to hide her satisfied smile, Anna reached for an apron.

‘‘Yeah, I got the fried chicken makings for you—stuck it in the cookbook.’’ He hid his own smile with his beer when her head swiveled.

‘‘You . . . oh, well . . .’’

‘‘I’d have given it to you last night, but it was late when I got back, and you were in bed. I ran into Jim when I left Grace’s.’’

‘‘Jim?’’ Puzzled annoyance showed clearly on her face.

‘‘Went on over to his place to help him tune up this outboard that’s been giving him trouble.’’

‘‘You were at Jim’s last night?’’

‘‘Stayed later than I meant to, but there was a ball game on. The O’s were playing out in California.’’

She could have cheerfully smashed him over the head with his own beer bottle. ‘‘You spent last night working on an engine and watching a ball game?’’