“It was a reasonable concern,” Dena said defensively. “So I spent a little extra time with Harrison, and I scheduled extra sessions with Toby.” She sighed. “I quickly discovered that he was a warm, loving father who would do anything for his kid. Harrison got more outgoing and happier by the day. Now he’s a well-adjusted kid with lots of friends and a great sense of self.”

“He is,” Reggie said. “And you’re an amazing teacher.”

Dena grinned. “On my good days. During one of the sessions, Toby admitted he felt guilty about Lori. Not only for the abuse but because it had been so unnecessary. He wasn’t in love with Lori—he was going to marry her to give Harrison a mother. Not the actions of a man who believes it’s safe to give his heart. That’s why he told you he wasn’t going to get serious with you.”

“You are wise beyond your years, Obi-Wan.”

“I wish that were true. The question for you is, how do you feel? Are you willing to get involved, knowing he might never trust you enough to fall in love, or do you walk away?”

“Are those my only two choices?”

Dena smiled. “You’re kind of the only one who can answer that.”

“I know. I like him, but I’m not in love with him.” How could she be? They weren’t hanging out all that much. Sure, she saw him several days a week at the knitting afternoons and they’d had dinner, but it wasn’t like they were dating.

“Don’t you think the fact that he warned you off is significant? If he wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t have bothered.” Dena leaned toward her. “I think he was talking to himself as much as to you.”

“I need to think about this. You’ve sent me in an unexpected direction.” She held up the album. “We have to get through this.”

“We do.”

They chose a dozen more pictures, including several with their mom seriously pregnant.

“Adorable,” Reggie said, positioning the photograph in the scanner.

Dena flipped to the next page and stared. “Was this my crib?”

Reggie glanced over her shoulder. “It has to be. That’s you as a baby.” She smiled at the stenciled castle painted on the head-and footboard and the draped fabric hanging overhead. “It’s like a princess crib. Mom went with a teddy bear theme with me. Probably because I’m the second kid, and doing the princess thing again was too much work.” She chuckled. “Imagine if we’d had a third sibling. That one would have probably slept in a tent.”

She glanced at Dena, waiting for a quick retort, but her sister was staring at the picture as if she’d never seen it before.

“What?” Reggie demanded.

“I’d forgotten about the princess bed,” she whispered. “But if I have a little girl...”