Thorn nodded again, and, with great fatigue, rubbed his forehead. Inside he longed to tell her, have it out in the open. But it was too late. The deception had gone on too long. She would hate him for it. She might even hate the child. It was too late. She must never know.

"I've been thinking about Mrs. Baylock," said Katherine.

"Yes?"

"I've been thinking we should keep her."

"She seemed very nice today," said Thorn quietly.

"Damien is having anxieties. Maybe because he heard us talking about her in the car."

"Yes," replied Thorn.

It made sense. It could have caused the fear in the car. They thought he wasn't listening, but obviously he was taking it all in. The thought of losing her had filled him with terror.

"Yes," Thorn said again, and his voice was filled with hope.

"I'd like to give her other duties," said Katherine. "So she'll be away from home for a while in the day. Maybe have her do the afternoon shopping so I can start spending more time with Daimen."

"Who does it now? The shopping."

"Mrs. Horton."

"Will she mind giving it up?"

"I don't know. But I want to spend more time with Damien."

"I think that's wise."

They fell silent again, and Katherine turned away.

"I think that's good," reiterated Thorn. "I think that's wise."

For an instant he felt that everything was going to be all right. And then he saw that Katherine was crying. It tore at him, and he watched, helpless to comfort her.

"You were right, Kathy," he whispered. "Damien heard us talking about firing her. That's all it was. It was as simple as that."

"I pray," she responded in a quivering voice.

"Of course . . ." he whispered. "That's all it was."

She nodded, and when the tears had subsided, she stood, looking up at the darkened house.

"Well," she said, "the best thing to do with a bad day is to end it. I'm going up to bed."

"I'll just sit out here for a while. I'll be up in a minute."

Her footsteps faded behind him, leaving him alone with his thoughts.