He gazed at the coffeepot. “Ten years in the NFL, and this is what it all comes down to.”

Despite his complaints, Kevin was surprised how quickly the next hour passed. He poured coffee, carried food back and forth, entertained the guests, and swiped some of Molly’s pancakes for himself. She was a great cook, and he got sparks out of her by telling her he’d decided he’d let her keep the job.

Seeing those eyes flash felt good. Last night’s confrontation seemed to have lifted some of her depression, and she had a little of the sparkle back that he remembered from Door County. He, on the other hand, had stared at the bedroom ceiling until dawn. Never again would he be able to think about the baby as an abstraction. Last night had given her a name. Sarah.

He blinked and grabbed the coffeepot for another round of refills.

Charlotte Long peeked in to see how Molly was doing and ended up eating two muffins. The sticky buns had gotten a little burned at the corners, but the French toast was good, and Molly didn’t hear any complaints. She’d just downed her own breakfast standing up when Amy appeared.

“Sorry I’m late,” she muttered. “I didn’t get out of here until like eleven last night.”

Molly spotted a fresh hickey on her neck, this one just above her collarbone. She was ashamed to feel another pang of jealousy. “You did a good job. The house already looks better. Why don’t you get started on those dishes?”

Amy wandered over to the sink and began loading the dishwasher. Clips with tiny pink starfish on them held her hair away from her face. She’d outlined, shadowed, and mascaraed her eyes, but either she hadn’t bothered with lipstick or Troy had already eaten it off.

“Your husband’s really cute. I don’t watch football, but even I know who he is. That’s so cool. Troy says he’s like the third-best quarterback in the NFL.”

“First-best. He just needs to control his talent better.”

Amy stretched, hiking her purple top above her navel and forcing her shorts even lower on her hipbones. “I heard you just got married, too. Isn’t it great?”

“A dream come true,” Molly said dryly. Apparently Amy didn’t read People.

“We’ve been married like three and a half months.”

Just about the same as Kevin and Molly. Except Kevin and Molly weren’t having any trouble keeping their hands off each other.

Amy resumed loading the dishwasher. “Everybody said we were too young—I’m nineteen and Troy’s twenty—but we couldn’t wait any longer. Me and Troy are Christians. We don’t believe in sex before marriage.”

“So now you’re making up for lost time?”

“It’s so cool.” Amy grinned, and Molly smiled back.