Mary reached across the table and stroked the back of her daughter's hand. "I am sure you will sweetheart, and dad and I will feel a lot better knowin... you will be with her. I will phone her now and ask her, but I know she won't mind. She has often said how much she likes you." Jenny smiled as she looked down from her third-story apartment balcony at her sister helping Susan unloading her suitcases. From her high vantage point, she watched as the teenager leant over the edge of the car boot.. "I saw Dr. Blackmon walk through the door. He had pulled his surgical mask down and I could tell from the look on his face that things weren't good. When he said, "Chief and Mrs. Adkins, I'm sorry," I made a bee-line for the door, but Dad stepped in front of me and wrapped me in a bear hug. The moment his arms went around me, I burst into tears.Stroking my hair and kissing the top of my head, he mumbled things to me like he had when I was a kid; every other sentence was, "I love you, Baby."I'm. I was sipping my rye, just enjoying the companionship.Leah had to go to bed pretty early, and of course Dorian went with her, despite her protests he stay and have a good time. I was sitting in an easy chair while the girls were all piled on a couch in front of the fire. Eric pulled up a chair beside me. He waved a hand around."How much did all this cost?"Something about the way he said it irritated me. Eric tended to be jealous sometimes, for no good reason. I hadn't been around him much in. For the first time, she felt that she was finally doing what she was designed for. The last year with Karl, she'd played the part of loving housewife when a vast hidden talent lay untapped. Recent events had activated some latent capabilities within her and she'd only just realized her true potential. She loved her family more than anything and felt happy knowing she was now better served to protect them.During the sixty minute drive, her mind eagerly anticipated the reunion. She understood.