Absolutely, Positively

it.”

    Parker narrowed his eyes. “That's your view of the situation, Ms. Abberwick. There's another side to Harry that you don't seem to know about. He's not exactly Mr. Nice Guy when he wants to force one of us to do what he thinks we ought to do.”

    “You can say that again,” Leon muttered. “Harry plays hardball, and that's a fact.”

    Gilford gave Molly a wry look. “My father and Leon are both right, Ms. Abberwick. Harry doesn't hesitate to resort to blackmail, arm-twisting, or outright threats when he deems it necessary.”

    Molly smiled complacently. “I don't doubt it. He gets that from both sides of his family, I'm afraid.”

    Evangeline was irritated. “What's that supposed to mean?”

    “It means,” Molly said coolly, “that Harry can be just as hard as you force him to be. He's half Stratton and half Trevelyan, after all. The thing is, none of you truly understand him.”

    Olivia waved one hand in a disgusted, supercilious gesture. “That's an inane thing to say, Molly. I assure you, I understand Harry very well.”

    “No,” Molly said simply. “You don't. You can't.”

    “I happen to be a professional,” Olivia reminded her.

    “That's your problem,” Molly said. “No offense, Olivia, but you're a prisoner of your own professional training. It forces you to view the behavior of other people from a certain theoretical perspective.”

    “That perspective happens to be grounded in years of solid scientific research and study,” Olivia retorted.

    “You've tried to analyze Harry using conventional techniques,” Molly said. “But they won't work on him. I don't intend to go into the subject now, but you can believe me when I say that Harry's different.”

    Olivia gave a ladylike snort. “That ridiculous statement only goes to show how sadly uninformed and willfully naive you are. You have no experience in the field of clinical psychology, Molly. Your opinions are nothing more than examples of wishful thinking.”

    “Speaking of wishful thinking,” Brandon said dryly, “I wish you would get off the subject of Harry's psychological problems, Olivia. I more or less promised the guy that I'd try to keep you from analyzing him at every opportunity.”

    Olivia flushed. “What are you talking about?”

    “It annoys him,” Brandon explained. “And I can't say I blame him. You know something? Molly's right. Harry has done me a major favor. The least I can do is keep you off his back. Whatever else you can say about Harry, he's smart. If he wants professional help, let him get it outside the family, okay?”

    Olivia was clearly taken aback. She started to say something and then lapsed into silence.

    Brandon looked at Molly. “I think we all understand what you're trying to say here. I, for one, have to agree that, from your point of view, it probably does look as if we've all tried to use Harry in one way or another.”

    “And tried to force him to choose sides in a war he never started,” Molly concluded.

    “You can say that again,” Josh muttered. “I lived with him for years, remember? I know what it's been like for him. Everyone is always after him. Always trying to get him to turn his back on one side of the family or the other. Molly's right. Everyone here has been more than happy to use him when it was convenient.”

    Danielle lifted her chin imperiously. “I disagree completely. No one has used Harry. He has responsibilities in the family, and he's carried them out from time to time. That's all there is to it.”

    “Whatever the truth of the matter,” Gilford said, “it's obvious that Molly has a different take on the situation. And like it or not, she's the one who's going to be married to Harry. I think she's made her point. None of us wants to have to go through her to get to Harry. As his wife, she's going to have a lot of control over the situation. If she decides to protect him from the rest of us, she's going to be able to do it.”

    Evangeline gave Molly an assessing look. “What do you want from us?”

    “As I told you when you first sat down,” Molly said, “I have two demands.”

    Josh's mouth curved with anticipation. “What are they?”

    “First,” Molly said, “in honor of his forthcoming marriage, I want a bachelor party for Harry. A real bachelor party. One that will be attended by every able-bodied male on both sides of the family. No excuses will be accepted. Josh and Brandon will organize it.”

    Everyone seated at