Blue Dahlia

different, that everything would just spring back where it was after Lily came out.”
    “Nothing much springs after having a baby. But you’re young and active. You’ll get your body back.”
    “I hope.” She reached for her favorite silver hoops while Stella nuzzled Lily. “Stella, I’m going to tell you something, because you’re my best friend and I love you.”
    “Oh, sweetie.”
    “Well, it’s true. Last week, when Logan came by to bring Lily her doll, and you and the boys came outside? Before I went in and he popped the big Q? You know what the four of you looked like?”
    “No.”
    “A family. And I think whatever your head’s running around with, in your heart you know that. And that that’s the way it’s going to be.”
    “You’re awfully young to be such a know-it-all.”
    “It’s not the years, it’s the miles.” Hayley tossed a cloth over her shoulder. “Come here, baby girl. Mama’s going to show you off to the dinner guests before you go to sleep. You ready?” she asked Stella.
    “I guess we’ll find out.”
    They started toward the stairs, with Stella gathering her boys on the way, and met Roz on the landing.
    “Well, don’t we all look fine.”
    “We had to wear new shirts,” Luke complained.
    “And you look so handsome in them. I wonder if I can be greedy and steal both these well-dressed young men as my escorts.” She held out both her hands for theirs. “It’s going to storm,” she said with a glance out the window. “And look here, I believe that must be our Dr. Carnegie, and right on time. What in the world is that man driving? It looks like a rusty red box on wheels.”
    “I think it’s a Volvo.” Hayley moved in to spy over Roz’s shoulder. “A really old Volvo. They’re like one of the safest cars, and so dopey-looking, they’re cool. Oh, my, look at that!” Her eyebrows lifted when Mitch got out of the car. “Serious hottie alert.”
    “Good God, Hayley, he’s old enough to be your daddy.”
    Hayley just smiled at Roz. “Hot’s hot. And he’s hot.”
    “Maybe he needs a drink of water,” Luke suggested.
    “And we’ll get one for Hayley, too.” Amused, Roz walked down to greet her first guest.
    He brought a good white wine as a hostess gift, which she approved of, but he opted for mineral water when she offered him a drink. She supposed a man who drove a car manufactured about the same time he’d been born needed to keep his wits about him. He made appropriate noises over the baby, shook hands soberly with the boys.
    She gave him points for tact when he settled into small talk rather than asking more about the reason she wanted to hire him.
    By the time Logan arrived, they were comfortable enough.
    “I don’t think we’ll wait for Harper.” Roz got to her feet. “My son is chronically late, and often missing in action.”
    “I’ve got one of my own,” Mitch said. “I know how it goes.”
    “Oh, I didn’t realize you had children.”
    “Just the one. Josh is twenty. He goes to college here. You really do have a beautiful home, Ms. Harper.”
    “Roz, and thank you. It’s one of my great loves. And here,” she added as Harper dashed in from the kitchen, “is another.”
    “Late. Sorry. Almost forgot. Hey, Logan, Stella. Hi, guys.” He kissed his mother, then looked at Hayley. “Hi. Where’s Lily?”
    “Sleeping.”
    “Dr. Carnegie, my tardy son, Harper.”
    “Sorry. I hope I didn’t hold you up.”
    “Not at all,” Mitch said as they shook hands. “Happy to meet you.”
    “Why don’t we sit down? It looks like David’s outdone himself.”
    An arrangement of summer flowers in a long, low bowl centered the table. Candles burned, slim white tapers in gleaming silver, on the sideboard. David had used her white-on-white china with pale yellow and green linens for casual elegance. A cool and artful lobster salad was already arranged on each plate. David sailed in with wine.
    “Who can I interest in this very nice Pinot Grigio?”
    The doctor, Roz noted, stuck with mineral water.
    “You know,” Harper began as they enjoyed the main course of stuffed pork, “you look awfully familiar.” He narrowed his eyes on Mitch’s face. “I’ve been trying to figure it out. You didn’t teach at the U of M while I was there, did you?”
    “I might have, but I don’t recall you being in any of my classes.”
    “No. I don’t think that’s it anyway. Maybe I went to one of your lectures or something. Wait. Wait. I’ve