Megan's mate

He grinned, showing gaps where baby teeth had been.

So they say. Friendly ones.

Maybe not all of them.

At least Kevin hoped not.

Alex says there's lots of them,

and sometimes they moan and scream. And last year a man fell right out of the tower window and broke all his bones on the rocks.

She shuddered, knowing that part was sterling truth. The Calhoun emeralds, discovered a year before, had drawn out more than a legend and romance. They'd drawn out a thief and a murderer.

That's over with now, Kevin. The Towers is safe.

Yeah.

But he was a boy, after all, and hoped for at least a little danger.

There was another boy who was already plotting adventures. It felt as though he'd been waiting forever at the airport gate for his brother to arrive. Alex had one hand in

his mother's, the other in Jenny'sbecause, as his mother had told him, he was the oldest and had to keep his sister close.

His mother was holding the baby, his brand-new brother. Alex could hardly wait to show him off.

Why aren't they here yet?

Because it takes time for people to get off the plane and out the gate.

How come ifs called a gate?

Jenny wanted to know.

It doesn't look like a gate.

I think they used to have gates, so they still call them that.

It was the best Suzanna

could come up with after a frazzling half hour at the airport with three children in tow.

Then the baby cooed and made her smile.

Look, Mom! There they are!

Before Suzanna could respond, Alex had broken away and made a beeline toward Kevin, Jenny hot on his heels. She winced as they barely missed plowing into other passengers, then raised a resigned hand to wave at Megan.

Hi!

Alex, having been schooled in airport procedure by his mother, manfully took Kevin's carryon.

I'm supposed to take this 'cause we're picking you up.

It

bothered him a little that, even though his mother claimed he was growing like a weed, Kevin was still taller.

Have you still got the fort?

We got the one at the big house,

Alex told him.

And

we got a new one at the

cottage. We live at the cottage.

With our dad,

Jenny piped up.

We got new names and everything. He can fix anything, and he built me a new bedroom.

It has pink curtains,

Alex said with a sneer.

Knowing a brawl was dangerously close, Suzanna neatly stepped between her two children.

How was your flight?

She bent down, kissed Kevin, then straightened to kiss Megan.

It was fine, thanks.

Megan still didn't know quite how to respond to Suzanna's easy affection. There were still times she wanted to shout, I slept with your

husband. Don't you understand? Maybe he wasn't your husband yet, and I didn't know he would be, but facts are facts.

A little delayed,

she said instead.

I hope

you haven't been waiting long.

Hours,

Alex claimed.

Thirty minutes,

Suzanna corrected with a laugh.

How about the rest of your

stuff?

I had it shipped. This is it for now.

Megan tapped her garment bag. Unable to resist, she peeked down at the bright-eyed baby in Suzanna's arms. He was all pink and smooth, with the dark blue eyes of a newborn and a shock of glossy black hair.

She felt the foolish smile that comes over adults around babies spread over her face as he waved an impossibly small fist under her nose.

Oh, he's beautiful. So tiny.

He's three weeks old,

Alex said importantly.

His name is Christian.

'Cause that was our great-grandfather's name, Jenny supplied.

We have new

cousins, too. Bianca and Cordelia but we call her Delia and Ethan.

Alex rolled his eyes.

Everybody had babies.

He's nice,

Kevin decided after a long look.

Is he my brother, too?

Absolutely,

Suzanna said, before Megan could respond.

I'm afraid you've got an

awfully big family now.

Kevin gave her a shy look and touched a testing finger to Christian's waving fist.

I

don't mind.

Suzanna smiled over at Megan.

Want to trade?

Megan hesitated a moment, then gave in.

I'd love to.

She cradled the baby while

Suzanna took the garment bag.

Oh, Lord.

Unable to resist, she nuzzled.

It's easy

to forget how tiny they are. How wonderful they smell. And you...

As they walked

through the terminal, she took a good look at Suzanna.

How can you look so

terrific, when you had a baby only three weeks ago?

Oh, bless you. I've been feeling like such a frump. Alex, no running.

Same goes, Kevin. How's Sloan taking to fatherhood?

Megan wanted to know.

I

hated not coming out when Mandy had the baby, but with selling the house and getting things in order to make the move, I just couldn't manage it.

Everyone understood. And Sloan's a terrific daddy. He'd have Delia strapped on his back twenty-four hours a day if Amanda let him. He designed this incredible nursery for the babies. Window seats, cubbyholes, wonderful built-in cupboards for toys. Delia and Bianca share it, and when C.C. and Trent are in town which, since The Retreat opened, is more often than not Ethan's in there, too.

It's wonderful that they'll all grow up together.

She looked at Kevin, Alex and