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She twisted up her hair and secured it with an oversized clip just as the doorbell rang. She answered to see Katie holding the most adorable baby in the world.

“See? There’s Grandma,” Katie said.

“Hi, sweetie.” Maggie reached for Emily.

Katie came inside and set the diaper bag onto the nearest chair. “I’ve put in a change of clothing just in case she spits up. There’s also a bottle of formula. Now, when she—“

“Katie, just go and have a fun evening with your husband. I do have some experience with babies, you know.”

Katie kissed Maggie on the cheek. “I keep forgetting you’re the expert. I’ll be back about ten for her if that’s okay.”

“She could stay overnight with me. I don’t have a crib but Grandma’s bed is warm and soft.”

Katie shook her head. “I think we’d miss our baby girl too much for her to be gone for so long. Maybe next time.”

As Katie left, Maggie stood at the front door and lifted Emily’s hand, helping her wave as Katie drove away.

“Okay, let’s see what’s on TV so we can settle down for the night.” She sat on the couch and cuddled Emily on her lap as she flicked through the channels. Finally settling on a movie, Maggie rubbed Emily’s back as she gurgled and stuck her fist into her mouth.

Katie had done the very same thing. In fact, the other two girls had too. Must run in the family. A loud commercial came on and Emily screamed.

“Oh, there, there, was that an obnoxious noise that scared my sweetheart?” She kissed her granddaughter’s head.

Emily continued to wail, so Maggie rocked her up and down a few times but nothing helped. She decided to walk around the living room just as the phone rang.

“Okay, let’s see who that is. Maybe one of your aunts… Hello?”

“Maggie.”

She almost dropped Emily when she heard Jon’s voice.

“Sorry I missed your call,” he said.

“I should have guessed you’d be at the clinic.”

“It’s been hectic the last day or two.”

Emily chose that moment to scream louder.

“Sorry about that, but I’m babysitting my granddaughter tonight.”

“Sounds like she has a great pair of lungs on her.”

“Oh yeah, just like her mother’s.” Maggie balanced Emily on her hip while securing the phone between her ear and shoulder. She paced up and down the living room. “Did you get my message about making things up with your mother?”

“I did, but I don’t know if I want to.”

“Think about it, because if anything happened to her you’d regret it, I know you would. She really loves you and you’ve been the centre of her universe since your father died.”

“I know, but she’s got to learn not to cross the line with me and not to concern herself with what I do with my life.”

Emily’s screaming calmed, turning into a constant gurgle again.

Maggie sat her on the couch and played peek-a-boo with Emily’s teddy bear, hoping that would keep her granddaughter occupied while she continued her conversation with Jon.

“So what about us?” he asked.

His question didn’t surprise her. She’d sensed he was leading to the ‘where they stood and where they went from here’ thing. “What about us, Jon?”

“I know there’s something very special between us. Our time together wasn’t just about great sex.”

Maggie knew that too, and that’s what scared her the most. “I can’t see how this would ever work out, even if we didn’t have the age difference thing. We live miles apart.”

“Then one of us should move to where the other one lives—”

“Jon, stop that right now. I loved Mallorca, don’t get me wrong, but I have my daughters and now my granddaughter to think about.” She playfully pushed the teddy into Emily’s belly. “And not to mention I have a business in Maine.”

“I understand that so…maybe I’ll think about coming to you.”

Maggie closed her eyes. There’s nothing she’d like more. But deep down inside she knew one day he’d wake up and realise how much he’d sacrificed and regret it. Even start hating her and that would break her heart.

“Maggie, tell me what you’re thinking.”

“You moving here would be a big step in your life and I don’t think you’ve thought it through enough.”

“How about I look into things? I mean, see if I like it when I visit at Christmas. You still want me to, right?”

She had to be fair and not shoot down everything he said. “Yes, I do and okay, that sounds sensible enough.”

“I’ll miss you until then.”

“We can talk on the phone and there’s always email too,” Maggie said, knowing she’d miss him too.

Emily started crying again.

“I hate to cut our conversation short but I think my granddaughter needs either feeding or changing so I’ve got to go.”

“Okay, either give me a call or I’ll try and catch you in a couple of days.”

“Sure, and Jon, remember what I said about your mother.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Maggie had let that slip out before she’d realised it. Maybe he hadn’t heard. Emily’s high octane scream had probably drowned it out.

Maggie reached into Katie’s bag and pulled out the bottle of formula. She carried it and Emily to the kitchen where she heated up some water. “Okay, supper’s nearly ready.”

When she’d checked that the milk was the right temperature, she sat on the chair and offered the bottle to Emily, who drank steadily, all the time looking at Maggie with her big blue eyes. Her little hands wrapped around the bottle as she sucked hard.

“Don’t you tell your mom or aunts. In fact, let this be the first little secret we ever share. Your grandma had a fling while she was on vacation. I know it was silly but now she’s in a predicament. You see, she has deep feelings for the man…young man, I should say. If she gives in, gives her heart to him, what happens when he realises, as he will, that being with an older woman isn’t really what he wants? What happens when he wants to have a baby just like you?”

Emily continued to suck while not taking her eyes off Maggie. God, she was so beautiful.

“Remember, don’t tell anyone we’ve had this conversation.”

* * * *

Jon sensed that Maggie was still apprehensive about what lay ahead for them. He knew part of her resistance was the age difference and her fear that one day he’d want a family of his own. He put his hands behind his head. Maybe if he got a vasectomy that would convince her he had no interest in becoming a father. It would take away her fears and put one of the hurdles out of the way. That was something to consider.

Next one, his mother. Maggie was right. If anything happened to her while they weren’t talking, he’d never forgive himself. But he was like his father, or what he’d been told about his father’s personality, so like his dad, Jon was stubborn. He liked others to say they were sorry and make the first move towards reconciliation.

Nevertheless, he’d try, if only for Maggie’s sake.

* * * *

Maggie hadn’t realised she’d dozed off until the doorbell ringing woke her. She sat up, startled at the noise. Emily was fast asleep, safely nestled in pillows beside her. After picking up Emily, Maggie opened the door for Katie.

“Sh,” Maggie said, putting her finger to her lips. “She’s fast asleep.”

“Looks like you’ve been in the land of slumber, too.”

Maggie caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror in the entryway. Her hair was a tangled mess and she’d forgotten to take off her makeup and now looked like a cross between Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper. She gave in to a yawn. “I don’t think I’ve got used to being back on US time yet.”

“You should have said something. I mean, if you weren’t up to babysitting.”

“I’ll always be up to babysitting.”

“This from the woman who thought she was too young to be a granny.”

“Okay, it takes some getting used to but now I’m hooked. And it’s so much easier than being the parent. All the spoiling and none of the discipline.”

“So how’s she been?” Katie asked.

“She had a couple of outbursts, one while I was talking to J—” Maggie stopped herself just in time. “When I was talking to Joannie from the Chamber of Commerce. And she’s been fed and changed. So how was your date?”

“Not so good.”

“You want a drink of something? You can tell me what not so good means.”

Katie sat in a kitchen chair and rested the still sleeping Emily in her lap while Maggie took out two glasses and poured them both some soda.

“Since I’ve given birth to Emily, I haven’t had an orgasm. Do you think that’s got something to do with it? I mean, how about you, Mom? What happened after you had me?”

In all honesty, Maggie couldn’t remember that far back. “It takes time for your body to readjust. Have you told Nick?”

Katie shook her head. “I’ve been faking it. I figure it’s a lot easier. You know how men’s egos are when it comes to this sort of thing.”

Maggie put her hand on her daughter’s arm. “You should always be honest with your spouse. He’ll understand.”

“But I don’t want him to think I’m blaming him for not getting the job done.”

“He won’t, honey, really he won’t. Now, how about all three of my girls going out to lunch with me on Saturday? Apart from giving Emily her dress and toy from Mallorca, I haven’t had a chance to give anyone else their gifts.”

“Sounds great, and maybe we can pump Sarah for info about her new beau.”

Maggie took a sip of her soda. “Anyone seen him yet?”

“Annie got a glimpse of him last week and said he’s super-delicious.”

Maggie thought of Jon. What would her girls think of Jon? And what would they think about her having a wild fling with him? “Well, good for Annie. It’s what every girl needs, a super-hot man.”

* * * *

If he saw another patient with the same symptoms he’d go mad. Still, his shift was nearly over. The weekend was ahead.

His first all by himself.

He’d phone Maggie, sometime, maybe email her too. And he’d start to look into the possibility of working in Maine, but first he’d have to check if he could even practice there with a degree from a Spanish medical school.

However, first on his list of chores was visiting his mother. Maggie was right. They shouldn’t be enemies. And it certainly wouldn’t help the situation between her and Maggie. He drove to the house. He’d given her back the door key and now he was just like any other visitor and rang the bell.

Miguel answered it. “Jon, so good to see you. Your mother will be pleased too.”

“Is she around?” He stepped inside.

“She’s sitting at the pool reading. I’ll give you some privacy so you can talk.”

“Thank you. And can I just ask if I have your support. I mean about my relationship with Maggie.”

“She is an attractive woman and I don’t think age has anything to do with matters of the heart.”

“So that’s a yes.”