Poor Little Orphan Girl

Carolyn figured her life was just about perfect. She had the best little baby in the world, Logan and she would be married soon and she had a family at her job. She was one very happy woman. Jenna Logan was two months old and Carolyn was scheduled to go back to work soon. It was going to be hard, but she was ready. They had a wonderful woman to take care of Jenna while they worked and she'd be on light duty for a few weeks yet, so the work wouldn't be too strenuous.

Mike came home from early and gave the baby a big kiss. Then turned his attention to his wife and wiped all motherly duties out of her mind with a devastating kiss. "How're my two favorite women today?" he grinned leered at her.

Carolyn blushed. The man was incorrigible. You'd think he'd never been deprived in the bedroom before. It was a good thing she was on the pill, or they'd be in trouble again real soon. "We are fine, Daddy. Aren't we, Jenna?"

"You know since I'm home early and I thought we'd go out to a restaurant and celebrate."

"Celebrate? Did you make captain?"

Mike made a scoffing sound. "Like that'll ever happen. No, we're celebrating the return to normal life after Ms. Logan here made a spectacular entrance."

"So we're going to a fast food restaurant again?"

"Oh, you're funny. No, Ms. Smart Mouth. A real restaurant where they bring the food to you. So get all dolled up here, while I visit with my beautiful little girl and we can go."

"It's not going to be too fancy, is it? I can't fit into some of my…."

Mike put his arm around her waist and pulled her against him for a big kiss. "Whatever you put on will look beautiful. Just because you're wearing it." He informed her.

She lightly cuffed him on the arm. "You've been drinking." She teased.

"Not a drop, scouts honor." He grinned at her.

"You were never a scout, you scoundrel."

"Cross my heart….I swear, not a drop. I just want to show off my beautiful ladies to everyone and have a good dinner. Unless you'd rather stay in." he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Carolyn laughed and pushed away from him. "Lech. I'll be back out in a bit."

Mike turned to his daughter and put his finger down for her to grab. She latched on with a strong grip and looked at her father with large brown eyes. He could swear that she wanted to talk to him. He grinned at her and saw her eyes watch his mouth. She'd be talking to him soon enough.

Carolyn found a knit dress of soft green that didn't show much of her small residual baby weight. Though it was going away she was still self conscious about it and the doctor said that was normal. She hadn't gotten it in a couple of months and she wouldn't loose it overnight. She put on heels, thankful that Mike was tall enough that she could wear them and not tower over him. She dusted her nose and a touch of lipstick and she was ready.

Mike was just finishing changing Miss Jenna when she came out of the bedroom. That had been a big surprise to her that he was such a willing and adept partner at such things as dirty diapers. He had a real knack for babies, something he'd worried about for months before this little girl came along. He saw her and sat up admiring her. "You look fabulous." He said softly.

Carolyn couldn't help feeling very pretty with his admiring look. "Are you almost ready? Do you want to change or anything?"

"I'll wash up a bit then we can go."

Carolyn packed a diaper bag and got the young lady into her carrier and turned to see Mike coming toward her. "That was quick."

"I'm hungry." He grinned at her.

The restaurant was a family one with children of all ages. Mike eyed the rowdy ones with a cops eye and they soon toned down their activities around that particular table. The food was good, filling and plentiful. There were people there without families and even a few singles. It was a nice time and the waitress thought Jenna was sweet. She brought them a piece of pie after the meal without being asked.

"We didn't order this." Mike said stopping her from putting his down.

"I know. That young woman did. She paid for it." She gestured over her shoulder behind her.

Mike and Carolyn both looked in the required direction. "What young woman? There's no one there." Mike said tersely.

"Why that young woman in red….Hmm, she's gone."

"I think I've had enough. I don't think I can eat another bite." Carolyn said uneasily.

The waitress stood up and eyed them. "She said you might say that. She said you are police officers. She thought you might be suspicious. So I'm telling you, she had nothing whatsoever to do with this pie, beyond paying for it. She has not touched it and I've served several people from the same pie and they're fine. If you don't want it, I'll take it home with me. The young woman did say that this is your favorite, ma'am."

"She knows me?" Carolyn demanded.

"She seemed to. I thought she'd have come over to say hello, but she said she'd catch you later. I took her the check and she gave me a nice tip. She seemed really nice."

"I think we need to be going. Can you bring us the check? And you can have the pie, if you want it, with our compliments." Mike said smoothly.

The waitress nodded wisely and put the pie back on her tray. She pulled out her order pad and gave them the check. "I hope you enjoyed your meal. Please come back again." She said professionally and moved off.

Mike threw down enough money to cover the bill and a tip and helped Carolyn get her jacket on. Then he picked up Jennas carrier and followed her to the door. Carolyn paused by the door. Mike handed her the carrier and stepped ahead of her going out the door, prepared to either go for a person or his gun whichever the case was.

No one was out of the ordinary. Carolyn stepped out and headed for the car. "Congratulations, Carolyn." Said a voice from between two cars.

Carolyn froze and Mike put himself between the speaker and his family. "Who are you? Come out where we can see you."

The woman who stepped out was on the short side and wore red. She saw Mike but her attention was focused on Carolyn. The light was dimming, but not so dim that he couldn't see her face. He heard Carolyn gasp. "What're you doing here?"

The woman smiled and cocked her head ever so slightly to one side. "Is that any way to greet your sister?" she asked.

TBC