Stella sighed in frustration and looked up from her results as Lindsay walked past her in the hallway.
"Hey Lindsay."
Her young friend turned. "Hey Stel." She shifted her arms, trying to keep a hold on her bag, a white bakery box and a nine-month-old boy at the same time.
"Hey Sammy," Stella greeted him. He stopped and looked up at her with blue eyes so like his father. But he was easily distracted again and started wiggling.
Lindsay hefted him up and Stella grabbed onto the box before she dropped it. "Thanks."
They both turned in the direction of the layout room. "What are you doing here? I thought you had the day off."
Lindsay huffed. "I do and so did Danny, till Mac called him in. You must be swamped."
"Don't stay too long or you'll be put to work."
Stella saw Danny behind the glass wall, examining photographs of their latest crime scene. She handed back the box to Lindsay and opened the door. "See you tomorrow. Bye Sammy."
The door shut behind them and Stella watched as Danny looked up. His expression softened as he saw his wife and son, and he grinned. Lindsay kissed him and handed him the baby while she opened the box. Sam cuddled into his dad and clapped his little hands together.
Stella sensed someone behind her and knew without looking who it was.
"What's Sam doing here?" Mac asked, disapprovingly. He moved beside her and Stella glanced up at him.
"Give them a break, Mac. It's Danny's birthday."
In the layout room Lindsay lit the single candle on the cake and started singing. Stella watched as Danny stroked his baby boys' soft blond hair, and looked up at Lindsay with an expression so full of love she had to blink away tears.
Stella laughed and wiped under eyes as she turned to face Mac. "Come on. I think we all deserve a break."