"Home from the zoo. Picked up some dinner.."

"The zoo?" Susan looked at Abby in shock as she read the text message on her phone. "He took them to the zoo? Two days before Christmas?" Abby shrugged as she steered the car through the slushy roads and turned on a side street.

"They probably wore their snow suits," she said confidently and then frowned. "Didn't they?" Susan shrugged at the thought of them not wearing them. Scott would remember something like that. Wouldn't he? He was a dad after all. And a doctor. She glanced back at the car seat behind Abby and smiled at a sleeping Declan. He had spent his day at the hospital daycare but Cosmo and Lauren went to the zoo. With Scott. In the snow. She shook her head again. What had he been thinking?

Cosmo and Lauren were at the big table that filled one end of her living room busy with crayons and markers and paper when Susan opened the door.

"Hi Mom," they both said as they looked up and then went back to work.

"Hi Moms," Scott called as he appeared at the kitchen door. He braced his hands above his head on the door frame and winked at her. He looked relaxed and comfortable in jeans and flannel shirt. And totally at home. Susan dropped her bag onto the chair by the door and made her way curiously to the dining table. Abby carried Declan inside and closed the door behind them.

"What are you two doing?" Susan asked as she scooched Cosmo over in the chair and then pulled him onto her lap.

"Dr. Porter said we should make a book about what we did today," Cosmo laughed as Susan nuzzled the back of his neck. "Stop it, Mom." Susan straightened and surveyed his pictures.

"You went to the….zoo?" She looked up at Scott curiously. "Wasn't it a little cold?"

"We were dressed for it," Scott nodded. "It was Molly's idea actually. We've gone a couple of times when it's colder. The animals are more active and Lincoln Park has an awesome light exhibit this time of year."

"What animal is this?" Abby asked as she shifted Declan to her hip and picked up Lauren's paper.

"Snow monkeys!" Lauren clapped her hands and jumped to her feet in her chair. "Dey was swimming inna hot tub!"

"Hey, Lauren," Scott said as he moved closer to keep her from falling off the chair. "Show your mom what a pygmy loris looks like."

"A pygmy SLOW lowis," she corrected him as she turned around in the chair to look at him.

"Okay," Scott agreed. "A pygmy slow loris. Go on, show her."

"Watch this, Mom," Cosmo whispered. "It's hilarious." Susan suppressed a smile and watched Lauren. The little girl turned to her mother and tucked her hands into the front of her overalls. She pursed her pink lips into a tight bow and then widened her brown eyes as big as they would go. Cosmos clapped his hand to his forehead and giggled as he shook his head. Susan chuckled and Abby laughed.

"And that is exactly how they look," Scott proclaimed seriously. He swung the little girl off her feet and tucked her back on her bottom in the chair. She continued to stare at Cosmo with the loris face.

"They come from the rainforest," he said as he giggled again and went back to coloring.

"They has five fingews so dey can climb slooooowly," Lauren drawled as she moved her arms in a slow climbing motion. Abby smiled and shook her head and then jostled Cosmo in her arms.

"Sounds like Luka is rubbing off on you with the educational field trips," she chuckled. "I need to take this guy home and make a diaper adjustment."

"I picked up some Thai," Scott said as she headed for the door with the baby. "There's plenty for all of us."

"Thanks," Abby waved as she opened the door. "We'll be back." Susan followed Scott into the kitchen where several bags stood on the counter.

"Thank you for taking them today and giving Susie a break," she said as he went through her cupboards looking for plates.

"It was fun," he said. "Besides, I owe her a few from Florida."

"Scott," she groaned as she moved toward him. "You slipped her a bill every time she took them with her." Scott shrugged with a smile as she slid an arm around him. He stopped his search and hugged her.

"I met Brett by the way," he said as they stood together for a moment. Susan pulled her head back and looked at him.

"You did…not….give him the third degree, did you?" He shrugged and she shook her head.

"Poor kid," she said as she pulled away and leaned back against the counter. "First Luka and my Dad and now you?"

"He actually did okay," Scott nodded as he found the plates and set them on the counter next to the bags. "Until I asked him how he planned to support her after college." Susan rolled her eyes and groaned as he snickered.

"Then he fumbled and stammered and totally lost it," he chuckled. Susan laughed softly and watched him work. He was so peaceful…..and happy. He looked over at her and grinned. Something tightened in her throat and her chest clenched. She smiled back.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you this," Scott said as he scooped a serving of the Thai dish onto their plates. "Guess who got stung by a jellyfish?" Susan straightened and folded her arms.

"Not one of the girls, I hope," she said as she sorted through the packages. "How did you know what to buy?"

"They told me," he nodded toward the kitchen door. "They didn't know any names but they managed to tell me what they remembered that they liked to taste. Smart kids." Susan nodded as she opened another box for him.

"Anyway, Casey was all excited because they got to order dinner from room service last night," he continued as he looked inside the container to make sure it was empty before he tossed it into the garbage. "Apparently Grandma got stung on the ankle and calf on their one and only trip to the beach."

"Ouch. Tell me that you're not happy about that," Susan grimaced as she moved to the counter near him.

"Oh, of course not,' Scott said immediately as he busied himself with the rest of the takeout boxes. "That's a very painful injury. I wouldn't wish it on anyone." Susan reached for a piece of pineapple from the plate and slipped it into her mouth as she studied his face. He was very serious as he concentrated on getting the food out and then a slow smile snaked across his face. Susan groaned and punched him playfully on the shoulder. Scott snickered and leaned over to kiss her.

"I should make you pay for that," he whispered against her lips.

"You can just try anytime," she replied. Scott laughed and sighed. This was good. It was all so good.