Many thanks to Black Angus for several things some of which I can't remember at the moment! As I promised her Chapter 10 will follow this one rather quickly.

Talks concerning Edie's relationship with Pete can be referenced in the story Oh Mama Mia.

I still don't own the original characters and they seem happy with that. Pete will always be Edie's, I'm learning to accept that.

Chapter 9

Clutching her purse, Edie Hart stepped off the bottom of the escalator looking around for her brother's familiar face. The plane had landed about 20 minutes early and if his life was a frazzled as usual he would need those minutes. She was glad he was coming; it would give them a chance to catch up without interruption. It wasn't that she didn't love her sister in law or nieces but she was looking forward to having time with Ben.

She saw him heading towards the luggage claim making his way through the crowd from the TWA side and he saw her at the same time. Finally meeting in the middle, they gave each other a big hug ignoring the angry glares of people trying to get around them. "You look tired." They said at the same time and laughed.

"I don't think I've had a full night's sleep in about, well, since Lisa got pregnant." he grinned.

She nodded sympathetically. "How far along is she?" she asked as her brother reached for her carry on. "I'm afraid I lost track."

"Nine and a half months, I swear." he had his father's laugh. "I'm sure the other girls didn't take this long. How are you and your um," she could see him searching for the word in his eyes. "man?"

"Pete's been having pretty bad nightmares and has a lot of trouble staying asleep." and she was surprised to find her tears forming in her eyes. What would happen if he had one tonight?"

"Um," Ben hesitated. "I'm sorry, sis." her ever confident brother looking unsure. " Hey, kid let me have your claim ticket and I'll pick up your suitcase and meet you in the lobby by the phones, all right?"

"See you there." She nodded cheerily but her heart was sinking. She had really been hoping to get a chance to talk to her brother about Pete before Mama had gotten to him. Unfortunately, it looked like she had been wrong. She and Pete had been together a little over a month before she had told her family about him and they all had been happy for her. She had been proud when Mama and Papa had sent Pete a first edition of Huckleberry Finn for his birthday and Papa had talked to him on the phone two or three times. They both seemed to really like him. Mama had sent cookies him at Christmas, she'd even put in a loaf of her pumpkin bread with the bourbon spiced icing, Pete had enjoyed every mouthful that she hadn't stolen from him.

After all that how could one small tin of condoms change everyone's minds? So what if their slippers were under the same bed or their toothbrushes touched when residing in the same cup?

It was her life wasn't it? What she did with it was her own business. She loved Peter Gunn and knew that someday she would become his wife when he was ready. But right now he wasn't and maybe she had to admit, maybe she wasn't ready either. The life they had right now was perfect for them and if they were happy then why should every one else be so concerned that part of that life was sharing a bed and being a part of each other's homes?

"Here we go." Benjamin Hart approached carrying the brown suitcase Pete had loaned her with him. "Just one?" he teased her and she slugged him in the shoulder.

"Yes, just one! I'm only going to be here for a few days and most of the time I'll be working and getting dusty and dirty. I only need one dress for the reception after all."

"All right, let's get home. If you are actually my sister that is, because I could have sworn that my sister needed a suitcase this big for one day let alone three."

"Ben, shut up!" Her face one big smile. It was good to be given a hard time by her brother again.

He took the back roads that would lead them to the home they grew up in. The white frame detached house had been new when Mike and Peg had moved in right before their daughter was born.

The siblings had heard the story many times about how their parents were living in a one bed room apartment over a delicatessen with Ben sleeping in the alcove when they found out Peg was pregnant with their second child. After getting over the shock of the surprise, the doctor had assured the couple that their son would be their only child; they started looking for a larger place to move to. The house at 835 Lexington Court in Morningside, PA; a neighborhood of Pittsburgh had just been finished and was perfect with four bedrooms, two bathrooms (another one was added later), a sizable back yard, and a nice front porch. It was also more than they could afford.

According to the story Mike's parents gave them the money for the down payment if they promised to name the baby after which ever one the sex matched. Edie often wondered what her name would have been if the deal hadn't been made but then again maybe she didn't want to know, hearing some of the other choices.

"When did you and Lisa get in?" she asked after they had driven awhile. The day was bright and sunny and she was enjoying watching the world go by.

"Yesterday about 6:00. Uncle Max and Aunt Iris were there with Mama trying to keep her from doing anything, which as you know isn't easy. According to Aunt Iris, you can't trust Mama at all because she will try to clean on the sly. She has no idea what the meaning of sit down and relax means."

"Poor Mama," Edie shook her head. "I bet she's driving Aunt Iris crazy." Iris was married to Peg's oldest brother Max and they lived across the street from the Harts.

"Aunt Cas suggested Mama hire a maid but you know how that went over."

"Like a lead balloon I imagine."

"Cassie said she'd even pay for it, but no dice." Cassandra Nolan Beaumont Cranmer Davis was number five of the nine Nolan children and had made a good investment in husbands.

"Aunt Gerry and Uncle Stan are coming in from Virginia Beach." Aunt Gerry was one of Mama's sisters and resided in Virginia where the Nolans had lived for generations. Mama had been the rebel moving to Pennsylvania to attend music school and falling in love with a Pittsburgh man.

"Oh God," Edie leaned her head in her hands for a moment. "They aren't staying at the house are they?" she turned towards her brother.

"Not after they found out you were going to be here and would need your room. And Ashleigh's in the guest room so they are staying with Max and Iris."

"We should get them a sympathy card." Edie declared making them both laugh hysterically. Geraldine and Margaret were the oldest daughters in the Nolan clan born 11 months apart and closer than some twins. Not only did the two sisters look alike but when you heard them speak from another room or over the phone not even their husbands could tell which one was talking.

Aunt Gerry loved nothing more than gossip especially if it involved the family and Mama was easily led into temptation. Since both of their husbands were very strict about long distance phone calls the sisters would save up most of their news until they saw one another which was three times a year at the most. No one was safe not even the sisters own children. When Gerry and Stan's eldest child Declan had married a girl from Japan two years ago there had been quite the display of "concern" and what had gone wrong when they raised that beautiful boy.

The two siblings caught up as they drove the rest of the way, Edie asking for stories about her nieces Emma 4 and Maggie 2. "We decided to leave them with Lisa's mom since this was a short trip and Lisa's so miserable a great deal of the time. I sure do miss them when they aren't around though."

"I brought them something; you'll take it back to them?"

"Of course, they each sent down a drawing for you. Wait until you see them!"

As they went past the Neighborhood of Morningside sign, Ben grew very quiet, touching his sister's arm lightly. "Ede?"

"What, Benny?"

"I have to tell you, I honestly don't know how I feel about this whole Peter Gunn thing. You are my sister and it's my job to protect you against guys like him, but I also know you must love him very much too um, to have the relationship you do with him. And I just wanted to tell you I'm really happy he was exonerated on the murder charges-Papa told me. And I'm sorry if I didn't always take the time to listen like I should have when you called. I know this can't be easy on you and you need someone to talk to; someone you can trust and I failed you. I was a real fat head and I'm sorry."

"Yes, you were." She nodded, making him take a quick look to see if she were crying, but found her eyes full of teasing. "And I'm going to punch you if you ever do it again."

"I'd deserve it."

"Yes, you would! But seriously Benny, I love Pete and he loves me, I never actually realized you could love anyone this much. The life we have now is what we need for now, can you understand that? He didn't take advantage of me or tell me he loved me right before or, or whatever it is that men are supposed to do. He's just the one."

"So, he's the one worth making the picnic basket for?"

"Absolutely." She giggled. "Please come visit when you can, you'd really like him Benny, I know you would. If you don't want to bring Lisa and the kids then just come for a couple of days after Pete gets things more settled. I'm sure the two of you will get along just fine."

"I'll keep that in mind." He punched her softly in the shoulder. "Hey, look." He pointed to the Lexington Court sign. "We're almost home."

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Ben pulled into the driveway, parking beside their father's 1955 Buick, opening the car door for his sister before retrieving her suitcase from the trunk. "Mama look what I found at the airport." Ben called out, as Edie headed for the steps. But even before she could even reach the first one she was nearly knocked over by the 65 lb frame of the family black lab/retriever mix that had bolted from the side door barking joyfully and licking the blonde anywhere she could find.

"Hiya sweetie!" She petted the dog's head, kissing her silky ears. "How's my Macy-girl? Did you miss me?" The dog barked in response. "You did? You missed me? I sure missed you."

"Almost as much as I did." She heard her mother's voice coming towards her and she looked up. Margaret Hart looked the same as always, her blonde hair neatly pulled back, her dress in her favorite shade of blue was covered with a large white apron and Edie had been told they had the same smile. Peg reached for her daughter, pulling her into a hug forgetting momentarily the cast that covered her wrist and said a word that wasn't considered swearing but to Mama it was. "Be careful Mama." Edie hugged her tighter; making sure Peg's wrist wasn't caught in the embrace. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you so much bug-a-boo." Peg answered. "And I know it's impossible but you do get taller every time I see you. What do they put in the water there?"

"Mama, I'm the same height I've been since I was 15." Edie laughed. "But it could be the shoes?"

"Whatever it is, you look wonderful honey." Peg put a hand to her daughter's face, caressing her cheek. "Come on in, I was about to start lunch and Aunt Iris and Uncle Max will be here in a minute."

"But Mama, you aren't supposed to be doing stuff like that." She started to protest, following her mother into the cozy house. For all of her life her home had smelled of onions and lavender, beer and a trace of ivory soap. She knew it might sound strange to others but for her it was comfortable and reassuring that everything in the world was all right. As they walked to the kitchen, she glanced at the living room to their left, the brocade sofa still in its place, her father's chair by the window with the magazine rack and stack of newspapers close by, the old upright grand still as polished and shiny as the day they had bought it. Macy had followed them into the house but even as much as she wanted to follow Edie, thirteen years of training made her go straight to the rug in the hallway.

"Sit down honey." Her mother pointed to the chair she had sat in for most of her childhood. "Ben, where did you get off to?"

"I was putting The Kid's luggage in her room." He pulled his sister's hair as he walked by. Ben had called his sister The Kid as long as he could remember. "Lisa's still asleep and I let her, she hasn't gotten much the last few nights. What do you need Mama?"

Lunch was some of Peg's homemade vegetable soup with ham sandwiches, coffee or tea and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Aunt Iris and Uncle Max came about five minutes into the meal thrilled to see their niece who they figured they hadn't seen in at least seven years. "Your mother says you sing in a bar?" Aunt Iris asked genuinely curious.

"It's a jazz club really." Edie explained. "It's called Mother's and it's on the water front. It's a very nice place."

"Do you enjoy working there?"

"Oh yes very much."

"How long have you been there honey?" her Uncle Max asked, a freckled red headed man with a twinkle in his eye. Although at first glance he didn't resemble Mama if you saw them side by side you could tell he was her brother. Maxwell John Nolan was the oldest of the nine children in the family.

"Just about two years." She answered

"Maybe we'll come visit your city sometime and hear you sing. Would that be all right?"

"Of course." She nodded wondering if they really would. None of her relatives except Ben and her cousins Stephanie and Bridgette had ever come to see her any place she had lived. Stephanie had liked the area where she'd been the last few years so much she and her husband Charlie had bought a ranch about 40 miles away and had just recently moved there. Bridgette, Max and Iris's only child and her husband Neil had often come to see Edie over the years and had been at dinner with her at Leslie's the night of the bank robbery/murder. That was another thing that Edie was trying very hard not to harbor bad feelings about Jacoby for. Less than a day after Pete's arrest Edie had gotten a frantic call from Bridgette saying a Lieutenant Jacoby had called asking questions about Edie and had she and her husband really spent the day with her and was Bridgette actually related to her and how well did you know her and when was the last time she saw her and had she ever heard of Peter Gunn.

"Would we get to meet this boyfriend of yours, your mother told us about?" Iris wanted to know, pouring herself another cup of coffee.

"Of course." The singer nodded, suddenly feeling very lonely for Pete. "Excuse me everyone, I really need to call home; I'll be right back to help clean up."

"Ede, Papa had a phone installed upstairs at the end of the hall." Ben told her knowing she'd want the privacy.

As Edie climbed the stairs, Macy following her always one step behind, she heard Aunt Iris whisper loudly. "Is she actually living with the boy?"

"He's not a boy, he's a man." Mama corrected. "He is most definitely a man. And no, they don't live together as in having one address but they keep things at each other's apartments and they share a bed if you know what I mean."

"Are you sure, they are doing the deed?" Edie lingered for a moment, not being able to stop the smile breaking out on her face. You just couldn't get mad at Aunt Iris, it was impossible. "I used to stay at Max's place but I certainly didn't have intercourse before we were married."

I didn't live alone though." Max pointed out, his face turning bright red at the mention of the "I" word. Patrick lived there when you and I started dating and then Henry moved in. And you never knew when your was going to show up or MY mother for that matter. "

"Yes, Iris they are definitely doing the deed. Didn't I tell you about what I found in her bureau drawer?" her sister –in- law reminded her.

There was no answer at Pete's but Edie wasn't worried, he was probably still at Mother's. She sat on the edge of the phone table, stroking the dog's head. She honestly did love her family but sometimes they could be so nosey. "Come on girl." She patted her knee as she got up, Macy following her into her old room.

Ben had placed the suitcase on the bed and she put the clothes away in the empty bureau drawer, hanging her dress in the closet. Her room hadn't really changed much since she had gone away almost eleven years ago. The same curtains were at the windows, the same ruffled bedspread on the bed, but she noticed the rug had been replaced—this one was much softer and when she kicked her shoes off, it felt nice on her feet. Quickly she changed from the dress she had worn on the plane into a pair of light blue pants and a blue and white striped shirt, digging out some comfortable shoes.

Her desk was against the wall where it had been since she was six years old and she sat down in the straight back green chair looking at the items sitting out on the surface. The Webster's Dictionary Grandma and Grandpa Hart had given her for her 13th birthday still stood proudly on top along side the white leather bound Bible Grandpa and Grandma Nolan had given her for her first Communion when she was twelve. Fat chance she'd ever partake in another Communion or mass, and she could truthfully say she didn't care. Her high school year book was slumping across the shelf as always and she picked it up, taking a quick glance through it. June had been her best friend since first grade, the two having so much fun together over the years. Another friend had been Nicole Eastman. No matter where they had gone over the time since high school they so far had seen one another every five years without fail and this time Nicole was supposed to come visit Edie. The singer smiled to herself thinking how much her life had changed in that time, all for the good.

She saw pictures of her teachers, Mr. Watson American History, Miss Anderson the choir director and Mrs. Lawson home economics. Edie smiled remembering how she had burnt her final exam in the cooking session and would probably still be there today if she hadn't made that blue dress for the next session. Mr. Lange the principal who always was comparing her to her brother, Miss Bosworth his secretary who had a huge crush on him. (The principal that was, not her brother). Her English professor Mary Beth Carver who always told her she had a way with words and oh yes Mr. Belmont her French teacher who said students like her were why he hated that foreign languages were required for everyone.

Right before she moved to put the yearbook back in its place she felt her fingers move to the photograph stuck in the back cover and she couldn't help but smile at what she knew was there. It was the night of the Spring Dance and her hair had not cooperated that day, curls flying everywhere made even worse by an afternoon rain shower that had ruined what little style it had left. Papa had given her $20 to have it done at the beauty parlor but by the time of the dance you'd never known it. The dress was not the one she had wanted to wear, her pick had been an off the shoulder red dress with a full skirt but her mother had insisted on the yellow dress with the Peter Pan collar etched in lace and a poufy skirt. Her date Jimmy Allen had stepped on her feet all night and his hands were sweaty.

But it had been one of the best nights of her life, because it was during one of those terrible dances that she knew what she wanted to do with her life and no one was going to talk her out of it. The band that played was all right but she never would forget the girl that had sung that night. Edie had watched her carefully, knowing she wanted more than anything to be her. Singing solos in church or school choir was fun or getting paid an occasional $5 for a relative's wedding was nice but someday she wanted to be on a stage in a pretty dress, singing her heart out, then bowing and smiling while people clapped. She knew it would be hard work and she wanted to go beyond singing in high school gyms so she knew she'd probably have to work twice as hard as this girl more than likely had. She didn't care. She had been fourteen and determined. Mama had never understood and neither had Papa really but he had trusted her. And well, now.

A knock on the door interrupted her memory. "Come in."

Her mother was standing there, the look on her face making Edie wonder if she was seeing her or a much younger her.

"We bought a new mattress last year." Peg indicated the bed. "It should be a lot more comfortable now. And the rug, your cousin Shayla's boy stayed here about a week last month and I'm afraid to ask what he left on that rug."

"It's nice and soft." Edie told her. "I think I might have to get one like it. I hate when my feet hit cold floor in the morning."

"That's right you have wooden floors in your bedroom apartment." Peg nodded, turning just in time to see the look on her daughter's face.

"Mama, let's not…" Edie began.

"I'm sorry little girl." Her Mother touched her arm with her good hand. "I hate to ask you to do some of this stuff but it does need done and no one seems to think I can do it just because I'm wearing this cast. Ben said he'd help and so will Uncle Max but no one else is here yet..."

Edie noticed even with the cast on, her mother was wearing THE bracelet. A silver chain with colourful jewel stones that represented the birthdays of the oldest woman in the family starting back in 1695 with Rosanna Dawson. Grandma Nolan had received it on her wedding day, Mama on hers and would go to Edie when she was wed.

"Whatever it is Mama, I'm here to help you. The doctor's right, if you use your wrist it won't heal properly."

Peg took a deep breath, "I took the drapes in the living room down right before I fell and they've been washed and Aunt Iris pressed them, but they need to be re-hung. Also the kitchen curtains need to be ironed and put back up and the curtain for the front door needs to be changed out for the one in the linen closet upstairs. I will try to get Ben and your Papa if he gets home in time to beat the rugs, they are already on the clothes line and oh yes, we still need 450 sets of Jordan almonds put in netting and tied with a bow."

"Don't worry about a thing Mama. It's as good as done. By the way, I haven't seen the bride yet. I thought Ben said she was staying here." Ashleigh had often spent the night with the Hart's when she was little saying she liked Edie best of her girl cousins because she didn't treat her like a kid. Although there were barely seven years between them the singer had always felt motherly towards the little girl who had lost her own mother at such an early age, something Edie couldn't imagine—then or now.

"Ryan's family had some kind of breakfast for her and then his mother was going to take her some place. She's supposed to be back here pretty soon. "

"Peg!" they heard Iris call from downstairs, 'whatever you have on the stove is burning, should I turn it off?"

"I better get down there before she ruins every pan I have." Her mother laughed.

I'll be right down; I need to try my call again."

Once more Edie headed to the hall phone, faithful Macy following at her heels. The phone rang several times before she heard Pete on the other end sounding out of breath. "Pete, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I almost fell down the steps when I heard the phone ring. I was hoping it was going to be this little sexy blonde singer I know but..."

"That's not even funny." She tried to sound agitated but was doing a lousy job. He could see through her even over the phone.

"How was your flight?" she knew he wasn't horribly concerned with the details but he wanted to keep her on the line as long as possible. She leaned against the table, fingers curling in the phone cord.

"It was good. I read my book and drank my gin and tonic and played peek-a-boo with the little guy in front of me while his mother took a nap. Ben was waiting for me at Pittsburgh International. Right now he's the only one here but the family should start trickling in at any minute. The rehearsal dinner is tonight at the Mayfield Sheraton in Pittsburgh but most everyone is staying around in the neighbourhood"

"What's your plan for the evening?"

"Lisa and I have 450 packages of Jordan almonds to wrap in netting and tie with ribbon."

"I hope you can find something to talk about."

"I really don't think that will be a problem. Men are always fun to discuss." She smiled slyly and she knew he was shaking his head in pretend disgust. 'You love it.' She thought.

They talked a while longer until Mama came out of nowhere tapping her on the shoulder telling her that she and Ashleigh had to make a last trip to the pharmacy and they were taking Ben's car if he wondered were it was. Her younger cousin waved at her and she waved back, happy to see her.

"I've got to go." Edie sighed, "But Pete I love you."

"I love you too."

PPPPPPPPPP

The afternoon was hard work but a lot of fun. The drapes were ironed perfectly; she was almost afraid to pick them up off the guestroom bed but carefully brought out the first pair. "Let me help you with that Edie." Uncle Max jumped up and taking the other end they walked them to the far window in the living room behind Mike's chair. Re-hanging the heavy draperies took a whole new set of muscles and after three windows in the living room, the one that covered the glass front door, the curtains in the kitchen windows and the one in the dining room the girl singer knew her arms and neck would be quite sore in the morning. While they worked Uncle Max had kept up a steady conversation telling her about his job as a mail carrier and how the stories about dogs were often true. One involving a German shepherd had her laughing so hard, he started laughing too and they almost dropped the drapery on the ground. "I hope your Mama didn't see that." He said in low voice and started to whistle nonchalantly which made them both laugh even harder.

It was 5:00 before they knew it and everyone except Edie and Lisa were expected to be downtown at the Sheraton Mayfair on Connecticut Avenue at 6:30.

"Edie I made lasagna for you and Lisa." her Aunt Iris told her and it's in the oven and should be done in half an hour. There's a chocolate cake in the safe and you I guess you know where the coffee and tea or whatever else you need is."

"Thanks Aunt Iris." She kissed the woman's cheek. "It smells delicious."

The older woman gave Edie a squeeze and touched her cheek in affection. "Thank you for coming to help your Mama, it really means a lot to her."

"Of course, she is my mother." But even as she said the words she felt guilty. Yes, she had been a help today and would continue to be but really any one could have aided Mama with the things that she had done. She should be at home with Pete, right now. That's where she was needed.

"She's so glad to have you home you know." The older woman told her. "Do you ever think about coming back home to live and settling down?"

"I did, but now I think I'm ready to settle right where I am."

"Uncle Max and I are very proud of you." Iris hugged her. "Bridgette was telling us about your work and your lovely apartment and your friends."

"Thank you Aunt Iris, I appreciate that, more than you know."

"Now, Max where are you?" his wife turned around quickly. "You need to get home and take a shower and change."

"I'm waiting on you woman," his eyes twinkling with mischief "Because I know after all these years you aren't going dressed like that, not that I see anything wrong with it." And he took a long look at his wife of 40 years in her dark brown marsala cotton house dress. 'Will Pete look at me like that in 40 years?' Edie wondered. Oh she hoped he would have a good time at the Jacoby's tonight. She wished she were going with him.

"And your sure, you don't need me?" her aunt asked, Edie shaking her head firmly. "That's what I'm here for remember? I'm here to help Mama with all those little things so no one else has to. So you run along and get ready for the dinner and I'll see what's up with Papa."

Her mother came down the stairs looking very nice in a beige suit, a colorful scarf pinned around her neck with the silver and pearl brooch Papa had gotten her for their 25th wedding anniversary. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful." Edie assured her mother, helping her down the last step and giving her a gentle hug. "Any news from Papa, I thought I heard the phone ring a few minutes ago."

"He'll be here as soon as he can." Peg sighed. "A kid driving a sports car tried to drive around your father's bus because he didn't like the starting and stopping but it was on Hancock and you know there are five quick stops on Hancock, only apparently the boy wasn't looking and ran head on into a 1954 Buick and they couldn't move the bus for a while and Mike just now got to a phone. He said probably half an hour but I really need to get there because I have the film projector."

"Mama, Papa's car is out in the driveway." Edie began."

"I thought of that too, but I can't drive, with my wrist like this." She shook her head, "and Lisa doesn't fit behind the wheel of any vehicle right now. There is a bus I can catch on the corner that goes down to Pittsburgh eventually but you have to transfer and they go so slow."

"That's not what I meant Mama, I can drive you there and you can come home with someone else. It wouldn't really take that long."

"Oh I know honey but I really need someone who knows their way around."

"Excuse me?" she couldn't help it the words just came out.

"Someone who knows where their going without my help," her mother answered. "And I don't think you've driven much in the city or around here for that matter. "You only had your driving license for a very short time before you left and never came back."

"I never came back? What do you call this Mama, what am I doing standing in your living room right now? Because if I'm not back and wasn't back three times for Christmas or for Ashleigh's high school graduation or when Grandpap Hart had his heart attack then why aren't I at home with Pete where I should when he needs me the most?"

"That's not what I mean and you know it. You left her as fast as you could and never looked back. And as for now, nothing's stopping you, the door hasn't moved." Her mother bit her lower lip wishing she could take the words back the moment she said them.

"It's fine by me." Edie began, but the cool hands of her sister-in-law on the back of her neck began to calm her down and she turned to look out the window feeling her face turn crimson red.

"I'm sure Max and Iris have room." Lisa said. "Why don't you go with them Peg, and then you can figure out how to get home from there, all right? Remember you don't want to be late."

So it was agreed that Mama would go with Max and Iris to the hotel and if Papa came home first to tell him she had gone on. If one of the guys at work dropped him off at the Sheraton then they would both ride home with Max and Iris. It was 5:24 when Lisa and Edie got the last relative on the road and they gave a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry; I don't know what came over me." Edie wished she had a cigarette. What she really needed was Pete, knowing he was okay, not having any of those panic attacks, knowing that HE knew where he was and that he was safe. "The last person I want to start an argument with is Mama."

"From what I hear you've been under a lot of stress." Lisa smiled. "And she wasn't exactly innocent. Let's pull the lasagna out and have some and then we can go and net Jordan almonds until we go blind and just you know, talk."

The dinner was delicious and they ate until they were more than full, giving Macy bites of the spicy meat sauce. Edie washed hers down with a glass of wine from a bottle she had found in the refrigerator and hoped to goodness it wasn't for the reception, while she made Lisa a pot of tea.

It was a perfect evening, the two women taking sweaters out with their craft on to the screened in back porch, Macy curling up in a ball beside Edie's feet. She would never forget the day she had found the puppy, hungry and scared, hiding in some old fabric scraps that Macy's Alterations had thrown out. They already had two dogs at the time, Samson a German shepherd mix, technically Ben's dog and Abigail Adams, a terrier of some sort that followed Mama around like they were glued together. The sixteen year old wrapped the pup up in her sweater and carried it home, taking it to her room feeding it milk and broth for three days until she finally told Papa about her.

Mama had been reluctant at first saying the two dogs were already enough not to mention Ben's love birds that she was now taking care of and a squirrel that Papa fed everyday. Mike Hart, never one to resist his daughter's big heart or big blue cornflower eyes, told his wife that Edie could keep the puppy. "What will we do when she gets married and leaves home and we get stuck with another animal to take care of?" Peg had wanted to know."

"We'll take care of it."

Edie stroked her dog's head, loving the sound of contentment she made. That was one thing she had always wished, that she could get settled someplace nice enough to have Macy live with her but the 65lbs she sported made that difficult. Besides she really liked it here and she knew both Mama and Papa would miss her terribly. She was almost 14 as it was. And now she had Sherlock she thought of the little ginger stripped cat with his pink nose. One of the nicest things Pete had ever given her was that dumb cat.

As they worked Jar flies played a symphony and Edie thought about how the honeysuckle would bloom soon and full the air with its fragrance. The sounds here were so different than the ones she heard at night when she lay cuddled with Pete or alone in her own place. Both of them were nice she decided.

"So what do you think?" Edie asked Lisa after awhile. "Boy or girl?"

Lisa put down the almond package she was working on and moved in the wicker chair trying to get comfortable. "I'm betting girl, the baby's carried just like Emma and Maggie did. But who knows? Ben wants us to keep trying until we have a boy but I've got news for him." She giggled. "If this one misses, too bad, he can have it himself."

"Ben seems to be crazy about his girls." Edie observed about her brother. "I hardly have seen a prouder man. I'll never forget the night Maggie was born."

"That was quite the experience." Lisa nodded. "I forgot you were there, how did you get to New York?"

"Pete and I had just started going out, seriously. He picked me up after work and we were catching something to eat and he said what's wrong and I told him that my sister-in-law was in early labor and I hadn't heard anything in hours. Next thing I knew I was on a plane. I knew Mama and Papa wouldn't like it me taking a "gift" like that from someone I was just beginning to know, but it seemed really natural. I already knew I loved him."

"So two years later, I'm assuming from what I heard that there might be marriage and kids some day?"

"I think so, I hope so. And yes, I would like to have kids." Edie nodded. "Two would be good, three maybe or six" she grinned.

"Does Mr. Gunn want kids?"

"Pete. His name is Pete and yeah he does want kids. I'll admit we haven't talked about children much, but he'd be a good father, he's got the patience and energy for it! Besides I have eleven cents on a wish."

"Eleven cents?" Lisa raised her eyebrows.

"He was all out of pennies, so I used the nine cents for insurance." They laughed. It was good to laugh Edie thought.

"Edie, I just want to tell you, I'm really sorry I didn't reach out to you when Mr. um, Pete was having his troubles. I don't know what I'd do if they came and arrested Ben and held him in prison like that. I should have been a better friend."

"Thank you Lisa." She squeezed her arm. "And I could still really use a friend."