Disclaimer: see chapter one

Sara was busy trying to get Allie out of her safety seat when she felt like someone was watching her. She turned around only to find herself eye to eye with Catherine Willows. "Need a hand with that?" Catherine asked.

"No, I think I can handle it," Sara spit at her. The last person in the world Sara wanted any help from was standing behind her. Why couldn't Sofia have just said yes?

Sara finally removed the last of the restraints from Allie and pulled her from the car. She turned around with the little girl in her arms. She introduced Allie to Catherine. "Allie, this is Catherine. Catherine this is Allie."

"This is Catherine? You're right, mommy. She is pretty!" Allie shrieked. Sara began to turn bright red. Catherine took note of it. So Sara Sidle thinks I'm pretty is what Catherine thought to herself.

"It's very nice to meet you, Allie. And you certainly are a pretty girl. How old are you? 15? 16?"

"No, silly. I'm three," she said as she held up three fingers.

"Wow! Three years old! You look much older," Catherine said to the little girl as she brushed dark curls out of her face.

Catherine turned to Sara. "She certainly is beautiful. You're going to have your hands full when she gets older."

Sara's face paled. She obviously hadn't been thinking about years down the road. That was typical Sara Sidle, only thinking about today.

"Hey, how about we take my truck? That gives us room to put anything we might buy in the back. I already have a seat in the back. Ready?" Catherine barely gave Sara a chance to answer before she had taken Allie out of her arms and was strapping her in the back seat.

Over the next several hours, Catherine had managed to navigate Sara and Allie through several stores picking out clothes and toys. Catherine had quickly won over Allie. Sara was now playing second-fiddle to Catherine, a part she was accustomed to playing. Sara happily pulled out her credit card at every store they went to and paid for the items that Catherine and Allie had picked out.

"How many bedrooms are in your apartment, Sara?"

"Two. Why?"

"Well, Allie is going to need some furniture for that room. A bed. A dresser. Maybe a toy box and a bookcase."

"She already has a bed in there with a few other small pieces of furniture."

"Oh, okay. Can you think of anything else we need to pick up for her?" Catherine asked.

"We've picked up clothes. We've picked up toys. We've picked up toiletries and medicines for kids. No, I think we're about done. Not to mention the fact that my bank account is just about tapped, as well."

"Alrighty then. Let's head back to your apartment and get your things unpacked," Catherine said to Sara, before turning to Allie. "Allie, I bet you're hungry. What would you like to eat? My treat."

"Uh, thanks Catherine. But I want her to eat well. No fast food."

"Sorry, I just thought it would be easier to get everything set up if we grabbed some food first."

"Let's get back to your apartment then." Sara noted the disappointment in Catherine's voice.