Marilyn and Kevin approached Harry's door. He had moved once Kate came home with him into a large house just outside of Boston, only 10 minutes from where they lived. Marilyn was holding Amy and Kevin held Jenny's hand, as they usually did. Kevin and Marilyn smiled at each other and rang the bell. The door opened slowly and Marilyn's smile faded quickly. She stared at the blonde who answered the door, blinking to try and convince herself she was really seeing Dana Poole holding Harry's daughter.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Reilly. Hey Jenny!" Dana waved to the little girl and smiled at the baby. "Oh, come in, come in!"
"Hi...Dana."
"Harry, Kevin Reilly is here with Marilyn and the girls!" she called out, acting decidedly un-Dana-like.
They entered the well light house with brightly colored walls. Kevin sat next to Harry, who was watching a baseball game on ESPN. They nodded to each other politely, then turned to enjoy the game.
Dana held Kate, who was half asleep in her arms. "Harry, aren't you going to take Katie up for her nap?"
"You might as well, you know she won't sleep for anyone but you. No use in me leaving Kevin to go up. She'll be up soon anyway." Dana sighed and turned towards the stairs.
"Dana, is there an extra crib or something? I think Amy needs a nap as well. Jenny's looking tired too, but she can sleep in a chair or on a couch...she'll sleep anywhere."
"No, Katie's crib is enormous. They can all fit. Come on up, I'll show you the nursery." Marilyn followed Dana, amazed at the little mommy routine she was playing out.
The 3 girls fit easily in the crib. Marilyn and Dana stood over them, watching them sleep.
"She looks just like Lauren." Marilyn remarked, glancing at Kate.
"Yeah, I know. Kinda eerie. But I think it helps Harry, in some odd way...to have her with him. I can't imagine what he'd be like without her. He couldn't get any more depressed if he tried."
"Dana...you and Harry...I mean, I know you live here, but..."
"We're in love, Ms. Sudor. We always were."
"Are you sure, Dana? I'd hate to see him get hurt. He's a good friend. He's still depressed, you said it yourself...even about Milton. Harry doesn't get over these kinds of things."
"Marilyn...sorry, Ms. Sudor... I've never been in love before. When I'm with him, all I want to do is stare at him. He's an amazing man. You should see him with Katie. I swear she laughs when he makes jokes. She makes him happier."
"Dana, as hard as it is to admit this..to myself, to Harry and Kevin, and to you, a former student...You make him happy." She turned away from the crib.
"You mean that, Ms. Sudor?"
"Yeah." Marilyn paused and studied Katie's face for a moment. "I can't believe how much she looks like Lauren. It's just too weird."
"I know. I've caught Harry holding her late at night, crying and murmering in her ear. He was calling her Lauren and telling her he still loved her. I have to remind him sometimes that she's Katherine. Not Lauren. She upsets him the most and brings him the most joy. I don't know whether he'd be better off without her, really. I mean...well, you know."
"She's a miracle. But Lauren...she didn't have to die. She was so young! Why did she die?" Marilyn began to cry. Dana looked at her former teacher crying. She had no idea what to do. She had to do something Marilyn was hysterical. Dana tentatively reached out her hand and placed it on Marilyn's shoulder. Though Marilyn looked up, shocked at the gesture of kindness from Dana, she continued to cry.
"Ms. Sudor...I mean Ms. Reilly..."
"Marilyn." she replied, wiping her tears. "You're not a student anymore, we're kind of..well, in your house...You can call me Marilyn. Besides, you're Harry's... well, you're Harry's somethingnow, so it's OK." Marilyn let a tiny smile break through her tear streaked face.
'Harry's something'...the words stung Dana. Now she looked like she needed comforting.
"What? What's wrong?"
Sighing, Dana said, "It's Harry. He won't talk to me. He looks like he's in pain, and he needs to talk. But he keeps his feelings inside. It's not good for him. Hell, I should talk, I do it too. But he's crying every night alone instead of talking. He won't sleep in our room. He sits on the rocking chair and cries. I heard him, late at night. Kate was crying, and he went to get her. He'd been watching TV. I heard him say 'it's ok, Lauren, go back to sleep'. I had to go in and tell him she wasn't Lauren. He scares me sometimes."
"Wow, I had no idea it was that bad. I mean, you know Harry. Always joking his way out of situations. I figured that was the extent of it."
"No. I'm glad I didn't go to Smith. I can't imagine Harry taking care of Kate alone."
"Dana, you are in college, right?"
"Local. Not my dream, but I'd rather be here than leave Harry with Kate."
Katie woke up and reached for Dana. She lifted the baby and held her against her shoulder.
"Try again, Dana. He'll talk."
"Thanks...Marilyn." They both smiled slightly and looked at each other. Jenny and Amy woke up at the same time, as they usually did. Marilyn helped Jenny out of the crib and picked Amy up. They all sat on the floor to play with Kate's brightly colored plastic toys, Marilyn stealing secret glances at Dana periodically. She couldn't believe how much the once-spoiled brat girl had changed. Maybe she had misjudged Dana all this time. Maybe they all had.