Keely jolted awake as the American Airlines plane skidded to a rather bumpy halt on the tarmac of Dulles International Airport. She sat up, blinking rapidly, and straining to see the dark Virginia countryside. She shook the cobwebs out of her head and turned to look at AJ, excitement settling in her stomach.
A slow smile spread across AJ's features as he watched the airport terminal rolling towards them. "We're home," he said quietly. "I bet Sadie's relieved. She didn't seem too happy about being in that carrier."
Keely untied her ponytail and retied it into a messy bun, nodding. "Poor baby. I'm sure she'll be so excited to get to the house and be able to run around." She looked down at her watch and readjusted it to Eastern Standard Time, shaking her head at the lost hours of travel. The pilot parked the plane at the gate and Keely stood, arching her back and stretching. She placed a hand on AJ's back and rested her forehead against its broad expanse. "We're home," she echoed. "Cool."
"Very cool." AJ slung Keely's overnight bag onto one shoulder and hefted his own onto the other. "Remember, once we get the rest of our luggage, we have to pick up the rental car. Our stuff's scheduled to arrive tomorrow, and the cars, right?"
Keely nodded as she began up the jet way, her calves screaming at her after five hours of non-use. "The moving vans should arrive about noon. The people driving the cars said they'd be there anytime between four and six."
"Great. I'll return the car on Saturday, then." AJ followed Keely off the plane, blinking at the harsh lights in the airport. "Which way to baggage claim?" he asked, scanning the hanging signs.
"Down the escalator, to the left," Harm said with a grin.
"Actually, you have to take the shuttle - dude!" The surprise was evident in Keely's voice as she figured out who was speaking. "Oh, my God! What are you guys doing here?" She looked behind Harm, her smile widening as she saw Mac, Harriet, Bud and two very tired Roberts children.
"We came to pick you up from Seattuh," Catie yawned. "Hi Uncle AJ. Hi Keely."
"Hi, baby." Keely kneeled in front of the little girl, giving her a hug. "Well, thank you for coming. It's a great surprise." She turned to little AJ and ruffled his hair. "God, you two are big."
"I'm still bigger," little AJ declared proudly.
Harm laughed. "Okay, we can continue this in the car on the way home. Let's get to baggage claim."
AJ smiled at his friends, still amazed that he had people who cared enough about him to surprise him at the airport. "Hey, Catie, want a piggyback ride?"
"Yeah, Uncle AJ!" Catie scrambled up as AJ bent over. As they headed toward the baggage carousels, AJ murmured to Keely, "We never did finish our conversation in Italy...about rugrats." He didn't give her a chance to reply as he hurried to catch up with Harm.
Keely readjusted her carryon and sighed, rubbing her forehead. *Even after all this time, he can still render me speechless,* she marveled.
They reached the American carousels and Keely put her bag next to AJ's feet, going over to the special cargo pick-up. As the carousel whirred to life, Keely smiled as she heard loud barking coming from behind the screen. Two handlers brought Sadie's carrier out and Keely knelt in front of it, getting the leash ready. "Hello, baby girl! Were you good on the plane?"
One handler laughed as he handed Keely some paperwork to fill out. "She was great until she figured out it was time to get out. She hasn't stopped barking since you all landed."
Keely laughed, signing her name and taking her copy of the papers. "That's my Sadie. Thank you." Keely knelt down again and began whispering soothing words to the dog as she opened the crate, quickly putting the leash on Sadie's collar. She led Sadie back over to the regular carousel, using her free hand to help AJ load their bags onto a luggage cart. "See, Saders, here's Daddy. Everything's fine."
AJ bent over so Catie could climb off his back and he put out his arms to the dog. "C'mere baby girl. C'mere." As Sadie pounced on him and attempted to lick him to death, AJ laughed. "Okay, okay. We're home. You can calm down now." Sadie kept pawing at him, and AJ made his voice firm. "Sadie Sarah Salinas O'Reilly, if you don't calm down, you're going back in the carrier." He pointed to the gray, plastic dog carrier to emphasize his point.
Sadie immediately sat, her tail still wagging a hundred miles an hour. Keely hefted the last of the suitcases onto their overflowing cart and smiled at the scene in front of her. She bent down next to AJ, placing a kiss on his cheek and rubbing Sadie's stomach. "I think we're ready to get home."
"Let's go." AJ led their little entourage toward the parking garage. "Where are you parked?" he asked Harm. Mac and Keely trailed behind them, talking a mile a minute. Harriet giggled appropriately. Bud brought up the rear, carrying Catie and dragging little AJ along.
"Take a left, sailor. Third row on the right," Mac called, helping Keely control the overanxious Sadie, who had an overwhelming need to sniff each car in the parking lot.
"I hope she doesn't make a mess of the car." Keely looked nervously at the bounding puppy as they reached the Roberts' minivan.
Harriet laughed again. "Don't you worry, Keely. Any additional mess of that car will go completely unnoticed with the state it's in."
Keely smiled and hefted Sadie into the back of the car, quickly shutting the car door after Catie and AJ had piled in. She moved to the back of the van and began lifting their suitcases in the back. After the last bag was loaded, Keely shut the hatch and looked at AJ, hands on hips. "You ready?"
"Ready." AJ held the door for Keely. "Do you mind if I ride with Harm and Mac?" He nodded toward the idling SUV. "I have some stuff to discuss with them."
"Yeah, sure, that's fine. We'll follow you...I doubt I can remember how to find this house in the dark." She reached up and gave him a light kiss. "See you at home."
"Yup." AJ brushed his lips against Keely's and headed over to Harm's car, settling in the backseat.
Keely climbed into the car, smiling at the sight of an already sleeping Catie lying against an already sleeping Sadie. She grinned at Bud as he started the car and headed out of Dulles' short-term parking, then laid her head against the seat and watched the passing Virginia countryside.
In the Rabb's SUV, AJ took a deep breath. "It's good to be home."
Mac smiled and turned in her seat. "It's good to have you home. We missed you guys."
"We missed you, too." AJ leaned forward suddenly. "Colonel...Mac...can I ask you something?"
"Of course." Mac looked at Harm and then squared herself to see AJ fully.
"How do you feel about children?"
Mac nearly burst out laughing at the question, but seeing his seriousness stopped her. "As an institution or in a specific case?"
AJ shrugged slightly. "Children in general, but more specifically...how old is too old to have them?"
Mac's eyes widened slightly and she cleared her throat before continuing. "Well, I think that if a couple loves each other and decides they want children, age isn't really an issue. I mean it helps if they know what they're getting into, and if they weigh that carefully. But children are a miraculous thing for any couple, regardless of age."
"Good answer." AJ nodded decisively and rested his head against one palm. In an uncharacteristic moment of openness, he asked, "Do you think I'd make a good father?"
Harm glanced at Mac as he replied enthusiastically, "Absolutely."
Mac nodded. "No question." She smiled encouragingly.
"Really?" AJ smiled. "Well, then."
Mac bit her lip to keep from smiling too widely. "Can I ask if this means there might be a baby Chegwidden running around soon?"
"You never know, do you, Mac?" AJ was amusing himself with his enigmatic answers.
Mac nodded, conceding. "I guess not, AJ."
AJ glanced out the window. "This is the turnoff."
Mac settled herself back in her seat, shooting an amused look at Harm and resting a hand briefly on his thigh.
In the Roberts' minivan, Bud cleared his throat quietly, and Keely opened her eyes. "Are we there already?"
Bud nodded, following Harm's car. "Apparently."
Keely straightened, straining her eyes against the harsh darkness. "Well, follow him. I'm no help."
Harriet turned around, glancing at her sleeping children and the snoozing puppy. "How was Milan?" she asked Keely. "I meant to call *weeks* ago and ask, but I thought with the move and all, you'd be too busy to chitchat."
Keely perked right up, sitting on the edge of the seat. "Oh, God, it was amazing. It was so wonderful to see Francesca and her baby...and the city is still as beautiful as ever. It was a shame we couldn't stay longer."
"Well, maybe you'll get a chance to go back. Having family there is certainly a wonderful excuse for you and AJ to take a vacation," Harriet offered helpfully.
Keely nodded. "Definitely. And Francesca is bringing Cris over for Christmas this year...in time for the wedding."
Harriet's eyes sparkled with delight. "Did you finally set a date?" she exclaimed softly.
Keely grinned in spite of herself. "Yes. Christmas Eve, actually. Francesca and Cris are arriving the twenty-second and we'll have the ceremony on the twenty-fourth." Keely looked behind her and then looked back at Harriet. "Do you think AJ and Catie would like to be ring bearer and flower-girl?"
"I'm sure they'd love it. Wow, a Christmas wedding." Harriet turned and playfully smacked Bud's arm. "Why can't *you* be that romantic, Bud?"
Bud sputtered for a moment, looking at his wife. "I *am* that romantic. I bought you a new washer last week, without you even knowing. That has to count for something, right?"
"A washing machine is *not* romantic. Start taking notes." Harriet turned back to Keely with a smile. "So tell me everything you've decided. Where are you getting your dress? What are the wedding colors? Are you having bridesmaids? Where's the reception going to be?" She was definitely in her element. "And how can I help?"
Keely burst out laughing at Harriet's excitement. "Well, I think we're going to have both the wedding and the reception at the Park Hyatt...you know, near Columbia Women's Hospital? I don't think we've decided on colors or anything...it's not going to be lavish, just very small and intimate. Francesca's making my dress, and I haven't the faintest idea what it looks like. I'm just trusting her. My best friend Martie is going to be my matron of honor...and I was hoping you and Mac would be bridesmaids."
Harriet blushed. "I'd be honored." If you knew Harriet, you could tell she was taking copious mental notes. "As long as the dress is white, you can always decide on the colors when you get closer to it. I can tell you where to get the freshest flowers, cheapest. Are you going to tell your parents?" she asked gently.
Keely sighed. "No, I don't think so. I might ask my friend Jack to escort me down the aisle, but I doubt my parents would care if I got married. I certainly don't think they'd come." She paused, and then smiled at Harriet. "I'm going to need all the help I can get, Harriet. Are you sure you're up to the insanity?"
Harriet grinned, gesturing to the
backseat. "I'm a Navy wife with two kids. I can handle
*anything*!"
* * *
Keely wiped her brow with her forearm, smiling again at the movers as they gingerly placed the boxes marked 'dishes' in the kitchen. After the first crashing noise earlier in the day, AJ had given them a stern Admiral-voice talking-to, and the workers had been on their best behavior throughout the remainder of the day. Wiping her hands on her jeans, Keely started unpacking the newest boxes, smiling as she watched little AJ and Catie chase Sadie around the backyard. She could hear laughter from upstairs, where Mac, Harm, Bud and Harriet were helping AJ unpack. As she put away her dishes, Keely shut her eye and inhaled the new house scent, a combination of Pledge and dust, her heart full.
She was home. And more importantly, they were home together.
"Keely, where are the boxes with our papers?" AJ called.
Keely looked around her feet and bit the inside of her cheek, thinking. "It's marked 'Documents'...did you try the master bedroom?"
"Nope." Rustling sounds followed. "Found it!"
Harriet brushed a few sweat-streaked blond hairs off her forehead as she traipsed downstairs. "Okay, your bathroom is all organized, except for a box marked 'Toiletries'." She grinned. "You're not paying me enough to unpack *that* one." Glancing out into the backyard, Harriet watched her children momentarily, making sure they weren't shaving the dog, or something equally horrible.
Keely smiled, reorganizing her silverware. "Thank you so much, Harriet. I can't even tell you how much it means to have you guys here." Keely grabbed a glass and filled it with water, handing it to her friend. "And the fact that you'll help us unpack...well, there are just no words to describe that sentiment."
"Insane?" Harriet offered, sipping at the water. "Masochistic?" she added.
Keely laughed. "Well, I was thinking more along the lines of 'honorable', but I think masochistic sums it up rather nicely, actually."
Smiling, Harriet opened the back door. "AJ! Don't push your sister."
Little AJ sighed, coming towards the house. "Mommy, I'm hungry."
Keely smiled, going over to her purse and pulling out some peanut butter crackers. "Would those help until we go to dinner later?"
AJ nodded and took the offered snack, looking at his mother for permission.
"Go ahead." Harriet grinned at Keely. "Are you *sure* you and the Admiral won't have any children? Seems to me like you'd be good at it."
Keely smiled. "I don't think it's in the cards for us right now. But never say never, right?" She returned to the counter, putting away the last of her dishes and collapsing the box. The movers were bringing in the last of the heavy furniture, and she moved to the living room to help them arrange it the way she liked it. When they were done, she flopped on the oversized sofa and closed her eyes. "This is the last time I'm moving. Mark my words."
"You say that now," Harriet warned, "but you never know what Fate has in store. I thought our place was perfect until we had Catie, then all of a sudden, it was tiny!"
Keely laughed. "This is a four bedroom house, Harriet. I doubt this place could ever be tiny, even with kids running around here." Keely eased herself out of the chair and stretched her sore muscles. "Shall we go see how the rest of them are doing?"
Harriet nodded. "Sure." She started up the stairs and almost immediately, heard a crash. "Bud, did you break something?"
"No, it's fine." Bud replied immediately, sticking his head out of one of the guest bedrooms. "Sorry, Keely."
Keely shook her head, peeking behind him. "It's fine, Bud, don't worry. This place looks really good, thanks."
Bud smiled, nodding over to one remaining box marked 'linens'. "Harriet, can you help me set the bed up? I'm sure I'd screw that up."
"Sure, sweetie." Harriet approached Bud and leaned over, kissing him on the nose. She murmured, "I'm sure you wouldn't screw it up, handsome. You're very talented." Harriet went around to the opposite side of the bed and started fishing sheets out of the box.
Keely watched them for a minute then retreated down the hall towards the office. She smiled at the sight of Harm trying to hook up their computers. At the very end of the hall, she found AJ in the master bedroom, looking out the back window. "Hey," she said quietly, trying not to startle him.
"Hey, Keel." AJ turned, smiling at her.
"How's it going?"
AJ grinned. "Good, how's the kitchen?"
"It's done, believe it or not. The movers are bringing in the last of the furniture for the living room, so they should be out of our hair in an hour or so." She turned and looked at their master bedroom, smiling. "Looks good."
"It does, doesn't it?" AJ held out his arms for a hug. "I can't believe we're back in DC."
Keely walked towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Me, either. It feels great."
AJ couldn't stop the smile that took over his face. "Yeah. And in less than six months, we'll be married."
"Dude." Keely shook her head. She looked up at him, sighing and then smiling again. "There truly are no words for how happy I am right now."
"I know. Except maybe...blissful?"
Keely shook her head. "I don't think that even covers it." She leaned up and kissed him longingly, the tip of her tongue teasing his. "Thanks, old man."
"You're welcome, kid." AJ smiled down at Keely. "When they leave, you wanna christen the kitchen?" He wiggled his eyebrows teasingly.
Keely burst out laughing. She shook her head and headed for the door to go check on downstairs again. Before she reached the doorway, she turned back to AJ and winked. "Let's christen this room first and go from there."
"Woohoo."
Keely rolled her eyes and traipsed downstairs, allowing the July sunlight to warm her briefly before opening another box of knickknacks and setting them in their proper places. Everything seemed to finally be coming together, not only in the house, but also in her life as a whole. The same ray of sunlight caught Keely's engagement ring and she couldn't help but smile.
Finally, everything was right.
* * *
The phone rang three times before she began to get really nervous. Maybe
this wasn't that important. Maybe Maggie didn't *really* need to
know. Her palms were sweating, and just as she decided to hang up and
forget the whole thing, someone answered.
"Hello?" Keely leaned across the counter to grab the phone before the machine picked up.
"Uh. Hello. Is this, uhm... is this Keely O'Reilly?" Even her voice was shaky.
"It is. Who, may I ask, is calling?"
"Uhm, you don't know me. Well, you might. I don't know." She sighed. "This is Jackie Sommers."
Jackie Sommers. Keely turned the name over in her mind, trying to place it. There was something distantly familiar in the woman's voice, but... "I'm sorry, Ms. Sommers, you're going to have to refresh my memory. Have we met?"
"Not directly. I adopted your daughter thirteen years ago." Jackie sighed again. "I'm Maggie's...mother."
Almost in slow motion, Keely dropped the phone on the counter, her entire body shaking. She looked at the receiver blindly for a minute and then picked it up again. "I'm so - sorry, that just...caught me off guard." She took a few deep breaths before continuing in a very shaky breath. "You're talking about Margaret Alaina, right? Born August 24th, 1993 in DC?"
"Yes, that's my - your - daughter."
"Oh, my god." Keely whispered, fumbling for one of the bar stools at her kitchen counter. Clearing her throat, she continued, "Is everything all right? Did something happen?"
"No, no, don't worry," Jackie assured her immediately. "It's just....Maggie. She - she has this assignment, and she wanted to know." Taking a deep breath, she tried to make some sense. "Maggie just started the seventh grade. She has an assignment to do a family tree for social studies. We've always been honest with her, she knew she was adopted...but now she wants to know who she was adopted *from*. Maggie wants to meet you, Miss O'Reilly."
Keely could barely hear what Jackie was saying as the blood rushed through her ears and her head. She coughed slightly, begging her heart to stop racing and pleading with whoever might be listening that she wouldn't pass out. "Well, um...God, I...where are you, Ms. Sommers? I mean, I'm in Virginia right now, and if you were, in say, Texas, that might be difficult...I mean, I have work, and responsibilities..."
Jackie broke in. "Maggie and I are in Maryland." She paused briefly, trying to work up the courage to continue. "Listen, Miss O'Reilly, I wouldn't even be calling you if it weren't important to my daughter. I've tried to be honest with Maggie since she was able to understand. And I can't start lying to her now. I promised her I'd try to find you. If you don't want to see her, I'll tell her the truth, but I want you to know how much this means to her." *I wonder if I'm even coherent to anybody but me?* Jackie said to herself.
Keely cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Ms. Sommers, this is just...very overwhelming right now." She worked the situation in her mind a few more times before answering further. "What day is good for you and Maggie?"
"I understand," Jackie sympathized. "This was the hardest phone call I've ever had to make." She checked her calendar. "Maggie's got her writing club on Tuesdays and swim club on Wednesdays, but other than that, any day."
"She writes?" Keely's voice broke.
Jackie's voice bubbled over with pride as she replied, "Oh, yes! Maggie's a fantastic writer. She's been making up short stories since she was able to speak, and once we gave her a pencil, she wouldn't put it down. She's entered several competitions - and won. She took first prize last year in her school's fiction contest. And she's already had a short story published, in a children's anthology. Writing is her passion."
Keely couldn't contain a few tears as Jackie spoke. "I'm an author," she managed. "I've published a couple of books myself." She bit her lip before continuing. "She sounds amazing."
"So that's where she gets it from." Jackie tried to keep from crying herself. "I thought maybe it was because I read to her from the day I brought her home." She took a calming breath. "Maggie *is* amazing. She's never seemed to be her age - I kept saying she was 2, going on 20."
Keely chuckled. "That's what my mom used to say about me." She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "So, what day's easiest for you? Today's Monday...is this Friday too soon?"
"No, that would be perfect. Her project is due Monday."
"Wow, they're really putting a lot of pressure on kids these days." Keely wiped her eyes again. "I have a class until 10:45 on Friday...shall I meet you somewhere after Maggie gets out of school?"
"How about 3:30 at the Starbucks at 17th and Pennsylvania?" Jackie suggested. "Is that close to you?"
"That's perfect. I'll be there." She paused, collecting her jumbled thoughts. "I...I guess I'll see you then, Ms. Sommers."
"We'll be there." Jackie paused a moment. "Thank you, Miss O'Reilly. I really appreciate this -for Maggie's sake."
"Of course." Keely replied hoarsely before hanging up the phone. She looked at it a moment before allowing the brimming tears to spill out in what turned out to be an uncontrollable wave of emotion.
As soon as Keely hung up, the phone rang again.
Keely cleared her throat and answered. "Hello?" she said softly.
"Hi, Keely. What's wrong?" Harriet asked immediately.
Torn between telling her or not, Keely sniffled slightly. "Hey, Harriet. I...are you at home?"
"Yeah. Why? What's going on?"
Keely took a few shaky breaths before continuing. "I just got a call...and, um, I'm not quite sure what to do."
"Do you want me to come over? Catie doesn't get out of preschool until three today."
"Would you mind?" Keely replied softly. She hated to dump this on Harriet, but she needed to sort it out before AJ got home.
AJ. This was going to devastate him. Not the fact that she had a daughter, she knew, but the fact that they'd been together for seven years and he didn't know a thing about it.
How disappointed he was going to be with her. How angry, too. The thoughts made Keely tear up again and she repeated, "Can you come over, Harriet? I need to talk."
Harriet grabbed her purse and keys. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes. It'll be okay, Keely, whatever it is."
On a normal day, Keely would have laughed at the fact that exactly fifteen minutes later, there was a soft knock at the front door. She opened it immediately, trying to smile at Harriet. "Thanks for coming over."
"You're welcome," Harriet said, stepping into the house and shutting the door behind her. "What's wrong?"
"Let's sit down." Keely led her into the living room and pulled out an old photo album of hers. She flipped to the last page and handed the book to Harriet. As Harriet took the book, open to a hospital-issue photo of a screaming newborn, Keely began to speak.
"When I was nineteen, I was a sophomore in college. I was at the University of Michigan, and had started dating this guy. Christopher. He, um, he was in a class or two of mine, and we started hanging out and partying. At the end of my first semester, in December, I went home to DC...and discovered I was pregnant." Keely's eyes teared up again and she folded her hands, scratching at dry pieces of skin on her thumbs. "I returned to school in January and told Christopher, and we decided it would be best if, um, I gave the baby up." She motioned to the album. "That's my baby. Margaret Alaina. I held her once, and then...then they took her away from me." Keely paused, trying to compose herself. "Anyway, um, Maggie's adoptive mother called today, right before you did. Apparently, Maggie wants to meet me."
Harriet clucked sympathetically. "Oh, Keely. I can only imagine what you're feeling. But isn't this a good thing? You'll get to see your daughter, see for yourself that she's doing well..."
Keely shook her head. "The reason I'm freaking like this...AJ doesn't know. I never knew how to broach the subject..." Her face crumbled. "He's going to hate me."
"Oh, my." Harriet waited a moment before she spoke. "Keely, he could never hate you. I've seen the way the Admiral looks at you; he loves you. I'm sure he'll be angry, but he'll get over it."
Keely buried her head in her hands, rubbing vigorously. "I don't know what I'm going to say to him. I...I feel so lost, Harriet. I'm...I'm so scared."
"Just tell him the truth," Harriet advised. "AJ will understand, I'm sure of it."
Keely folded her hands and rested her chin against them, trying to calm herself down. "I'm sorry for putting you in the middle. I just knew I had to get my thoughts together before I tell AJ."
Harriet shook her head. "It's okay, Keely, don't worry about it. That's what friends are for." She stood, placing a gentle hand on Keely's shoulder. "Let me make you some tea, okay? Then we can talk about this some more."
Keely nodded. "Thank you. I'd like that."
"Okay." Harriet headed into the kitchen and set water to boil on the stove. "So come tell me about Maggie," she called.
Keely rose and joined Harriet in the kitchen. "Well, she's thirteen now, and just started seventh grade. She's a writer." Keely's voice broke at this, as it continued to stun her. "And apparently she swims, too. She and her mom live in Bethesda."
"That's incredible. She's been so close all this time," Harriet marveled. "She writes?"
Keely nodded. "Yeah. And her - her mother said that she's extremely talented. She's won a lot of awards and was even published."
Harriet smiled gently. "Guess it runs in the family."
Keely nodded, smiling briefly as Harriet handed her a mug of tea. "Christopher was an athlete in college. Football, though, not swimming."
Nodding, Harriet asked, "So when are you meeting her?"
"Friday." Keely took a deep breath. "I feel like my whole world has been turned on its side."
"That's because it has." The kettle whistled, and Harriet poured two mugs full of water and handed one to Keely, with a teabag. "Are you going to tell AJ before you go?"
Keely nodded. "I have to. I wouldn't feel right if I didn't. Ironic, considering I felt completely fine in not telling him in the first place."
"It was something you'd put out of your mind," Harriet rationalized for her. "And it probably never came up in conversation."
Keely nodded. "Exactly. I just hope I can keep my wits about me tonight." She exhaled loudly and looked at the clock. "He should be home relatively soon."
"Do you want me to stay?" Harriet offered. "Kind of...mediate?"
Keely shook her head. "Thank you, but no. I think this is something I need to tell him by myself. Plus, I wouldn't want him feeling...ganged up on, you know?"
Nodding, Harriet replied, "Sure, I understand. But if you need me, don't hesitate to call, okay?"
Keely nodded. "Thank you, Harriet. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime, Keely." Harriet sipped at her tea. The sound of a car in the driveway startled them both. "I guess I'd better get going."
Keely rose, enveloping her friend in a hug. "Thank you."
Harriet's eyes were brimming with tears. "Quit thanking me," she admonished Keely. "It's no more than any friend would do. Good luck tonight."
Keely smiled and saw her out the front door. When she returned to the kitchen, AJ was standing there, sifting through the mail. She cleared her throat and said, "Hey."
"Hi." AJ didn't look up from stack of envelopes. "More bills," he chuckled. "Don't they know I'm broke?"
Keely laughed slightly, taking a deep breath. She knew she had to jump in head first, or she would chicken out. "AJ?"
AJ finally looked up. "Keely?" He noticed her red-rimmed eyes. "God, honey, what's wrong?" he asked immediately, reaching out to embrace her.
Keely moved towards him and hugged him briefly. Feeling traitorous as she did, she distanced herself again. "I need..." she cleared her throat. "I need to talk to you about something. It's, um, it's not going to be easy for me or for you, but...I just need you to hear me out, okay?"
"What is it, baby?" AJ asked, concerned.
At the irony, Keely couldn't contain a smile. She moved back to the living room and picked up the photo album. She placed it on the counter towards AJ and began her story.
"That..." her voice broke, "that is my daughter, AJ." Her vision blurred again, as she continued. "I had her when I was nineteen, with my boyfriend of six months. We were in no shape to care for her, so I gave her up. It was an open adoption, meaning the records weren't sealed, so her...mother...called me today. Maggie - that's my baby - wants to meet me." Keely wiped her eyes, but dared not look at AJ, focusing instead on the snapshot of the red-faced infant. "I don't really know why I didn't tell you. I...I never meant to lie to you, you have to believe that. I just...didn't know how to tell you." Flustered, she ran a hand through her hair. "It sounds lame, I know, but..."
AJ sat, stone-faced, across from Keely. "Your daughter."
Keely's face crumbled. "Yes," she managed.
"A daughter. Hm."
Keely nodded. "I'm so sorry, AJ."
"Me, too. Why didn't you tell me?" AJ asked, unable to keep the hurt out of his voice.
Keely shook her head and shrugged. "I don't know...a combination of shame and fear, I think. And I think there's an element of denial, too...I mean, getting pregnant at nineteen was not the smartest thing I've ever done. And the guilt is so overwhelming."
"It never occurred to you to tell me until now? Even when we started talking about having a baby of our own?" AJ asked.
Keely lowered her head. "We bandied that around so offhandedly, AJ, I didn't know what to think. But yeah, I've been thinking about it, on and off. I just didn't know how to tell you."
"Jesus." AJ shook his head. "A kid."
Keely raised apologetic and guilt-laden eyes to his. "I wish there was something else I could say, AJ."
"Me, too." AJ reached for his car keys. "I need some time to think about this. I'll be back."
Keely nodded. "I know."
Driving away from the house, AJ couldn't have explained why he felt guilty leaving, but he did. He just knew he had to go somewhere and think this through.
Keely watched him leave, fresh tears beginning. She rested her head against the door to the garage for a few minutes and then wandered back into the house, mind completely blank.
AJ let the car lead him, his mind unfocused on anything but the task of staying between the yellow lines painted on the blacktop. He ended up in front of a familiar house, knocking on the door.
Mac opened the front door, a surprised look flitting across her features. "AJ! Are you all right?"
"Not quite. Can I come in?"
* * *
Keely nervously checked her watch for the hundredth time in the last three minutes. As she toyed with her coffee, she thought about the events of earlier in the week. AJ had come home three and a half hours after he'd split, hugged her and said they'd get through it. He'd said nothing further about it until this morning, when he kissed her forehead and wished her good luck.
She knew he was disappointed and angry, and she knew he had every right to be. She had been shocked at how he had handled it, though; there had been no blowout or guilt tripping like she had expected. Still, Keely remained on-edge and was playing up the penance as much as she could. She'd been hurt before, had felt a huge range of emotions in her life, but none devastated her as much as knowing she had hurt AJ.
*That's how you know it's love, O'Reilly,* she mused. She took another sip of her coffee and looked out onto Pennsylvania Avenue again. Her heart began to race when she saw a minivan with Maryland tags parallel park directly in front of the store. Her heart started racing and her stomach leapt into her throat as one door to the van opened.
Jackie Sommers stepped out of the van, locking the door behind her. She turned, as the back door opened and her daughter emerged, backpack slung over one slender shoulder. "You ready, Maggie?"
"Yup." Maggie nodded, her bright red curls bouncing over her shoulders. Her blue eyes were bright with excitement - and nerves. She fiddled with the straps on her book bag for a moment before following her mother into the coffee shop.
Keely watched as they entered the coffee shop, saying a silent Hail Mary before rising and waving slightly, trying to catch Jackie or Maggie's attention.
Searching the store for Keely, Jackie saw her hand in the air. Tapping Maggie to get her attention, she turned and headed toward Keely's table. "Miss O'Reilly?"
Keely nodded. "Please, call me Keely." She extended her hand to Jackie while watching Maggie - her *daughter* - following behind her.
"Keely. I'm Jackie Sommers. This is...Maggie." She wrapped her arm around Maggie's shoulders.
The teen shrugged her off gently. "Ma, quit it," she whispered. "Hi," she said, shaking Keely's hand.
"Hi," Keely replied nervously, taking the young woman's hand. It was like looking at a mirror image from her youth...the same unruly red hair, the same freckles and tiny nose. The only difference between Keely and Maggie seemed to be that Maggie had inherited her father's height and stunning blue eyes.
Keely sat back down at the small table, and motioned for Jackie and Maggie to join her. "Can I get you guys anything?"
"A double iced frap with whipped cream?" Maggie said hopefully.
"Chocolate milk?" Jackie countered.
"You suck."
"Watch your mouth," Jackie warned without missing a beat.
"Sorry. Water, please," Maggie smiled at Keely.
Jackie nodded. "Water for me, too."
Keely wasn't sure whether to cry or laugh at the interlude; instead, she motioned to the worker behind the counter for two bottled waters. She brought them over and Keely slipped her a ten, moving her attention back to Jackie and Maggie. "So..." she began, before chuckling. "This is nice and awkward."
Maggie giggled softly, reaching for her book bag. "Okay, so can I ask you some questions for my project?"
Keely shrugged. "Of course. Anything you want. I'll try to answer as best I can."
"'Kay." Maggie found her list of questions. "Where were you born?"
"Technically? Casper, Wyoming. My parents were heading from California back east when my mom went into labor with me. But I was raised here in DC by my uncle."
"What's his name?"
"His name was Shaunessy James O'Reilly. He died several years ago. He was born in Dublin in..." Keely did a quick calculation, "1945."
"Thanks." Maggie scribbled down the reply as fast as she asked the next question. "Why didn't your parents raise you?" she asked, raising her head to meet Keely's eyes.
"That's a really good question. Um, I'm not really sure they could. They were...emotionally young when I was born. I don't think they were ready for a baby, so when my dad's brother said he would raise me, they jumped at that chance."
"So you were kind of adopted, too. Neat." Maggie grinned. "Are you married? Do you have any other kids?" she continued. Maggie's eyes were inquisitive; she was dying to know if she had brothers or sisters.
Keely smiled at her inquisitiveness. She took a sip of her coffee and continued. "No, I'm not married, but I'm engaged. I don't have any other children."
"Engaged? To a guy or a girl?" Maggie asked, immediately interested.
"A guy," Keely replied, smiling. "His name is AJ, and we've been together for about seven years, I think."
"Wow, a long time. AJ what?" Maggie asked, writing furiously.
"Chegwidden." Keely spelled the name for her, watching the child as she bit her lower lip in concentration. Keely shook her head at just how similar she and this ultimate stranger seemed to be. For the hundredth time that week, she was completely overwhelmed.
"Does he have any kids?"
"Yes, he does. He has a daughter named Francesca." After spelling that for Maggie, Keely continued briefly. "Francesca's mother is Marcella. Francesca is engaged to Giovanni, and they have a little boy, Cristoforo, who is almost five months old."
"Wait. That means..." Maggie thought for a second. "If he's gonna be your husband, and you're my biological mom, then Francesca would be like...my stepsister. So I have a nephew?"
Keely ran it through her mind and then chuckled, nodding. "I guess that's right. Very good, Maggie."
"Thanks." Maggie grinned brightly.
Jackie sat back, watching her daughter and this stranger. They could've been before and after pictures. Not for the first time since Maggie had come into her life, Jackie silently thanked the woman about whom she'd known nothing, except her name.
Maggie didn't look hurt or angry as she continued to pepper Keely with questions; she just looked curious. "Why did you give me up?"
Keely took a deep breath before answering. "Well, when you were born, I was nineteen. I had just finished my sophomore year in college, and I knew I couldn't care for you. My uncle and I didn't have much money...I was in college merely on scholarships, and...I knew it wouldn't be fair to you to live that kind of life. So I decided that it would be in your best interest to give you to a family I knew would love and cherish you." Keely looked and smiled at Jackie. "And it looks like you're happy and healthy, and that's all I wanted for you."
Cocking her head to the side, Maggie gave a half-nod. "Did you want to keep me?" she asked quietly.
Keely nodded, the level of her voice matching Maggie's in intensity and pitch. "Absolutely. Your - your mom probably doesn't know this, but they gave you to me after you were born. My lawyer, the one who helped me find your mom and dad, was there when you were born...and I turned to her and told her I wanted to keep you." Keely shrugged. "I wanted to prove that I could be a better mother than my mom was, and I knew I would be able to love you with all of my heart. But I still knew that I couldn't provide for you."
Nodding, Maggie seemed to understand. "Okay. Who else is in your family?"
Keely shrugged. "Well, I was an only child. My dad's name is Kevin Duncan O'Reilly, and my mom's name is Leslie Anne Murray. She and my dad met in college at Berkeley. I have a whole bunch of aunts and uncles, but I don't really see them much."
Taking notes, Maggie nodded again. "We only have to do immediate family and grandparents, I think." She paused a second. "Who's my dad?"
Keely nodded, biting her lip for a second. "His name was Christopher Michael Swanson. His parents were..." Keely had to think hard. "Michelle Elliott and Carter Swanson. I think Christopher had an aunt named Tara and two uncles, Josh and Eric. I'm sorry, I don't know which side was which."
"That's okay. I think that's enough." Maggie smiled, taking a sip of her water. "Okay, make sure I got this right." Maggie slid the now-complete family tree in between Jackie and Keely. At the center was an apple, with "Maggie Sommers" in it. To the left, branches identified her 'adoptive mom', 'adoptive dad', 'adoptive maternal grandmother', and all the rest. To the right, the same boxes read 'biological mom', 'biological dad' and 'biological maternal grandmother'. "Did I miss anybody?"
"Nope, I think that's it." Keely smiled gently. "Is there anything else you want to know? I mean, about me...any questions you have?"
"Well...." Maggie paused for a long moment. "Where'd I get my freckles from?" she asked, eyeing Keely's complexion.
"From me, obviously." Keely touched her own cheek. "I look a lot like my dad. He was born in Ireland, hence the Irish complexion." Looking at Maggie, she couldn't help but shake her head. "But you have your father's eyes, and his height. He was a big guy." She smiled again, trying to encourage further conversation.
"Wow, cool." Maggie thought a second. "Did you have a boyfriend when you were thirteen?"
Keely giggled and blushed. "Yes, I did. There was a boy that lived next door to me. His name was Tommy O'Rourke. I thought he was the cutest thing ever. He gave me my first kiss, actually, at our middle school dance. He moved when we started high school."
"Oh." Maggie's eyes fell. "I haven't been kissed yet. My mom," she glared at Jackie, "says I'm not supposed to until I'm fifteen anyway, she says nobody had boyfriends when *she* was my age."
Keely smiled. "You know what, honey? Your mom's right. I think that we work so fast to grow up, but in truth, you're an adult a lot longer than you are a kid. I know you want to do all sorts of things, but just be patient. Your time will come."
"Oh, god." Maggie rolled her eyes, and looked just like her birth mother. "You sound like my mom. And I thought you were cool, until now."
Keely shrugged and smiled. "Sorry, kiddo. The O'Reilly coolness factor quickly fades." She drained the last of her coffee and looked at Maggie. "Your mom tells me you're a writer."
"Yup." Maggie pulled out a soft-cover book. "I brought the book I got published in, wanna see?"
"I'd love to." Keely reached for the book and began flipping to the page that contained Maggie's short story. "What made you write this particular story?"
"Take a wild guess." Maggie pointed to the title: 'Abandoned'.
Keely nodded and began reading in silence. The girl's words were poetic, to say the least, and her story flowed like few Keely had ever seen. She looked up at Maggie, her mouth agape, once she had finished the seven pages. "Wow." Keely covered the little girl's hand briefly. "That was incredible, Maggie."
"Thanks." Maggie blushed. "But it really wasn't that good. It was just....yanno."
"Maggie," Keely admonished. "I write for a living, and few *adult* writers can capture a mood like that. You should be very proud of yourself."
"Nah, s'nothing," Maggie insisted, sounding for all the world like Keely when AJ tried to compliment *her*.
Keely smiled, handing the book back. "Do you think you'll be an author when you grow up?"
"Maybe. I'd like to be a teacher, too. So I don't know."
"I teach sometimes, too. Both are really fun. Just follow your heart." Keely nodded encouragingly.
Maggie smiled. "I know, my mom says that all the time." She thought for a second. "Hey, can I meet your fiancé?"
Startled, Keely reared back slightly in surprise. "Well, sure, if you want to. I mean, I have to check with him to see what his schedule's like, but...I think he'd probably like to meet you, too. He was...rather surprised that I had a child."
"He didn't know?"
Keely sighed and shook her head. "No." She looked out onto busy Pennsylvania Avenue, trying to figure out how to explain it. "I was a coward, basically. I wasn't sure how to tell him. But he knows now."
"Oh. Okay. What's your favorite movie?" Maggie asked, switching topics quickly, like a typical teenage girl.
"Goodness, there are so many! Um..." Keely trailed off, trying to think. "Definitely 'Pretty Woman'. And 'Elizabeth'. So, one comedy and one drama."
"I love 'Pretty Woman'!" Maggie giggled. "Cool. So when can I meet AJ?" she asked, switching back.
"Well, we'll have to coordinate it with your mom..." Keely looked over at Jackie.
Jackie shrugged and smiled. "Whenever's good for you, Keely. As long as I know a few days in advance, I can do it."
"Well, it's short notice, but what about dinner tomorrow? We could do a cookout at my place, something like that."
"Sounds great. We're going to stay overnight in the city, anyway, with a friend of mine, since we're out here. What time tomorrow?" Jackie asked, getting out her appointment book.
"Um, let's say about two? Maybe I can get some friends of mine to come over or something. Does that work?" Keely smiled at Jackie and then looked at Maggie, trying to gauge her reaction.
"Fabulous!" Maggie grinned broadly, but then her grin faded. "Darn it. If I'd known we were gonna meet everybody, I would've brought Hamlet. He's my puppy. Well, he's not really a puppy anymore, but he acts like it!"
Keely laughed. "What kind of puppy is he? I have a golden retriever/lab mix named Sadie. She's almost four."
"He's a German Shepherd and English Sheepdog. He's like a monkey with four legs."
Keely laughed heartily. "That's a great description." Keely pulled out her notepad and wrote down her address and phone number and slipped it to Jackie. "You can just take 66 to the Reston exit. Take the second left off the off-ramp, and follow that road all the way to the end. There will be a road on your right called Millers Circle. We're the last house, at the end of the cul de sac."
"Okay, sounds easy enough. We'll see you at two tomorrow." Jackie stood, reaching for her purse. "Maggie, we've gotta go. We're meeting Aunt Jane for dinner."
Keely rose along with them. "Well, thanks for coming all the way out here...it was really great to meet you. Both of you."
Smiling, Jackie leaned over to hug Keely. "Thank you," she said softly. "It meant a lot to Maggie."
Keely hugged Jackie back, her eyes tearing. "It means a lot to me," she replied.
As Jackie released her, Maggie leaned forward and hugged Keely, her long arms wrapping around the redhead's neck. "See you tomorrow!" she said, releasing Keely quickly.
Keely patted her back and smiled broadly. "See you tomorrow," she repeated, waving as they left the restaurant and climbed in their car. She watched as the van drove away, and she dug in her bag, pulling out her cell phone. She dialed a familiar number, hoping the secretary hadn't cut out for the day.
"Judge Chegwidden's office, this is Melissa, can I help you?"
"Hey, Melissa, it's Keely. Is AJ still around?"
"Yes, ma'am."
The phone bleeped once. "Chegwidden."
"Hey, it's me. How are you?"
"Fine. How'd it go?" AJ asked, slipping his glasses off.
"Amazingly." Keely's voice broke. "She looks just like me, AJ, it's so weird. And she sounds like me. She writes better than me, though. That completely threw me."
"No one could possibly write better than you do, Keel." AJ smiled. "So you like her?"
"I do, AJ. I really do." Keely paused, reveling in what sounded like happiness in his voice. "She wants to meet you, actually."
"Me?" AJ furrowed his brow. "When?"
Keely smiled. "Yes, you. She seemed fascinated that we've been together so long." She chuckled before continuing. "At any rate, I had mentioned maybe a cook-out tomorrow. I thought we could invite Harm and Mac, Harriet and the kids...does that work for you?"
"Sounds perfect. I'll make my famous ribs."
Keely groaned. "You know what I like." She looked at her watch, amazed that an hour had passed since Maggie and Jackie had arrived. "Well, I'm going to head out of the city now...do you want me to pick up dinner?"
"Chen's?" AJ perked up. "I've been dying for their dim sum and vegetable lo mien."
"Sure thing, babe," Keely smiled. "By the time I get dinner and get home, it'll probably be closer to quarter of six. That work?"
"Sure. I'll just gnaw on my arm until then," AJ teased. "Meet you there."
"'Kay. I love you."
"Love you too, kiddo."
"Drive safely. Bye." Keely hung up, holding the phone against her chest, feeling enormously content.
She left a tip for the server and piled into her own car, stopping, as promised, at Chen's and Watergate's Safeway, picking up groceries for their cookout tomorrow. As she strolled through the aisles, Keely felt her excitement growing, and she was singing to herself when she finally arrived home at 5:30.
AJ was lounging out back, enjoying the warmth of the summer sun. "Hey, babe, I'm out here!" he called through the open kitchen door.
Keely dropped the bags of groceries on the kitchen island and wandered out back, Chen's bag in hand. She bent over AJ's chaise lounge and kissed his forehead. "Hey you."
"Hey." AJ grabbed Keely's arms gently, holding her close for a lingering kiss on the lips. "Is that my dim sum I smell?"
"I'm happy to see you too," Keely replied after kissing him gently. She dangled the bag in front of his face and then handed it to him. "Dinner is served."
"Yum. Come, sit," AJ said, patting the empty space by his legs.
"Let me put away the groceries first, and then I'll join you," Keely promised, moving back into the kitchen. "How was work?" she called, putting the soda in the fridge.
"Not bad." AJ carried the Chen's bag into the kitchen, going for plates. "Guess what? Harriet accepted my job offer. I'm thrilled, let me just tell you. Since Jennifer left for graduate school in New York, that replacement we have...What's her name, Melissa? She's all right, but Harriet used to have fresh coffee and bagels every morning. This girl's lucky she can tell the coffee maker from the head."
Keely laughed. "Although, I will miss being able to call Harriet in the middle of the days I don't have class...somehow I think you won't enjoy if she and I have giggly girl conversations while she's supposed to be working."
"Hell, as long as she gets the job done, you two can take a two-hour lunch for all I care." AJ dished the Chinese food out onto two plates.
Keely smiled, putting away the last of the munchies and joining him on the porch. "You saved me crab rangoon, right?"
"You know I don't like that stuff. It's all yours, baby girl." AJ pushed the plate toward her.
"Great, thank you." Keely took the plate and sat at their table and chair set, watching the sun go down over their backyard. "Hard to believe that soon it'll be fall again," she remarked, taking a bite of the food.
"I know. Seems like yesterday it was winter in Seattle." AJ smiled at Keely across the table. "We just keep surprising ourselves, don't we?"
Keely smiled, grasping his hand with hers. "I think keeping ourselves on our toes is what makes this relationship last." She took a few more bites of dinner before saying quietly, "I know you were mad at me when I told you about Maggie. But you have no idea how much it means to me that you're supportive and loving, when we both know you have all the reasons in the world not to be."
"But I have all the reasons I need to be forgiving and supportive. You." AJ smiled at her. "Yeah, I was mad," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "But after a while, I figured, what's the use? We're just gonna end up together anyway, I might as well stop fighting it." He grinned teasingly. "So who all did you invite for tomorrow? The Rabbs, The Roberts, anybody else?"
"No, just them...do you have any suggestions? I don't want to overwhelm her, but I would like a nice, full house." Keely replied, feeding Sadie a piece of sweet and sour chicken.
"Yes. First suggestion, stop feeding the dog table food before I tell the vet on you." AJ called Sadie over and held her by his side. "As far as guests...none that I can think of. That ought to be enough."
Keely nodded and smiled, watching as Sadie wagged her tail, thinking AJ was going to feed her more food. Keely rose from the table, heading back into the house. Pausing to kiss him, she asked quietly, "Do you want something to drink?"
"A beer would be great." As Keely disappeared into the house, AJ wondered again how he'd ended up so lucky.
Returning, Keely handed him his beer and opened her Coke. This time, however, her dinner was left untouched as she pulled an extra chair behind him and started to gently massage his shoulders, kissing the side of his neck. "You know how much I love you, right? Even after all this time...I just can't imagine my life without you."
Closing his eyes, AJ savored the feeling of Keely's strong fingers on his tired neck. "I know. And you know I adore you." It was a statement of fact. "We're just meant to be, kiddo."
Keely smiled, working on the knots in his shoulders. "Lord, you're wound up tighter than a clock," she admonished.
"I need to de-stress," AJ laughed. "Know anything that'll do it?"
Keely laughed. "I have a couple of things that might just help," she agreed enigmatically, wrapping her arms around his neck, teasing the outside of his ear with her tongue.
"Mmmmm. I can think of four, right off the bat." AJ grinned, ticking them off on his fingers. "Your tongue, your fingers...." He let Keely's imagination do the rest.
Smiling against his neck, Keely nipped at the flesh there, delighting at AJ's slight shiver. "Well, you know I live to please you."
"Uhhh...." was all the reply AJ could manage, as he turned in his chair, catching Keely's lips by surprise.
* * *
The Virginia sky was bright blue with fluffy white clouds dotting the horizon. The sun was beating down, and AJ was grateful for the Coppertone Keely had made him wear. *Well, that's not exactly right,* he thought. *She didn't make me...she bribed me.* But how he could've resisted her offer to apply it herself, he didn't know. It had taken three tries before she actually applied it and he actually got out into the sun.
But now he was there, under the semi-shade of the oak trees that surrounded their yard. As the sun reflected off his bald head, AJ straightened his "Cooks Like It Hot" apron and got back to the business at hand. Ribs, chicken and hot dogs.
Keely came out to the backyard carrying a tray of fruit. She readjusted her Capri pants and one of AJ's blue dress shirts that she had tied at the waist. Putting the tray down, she tilted her head, trying to gauge whether or not she heard a car driving up.
AJ crossed the yard and wrapped his arms around Keely's waist. "Before we're bombarded with people, have I told you today how much cuter my shirts look on you than they do on me?"
Keely chuckled, turning in his embrace and languidly wrapping her arms around his neck. "I think we both look cuter *out* of your shirts." She rose up and kissed him, her fingers playing with the nape of his neck. They made quite an all-American picture, standing in their lush backyard with a dog at their feet and the smell of barbeque swirling around them. They stood, frozen in time, until Keely heard the soft roar of a minivan pulling up their driveway. She disengaged herself from AJ's mouth and looked over her shoulder. "They're here," she said quietly, kissing him gently again and walking over to the fence, opening it carefully to make sure Sadie didn't escape. Keely walked down their stone path to the driveway and smiled brightly. "Hey, guys."
AJ shut the hood over their lunch so Sadie wouldn't get the food. He took Keely's hand and the two walked down their stone path to the driveway. Keely smiled brightly. "Hey, guys."
Jackie and Maggie climbed out of the van, hugging and greeting Keely. Maggie turned and looked at AJ with a knowing smile. "Hi, Mr. Chegwidden," she said politely. "I'm Maggie." She held out her hand.
"Hi, Maggie," AJ said. He glanced up at Jackie with an amazed smile, as if to compliment her on her daughter's manners. "You can call me AJ. Welcome to our home."
"Thanks, AJ. It's so cute!" she said, gazing at the house.
Keely smiled in spite of the increasing nervousness. "We just moved in, so it's a little messy...but would you like a tour?"
"I would!" Jackie piped up with a smile. "And trust me, she's 13, the word "mess" means nothing to Maggie."
"Ma!"
"It's true."
Keely laughed heartily. "Thanks for the reassurance." She motioned towards the back gate. "We can go right through here. Oh, and don't mind Sadie, she's just a big licking machine. Give her a stern 'no' and you'll be okay." Keely moved to the side to let Jackie and Maggie pass, pausing slightly as they approached the gate, marveling at how much her life had changed, thanks to a simple phone call.
Maggie saw Sadie and burst out squealing. "Oh she's ADORABLE! C'mere, Sadie!"
Keely turned and winked at AJ before heading towards the gate, taking a few deep breaths to quell her nerves.
AJ smiled, following them into the house, Sadie leaping and barking at their feet. Maggie kept egging her on, telling her to "speak". Sadie had no concept of the command, of course, but when Maggie waved her hands, Sadie thought it was her duty to bark as loud as she could.
Keely snapped her fingers and ordered Sadie to go keep find a squirrel to play with. Sadie pranced off, sniffing curiously at the barbeque.
Keely opened the back door for Jackie and Maggie and motioned to the green and white living room. AJ stood behind her as she gave their guests a tour. "This is the living room...we hang out a lot in here. This is the kitchen...you guys can help yourselves to anything you want. We're really loose." Keely smiled before pointing out the dining room and formal den. "Upstairs, we have our bedroom, two guest rooms, and our office-slash-crap room." She giggled. "I sound like a realtor, don't I?"
"Yup." Maggie glanced around, wide-eyed. "Wow, Mom, our whole apartment could fit in one *corner* of the living room."
Jackie glanced around discreetly. "Yeah." Maggie was right; the place was huge.
"It's a big mortgage, but it's worth it. We like having the guest rooms," AJ explained, resting his hand on Keely's shoulder. "Somehow, people always seem to end up congregating wherever we live."
Keely smiled up at AJ, her eyes bright and dancing. "Neither of us has much family, so we like to have as many friends as possible." She wrapped her arm around AJ's waist before asking, "Can I get either of you anything to drink?"
"No thanks." Maggie looked around the living room again. "Where do you write?" she asked Keely. "Do you have a special place?"
"Usually, I write outside. For the most part, it's quiet and solitary, very unobtrusive. But sometimes you hear things...birds fighting, squirrels playing in leaves, Sadie chasing the squirrels playing in leaves, and it gets you thinking. Well, it gets me thinking, anyway."
"Yeah, I know. I go to the park a lot to write. Or sometimes to the mall, so I can people-watch. I get a lot of ideas by watching people. Do you do that?" Maggie asked.
Keely nodded vigorously. "Definitely. It's always interesting to see someone and imagine what they're thinking." Keely smiled at the young woman, reveling in their similarities.
"Totally. Sometimes you see somebody smile, and you wonder if they just got proposed to, or if they just killed somebody, or why they're so happy." Maggie grinned.
Keely chuckled. "Exactly. And then that one idea spirals into something else, which turns into something else, and after a couple of rotations, you've got yourself a story."
"Exactly." Maggie turned to Jackie. "See, Ma? Someone gets the way I think."
Jackie shrugged. "Takes one crazy to know another," she teased.
Keely mockingly put her hands on her hips. "We're not crazy. We're creative."
"Call it what you want," AJ said, stepping closer to Jackie, and gesturing toward her. "We live with you guys, we know the truth."
Keely stuck her tongue out at AJ. "Well, if we're crazy, what does that make you for living with us?"
"Masochists."
Keely rolled her eyes, poking him in the side as she moved to the refrigerator to get a Snapple. "Come on, old man, you *know* you love it."
"No, I love you. I could live without the rest of it," he teased.
Maggie poked her mother in the arm. "Mom, they're nuts," she giggled.
"Certifiable," Keely agreed, making a face at AJ. "But we're amusing."
"Very." The doorbell rang and Maggie grinned at Keely. "Can I get it?"
Surprised at her apparent comfort level, Keely sputtered for a moment, but finally nodded. "Sure. Front door's that way." Keely shot an amused look at AJ before following Maggie to the door as she opened it.
Maggie opened the door with a huge smile. "Hi!" she said to the strangers on the other side.
"My, Keely! You've shrunk since I saw you last," Harriet giggled. "And your eyes! They've changed color!"
Little AJ rolled his eyes. "Mommy, that's not Aunt Keely. *That's* Aunt Keely," he said, pointing to Keely.
"Oh, oops, silly me," Harriet kept up the charade. "You look so much like her, I could've sworn you were Keely."
Maggie giggled along with Harriet. "No, I'm Maggie. Hi."
"Hi." Harriet extended her hand. "I'm Harriet. This is my husband, Bud. And these are our children, AJ and Catie." The kids smiled politely, unsure of what to make of the imposter-Keely. "Can we come in?"
Maggie stepped away from the door. "Sure."
Keely smiled broadly at Harriet, knowing the blonde would catch her expression. As Maggie headed back to the kitchen, Keely bent down and hugged Catie and little AJ. "I sure hope you guys are hungry...I think Uncle AJ's cooked enough food for the whole Navy!"
AJ cursed. "The food!" He had forgotten all about it in the excitement. Running back to the grill, he found only a couple of ribs and one chicken breast had been sacrificed to his OldTimer's disease.
Keely burst out laughing, shaking her head at her fiancé. She gave Bud and Harriet hugs, shooing them to the back. "Thanks for coming, guys. It really means a lot."
"Please, Keely," Harriet clucked at her. "Do you really think we'd miss an opportunity for free food?"
Keely chuckled, grabbing her drink and taking a swig. She looked outside at Maggie, little AJ and Catie chasing Sadie around the backyard. Turning to Bud and Harriet, she asked, "You guys want anything to drink?"
"I'll take an iced tea, thanks," Bud replied. "Honey?"
"Same for me." Harriet was engrossed watching the children. "Bud?" she asked distractedly.
"Yeah?"
"What do you say to another?"
Spitting the sip of iced tea all over the counter, Bud sputtered, "What?"
"A baby," Harriet said wistfully. "What would you say to having another?"
Shooting a look at Keely, Bud stammered, "Um, honey, I don't really know if this is the proper time or place to discuss this..."
Keely held up a hand. "I'm going to go check on AJ. You two continue, okay? Grab the door when Harm and Mac arrive." She scurried out onto the back porch, running a hand up and down AJ's back. "How's it going?"
"It's great." AJ glanced at Keely, warmth spreading through him where her fingers touched his back. "I thought we might go swimming after lunch? I mean, what's the point of having a pool if we don't use it, right?"
She smiled up at him. "Sounds fabulous." She looked over her shoulder at Jackie, who was sitting at the outside table, watching Maggie. Keely kissed AJ on the cheek and then went and sat next to her. "How are you, Jackie?"
"Fine, how're you?"
"I'm great. Just great." Keely looked for a moment at the kids and then looked back at Jackie. "Thank you...for everything. I can't even imagine how hard that phone call must have been for you."
Meeting Keely's eyes, Jackie's expression was sad, but proud. "I was afraid of losing Maggie. But I realized she and I are closer than mother and daughter. She's my best friend, and having you in her life won't change that. Maybe it'll even give us more to talk about." Jackie smiled. "Although, she is convinced that if she can't get a baby brother or sister out of me, then she can get one out of you," she chuckled. "Beware."
Keely laughed. "Well, I can't promise her anything, but, uh, I'll pass her suggestion off to AJ." She smiled briefly. "You've done a fantastic job with her. I don't think I could have picked a better mother."
"Thank you." Jackie smiled broadly. "That means a lot."
Harriet came out into the backyard, Bud trailing helplessly behind her. "I'm just saying that if the Admiral can consider it at his age, we should probably think about it, okay?"
Bud just sighed. He knew when he'd been beaten.
Keely watched them come out, smiling broadly and shaking her head.
"Hello!" Mac's voice called from the side of the house.
"We're out back! Come through the gate." Keely called back, waving as Mac and Harm came onto the property.
Mac smiled, giving Keely a hug as they came onto the porch. Extending her hand to Jackie, she said, "I'm Sarah Mackenzie. Mac."
"Hi, Mac. I'm Jackie, I'm Maggie's mom." Jackie smiled. "Nice to meet you," she said as she shook Mac's hand.
Harm stepped up beside Mac, shaking Jackie's hand. "And I'm Harm, her husband."
"Harm and Mac?" Jackie looked amazed. "You're putting me on."
Mac shrugged, smiling at her husband. "Dead serious." Looking out at the children, she spotted Maggie and turned to Keely and Jackie with wide eyes. "Is that her?"
Keely nodded. "That's her."
Mac whistled. "My god, Keely, she looks exactly like you."
Keely shrugged. "Genetics for you, I suppose. You guys want anything to drink?"
"A beer, if you have it," Harm replied, watching the kids playing just about as wistfully as Harriet had.
"Sure thing." Keely smiled, retreating back into the kitchen and grabbing a beer. She took a minute to take a deep breath and collect her thoughts before returning. She handed Harm his bottle and wandered back over to AJ. "Is it almost done yet, old man? Some of us are hungry."
Laughing, AJ teased her, "Have patience, child. One more minute." He ran the brush of barbecue sauce over the ribs. "Now it's done."
"Yes!" Keely pretended to be triumphant before kissing him languidly. "Food's up!" she called to the gathering of people. She grabbed a cheeseburger before the onslaught began, helping Catie pick out "the bestest hot dog ever" and dousing it with ketchup.
As
he fixed people up with their barbecue of choice, AJ glanced around the small
gathering. *Not bad,* he thought. *A family, where ten years ago,
there was just a group of co-workers.*
When everyone's plate was loaded with food, AJ began playing host.
"Harriet, why don't you and Bud take the kids and Mac, and take that table over
there?" He gestured toward the table on his left. "Harm, you can
sit with the rest of us at the other table. I have some questions about a
case I'm working on, I'd appreciate your advice."
Harriet ushered her children toward their table, with warnings to use both hands to carry their plates. She threw drink requests over her shoulder to her husband, who dutifully came back carrying five cans.
When they were settled in, AJ raised his beer. "I'd like to make a quick toast," he smiled. "To the newest members of our family, Jackie and Maggie. Welcome." He clinked the bottle to Jackie's Coke can, and she smiled, trying not to start crying again. "To friends, family and love." He raised the bottle in salute again. Grinning at Maggie, AJ said, "You have anything to add, Maggie?"
Maggie thought a long moment before raising her Coke and cheering, "To Coca-Cola!"
Keely shot AJ a look and leaned over to clink cans with Maggie. "To soda monopolies!"
Maggie looked confused. "Huh?"
Keely chuckled. "Never mind."
AJ looked from Harriet to Mac, and sighed. "There's two of them now," he said, his head in his hands.
Keely fluttered her eyelashes. "You know you love it, old man."
"Oh, god. I'm doomed." AJ grinned.
"Can we eat?" little AJ piped up. "I'm hungry."
After insane amounts of food had been consumed and the adults in turn had ample rest time, Keely tilted her head back and looked at AJ. "I think someone mentioned something about swimming."
Catie sat up, immediately interested. "Swimming!"
Keely leaned over, tickling the little girl's stomach. "You want to swim, Catie?"
Catie nodded and bounded over to Harriet. "Mommy, can I swim?"
"Of course you can. AJ, do you want to go swimming, too?" Harriet asked as she stood up.
AJ leapt out of his chair. "Duh!"
Keely grinned, heading inside to get her suit on. "Maggie, did you want to go, too? I can show you where to change."
"Yeah! Mom, is my suit in the car?" Maggie asked.
A flurry of car doors and bathroom doors banging followed. Finally, everyone who had a bathing suit was in it, and in the pool. Even big AJ was in the deep end, showing little AJ how to hold his breath underwater without holding his nose.
Keely waded to her waist; thankful the pool had a heater. She smiled at the sight of the AJs, big and little, warmed to the core at the sight. She dove under water and headed toward her fiancé. She tickled his foot once before surfacing, laughing all the way to the top of the pool.
Laughing and growling at the same time, AJ abandoned his swimming lesson and dove towards Keely, slicing through the water. He grabbed her foot and pulled her towards him, laughing. "Gotcha, kid!"
Keely wiggled out of his grasp, quickly swimming away from him. She splashed him once, laughing. "Try again, old man."
Diving toward Keely again, AJ managed a better grasp, this time around her waist. Try as she might, she couldn't wiggle away. "Gotcha 'gain," he murmured in her ear. "You forget I'm a SeAL, baby? We live for the water."
Keely laughed, rubbing her cheek against his. "And what makes you think this wasn't my goal in the first place, SeAL?"
Chuckling, AJ reached underwater and pinched Keely's butt discreetly. "You're in trouble later," he murmured.
"Promises," Keely kidded, kissing him gently and then treading away. She did a back flip underwater and ended up back in the shallow end, just watching everyone and relaxing, something she hadn't truly done in weeks, with the move and the arrival of her daughter. She dunked her head back and surfaced again, thanking her good luck.
"Aunt Keely, look what Uncle AJ found for me!" Catie called Keely over, holding her hands just as AJ had taught her.
Keely swam over, smiling at Catie, and not quite sure what to make of the look on AJ's face. "What is it, sweetheart?"
"Look! Look!" Catie said it just like she was told. "Look close."
Keely leaned over, not quite sure what was going on.
Catie squeezed her hands shut quickly, shooting a stream of water into Keely's face. She giggled madly. "Sorry, Aunt Keely. Uncle AJ told me to."
Keely wiped her eyes and shook her finger at the little girl. "What did I tell you? Never listen to boys!" Keely hoisted herself out of the pool and wandered over to where they kept the pool supplies. She rooted around for what she was looking for and called over her shoulder, "AJ? Can you come here for a minute?"
"No. I'm not falling for it," AJ called from the other side of the pool.
"AJ, I need you. The pump's not right."
"All right." AJ could never resist those three words coming from Keely, in any context. He headed over to where she was bent over, fiddling with the filter pump, presumably. "Is the thingy stuck again?"
Keely laughed and raised the Super Soaker to AJ's face. "Nope, I think you unstuck it."
Raising his hands, AJ feigned defeat. "Okay, you win. Put the gun down, and everybody walks out of here unharmed."
Keely shook her head, forcing him back onto the pool deck. "Don't try and mess with me, coppah. Now, you give me what I want, and *then* nobody gets hurt."
AJ glanced over to where Harm was sitting and raised an eyebrow. Taking the cue, Harm jumped up, grabbed a handgun-sized water gun and thrust it into Keely's back dramatically. "FBI, freeze, sucker! Let the judge go!"
Keely sighed melodramatically and motioned that she was going to put the gun down. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mac, Harriet and Jackie huddled together. She turned and looked at Harm, a glint in her eye. "If I have to go out, I'm going out in a blaze of glory!" she cried, turning the gun towards the three women.
"No!" Harm yelled, laughing hysterically, throwing himself toward the women, trying to save them. "Not the innocent bystanders!" But he was too late.
Keely burst out laughing as she sprayed the women before leaping back into the pool. When she surfaced, Mac was looming over her with Harm's squirt gun, dripping wet.
Keely offered an apologetic grin and a laughing "Sorry!" before resurfacing the gun and squirting her once more for good measure.
Mac stood with hands on hips and looked across the pool at AJ, and then back at Keely. "Thank you, Keely," she said sarcastically.
Keely squirted her once more. "You're welcome," she replied around her guffaws of loud laughter.
AJ was laughing so hard, he fell backward into the pool. When he came up for air, he was still laughing, and he managed to start choking on the water.
Keely abandoned her water gun and swam quickly over to AJ, still chuckling. "Head up, arms high in the sky, AJ. There you go. Cough it up."
AJ rolled his eyes. "Listen," he said loudly, "if you want a baby that bad, we can have a baby. Just stop treating me like one," he laughed.
Keely smacked him on the shoulder and retrieved her water gun before anyone else could get to it. She cradled it close to her and smiled mischievously.
"You...you...child!" AJ laughed, finally regaining his composure. Glancing up, he noticed the darkening sky. "Wow, I didn't realize how late it was."
Harriet glared at Keely with dancing eyes. "I could've told you that, if *someone* hadn't waterlogged my watch!"
"Sorry, Harriet," Keely replied, hoisting herself out of the pool. "You just didn't look like you were having any fun out of the water, so I tried to fix it."
"I was having lots of fun. Now I'm sitting in a puddle," Harriet giggled. She turned toward her children. "AJ, Catie, out of the pool. It's time to go."
"Aw, Mom!" Catie whined, swimming towards the center of the pool so her mother would be unable to reach out and pull her back in.
"Catherine Elizabeth Roberts, you get your six out of that pool on the double," Bud ordered. "You, too, AJ."
Grumbling, Catie swam to the ladder and got out, lips blue and teeth chattering. "But I'm not cold yet, Daddy," she argued.
Bud chuckled, wrapping his little girl in her Minnie Mouse towel. "Go dry off, baby."
Big AJ wrapped his namesake in a fluffy white towel, slinging him over one shoulder. He walked over to Bud with a grin. "Excuse me, Commander, I believe this is your sack of potatoes I found?"
Bud looked up and smiled. "Yes, sir, I believe it is. Would you mind setting it down next to the little sack of potatoes?"
"No problem." AJ dumped the squirming white towel unceremoniously onto a deck chair.
Harriet watched the pair with a huge grin. She poked Mac in the side gently. "And he wonders why I want another baby. Stupid men."
Mac grinned, nodding as she handed Harm a towel. "Give him time, Harriet, and one of those looks. He'll give in."
Keely hoisted herself out of the pool, rubbing her arms vigorously, trying to fight off impending goose bumps. She grabbed one of her huge bath towels and wrapped herself in it. She grinned at AJ as he played with the children, the ache to give him a child of his own slowly growing within her.
As she toweled the ends of her hair, Keely marveled at the thought. This was a relationship that wasn't supposed to last a week, let alone seven years. And they said no marriage, no kids...and yet, here they were.
Keely shook her head, then looked at Maggie as Jackie handed her a towel. "Did you have a good time, Maggie?"
"Oh, totally. You know," she said secretively, leaning toward Keely, "you and AJ really should have kids. You'd be really good at it."
Keely smiled. "Thanks." She toweled off a bit more and then wrapped the towel around her chest. Turning to Maggie, she said quietly, "You know you can call me anytime you want to, okay? I mean...you've got a pretty great mom, but, you know," Keely trailed off, shrugging. "If you want someone to talk to, feel free, okay?"
"Gotcha. Thanks," Maggie smiled appreciatively.
Keely smiled. "Anytime."
Bud came up and placed a hand on Keely's shoulder. "We're heading out. Thanks for a great afternoon."
Keely turned and gave him a hug. "Thanks for coming, guys. It was a blast."
Bud extended his hand to Maggie. "Nice to meet you, Maggie."
"You too, Bud. You're pretty cool ... for a Navy dude."
Bud blushed. "Well, thanks. Bye, Keely."
"Bye!" Keely waved to Harriet, AJ and Catie, who was still protesting that she wanted to swim some more.
Mac waved to Keely as well, indicating she and Harm were heading home. Keely grinned and called, "Sorry for the water gun thing, Mac."
Mac shrugged, picking up Harm's duffel bag. "It wouldn't be your house any other way, Keely."
Harm grinned, slinging his towel over Mac's shoulders in an attempt to dry her off a little more. "Aw, come on, honey. You look sexy when you're soaking wet. Just do me a favor? Don't drip on the car seats."
Mac rolled her eyes and sighed melodramatically. "Good to know where your priorities lie, sailor," she replied, wiping her t-shirt sleeve on Harm's face.
Keely laughed, waving as they headed to the car. She turned to AJ, grinning from ear to ear, her contentment written all over her face.
AJ's smile was bright enough to read by. "Did you have a good time today?" he asked, slinging an arm around Keely's shoulders as they watched the cars disappear around the corner.
Keely grinned up at him. "The best. I was nervous, obviously...but it went wonderfully."
"Well, you did fabulously," AJ assured her. "I think everyone had fun."
Maggie came up behind them quietly. "Oh, totally!" she grinned. "It was a blast, Keely. Thanks." She hugged Keely quickly. "Mom says we have to get going. It's a long drive back home. When can I come visit again?" she asked quickly.
Keely smiled broadly. "Whenever you want to, honey. You're always welcome." Keely hugged the girl back, thankful for her apparent comfort level. Jackie had raised her beautifully; that much was obvious. This whole situation could have come out much differently, had Maggie not known how much Jackie loved her, and the reason behind her adoption.
Keely hugged her tighter, resting her cheek on the top of Maggie's head, then separated, feeling the teen squirm away, embarrassed. "I'm glad you came, Maggie. Very, very glad."
"Yeah, me too." Maggie turned away before Keely could see the expression on her face. "Mom, I'm ready!" she hollered.
Jackie's head popped up from where she was gathering their things. "Margaret Alaina Sommers, were you raised in a barn? Lower your voice." She chuckled a little, standing and approaching Keely. "Thanks again," she said, hugging the redhead goodbye.
Keely hugged Jackie tightly. "Thank *you*, Jackie. I appreciate it...more than you'll ever know."
"No, I know," Jackie smiled. "Okay, kiddo, let's roll."
Maggie nodded. Before she turned to leave, she reached up and hugged AJ. "See you soon," she promised with a smile.
Dumbfounded, AJ just nodded with a half-smile. "Sure." As their van turned the corner, he turned to Keely. "Well," was all he managed.
Keely smiled, leaning up and kissing him. "She likes you."
"I guess so. Must run in the family." Before she could smack him, AJ turned to start clearing the remains of their lunch dishes.
Keely watched him for a moment, and then went inside. She grabbed a sweatshirt from the laundry room and went back outside with a garbage bag, throwing out the few remaining things AJ hadn't cleared. "So, what did you think of Maggie?" Keely asked softly.
Laughing softly, AJ tossed a paper plate into the garbage bag. "I think she's just like you. So of course, I adore her."
Keely smiled, and then looked up at the impending twilight. She sat on the chaise lounge, biting her lower lip. "I kept looking at her, seeing this wondrous young lady, and knowing I had absolutely nothing to do with the way she turned out, except for the fact that I make her question where she came from." Keely quirked an eyebrow briefly, then shrugged. "That's a new feeling, to say the least."
AJ put down the pitcher and cups he was carrying toward the kitchen. He headed over toward Keely and crouching between her legs. "Keely, you had everything to do with what a wonderful person Maggie turned out to be. You gave her a loving home, with parents who could afford to take care of her." His hand caressed her cheek gently, pride in his eyes. "You did the best you could."
Keely closed her eyes at his touch, then opened them and shrugged again. "You know me. Perpetual 'what-if' wonderer." She wrapped an arm around his neck, nails playing with the nape of his neck. "I wanted to keep her...I even asked my lawyer if I could. But..." she trailed off with a sigh and a slight smile. "I guess I should just be happy she doesn't completely hate me."
"Are you kidding?" AJ stood up and slid one leg behind Keely on the chaise. He enclosed her in his arms from behind. "She loves you, kid."
Keely tilted her head back and rested it against his shoulder. "Thanks, AJ. For everything."
"Anytime, kid. Hey, listen," AJ said, "we really need to get our sixes in gear about the wedding. It's almost October and we're supposed to be married in three months, and we don't even have the caterer booked." He chuckled at himself. "At least, Francesca says that's important."
Keely laughed, turning her head and kissing his neck. "God bless Francesca. And Harriet." She pulled his arms tighter around her middle and made a soft sound of contentment. "You want to spend this weekend calling places? I already looked into the Hyatt, and their restaurant is free after seven on Christmas Eve."
"Hey, I'd be happy with the Hyatt. See how easy that is?" AJ laughed.
Keely chuckled with him. "Everything else is easy, too. Francesca's got my dress taken care of. Harriet, Mac and Martie are comparing bridesmaid dresses on-line. The Hyatt can cater the reception...what else is there?"
"Flowers and music."
"I'll hum," Keely teased. She thought for a minute. "Well, the Christmas flower is a poinsettia, which could be pretty...I was thinking candles. Lots and lots of candles." She craned her head again and looked at him directly. "What did you have in mind?"
Shrugging, AJ tried not to look as disinterested as he felt. "You know I don't really care about all that stuff. As long as the DJ we hire isn't some guy with hair down to his six and a gold tooth."
Keely smiled slightly and returned to her earlier position. "I'm not looking for anything lavish. Just you and me would be fine."
"So then almost everything is done. Cool." AJ grinned, bending his head to kiss Keely's soft neck. "Wanna practice for the wedding night?" he teased, nipping at her earlobe.
Keely shivered slightly, chuckling. She tilted her head to give him better access and reached her hand back to trail her fingers along his leg. "I'm not sure if we *need* that much practice...we're fairly good as it is now."
"Practice makes perfect, isn't that the saying?" AJ asked as his hands traveled over Keely's stomach and hips.
Keely exhaled loudly, her nerve endings tingling. "Yeah, I think that's how it goes."
End Ch. 11
