Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
The Misplaced Potter
Chapter 2
In which Harry is discovered
"Bless my soul! Candace, come here!"
Candace Winters carefully placed the bowl that she was whipping eggs in on the counter. She was a tall graceful woman whose dark brown hair sported a few streaks of white. Most people thought her to be a handsome forty-year old woman. If Candace bothered to correct their misconception, they were astonished to discover that she, in fact, was sixty-three, the mother of four daughters and a grandmother to seven. She spotted her husband kneeling in the open doorway.
"What is it, John?" she asked.
"A baby."
"A what?" Candace asked as she stopped behind John. Looking down, she saw the infant. His green eyes where opened and he was moving his arm giving the impression that he was waving at her.
"Oh, dear," Candace exclaimed spying the livid scar on the child's forehead. "Who would cut a baby so?"
John lifted the basket and his wife led them into the lounge. Like his wife, John Winters was tall and handsome and moved with a grace that belied his seventy years. The full head of silvery hair did not fool anyone as to his age but lent to him a distinguished air. Candace had seen more then one pair of female eyes give her husband a long second glance as they walked through the village.
"One reads about babies left on doorsteps in novels but who would have thought that it actually happens," John said as he sat the wicker basket on the coffee table. "At least, we have some formula on hand thanks to Caroline."
"I believe that she left her nappy bag here yesterday also," Candace said.
"As forgetful as she is, I wouldn't be surprised if this is her baby's twin that she failed to mention," John chuckled then stopped. "I believe that we have need of that nappy bag, dear."
"Hand her here," his wife said.
"No, I'll take care of her," he said. "I still remember how and I don't fancy having my breakfast cooked by a chef who just had the diaper duty."
"Well, I finish breakfast then," she said. "The bag's in the front closet."
Candace was setting the dishes on the table when her husband came downstairs cooing to the baby in his arms. She smiled remembering the infancy of their daughters. John proved to be a conscientious father who willingly embraced all the chores of child rearing long before the modern male movement made it fashionable to do so.
"I have a bottle warmed up," Candace said. "I'm sure that she is hungry."
"He's a boy," John said.
"Really, now,"
"Oh, yes," John laughed. "I had to jump aside as the little artilleryman let fly in the middle of the change."
Candace took the baby from her husband. Settling down at the table, she fed the little boy. John sat next to her and watched as he ate his breakfast. He had sincerely enjoyed being father and had found out that being a grandfather was just as good if not better in some ways. He was very grateful that Candace had wanted a large family. He knew that each couple was free to make their own choice but he could not understand the modern view that one child per family was best. His life was so full with the four girls growing up. Each day was a blessing.
"I suppose that we have to call the police," Candace said as she carefully wiped the baby's mouth.
"I was thinking about Danielle," John said.
Candace paused. The doctors had told their eldest daughter that she could never carry a child to term and her five miscarriages appeared to prove their diagnoses correct. She and Robert tried to put a brave face on the situation but Candace knew how much it grieved her daughter.
"Is that legal?" she finally asked her husband.
"I don't know but as my brother always says, if you want to do something questionable get yourself a lawyer," John said rising from the table. "After being a solicitor for fifty years I'm sure that if there is a way, he will either know of it or can find it one."
John sat down on the couch and dialed his brother at home. Simon was semi-retired, leaving most of the casework to his two sons but as much as John trusted his nephews, he wanted the old legal beagle for this matter.
"Hello, Simon," John said. "I have something interesting for you."
Candace cuddled the infant in her arms. His green eyes shone up at her briefly, before he closed them and fell to sleep.
"Well, young man," Candace said quietly. "If I know Simon, you are going to be my grandson."