I set my alarm for six A.M. on the morning of Daniel's funeral. I figured it would give me enough time to start some breakfast and wake Calla up (for the first of five times that would occur this morning).

"Mother." Calla burst into my room. "Get Grace Belkin OUT of the kitchen. Right now."

I pulled my white turtleneck over my head. "She's in the kitchen?"

"Yes. Get her out."

"I'll be right there."

I took the stairs two at a time, imagining the Pierce house going up in flames.

Grace was standing over the stove, wearing jeans and a clingy green collared shirt. "Good morning, darling," she chirped without looking up. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Yeah, I'm dying for a cup," I said dryly.

"Oh, it's you." Grace dropped the spoon into the gloppy mixture she was stirring. "Look, Jazlyn-"

"Jaclyn," I corrected.

"Whatever." She smoothed back her hair. "I want you to stay away from Hawkeye."

"Why?" I asked. "You're not married."

"We're close enough." Grace held out her left hand. On it was a slim silver ring, easy enough to be missed when viewed from a distance.

It felt like a rock had landed in my throat. "You're...you're engaged?"

"We're being married on the thirtieth," said Grace proudly.

I strode casually to the front door and walked out to the dock.

Only then would I allow myself to cry.

About five minutes later, I heard footsteps on the dock.

"Mom? What's wrong?"

I blinked. "Calla..." I paused. After all, Hawkeye and I aren't married anymore. It's like we never were married. Just let it go. "Ah, nothing. Funerals just mess me up, that's all."

"Oh." She sat down. "Does it have anything to do with that ring on Grace's finger?"

"You saw?"

"She was waving it in my face this morning," Calla said. "I think she's PO'ed that you're getting...father person's attention."

"Well, she'll be having him ALL to herself in a few weeks," I told her.

"Are you going to be all right?" Calla asked. "I have to go get changed, but I don't want you to drown yourself in the lake or anything."

"And have strange people rooting through my stuff?" I said. "Hardly."

XXX

"You know, Grace, this breakfast isn't bad," Margaret said in awe as she took a bite of the oatmeal.

"That's because I helped her with most of it," Hawkeye muttered under his breath.

"Thank you, Maggie." Grace smiled brightly, and Margaret winced. "What about you, Hawkie? Do you like it?"

Hawkeye said something indecipherable, because his mouth was full of bacon.

"I'm gonna go upstairs and get changed," I said, pushing my chair back and going into the hallway.

Why? I thought. Hawkeye seems like he can't stand Grace. "Schoolgirl crush," he said. And so, of course, they get engaged.

There were footsteps behind me, and I turned around, expecting to see Calla.

No one was there.

"Odd," I said aloud.

I continued up until I got to my room. The window was open, which I knew I hadn't done.

Calla, I thought, shaking my head. Once, on April Fool's Day, she made me believe that our house was haunted. (I think the white sheet flying into the shower was a bit too much, but that's just me.)

While mentally scolding my daughter, I got dressed in my black sheath dress. As I zipped it up the back, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

A white figure was floating behind me.

I screamed and whirled around.

Once again, no one.

Now, I don't believe in ghosts, but this was getting pretty creepy. I pulled on my black high heels and quickly walked downstairs. Thankfully, nothing grabbed my arm or yelled "Boo".

"Jaclyn?" Hawkeye asked. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Yeah," I said.

He led us into the study and shut the door.

"Am I in trouble?" I asked sarcastically.

"Is there something wrong?" Hawkeye asked. "You hardly said two words at breakfast."

"I was just figuring out how to congratulate you."

"On what?"

"Your engagement to Little Miss Schoolgirl Crushout there."

Hawkeye burst out laughing.

"How can you think this is funny?" I cried.

"Jaclyn." Hawkeye grabbed the desk for support. "I--I am not...I'm not engaged...to Grace!"

"You're...you're not?" I asked. "But she said that-"

I began to laugh.

"If you think I would even WANT to marry her..."

The door opened, and Calla came in.

"What's going on in here?" she asked. "Obviously you aren't too broken up over the engagement to Grace."

Believe me, I wasn't.