Philip frowned. "Is something wrong?"

Maria rolled her eyes. "It's only that my Dad's marrying a woman I can't stand!"

"But it wasn't that long ago that your stepmother died," Philip pointed out.

Maria sighed. "That's my Dad. He can't go long at all without a woman."

Philip grinned. "And what about you? How long can you go without a man?"

Maria giggled. "I can go any amount of time without a man, but I can't go long at all without you."

They laughed together.

"Seriously, what is it about this woman that's so bad?" Philip asked as they went to collect his luggage.

"She's just so silly!" Maria blurted out. "Have you seen any of those old movies from the eighties with Valley girls? Well, she's just like that, only worse! All she cares about is going shopping and giggling with her friends!"

"Not your type at all, I take it."

"Hell, no!" She caught herself and covered her mouth with her hand. "Oops! Excuse my French!"

Philip chuckled. "That's all right. You can be yourself when you're with me, Maria. But I'm sorry your Dad's upcoming marriage has got you so upset."

"I just wish he could see her for what she really is," Maria replied. They'd reached her car, a sporty little white Fiat, where Maria unlocked Philip's door before walking around to her own. "He's blinded by lust."

Philip didn't know what to say. He'd met Henry and formed his own opinion of the man. He understood Maria's misery and desperately wanted to comfort her.

"How's that little brother of yours?" he asked, to change the subject.

"He's so cute!" Maria smiled. "He can sit up by himself now, and he has two little teeth in his bottom gum!"

Philip grinned. "He sounds adorable!"

Maria parked in front of her mother's home. Catalina had received the five-bedroom, two-bathroom home in her divorce settlement. Henry was still required to pay property taxes and upkeep of the home.

Catalina saw the car drive up and went outside to greet her daughter and guest. She smiled and waved when she saw Maria's face.

"Here, Katie," Reese said as she handed the birthday girl a wrapped present. "This one is from Daddy and me and Anne."

"Thank you!" said Katie. She tore the wrapping paper away to reveal a box. She opened the box and removed the sock monkey that was inside it. She hugged the toy close. "He's so sweet!"

"A nice friend for you," said her mother, Mary. Anne remembered going shopping with Louis and Reese the previous weekend. They'd been walking up and down the aisles of the toy and hobby shop when Reese had seen the sock monkey and giggled.

"That would be the perfect present for Katie!" Anne had exclaimed. She'd been invited to her niece's birthday party and had been wondering what to get her.

"I'll pay for it, if you want," Louis had offered.

"Oh no, that's OK," Anne had replied. "I just got my paycheck, and I'm eager to start shopping."

Louis had laughed.

"Would you like another slice of cake?" The sound of her sister's voice jolted Anne back to the present.

"No thanks," Anne replied. "I've had enough." Ever since meeting Louis, she'd been even more vigilant about watching her weight. Not that he'd ever said anything, but she knew better than to take him for granted.

"I'll have some more!" Louis grinned as he held his plate out. Anne frowned. He'd already eaten two slices.

"Daddy and me like cake," said Reese.

"So I see," Mary replied.

Later, William filled the small plastic swimming pool in the back yard using the hose, and the children changed into their swimsuits. The adults sat in lawn chairs and watched them splash around.

"I love children," said Elisabeth. "I can't wait to be a Mom."

"You'll make a good one," said George. "I wonder how Kitty will like being a stepmom?"

"She seems wonderful with Edward," said Mary. "Maria's a completely different story, if course." She and George laughed, and Anne couldn't help but join in.

"I feel sorry for the poor girl," said Liz. "She's been through so many stepmothers, I can certainly understand her reluctance to accept another one."

"Kitty's pretty high maintenance," Thomas remarked. "He'll find out soon enough."

"They play so well together, don't they?" Mary nodded toward Katie and Reese, who were throwing a beach ball back and forth. "We'll have to set up a play date for them soon."

"We will," Louis agreed.

All the talk about parenthood was making Anne depressed.

"Getting tired, hon?" Louis stroked her cheek. "We'll be leaving soon."

"I'm OK," Anne replied.

They stayed about another half hour.

"I wonder what will happen when the truth comes out," Anne muttered as Louis was driving her home.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Right now, all Kitty can see is dollar signs," said Anne. "It's gonna hit her hard when she finds out what Henry's really like."

Louis chuckled. "That seems strange, your cousin marrying your ex husband."

"It's awkward as hell," Anne admitted. "But looking back, I feel lucky to have gotten away from him."

Louis didn't say anything for a long time.

"Are you all right?" Anne asked after awhile.

"He bought you a lot of nice things, didn't he, when you were together."

"Oh, I got rid of all that a long time ago."

"You did what with it?"

"Sold it all on E bay. I couldn't stand all those reminders of him lying around."

Louis didn't say anything more until he was pulling up in front of Anne's apartment.

"I'm sorry I can't buy you nice things like he did," he mumbled.

"Oh, Louis!" Anne couldn't resist hugging him tight around the neck and kissing his cheek. "You've given me so much more than he ever did!"

"I have?"

"Yes. You've given me your heart."