Carolyn had just set a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of juice in front of Tommy when the front door swung open. Alex carried Maggie into the apartment and laid her gently on the couch, placing a cushion under her leg. Maggie seemed to be pouting. Tommy squealed and wriggled out of his high chair. "Mama! Maga!" He scurried across the room and launched himself into his mother's arms. Looking around and then toward the door, he asked, "Dada go?"

"Daddy's not here, Tommy," Maggie answered. "Mommy left him far away."

Carolyn was confused. "Alex? Where are the boys?"

"In Syracuse." She held out her keys. "Go get them."

Carolyn stared at her friend. "Go get them?" she repeated. "Alex, you were just there. Why did you leave them behind...wait, what did Mike do?"

"He stayed behind and I wasn't going to argue with him."

"And Bobby? Is he all right?"

"Is he ever all right?" Alex snapped.

Maggie's eyes were bright with tears. "Mommy wouldn' bring Daddy home. His leg got hurt, and he was sleepin' inna hopsital, and Mommy lef' him there with Uncle Mike. I wanted to stay, but Mommy said Daddy doesn' take good care-a me." She sobbed and buried her face in the arm of the couch.

For the first time, Alex regretted her harsh words. She set Tommy on the floor and he immediately scrambled up onto the couch beside Maggie, tears in his own eyes for his sister's grief. He hugged her tight and cried with her, even if he had no idea why he was crying. There had to be a reason if Maggie was so sad, and he didn't like Daddy not being home.

Alex waved her hand at Carolyn. "Just go get them, Carolyn. I still need time to calm down." She shoved a paper into Carolyn's hand. "Here are the directions to the hospital. Be careful because the roads up there aren't good. Maybe they'll have them plowed and sanded by now. Take him back to your place and I'll talk to him when I don't feel like strangling him any more."

"Was he badly hurt?"

"I don't think so."

"You don't think so?"

"I didn't ask. Carolyn, go. We'll discuss it later."

With a sigh of deep frustration, Carolyn grabbed her coat. "Molly and Sean are napping in the bedroom."

"Thanks."

She left the apartment and Alex turned her attention toward reassuring her two older children. She sat on the edge of the coffee table and rubbed Tommy's back. Before she could think of a way to comfort either of them, Tommy sat back and touched Maggie's tear-streaked face. "Maga?" he said sadly.

Maggie turned and pulled him into a hug. He noticed the bandage on her head and the half-cast on her leg. "Gotta owie, Maga? Gamma do't?"

Tommy's question brought back memories of the night before and she remembered telling Gramma good-bye. "No, T-Tommy, Gramma didn' d-do it," she answered as she tried to stop sobbing. She grasped her little brother's hand. "G-Gramma won' hurt you no more."

Alex thought that was an odd thing for Maggie to say. "Was Gramma better when you saw her last night, Maggie?"

Maggie shook her head, her face reflecting deep sorrow. "N-No, Mommy, she wasn'. Gramma didn' wake up to tell me good-bye."

Alex gently wiped her tears and reassured her. "Gramma will talk to you the next time we visit."

Maggie shook her head again, adamantly. "I wanted to call you, but Daddy wouldn' let me use his phone right away. He wouldn't answer me, so I waited until he got better. When he gived me his phone, it wouldn' work. But he got me a hot dog before we hit the tree. Daddy does take good care-a me!"

Maggie's rushed explanation confused her. "Until Daddy got better? Maggie, what happened?"

"Gramma went to Heaven, Mommy."

Alex sat up straight, covering her mouth with both hands. She couldn't move for a long moment, and Maggie watched her with concern. "Mommy?"

When Alex spoke, her voice shook. "Daddy...was he okay, Maggie?"

She realized how ridiculous her question was as soon as she asked it. Of course he wasn't okay. He ended up wrapped around a tree in Syracuse. Oh, dear God... She waved her hand before Maggie could answer her. He wasn't going to let himself fully deal with his grief in front of Maggie. Maggie worried too much as it was. "Never mind, sweetheart."

She rose from the edge of the coffee table and pulled out her phone. First, she got the full story from the charge nurse at Carmel Ridge. Then she tried to call Bobby, but his phone was off, so she called Mike.

Mike looked at the number on his caller ID. Great. He wasn't sure either of them was up to dealing with Alex. But he answered the phone just before it went to voicemail. He was apprehensive. "Hello?"

Let me talk to Bobby.

He looked at Bobby and lied, "He's sleeping."

Wake his ass up.

"Alex, I'm really not supposed to be using the phone in here..."

Fine.

The line went dead. Bobby watched him with a dark expression. "Is she still upset?"

"Oh, yeah."

Bobby dropped his chin to his chest and closed his eyes. Why would she want to talk to him now? It couldn't be good. Ten minutes later, the nurse came into the room. "Do you feel up to a call, Robert?"

"Not really," he answered honestly.

"It's your wife. She said it's important."

He hesitated, looking at Mike, who shrugged. Finally, he nodded. "I'll talk to her."

Mike waved a hand. "You'd better give him a shot of something first."

The nurse gave him a look before she turned and left to bring in an extension, which she handed to Bobby. "Line four."

"Thank you." He lifted the receiver and pressed the button for line four, which had a blinking red light. "Alex?"

The line was silent for a moment, but he could hear Maggie and Tom talking in the background. At least Maggie wasn't crying. Finally, Alex found her voice. What am I going to do with you?

"I...uh...what do you mean?"

Really, I don't know what the hell to do with you. Why didn't you call me when your mother died?

His body trembled at the reminder and his throat closed in on him. He handed the phone to Mike, who tried to push it back into his hand. When he wouldn't take it, Mike lifted the receiver to his ear. "Uh, you've gotta give him a minute, I think, Alex. What did you say to him?"

Did you know his mother died? she asked, accusation making her voice hard.

"Yeah. He told me."

When?

"After you left with Maggie, which he noticed, by the way."

Bobby held out his hand, and Mike told her to hang on, giving the phone back. Bobby gripped the receiver, wishing the nurse had listened to Mike. He'd give anything to be numb right now. "Sorry," he muttered.

Answer me. Why didn't you call?

"I was going to tell you when we got home. I was on my way home when we left Carmel Ridge, I swear. But...I...I...shut down...and I...wasn't paying attention..." He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. "The next thing I knew, we were almost in Syracuse. I...I do wish Maggie had been...home with you...where she belonged..."

Don't you dare push this back on me for making you take Maggie with you!

"I...wasn't going to."

So your mother died, and your reaction, instead of calling or coming home, was to find a tree upstate and drive your car into it?

"No! That...that isn't what happened!" He dropped his head back against the pillow and pressed the heel of his hand against his right temple, rubbing hard to chase away the pain.

Alex could feel her control slipping as her anger surged back. Carolyn is on her way to pick the two of you up. She's going to take you to her place. Stay there. Do you hear me?

"I hear you."

You can see the kids at dad's while I'm working. When I feel like I can deal with you, we'll talk.

"How long will that be?"

I don't know, Bobby. I'll let you know. At the earliest, I'll see you at the funeral.

He wanted to ask her if they'd be able to work this out, if they would be okay, but the words wouldn't come. He was terrified of the answer. Without responding, he dropped the phone in its cradle and set it aside. He looked at Mike, who waited expectantly. Quietly, he said, "I can see the kids at John's. She doesn't want me home right now."

That wasn't what Mike wanted to hear; it wasn't what Bobby needed to hear. "At John's? The hell with that. I'll go pick them up for you. You can see them at my place."

"She doesn't trust me."

Mike's green eyes turned to hot ice. "You have as much right to them as she does. You're their father."

"Take one look at Maggie and tell me what a great father I am."

"That's exactly what I think every time I see her."

"But...I broke her..."

"Hey, accidents happen, especially in weather like this. You can't judge a lifetime on the events of a few seconds."

Bobby looked away, rubbing his injured knee as the pain continued to escalate. "A few seconds can change a life, Mike. A few seconds is all it takes to end one." He groaned softly, as unable to escape the pain that spread through his leg as he was the guilt that accosted his mind. A good father wouldn't have put his child at an unnecessary risk like he did. "Those few seconds may have changed my life forever."

Mike arched an eyebrow. "How were you supposed to know there was another car in the road? A white car covered with snow, no less. Come on, go easy on yourself. Alex will come around once she has all the information."

Bobby settled back on the bed and said no more. When the nurse came in to retrieve the phone, she read his distress as pain and returned quickly with more medication for him. Mike commented, "I told you to bring that before he talked to his wife."

She gave him another annoyed look before leaving the room. By the time the door closed, Bobby was out again.

Carolyn stopped just inside the cubicle and looked from one man to the other. Mike looked up from the magazine he was reading. "Thank God," he said, tossing it aside. "I had to choose from this dermatology magazine, an arthritis manual and Go, Dog, Go. Pus, pain and preschool. It's been a fun day."

"How is he?"

"Not good. They've never been in a rush to discharge him, but now I think they're going to admit him. He doesn't know it yet. He's been out cold for the last three and a half hours, and they aren't sure just why. Part of it's the medication they gave him, but that's not all of it. He's withdrawing, and I really can't blame him one bit."

"I've never seen Alex so furious."

"Me, neither. It's not a pretty sight. It was an exciting ride up here. How are the roads now?"

"Not too bad. They've been sanded and salted, but it's still snowing pretty good."

Mike rose from where he sat and stepped to her side. He kissed her and quietly said, "Carolyn, last night his mother died while he and Maggie were there."

Her hand covered her mouth. "Oh, God..." She looked at the sleeping man. "Does Alex know?"

"She does now, and I think she read him the riot act. She doesn't want him home and she doesn't want him to see the kids except at her dad's."

Slowly, she shook her head. "You know how she gets. She's lashing out right now, trying to hurt him as much as she can. She'll calm down in a few days."

Mike rubbed his forehead. "Now is not the time for her to be a hardass."

"Let me try talking to her."

"Good luck."

With another look toward Bobby, she turned and left the room. Stepping out of the emergency room so she could use her phone, Carolyn decided it was time to play hardball with her friend. Normally, she left them to their own devices to work things out between them, but the circumstances were exceptional, and she was deeply worried about Bobby. Convinced that Alex would get past her anger if she only knew how serious the situation was turning, she placed the call. Hi, Carolyn, Alex answered. How is Bobby?

Reassured by the concern she heard in Alex's voice, Carolyn answered her honestly. "He's not doing so well, Alex. They're going to admit him."

What? Why?

"I don't know. He's been unconscious for the last three hours and they're worried. You know...I think he needs you here. Find someone to watch the kids and get back up here."

You've got to be kidding me.

"Do I sound like I'm kidding? Alex, think about it. His mother hurt Tommy and then she died, leaving that whole situation unresolved. He wrecked his car and Maggie was hurt. Now you won't speak a civil word to him or let him see the children. How much more do you want to put on him? You need to get up here and deal with him now. You never should have left without talking to him. If you put this off, who knows how it's going to work out?"

I am so mad at him right now...

"I know that. But having you standing right there letting it loose on him is a much better scenario than withdrawing from him right now, when he really needs you."

Alex let out a heavy breath, and Carolyn could hear the tremor in it. All right, she said tightly.

The line went dead. Satisfied, Carolyn went back into the hospital.

Alex ran down the short list of people she trusted with her children. Her father was sick and so was her nephew. Her sisters-in-law weren't able to babysit for various reasons, and there was no answer at the captain's home. She tried to call Lewis at his shop, but there was no answer, so she went to Bobby's desk in the bedroom and shuffled through some papers, looking for Lewis' home number.

A card fell out of a stack of papers and she picked it up. It was a birthday card with a bright yellow dump truck on it. Inside, it was written to Tommy and signed, "With love, Denise."

Denise? It never occurred to her that Bobby would remain in contact with Denise. Had he, or was she the one hanging on? Was it possible for a romantic relationship to revert to an innocent friendship? She knew he'd once cared deeply for Denise, maybe even loved her in his own screwed-up way, and he was not one to readily let go of things, or people, that held a place in his heart. She studied the card, her mind running on overdrive.

Pulling out her phone, she called Mike again. He answered, still reluctant to talk to her. Alex, I told you I'm not supposed to...

"Just listen to me, Logan. Do you remember Denise?"

Mike hesitated. Uh, what about her?

"Has Bobby kept in touch with her?" When he didn't answer, she knew his brain was scrambling for a way to cover for Bobby. She could not keep the irritation from her voice. "Do the kids know her, Logan?"

Uh...

Her patience worn thin, she snapped, "Look, I can't find anyone to watch the kids and I am not dragging them out in this weather to a hospital. I know Bobby has always trusted her, so if the kids know her, then give me her damn number and I'll see if she can watch them while I come up there. Otherwise, I'm staying here and he's on his own."

Mike remained quiet for another moment. Yeah. They know her, and she'll take good care of them. He pulled Bobby's phone from his pocket and flipped it open. It powered up long enough for him to retrieve the number Alex wanted. After reading it off to her, he tried to talk to her. Alex...

The line went dead. "Shit." He snapped the phone closed and looked at Carolyn. "She's going to see if Denise Rhodes can watch the kids."

"What made her think of asking Denise?"

"Got me. I've got a really bad feeling about this whole thing."

Bobby began to stir. Carolyn whispered, "Are you going to tell him?"

"About Denise? Hell, no."

"You're just going to let Alex blindside him with it?"

"Would you rather see him have a meltdown?"

She did not approve, but she trusted his judgment when it came to dealing with Bobby. No one knew him better. The years Alex had spent married to Ricky Waters had done their damage to the relationship she had with her partner, and Mike had stepped in as his friend, never realizing how close they would become. Even now, after things had changed between Bobby and Alex, Mike would not abandon that friendship. She watched as Bobby began to toss restlessly, unaware of the new storm that was brewing and heading his way.

Fortunately, Denise was at home. "Denise, this is Alex Eames."

"Alex? What can I do for you?"

Denise was a kind woman and she really could not blame Bobby for staying in touch with her. He knew she'd once been very jealous of Denise, so she supposed she could understand why he hadn't mentioned her in the past two years. "Denise, Bobby was in an accident upstate and I need to go up there, but I don't want to take the kids out in this weather. I can't find anyone to take care of them for me, and I was wondering if you were available."

"An accident? Is he all right?"

"That's what I'm going to find out. Can you watch the kids for me?"

There was no mistaking the concern in Denise's voice, and Alex could not help but wonder how close she'd remained to Bobby. "I would love to watch them, if you're sure."

Alex hesitated. Bobby would trust her. She had questioned his judgment over the years, but never in matters involving the children. "I'm sure. Do you mind coming over here?"

"Not at all. I can be there in ten minutes."

"Great."

It was only after she closed her phone that she wondered how Denise knew where they lived.

It was clearly obvious to Alex when Denise arrived that Maggie and Tommy knew her well. Tommy ran into her arms from the couch and Maggie was both happy and excited to see her. She sat on the couch by Maggie to hug her and asked, "What happened to your leg, Maggie?"

"Daddy crashed the car and I broke my leg."

"You were with him?

"Yes, and Mommy bringed me home without him. Now she's gonna go get him."

Denise looked at Alex, who was pulling on her coat. "I'll be back as soon as I can," Alex said, not in the mood to explain herself to her husband's ex-lover. "It'll be late, though. Maybe not until morning. If you have somewhere else to be, you can call my father or my sister. I left their numbers on the refrigerator along with my cell number. Molly just ate and she's sleeping in the bedroom, and Sean is over in the playpen."

"Mike's little boy?"

"Yes. Mike and Carolyn are in Syracuse. Sean's formula and Molly's milk are in the refrigerator. Maggie can help you, but she's not supposed to put any weight on her leg. She has pain medicine in the cabinet next to the refrigerator."

Denise nodded. "We'll be fine, Alex. Drive carefully."

As Alex pulled away from the curb, she mulled over the fact that Denise was more than a casual acquaintance to her children, and she wondered just when, where and how often they spent time with her. Bobby had a lot of explaining to do.