See Disclaimers in Chapter One.
A/N: Thank you all for your reviews and for your interest. Special thanks to Snugglebug. You're the best, Lady! Big Hugs!
It was the sound of the ringing phone that brought Harm out of his slumber at 0635 in the morning. Mac was still sleeping peacefully and soundly next to him as he reached for it.
"Rabb," Harm answered sleepily.
"Mr. Rabb," Dr. Crimmins' voice said into the receiver. "It's Eliza Crimmins."
"Mmm...Dr. Crimmins," said Harm, trying to force himself to wake up. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm just calling to confirm that you'll be able to meet with me today," she told him. "Did you receive the letter I sent with Lucy?"
"Letter? Oh, uh..." He was having trouble getting his mind to work. "I haven't read the letter yet, but if you need to meet with me, I...I think I can make it in the late afternoon."
"I need to meet with you and Mrs. Rabb," Dr. Crimmins told him. "As soon as you can manage it."
"Well, my wife isn't feeling well right now," said Harm. "She had an operation last Friday and has had some complications, so she won't be able to be there for a few days at least. I can come alone if it would be of any help to you or to Lucy."
"It will certainly help me and if you can come to Lucy's session, at 1:40 that will be helpful. She was quite upset and hostile yesterday, and I'm deeply concerned about her," the doctor told him.
"Uh, okay," said Harm. "I'll have to reschedule a few things, but I'll be there."
"I'll look forward to seeing you then," she replied before ending the call. Lucy appeared a moment later, "Daddy, its 0643, you're late."
"I know, Button," said Harm, carefully rolling out of bed so as not to disturb Mac. "Did you sleep well?"
Lucy nodded, "I have a headache," she told him, but she didn't run to him like she normally would have.
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, feeling hurt that she didn't seem to want his comfort. "Do you want to eat some breakfast?"
"Okay," Lucy replied and headed for the table. "Is Mommy okay now?"
"I think she'll be just fine," said Harm, following behind his daughter and heading to the cupboard. "Do you want Fruit Loops or Apple Jacks?"
Lucy shrugged and sat in her seat. "Don't care."
Pulling down the container of Apple Jacks, Harm reached for a cereal bowl. "Want apple or orange juice to drink?"
Again Lucy replied with indifference, "Whatever."
Harm poured her a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice and set them in front of her before taking a seat beside her. "Button, Daddy is going to be at your meeting with Dr. Crimmins today. Do you want to tell me anything before then?"
"I kicked her yesterday," Lucy mumbled.
"You kicked Dr. Crimmins?" asked Harm, somewhat mortified and somewhat unsurprised at the same time.
Lucy nodded, "I hate her," Lucy told him. "And I hate you too."
"Well, that's...that's okay," he said, knowing nothing he could say off the top of his head could possibly refute that. "But you know that I love you, and I'll be there today and we'll talk about things."
Mac woke to find the bed beside her empty. She could hear Harm at breakfast with Lucy and pushed herself up, feeling pretty well after a good sleep. It took her a while but she managed to get herself out of bed and out of the bedroom when Harm saw her.
"You're up," he said. "Feeling any better?"
"Yes, and surprise, I'm a bit hungry. Mic didn't force feed me like you do," Mac said with a smile.
"That's because I know just how to take care of you, my love," he replied with a grin, forcing the ill thoughts he had of Mic Brumby to the back of his mind as he stood up to get Mac a bowl of cereal.
Mac noticed her little girl's long face, "What's the matter Honey?" she asked running a gentle hand through Lucy's hair.
"I'm mad at Daddy," answered Lucy.
"Why are you mad at Daddy?" Mac asked looking at Harm seeing the hurt in his eyes. "Did he scold you?"
"I don't want to talk about it," said the child, shoveling another big bite of cereal into her mouth.
"Mommy would like you to tell her why you're mad," Mac said softly. "Maybe if you told Daddy he could say sorry."
"Because he was gone," was all Lucy would say.
"Oh, I see, you know Daddy and Mommy have to go away sometimes," Mac soothed. "He's here now though and so am I. Can I have a hug?"
Lucy nodded, sliding out of hr chair and into her mother's arms.
Mac rocked Lucy a few minutes, "That's a good girl, go get ready for school."
"You're in deep, Sailor," Mac sighed when Lucy had left the room. "Come here."
Harm moved from his place against the counter towards his wife. "Yes?"
"You need a hug?" she asked and opened her arms to him. She knew it hurt him when Lucy was mad at him.
"I sure do," he replied, leaning carefully into her welcoming embrace. "This is...pretty bad."
"What?" she asked rubbing his back gently.
"This thing with Lucy," he sighed. "I know it's all my fault, you know? It all goes back to Mexico..."
"Ssh," Mac soothed. "She'll get over it. She will. What was in the note?"
"Not sure," he answered. "I haven't read it yet, but I need to, huh?"
"I think," Mac said rising slowly to get herself a drink. "That may be necessary."
Harm went to get the note off the counter, opening the barely-sealed envelope and pulling the contents out. He looked at the words on the page for a moment, then started from the beginning and read them again. "Oh, boy..."
"What?" Mac asked concerned, joining him at the table and sitting down carefully.
"She's not progressing very well in therapy," said Harm, still staring at the note. "And yesterday she kicked Dr. Crimmins."
"She what?" Mac asked. "No, she must have the wrong Lucy. She'd never..."
"I'm afraid they've got the right Lucy," sighed Harm. "Look at her behavior lately; it really shouldn't surprise us that she's acting like this. She doesn't like being in therapy, and if the doctor pushes her buttons... She's having a really rough time with everything right now, apparently rougher than we realized."
"What are we going to do about it? Do we have to go up to school?" Mac asked, concern dripping from her voice.
"I'm sitting in on her session this afternoon," said Harm. "I have a feeling it'll tell me a lot, probably more than I want to know."
"Want me to come with you?" Mac asked reaching out for his hand. She knew it hurt him deeply, this situation with Lucy.
"No," he replied, grasping her hand in his. "I want you to get some rest; you're still recovering."
"I thought I'd go into work for half a day," Mac replied softly. She had to get back she was nearly out of leave time.
"Do you really think you should?" he asked, clearly worried about her.
"It's not a matter of should," Mac sighed. "I'm not sure I should go back at all until I know I'm all better, but...I'm running out of time."
"Never mind the time," he said. "That's not an issue. You can get special approval to be out for surgical recovery, Mac. I don't want you pushing so hard you end up with yet another set back. You need to stay home."
She nodded, "Can you get me the forms to fill out while you're there today? Oh, and be sure to thank Mic for helping yesterday."
"Yeah," he said, not looking forward to stopping by Mac's office, certainly not looking forward to having to thank Mic for anything.
Mac leaned tugged on Harm's hand a bit as he began to rise from his chair.
With a little smile, he leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. "Get some rest, okay?"
She nodded, "Take care of our little girl, Harm. Don't let that doctor railroad her."
"Count on it," he said, a look of total confidence on his face.
Harm had no idea what he'd be in for later that day when he arrived at Lucy's school for her session. He arrived six minutes late and was directed immediately to Dr. Crimmins' office. He could hear sobbing and the doctor talking through the door. "Lucy, why don't you come out of there and wait for Daddy on the couch?"
Harm quickly opened the door to the office, not waiting to be announced and saw the doctor crouched on her knees and Lucy, head buried in her arms, hiding behind that doctor's desk.
"Lucy," he said, hurrying over to where his child sat hiding. "What's wrong, baby?"
"I wanna go home," she cried still hiding her face. "I don't wanna be here."
"Lucy, you're still in school. You can't go home right now," the doctor said to her. "Why don't you come and sit on the couch and we can all talk about why you are so upset?"
Again Lucy refused. "No. No."
"Mr. Rabb, why don't you have a seat on the couch?" Dr. Crimmins suggested.
"I will if she'll come with me," he replied. "Lucy, baby, please come sit with Daddy so we can talk."
Lucy crooked her finger signaling she wanted her Daddy to lean closer so she could whisper in his ear.
Harm leaned in close. "What is it, sweetie?"
"Can I sit on your lap?" she whispered.
"Of course you can," he answered. "Let's go do that, okay?"
Lucy uncurled herself from her protective ball and reached for her Daddy's hand and together they moved to the couch. Harm sat first, then he lifted Lucy into his lap.
"Don't hold her on your lap during this," Dr. Crimmins advised.
"If she wants me to hold her," he said plainly. "I'll hold her."
The doctor sighed but said nothing. Lucy laid her aching head against her Daddy's shoulder, enough so her forehead brushed his cheek.
"You feel okay, Lucy Bear?" he asked, noticing her little forehead felt warm.
She shook her head and burrowed in deeper, "My head is hurting."
"Mr. Rabb, I'd like to begin," the doctor pressed. "We only have half an hour."
"So begin," he said. "Tell me what's going on, why you needed me here today."
"Lucy has been very upset with you," Dr. Crimmins began. "Why don't you tell your Daddy about it?"
Lucy refused to answer.
"Lucy," said Harm softly. "Please tell me why you're upset with me."
"Cause you left me and Mommy got bleeding," she mumbled. "I was scared."
"Did you do that, Mr. Rabb?" Dr. Crimmins asked.
"Not knowingly," he stated firmly. "My wife was fine when I left for the airport, but while I was gone, she had a 'situation' that got...really bad."
"Is that commonplace?" the doctor asked.
"No...well, more lately than before, but no," said Harm as he cradled Lucy against his chest.
"So you had no reason to suspect your wife's condition would cause her a problem while you were gone?" The doctor's tone indicated she did not believe Harm.
"Obviously not," said Harm. "Or I wouldn't have left."
"Wouldn't you have?" she asked.
"Doctor, I don't like the implications you're making here," said Harm. "I never would have left my wife and child in a situation which I felt was dangerous, period."
"What do you feel I am implying?" she asked. "Lucy, please try to sit up properly while we talk okay?"
The child was beginning to quiver in her father's arms.
"You're implying that I knowingly put Lucy in a bad situation," he said, growing more defensive by the minute. "Like I do that often, when in reality I never do!"
"You're doing it right now," she said to him. "You are doing it right this minute."
"I don't follow you, Doctor," he said, clearly unhappy.
"Lucy is having a very hard time adjusting to things changing in her life. While you have to provide security for her, you also have to teach her to deal with these things on her own," the doctor outlined. "Lucy, can you answer me a question please?"
Lucy looked at the doctor, but didn't reply.
"Lucy, can you please tell me and Daddy what a Daddy is for?" she asked. They'd done these types of questions earlier.
"Daddies are supposed to make you safe and love you" she answered quietly.
"Does your Daddy do that for you, Lucy?" she asked.
"Not all of the time," she said.
"Which one doesn't he do all the time?" Dr. Crimmins asked.
"Make me safe," whispered the child.
"Okay, when doesn't he make you safe?" she asked. "Are you safe right now?"
"Mm-hmm," she answered.
"Good. When weren't you safe?" she asked. This was the furthest they'd gotten in session with Lucy ever.
"When Mommy was hurt," whimpered the little girl. "I was scared."
"Can you tell me what Mommies do?" Lucy asked. "What are they for?"
"For taking care of me," sniffled Lucy.
"What else?" she asked. "What else do Mommy's do?"
"Mommies have to lay in bed a lot," replied Lucy. "My Mommy cries sometimes, and it makes me scared."
"Does your Daddy make her cry?" she ventured.
"He hurt her feelings," said Lucy, clinging to her father's arm. "She cried a lot and yelled at him."
Dr. Crimmins reached for a picture Lucy had made. "Why is Daddy so big in this picture, Lucy? Why is Mommy so small?"
"'Cuz Daddy is bigger than Mommy," said the child matter-of-factly.
"He is," Dr. Crimmins agreed. "Does Mommy have to lie in bed because of Daddy?"
Lucy didn't answer she just clung harder to her father's arm and began to sob.
"Its okay, Lucy. You can answer me," the doctor pressed. "Come on." She rose from her seat and reached out to try to disengage Lucy from Harm's arms.
"Hey, lay off," said Harm as he pulled Lucy closer. "You really know how to upset her, you know that?"
"I'm not the one who's upsetting her," the doctor replied. "Lucy, I want to talk to Daddy. Can you go sit with Crystal in the hall?"
Lucy nodded and looked up, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
When the child left the room, the doctor put her hands on her hips. "I'm going to recommend child services investigate your situation at home, Mr. Rabb."
"What the hell for?" asked a very surprised Harm.
"The environment is unfit for Lucy. She's emotional, volatile, and to be honest Mr. Rabb, I'm not sure your wife is "sick" at all," the doctor replied.
"How dare you!" he spat. "My wife most certainly is sick, and quite seriously so! She's being treated, but right now things are tough for her, and I won't tolerate you questioning the matter any further!"
"Well, I'm afraid I'll have to. Someone will contact you," she said. "You can go now."
"Oh, I'm going all right," he said. "And on my way out I'm stopping by the office and ordering my daughter be pulled from your schedule effective immediately. She needs help, but not this kind."
By the time Harm got out of the office, Lucy was in full fledged cry mode. She was being tended to by an older woman, and a child about 13. The teen was holding something over Lucy's face as she cried.
"What's going on?" asked the flustered father.
"She's not feeling so great," the teen replied. "And her nose is bleeding a little bit."
"Aww, poor baby," he said aloud to himself. "I'll take over; thanks for sitting with her."
"No problem," the teen replied. "She's a cute kid. I'm her lunch helper. Name's Anna."
"Nice to meet you, Anna. I'm her Dad, Commander Rabb."
"I know," the girl smiled. "Her hero. Take care, okay Lucy?"
"Okay Anna," sniffled Lucy before looking at her Daddy. "I don't feel good."
"I know you don't," Harm sympathized. "How about we go home?"
"Uh-huh," agreed the sad, sick little girl. "I wanna take a nap with Pooh Bear."
Without another word Harm picked Lucy up and carried her out of Dr. Crimmins office. He stopped by the Principal's and signed her out of school. By the time he got her into the car, her nose had clotted and she was sound asleep. Carefully and quickly he drove her home to her mother, knowing Mac would want to tend the little girl. He'd have to call the General and explain he'd be out the rest of the day. His baby needed him now, all three of them did.
Once they reached their home, Harm carried Lucy inside. He could hear Mac talking to DJ on the couch, "Daddy'll like that, huh?" she asked the child as she secured a piece of tape across some wrapping paper.
"Yeah!" DJ exclaimed. Then, "Daddy!"
"Mac?" he called as he carried a sleeping Lucy into the house.
Mac turned towards Harm's voice and DJ's gaze. She rose quickly and headed over to him, "What's wrong?"
"She's not feeling well," he said.
"I can tell, she's wheezing really badly," Mac said reaching up to touch her daughter's cheek. "And she's burning up. Can you put her in her bed?"
"That's exactly where I'm headed," he said, carrying his little girl down the hallway.
"DJ, be a good boy and sit still," Mac told her son and followed Harm to Lucy's room. She grabbed the thermometer on the way. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," he said. "Why?"
"I know you. Something happened at work or at the school," Mac said as she clicked the thermometer in Lucy's ear. "Which was it?"
"School," he replied with a sigh as he laid Lucy down and slipped her shoes off. "That shrink is worthless."
"What did she do? She's not...What did she do to her?" Mac asked worrying over her little girl. "102.5"
"She's trying to make it out that I did something horribly, pre-meditatively wrong the day before Thanksgiving," said Harm, very clearly upset. "She's turning us in to child protective services!"
"Like Hell she is," Mac said firmly and left the thermometer on the side of Lucy's nightstand. She quickly left the room and headed for the master bedroom. "Did she say why?" she called over her shoulder.
Harm pulled Lucy's covers over her feverish little body and followed after his wife.
He found her in their room, undressing from the comfortable sweats she'd been wearing and doing up the top of her uniform. "Did you hear me?"
"Yeah," he answered. "Something about this not being a 'safe environment' for Lucy or some similar crap. Where are you going?"
"To battle," she replied and pulled on her skirt, wincing as she hit her incision with the waistband. "Did she say how it was unsafe for her?"
"Not per se," said Harm. "But she did say she doesn't believe you're actually sick, and of course she's making the Thanksgiving thing into an even bigger ordeal than it already us; saying I didn't protect Lucy from what happened."
"Get me my shoes," Mac ordered. "And my insignia off the dresser. If I'm not sick, what am I?"
"Right now," he replied as he grabbed her shoes."I'd say you're pretty damn angry."
"Don't be cute," she snapped taking her shoes from him. "What does she think I am if not sick?"
"Abused probably," said Harm. "Hell, we should get a letter from Dr. Bradley; show that woman your surgical photos, maybe that'll shut her up."
"That won't," Mac replied. "But I will. No one hurts them and slanders you without me having something to say about it. Watch the kids!"
"Mac, are you sure you should do this?" he questioned.
"Should? No, but I have to," she said firmly, fastening her oak leaf. "I'll be quick." She closed the space between them and pulled him down for a kiss. There was more heat and passion in that than they'd had in a long time. "I love you. I defrosted a chicken."
"Um, okay," he said, his mind somewhat reeling from the kiss. "I love you, too."
A moment later Mac was gone and in the SUV. She had no idea what she would do when she got to Lucy's school, the only thing she knew was that witch was going to pay.
She checked in at the office and stormed into Dr. Crimmins office without being announced, "You and I have something to discuss," she declared not caring the doctor was in session.
"Mrs. Rabb," said the doctor. "I'm in the middle of something here. You'll have to wait outside."
"Oh I think you've finished," she said softly. "We have an issue to settle and its going to happen now." Mac put her hands on her hips and stood in the door way stock straight.
"Mrs. Rabb," said Dr. Crimmins. "I'm not through here, but if you'll have a seat in the lobby, I'll be with you shortly."
"Maybe you didn't hear me, this meeting is over." She refused to budge.
With a sigh, the doctor relented. "Very well. Michelle, you can go back to class now, sweetie." She looked up at Mac, "Come have a seat."
Mac stepped inside, removed her cover and sat down. "You have some explaining to do and if I'm not satisfied by the time I leave her, be assured I'll have your license."
"What do you need me to explain?" asked the doctor. "I thought I made everything clear to your husband."
"Oh you were clear, and I believe he understands. However, I don't understand. I don't understand why you feel it is necessary to call Child Services, or why you would accuse my husband of abusing me or Lucy? Do you say these kinds of things to her? No wonder she hates to come here," Mac snapped. "I want you to tell me everything you told him. I want to know why he looks like he wants to curl up and die right now. And I want to know why I'm sending my baby girl to you for help only to have her get worse. Start talking lady, I have all day." Mac leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs and her arms and waited.
"For starters," said Dr. Crimmins, "I'm bringing CPS into this because of a concern for the welfare of Lucy with regard to the current situation at home. For a 5-year-old child to be so terrified of her mother dying and for her to be so angry with her father, it all point to an abusive home environment."
"Where did you get your license? A cracker jack box?" Mac asked. "A five year old from an abusive home...She won't sleep alone at night, she tried to please the abusive parent, goes overboard for their attention...She starts to hope and to pray for "God" to take her parent away just so she can't be hurt anymore. And she never, never calls for help, because she's scared to death she might be next if she does. My daughter is not from an abusive home," Mac insisted. "I know. I know better than anyone."
"Even without the kind of abuse I usually refer clients for," said the doctor. "Lucy is clearly dealing with a very volatile situation within the home, one that's not good for her. Are you and your husband still having the same 'problems' you were having when I first began seeing Lucy?"
"We're much better," Mac replied. "Its still there, but we are doing much better. He's back with me in our room and we are still seeing our own Counselor."
"If things are so much better, why am I not seeing any real improvement in Lucy?" asked the doctor.
"Can I tell you one thing about my daughter?" Mac asked.
"Certainly," said Dr. Crimmins.
"Lucy is very protective of her father and me," Mac replied. "If you are implying we are doing something wrong, which it is clear you are, she will resist you. She doesn't want to come here, she hates coming here. She's not going to improve because she's so disturbed by the whole idea."
The doctor nodded. "I haven't tried to imply anything with her. My job is to get to the bottom of the issue and help her through it, but in reality I don't know enough about the issues in her life to truly help her as I'd like to do. I'm aware that her parents are 'having problems', but that can mean so many things. Would you care to elaborate on any of that for me? It might help me help Lucy."
Mac sighed, "All right. She doesn't tell you the particulars because she doesn't know them. Back in August my husband had an affair, a one time thing. I found out about it a few months later and it drove a huge wedge between us. We're back on track now, but my endometriosis is still very severe and while I'm having it treated it is a huge specter in our lives. Does that help?"
"Very much so," replied the doctor. "Is Lucy aware of the affair?"
"No, and we don't want her to be," Mac replied. "Harm's more or less her hero, I want it that way. I don't want her to grow up like I did or to lose her father later in life with unresolved issues between them. She is not to know."
"Okay," said Dr. Crimmins. "With regards to your illness, what does she know?"
"She knows I have a "boo boo" in my belly that hurts me sometimes," Mac replied. "She...she always wants Harm to fix it, but he can't obviously."
"No, obviously not," agreed the doctor. "I'm concerned that the incident where she saw you collapse and her father wasn't home, I'm worried that really did some damage. Do you feel your husband was wrong for leaving that day?"
"No, I told him I was fine, and to go get his mother and stepfather. Lucy wanted to stay at home with me, and I said it was okay, even though..." Mac trailed off.
Dr. Crimmins nodded in understanding. "I see," sighed the doctor. "I owe your family an apology. I was, obviously, operating under some misguided assumptions and I've made some accusations that I'm beginning to see aren't warranted. If you and your husband will allow me to, I'd like to continue seeing Lucy, and hopefully be more effective now that we've ironed out the problem issues on this end."
"What did Harm say?" Mac asked.
"He said he was pulling Lucy from my care immediately" said the doctor. "He was very upset after today's session."
"He was still very upset, he looked awful. I know part of it is because Lucy is sick..." The doctor cut her off.
"Sick?" questioned the doctor. "How so?"
"Chest congestion, high fever...I think she got the flu her Daddy had last week," Mac sighed.
"I didn't realize she was sick today," said Dr. Crimmins. "It likely explains why she was extra clingy when her father was here."
"No she's usually like that," Mac replied. "It would explain any tears if that happened though."
"Oh yes, there were plenty of tears," said the doctor. "Is she still here? Surely he took her home."
"He did, she's in bed with her Pooh and a 102 fever," Mac sighed. "I really should be going but...I could not stand for what I heard when he came home nor could I stand to hear Lucy beg me not to make her see you anymore. I cannot promise Harm will change his mind, but I'll speak to him," Mac said rising.
"I understand," said the doctor. "I'm glad you came in today, though in the future it would be best if you refrained from interrupting a session, Mrs. Rabb."
"If you refrain from false accusations I can do you that courtesy," Mac replied and extended her hand. Her face was all ready paling as she stood there, but the job was done. Now she could rest.
"Of course," said Dr. Crimmins, accepting Mac's handshake.
Mac drove home much more slowly than she drove to the school and much more calmly. She pulled into the drive way tired, yet filled with purpose. She had done something she hadn't been able to do in a while, defended her husband and child.
She walked in the house, kicked off her shoes, and dropped on the sofa.
"How'd it go?" asked Harm as he entered the living room dressed in sweats and a T-shirt, a half-empty beer bottle in his hand.
"It went fine," Mac replied. "She apologized and is clearer on what was happening here now I've leveled with her. I'd like to give her another chance." All this was said with her eyes closed as she rested against the sofa.
"I don't know, Mac," replied a leery Harm, taking another sip of his beer. "She accused me of being abusive to you and Lucy; I don't appreciate that."
"She didn't understand," Mac sighed. "She did apologize. I know you don't appreciate that but..."
"Let me think about it some," he said. "I know Lucy needs help, but I need to feel good about the help she gets. How are you feeling? You look whipped."
"I'm tired," Mac replied. "But I feel better than I have in months."
He smiled a little. "Go change out of that uniform and get into bed. You can't push yourself too hard yet."
"How is Lucy?" Mac asked all ready starting to unbutton her blouse.
"Out," said Harm. "Poor thing, she feels terrible. Probably caught whatever I had last week."
"She doesn't usually do that," Mac replied rising from the couch. "Where's our Little Sailor?"
"Playing in his room," answered Harm. "I gave him a snack and took him potty, and he's been playing in there ever since."
"Good, when's dinner?" Mac asked.
"When would you like it?" he asked.
"I need about an hour," Mac replied beginning to yawn.
"Well, go take it," he gently encouraged. "I'll fix dinner; you go rest."
Mac smiled and headed for the bedroom. She stripped down to her undies and lay down. She felt so wonderful just then, having taken charge again. It was with these thoughts in her mind she fell asleep.
Next: Enjoy Christmas with the Rabbs' and a few unexpected guests. (Not Annie this time.)