Erin had barely had time to greet the children when she saw Penelope's car pull into the driveway, and her hand tightened around Tabitha's shoulder as she drew in a deep breath. "We have two visitors tonight, Mom?" her youngest asked, and she nodded in response. "Cool! But where's Dad?"

She felt the blood drain from her face as she looked up at David. "Your father was called away on a business trip, kiddo. How about you all join me in the living room and tell me funny stories about your mother while she helps her friend get the food ready for us?"

"Okay!" Tabitha took hold of his hand as they all trooped out of the kitchen and Erin took a few calming breaths as she went to the front door and opened it, leaning against the doorjamb to watch the woman climb out of her car before going to the passenger side and picking up a good number of bags before kicking the door closed and lifting her chin to smile at Erin, since she couldn't wave at her.

"Chief Strauss! I hope you don't mind if I commandeer your kitchen, but I thought, that since I'd have an hour, I could throw together a proper meal rather than bring takeout with me. And I thought that would give us the opportunity to talk, just the two of us. Unless Rossi is planning on hovering over you like a looming gargoyle."

She chuckled lightly as she shook his head. "David is just protective of me right now, even though I'm not entirely certain why." Erin welcomed the younger woman into the house, closing the door behind her before guiding Ms. Garcia into the kitchen. "What are you going to make?"

"A cheesy rice and chicken bake with broccoli and carrots. If you want to turn the oven on to 375 while I set out all the ingredients. I also brought enough to make a salad and garlic bread and a fruit trifle for dessert. I usually put Grand Marnier in the whipped cream, since I make it by hand, but will that affect the baby?"

"It probably shouldn't," she murmured as she did what Ms. Garcia requested before grabbing out a large enough pan for the rice, assuming that she would have to boil it before adding it to a casserole dish. After filling it with water, she set it on the rapid boil burner and then rummaged around in the cupboard to find her glass casserole dish, setting it on the counter before getting out her large salad bowl and a decorative bowl for the trifle. "What next?"

"If you want to wash the broccoli first, so I can chop it, then start on the other veggies, that would be a huge help."

Erin nodded and set to work on that, finding something soothing about the task as she tried to center her heart. Without looking up at the woman as she handed the broccoli over and then started to wash the lettuce, she opened her mouth and asked the question that was front and center in her mind. "Why this sudden change of heart, Ms. Garcia?"

"Please, call me Penelope, at least here. It feels weird to be so formal when I'm in your home."

"All right, and while we're in this place, you may call me Erin." Penelope gave her a tiny, pleased, smile before she turned back to the broccoli, starting to chop it into small pieces. "You must have been out of the room or asleep, when Rossi called me from your phone. Since I have you saved in my contact list, I was a bit frosty in the way I addressed him, thinking it was you, and he did not take it that well. You do have a good friend in him, ma'am, as he was very quick to defend you."

"He was always good at championing the underdog," she murmured as she moved on to rinsing off the cherry tomatoes. "I hope that he didn't get after you too much."

"Only as much as was warranted. He was right, I did jump to a hasty conclusion about what had happened. You must have been terrified when you realized you were pregnant. I wish that I had had better news for you when you asked about the failure rates on vasectomies."

"I wish so, too. Things would be much easier if this was Alan's baby. But there were cracks in our marriage before this, which just made it easier for him to make this final decision. It will just be difficult to adjust to being pregnant and raising four children on my own." Erin finished washing the vegetable before throwing together the salad and then starting to wash the berries. "That's why I'm glad that I'll have David as my friend. I don't think I could get through this without someone like him by my side."

Penelope nodded as she dumped the rice in the pan. "He does seem like a standup guy, the kind of guy a woman could easily fall in love with."

A quick, dreamy, smile spread across Erin's face as she nodded. "That he is," she whispered as she finished washing up the berries. "What next?"

"Next, you take a seat at the table, and we talk while I finish up. I can't have the expectant mom doing all the work."

"You're pregnant, Mom?"

Her head whipped around to see Karen standing in the doorway, a shocked expression on her face. Erin took a deep breath as she nodded, seeing the way Penelope's spine had stiffened at her lapse in judgment. "I am. I was going to wait until I was a little farther along to tell all of you, since there's always the danger of losing the pregnancy before I enter the second trimester. You were so young when I was pregnant with your sister, so you don't remember how difficult that pregnancy was on me. But it was very difficult, darling, so I wanted to keep this low profile for a few more weeks. Would you please not say anything to your siblings until I do?"

"Of course, Mom." Karen came over to her side and hugged her tightly before kissing her cheek. "Do you need any help in here? Bruce is telling Dave about that time we went to New York City, and he got lost in the Central Park Zoo."

Erin groaned a little as she shook her head. "Oh, that story. My worst failing as a parent, and now David will know all about it. If you want to help us, please set the dining room table for six. Use the green tablecloth, since it's spring. And don't forget the crystal candleholders."

"Yes, Mom. I'll go see if Tabby wants to help me, since it will go faster with two pairs of hands." Karen kissed her cheek once more before scurrying from the room.

"I so did not mean for her to overhear that, Erin. I am so sorry!"

"It was an accident, and they would have found out sooner rather than later, anyway. I'm already starting to show at seven weeks. Each pregnancy announces itself earlier and earlier."

"That's good to know, if I ever have kids." Penelope gave her a small smile. "And you're a really good mom. It's obvious that your kids love you."

"Up until I tell them about the divorce. Then I have the feeling that things might change. I'll take this lull for what it's worth, though, since I love them so." Penelope nodded as she gave her a fleeting smile, and Erin tried to smile in return, knowing that it was just a matter of time until she lost her children's hearts as a result of her mistake.