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  Her designer had really nailed it this time. Lollie couldn’t think of one thing she’d change.

  She took out her phone and scrolled to the image again.

  There they were, a creamy-skinned girl with golden tresses and a sweet dark-haired boy with long lashes. Images of perfection. Of innocence. Of purity. And soon they would be hers.

  After long months of waiting, the adoption agency had found two flawless children for her to raise.

  She checked the time again.

  Ten past ten.

  How could she stand to wait until eleven?

  She wished she could still nurse, but the doctors had dried her up good when she lost her own babies last year.

  There had been three babies living inside her. And she’d lost them all.

  She thanked God every day for her amazing husband and his lovely wealth. If it weren’t for his money, she never could have found these perfect babies to help her through the toughest time in her life.

  Colby was a dear man. A little thick-headed, sure. Terribly overweight, true. But in spite of his physical limitations, he did love her. And once again, there was the money.

  She smiled to herself.

  I was lucky to snag him.

  It was funny how little time it took her to blend into his world, to become one of the “privileged” people. It was as if she were born to it, not to her poor fisherman father and her seamstress mother. They’d grown up dirt poor. And she’d hated every minute of it.

  Now her folks rocked on the porch of a new, red Cape Cod near Onataga Beach, on the cold Maine coast. No more fishing for Dad. No more sewing for Mom.

  She and Colby lived a few miles away, in a beautiful new home they’d designed together on a hill overlooking the sea. Spotless and full of windows with expansive views of the ocean, it was their dream house.

  She stood to look out the window. The gates at the end of the driveway were wide open in welcome. Where were they?

  Pulling herself together, she checked the clock on the wall.

  Too early. Colby wasn’t due to pick up the adoption lady and the children at the airport until ten-thirty.

  She touched the mobile over the girl’s bed and made it rotate. The song was sweet. Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

  She hummed with it for a while, then, with a huff of impatience, left the nursery and wandered to her bedroom suite to check her hair again. She wanted to look perfect for Miss Gilly and the children.

  Her reflection seemed almost to waver in the surface of the mirror and she had to steady herself on the bureau.

  Just the excitement, she thought.

  She stared at her image. In spite of the fact that she’d never done well in school, never had many friends, and had a rough time growing up with her parents, she still had her looks.

  The blue dress fit snugly on her curving hips and around her full bodice. She liked the way it looked.

  She picked up her hairbrush and stroked her long chestnut hair, imagining it growing glossier with each swipe. She’d been lucky in that department. Her hair was easy to manage and always looked pretty no matter what she did to it.

  Should she pull it back into a ponytail? Would that look more motherly?

  No. Let it be. She made a kissy face at her image, straightened the narrow belt on her dress, and headed downstairs to wait.

  ∞∞∞

  At quarter past eleven, the big BMW rolled through the gates and up the long driveway.

  Lollie felt her pulse flickering fast in her throat. Downstairs now, she stood in the parlor, peering out the window. “Rosita?” Her voice came out too shrill, but she didn’t care.

  “Yes, Miss?”

  “They’re here!”

  Rosita stood by the door where Lollie had positioned her twenty minutes ago. “Yes, Miss Lollie. I’m still here.”

  As much as Lollie wanted to throw open the door and gather the children into her arms, she knew Miss Gilly would expect to be greeted by a servant and walked into the parlor. She perched on the edge of a gold brocade love seat with her hands folded on her lap.

  The door opened and she heard her husband’s booming voice. “Lollie, we’re here.”

  Pretending to be calm, she rose and walked purposefully toward them.

  In the doorway her dreams came to life. Rosita held a sleepy baby girl and Miss Gilly carried the boy. Her husband trotted toward her and led her to them. “Lollie, darling. Meet our children.”

  She felt faint with excitement and her hands fluttered to her mouth. “Oh, my goodness. Aren’t they just perfect?”

  Colby ushered them into the parlor. “Please, Miss Gilly. Have a seat.”

  The woman blew up a lock of her salt and pepper colored hair and settled gratefully onto the couch with the boy, who scrambled to get down to the floor. “Thank you, Mr. Belvedere. It’s been a long day.”

  “Where did you fly in from?” Lollie said, wishing she’d brought some toys down from the nursery for the boy to play with. What had she been thinking?

  Miss Gilly’s eyes flitted to the side. “Los Angeles.”

  “Oh, dear.” Lollie commanded Rosita with her eyes to bring her the little girl. She accepted the sleepy bundle and settled on the chair, cuddling her in her arms. “That’s a very long trip.”

  “It was. So, what are you going to name them?”

  Lollie looked up in surprise. “Don’t they already have names?”

  The woman flashed her a prim smile. “We like to let our adoptive parents have a fresh start.”

  Colby got down on his knees to speak to the boy, who looked around the room with wide, frightened eyes.

  “Mama?” he asked. “Dada?”

  Lollie’s heart skipped a beat. “Are they calling us that already?”

  Colby shot her a glance. “I doubt it, sweetie. I think he’s looking for the girl and her boyfriend. Isn’t that right, Miss Gilly?”

  Miss Gilly stood quickly. “It’ll take them some time to get used to you, of course. Their teenage mother and her sixteen-year-old boyfriend kept them until they ran out of money.” She tossed them a rueful smile. “So sad.”

  Lollie stroked the damp curls on the girl’s forehead. “Well, I’m just glad we can give them a proper home.” She leaned over to smell the girl’s hair, reveling in the scent. “And they are just precious.”

  Colby straightened and nodded to Rosita. “Can you stay and help with the children, Rosita? I need to finish up business with Miss Gilly.”

  “Of course, sir.” Rosita crouched down to sing a children’s song in Spanish to the boy, who approached her with a faltering smile.

  Colby and Miss Gilly disappeared into his office, where Lollie knew he was writing her the final check for twenty thousand dollars.

  It was a small price to pay for the children of her dreams.

  Chapter 24

  “Darling, really?” Colby stood in the nursery doorway and let out a frustrated sigh.

  “It’s just for a few nights, dear.” Lollie centered the air mattress on the floor between the two cribs. “There we go. Fetch me some sheets and my pillows, will you, sweetie?”

  Colby grumbled, but disappeared to get the sheets. Both children sat dazed in their cribs, watching Lollie set up her bed in their room. The girl held her bottle close to her chest, as if she were afraid someone would take it from her. The boy sucked his thumb.

  “It’ll be okay now, sweeties. Mommy’s here to take care of you.”

  Her husband reappeared with a set of lemon yellow sheets.

  “Oh, thank you. These are my favorite, they’re so soft.”

  He gave her an exasperated smile. “I know, Lollie.”

  “I think we need a mini-fridge up here so we can keep some milk in it. That way I won’t have to leave the room to refill her bottle. Oh, and in the morning, I want to send Rosita out to get some baby food. Do you think she’ll know what to buy?”

  Colby rolled his eyes ever so slightly. “Darling, she has twelve grandchildren
. I think she’ll figure it out.”

  Lollie pouted. “I don’t think you’re as excited as I am, honey.”

  Colby sighed and knelt to help her tuck the sheets around the corners. “I’m excited, dear. Just didn’t think you’d move in here with the babies, that’s all. I like you sleeping beside me.”

  She looked up suddenly with a stern expression. “Don’t tell me it’s about the sex, Colby John Belvedere.”

  He sat back on his heels, looking guilty. “Uh. No. Of course not.”

  “It is! You’re mad because you’ll miss out on a few nights of nookie. Oh my God, Colby, you’re hopeless. Maybe you should just leave.” She stood and yanked the hem of her dress up to her waist, revealing pink panties. Her face reddened. “Better yet, why don’t we do it right here on this mattress? Right now?”

  “No, Lollie. Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Well, then, why don’t you just head on down the hall and play with yourself for a while. Do you remember how?”

  It was his turn to blush. “Hell, Lollie. You’re acting that way again.”

  “No swearing around the children.” She bristled further, walking up to him with one finger poised to jab his chest. “That way? What way?”

  “Nothing,” he said, lowering his head. “I just thought you’d be happy with the children here now.”

  As if a breeze blew through her and plucked away the crazy, her shoulders dropped and she smiled. “I am happy. And in the morning, we’ll go through names, okay?”

  Colby held up a hand. “You’ve got it. See you on the flip side.” He backed out of the room and trundled toward their bedroom.

  “I’m sorry you had to see that,” Lollie said, picking up the girl to change her diaper. Earlier that day, she’d put it on backwards, but Rosita had corrected her gently. It wasn’t that hard. She’d just been a little nervous, that’s all. Now she knew the tapes went in the front.

  “Sometimes your daddy can be a little selfish,” she prattled, dressing the girl in a pretty pink sleeper she’d bought online. It was too small, but it stretched enough so that she could work the baby into it. She was perplexed, because she’d bought the size one outfit. Matter of fact, she’d bought all size ones. Rosita had tried to tell her that the age didn’t usually match the child’s size, and that her grandchildren typically wore size eighteen months when they were one, but she hadn’t believed her.

  “Never mind,” she said aloud. “I’ll just buy you all new clothes this week. It’ll be fun.”

  The boy lay back in his crib, still sucking his thumb. He looked sad, and after she settled the girl down with her bottle, she went to his side of the room. “What’s wrong, little guy? You miss your teenage slut mother?” She reached for him, but he shrank away. “Oh, no. I’m your mommy now. You come to me.” She cornered him and picked him up. “I’m going to rock you to sleep.”

  The boy started to whimper, but she forced his head against her breast and rocked him in the big wooden chair she’d bought at the baby store downtown. A faint “Mama” came from his lips, and she smiled. He was learning.

  When he finally fell asleep, she set him in his crib and covered him with the blanket embroidered with fuzzy sheep. She tucked it around him, and turned on the mobile with its tinkling music.

  “Okay,” she whispered. “Sweet dreams, darlings. This is the start of our new life together.” She eased under the sheets and fluffed up her pillow. “Sleep tight.”

  Thoughts of her mother saying the very same thing rang in her head. “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

  That had always scared her. She’d hated that part. She’d cringe for the next half hour, hoping she didn’t get bitten by those darned bugs her mother always talked about.

  She felt something crawling on her arm and viciously scratched it. “Ugh,” she moaned. Now her leg itched. She reached down to rake her nails over her calf.

  This is how it always started.

  She’d feel the itches, and scratch the hell out of herself. But every time she turned on the light, there was nothing there. She knew that now, so she didn’t bother to get up. She’d just endure the scratching and try not to draw too much blood.

  “Tomorrow is another day,” she whispered, picturing herself as Scarlett O’Hara. With a smile, she fell asleep.

  Chapter 25

  Rosita poured Lollie another cup of steaming coffee. “You tired, Miss Lollie?”

  Lollie rested elbows on the table and her chin on her palms. She nodded slowly. “I had to get up twice last night. It was awful.”

  Colby sat beside the boy’s highchair, encouraging him to eat his eggs. The poor child just stared at the tray.

  Rosita went back to the girl’s high chair and pushed a few cheerios toward her. “Maybe she’ll eat these, huh?”

  Colby looked worried. “I think they’re still in shock. You know, having been taken from the only home they ever knew.”

  “Nonsense,” Lollie said. “This is their home now. They know that.”

  Colby quirked his lips. “I doubt it, dear. They’re only one and two years old.”

  “Anyway, we have to choose names this morning,” Lollie said, dismissing him abruptly.

  Rosita turned to smile over her shoulder. “Oh, Miss Lollie. What names are you thinking of?”

  “Well, it’s not going to be easy to match anything to our last name. I mean, what goes with Belvedere, right?” She gave a hoarse laugh and enjoyed watching her husband wince.

  “Well, Lollie. My name goes with it. My parents’ names go with it.”

  “Oh, great. I’m going to name them Clarence and Nina?”

  He blustered and turned back to the boy, who finally ate a little bite of scrambled eggs. “I didn’t say that.”

  “Well,” she said, “I’m thinking they should sound like movie stars.”

  Colby turned to stare. “Movie stars?”

  “Sure,” she said, enjoying the moment of power. “I’d like to name the girl Scarlett and the boy Rhett.”

  His face dropped even further, firming her conviction.

  He paled. “You’re serious?”

  “I know, they aren’t actually movie stars, but they were the main characters in a very famous movie, right?”

  She nodded and sat up, sipping at her coffee. “Rosita? More cream please.”

  “Right away, Miss Lollie.” Rosita hopped up and got the half ‘n half from the fridge.

  Lollie never tired of the pleasure she got from ordering the woman around. It made her feel so special. And I am special, damn it. “Thank you, dear.” She sipped her coffee again and beamed at the children. “Yes. Their names will be Scarlett and Rhett.”

  Rosita smiled feebly. “Very nice, Miss.”

  Colby just stared at her. She’d have to work on him later. Maybe toss him a quickie later to get him back to his malleable ways.

  “I think Rhett’s middle name will be Colby.”

  Colby brightened. “Really?”

  “Well, sure.” She got up and walked to him, laying her lips on his for a tantalizing second, then opening her mouth and running her tongue over his. With a satisfied laugh, she realized he’d become aroused. Right there in the kitchen with Rosita watching. She felt like cackling, so happy was she with her ability to manipulate him. But she smiled sweetly and gave him a linen napkin to cover his lap.

  She whispered softly into his ear. “You’ll have to save that for later, big guy.” She gave him an alluring smile, and then returned to the table for more coffee.

  “We need to go shopping today, Rosita.” By we, of course she meant Rosita. “We need baby food for Scarlett. You know, those cute little jars they have with fruit and vegetables that have the ages on them? Just right for this little princess.”

  Colby took out his wallet and prepared to hand over some money.

  “We’ll need the credit card today, sweetums. Because Rosita and I need to do some clothes shopping, too. It appears she was right. All the clothes I bought
are too small.” She pointed to the legs of the only stretchy pants that had barely fit Rhett and the dress that sat tight along Scarlett’s bodice. “See? Nothing fits!”

  “What will you do with the children?” Colby asked, looking perplexed.

  Lollie hadn’t thought about that. “Um. Well.”

  Rosita piped up. “I can do it, Miss Lollie. If you want?”

  Lollie thought about it. She already felt like she needed a break, and shopping would have been great therapy, as always. But Rosita would get it done fast and efficiently. “Okay, Rosita. Why don’t you handle the shopping today? And maybe you can pick up a double stroller for us, too. That way you and I can both go out shopping next time.”

  Rosita nodded, as if it were the most sage advice she’d heard in a while. “Very good, Miss Lollie. I will find some nice clothes.”

  “Get lots of pink for Scarlett. Nothing too garish, now.”

  Rosita lowered her head. “Si, Miss.”

  Lollie realized she might have insulted the woman, but let it ride. After all, she was just the help.

  “Okay. Well, we have a plan. Now, let’s get cracking, Rosita, after you finish up the dishes, let me know. I’ll come get the children and let them play in the sunroom while you’re gone.”

  “Good, Miss. That room is baby-proofed now. I have put diapers, wipes, and many toys in the toy box.”

  Colby said, “I noticed you rearranged things in there, Rosita. Well done.”

  “Gracias, Mister Colby.” She hurried to the sink and began to run the water.

  Lollie stretched and smiled. “Well, then. Our perfect day has begun. Just one splendid day of the rest of our lives as a family, right?”

  Colby gave her a genuine smile. “Right, Lollie.”