o　make　the　most　of　it。

The　first　of　May　found　her　dressed　in　a　bright　yellow　sundress；　waiting

beside　her　bags　at　the　front　entrance　of　her　apartment　building。　She

checked　the　street；　then　her　watch。　Her　parents　had　promised　to　be　there

at　one。　It　was　one…fifteen　now。　They　weren't　usually　late。

With　a　brief　word　to　the　doorman；　she　returned　to　her　apartment；　dialed

her　parents'　home　phone；　waited　through　ring　after　ring。　Assuming　they

were　on　their　way；　she　went　back　downstairs。　What　she　found　there

stopped　her　cold。

With　the　doorman's　ready　assistance；　her　bags　were　being　loaded　into　the

trunk　of　a　shiny　brown　Audi　that　she　didn't　recognize。　But　she　did

recognize　the　man　who　stepped　from　its　far　side。　He　was　sun…bronzed　and

gorgeous　in　a　pullover　and　white　ducks；　looking　as　handsome　and

masculine　as　could　be；　and　very；　very　smug。　Before　she　could　find　her

tongue；　he　opened　the　rear　door　of　the　car　and　leaned　in。　When　he

straightened；　he　was　carrying　the　most　beautiful　child　Anne　had　ever

seen。

Her　breath　faltered。　How　could　he？　He　wasn't　playing　fair；　wasn't

playing　fair　at　all…and　he　knew　it；　if　the　mischief　in　his　grin　meant

anything。

〃Hi；　Annie！〃　He　greeted　her　as　though　nothing　was　wrong。　〃Hope　we　didn't

keep　you　waiting　too　long。　Traffic　was　a　bitch。　I　think　we　have　all　your

bags。　Is　there　anything　else　inside？〃

Anne　may　have　been　thick　in　the　past；　but　she　wasn't　thick　now。　He　had

known　she　would　be　waiting。　He　had　known　what　time　to　e。　He　would

never　have　brought　the　child；　if　he　hadn't　been　sure　of　the　oute。

That　meant　her　parents　were　in　cahoots　with　him。

Had　it　been　Mitch；