woman asked her, smiled. “She’s wonderful. And I just changed her. Let me mix up some formula. She’ll be ready for it soon. Oh, and don’t give her the peas that are in the diaper bag. She likes the carrots better.”
Mrs. Brody nodded. “Peas bad. Carrots good. Got it.”
Holly hurried to mix up Sophie’s bottle while Zane spoke to his mother in soft tones. She could tell the woman was still upset but who could blame her? She couldn’t imagine what she would do if one of her kids showed up on her doorstep with a baby. That is, if she ever had kids.
She stood just inside the bathroom and watched Zane make faces at his daughter. Sophie smiled like a loon and laughed. Now that she’d done her part, Zane could decide what his next move was. They’d have dinner, say goodbye, and go their separate ways. Who knew when she’d ever see him again?
Zane ate his chicken fingers slowly. They’d packed up his and Sophie’s things, loaded them into his car, then Holly followed him to Daisy’s café for takeout. So far, the meal was pleasant, even though his father’s eyes were fixed on Sophie. She sat on his mother’s lap and banged her hand on the table as Mom tried to eat her hamburger one-handed.
“Have you a highchair, son?” Dad asked.
“In New York. I’ll have to pick one up.” He looked at Holly. “Where can I find one?”
“Stone’s Department Store. If they don’t have any, you could always order one.”
“Would you like to go with me to pick it out?” he asked.
Holly’s brows shot up in surprise. “Sure, what time?”
“Will the store still be open when you get off work tomorrow?”
“Your father and I can pick one up just as easily,” Mom said.
“I don’t mind going with Zane,” said Holly. “Besides, you don’t want him to pick out a highchair a baby boy would use, do you?”
Dad glanced around the table. “Good Heavens, they make them his and hers now?”
“They make all kinds of things,” Holly said with a smile.
“And you know this how?” Mom asked.
Zane fought the urge to roll his eyes. His mother was taking over already. Not that he minded. It beat the alternative. But he knew how bossy she could get. “Katie Turner’s children?” he prompted.
“Oh, yes, I forgot about them,” she said. “But they’re older now.”
Holly smiled. “Tiffany is four.”
“Too old for a highchair,” Dad commented, then bit into his hamburger.
Holly exchanged a quick look with Zane. “Why don’t I ask Katie if she still has Tiffany’s highchair? That way you won’t have to buy one at all.”
He watched his parents give each other blank looks. “That’s a good idea. Do you think she still has it?”
“I’ll ask her as soon as I see her.” She fidgeted in her chair. “You don’t mind if I tell her about,” she motioned to Sophie.
“It’s kind of hard not to considering what you are going to ask,” he said with a laugh.
“Do we want the town to know yet?” Mom asked.
Dad shook his head. “The minute they see Zane with that sweet little girl, they’re going to put two and two together, dear.”
“Yes, but do they have to hear it from Katie Turner?”
He heard Holly’s soft gasp. “Katie is no gossip.”
Mom looked to the ceiling as if appealing to the Almighty. She always did when she was getting upset or frazzled. “Mom, it’ll be fine,” he said. “It was you and Dad I was worried about. Not the rest of the town.”
“But you should …” Dad began then snapped his mouth shut. “Never mind.” He held up a hand. “What’s done is done. There’s no help for it now.” He reached for his fries.
Zane caught the sympathetic look on Holly’s face. It was nice having her as an ally in this. She always made him feel good about things, no matter what the situation was. Every time he was with her, there was a sense everything would turn out okay. “Ask Katie in the morning then call me. I can get it after you close up shop.”
“Great,” she said. “I’ll take care of it.”
They ate in silence a few moments, the silence broken by Sophie banging a plastic spoon on the table and his mother’s words of encouragement to hit it harder.
“What do you want the babe to do, dear?” Dad asked. “Break the thing? She’s liable to poke her eye out.”
Holly put a hand to her mouth to keep from laughing. Zane almost had