table and said prayers. Mom was sitting across from me with Laurie in her lap. Jim was at the head of the table and Galigani sat opposite him.

Jim carved the turkey and laid out a delectable platter, alternating the white and dark meat.

He passed the platter to me. “I’m most thankful for my wife and daughter.”

I selected a piece of dark meat and put it on my plate. “I’m most thankful for my lovely peanut, her father, my mother, and my boss.”

I passed the platter to Galigani.

“I’m most thankful to be with such wonderful company tonight and thankful a murderer is behind bars because of our efforts,” Galigani said. “Kid, I’m sure glad you insisted I sponsor you!”

“Wait,” Mom said. “I insisted you sponsor Kate. I’m the insister!”

“Yes, you are, Mom,” Jim said.

“Here’s to justice!” Mom said, holding up her wineglass. Jim followed suit and we all drank to the toast.

Galigani served himself some turkey and passed the tray to Mom.

Mom said, “I’m most thankful that Jim got the turkey in the brine before the EMTs interrupted him with a call about Kate!”

Galigani laughed. I gagged on my wine.

“God, Mom! Aren’t you thankful for Laurie?”

“Of course I am! I’m thankful for all of you! And I’m especially thankful that my bunions aren’t bothering me tonight!”

Jim snickered into his napkin.

“And another thing I’m extremely thankful for is that Paula sent the pumpkin pie! It smells delicious!”

I frowned. “How do you know she sent the pie?”

Mom laughed. “Well, I know you didn’t make it and Jim doesn’t bake.”

“Will you pass the potatoes, Vera?” Galigani asked.

Mom handed him the potatoes, and after he served himself, the bowl made its way around the table.

I served myself some stuffing, then shoveled a spoonful of mashed potatoes onto my plate. I poured gravy over the turkey and potatoes then reached for the cranberries. Canned.

Who had time to make fresh with a newborn and a new career on their hands?

I cut into my turkey and savored my first bite. It was deliciously moist.

We made small talk during dinner. My thoughts kept drifting back to Evelyn. I was still waiting to hear from someone at the hospital. I’d been calling all day to check on her status, but no one had given me any information.

I thought about the case against Celia. The Grizzly had told me that any criminal defense attorney worth his weight would get that recording disallowed, but he’d promised not to take the case.

I’d spoken with Bruce in the morning. He’d been stunned by the news of the fake adoption but grateful for the update. Of course, with the cops arresting Celia, it meant he was off the hook. He could start rebuilding his life after losing Helene. He vowed that he would help the police build their case against her and wouldn’t rest until she was convicted.

I’d also phoned Margaret, feeling like she was owed some closure. To my surprise she was up to speed having already spoken with Miss No-nonsense. It turned out Howard confessed his affair after receiving a call from McNearny. Margaret was distraught about Evelyn and promised to call me if she had any news before I did.

We finished dinner, then Jim and I cleared the plates to ready the table for dessert. In the kitchen I turned on the coffeemaker.

Jim leaned into me. “I love you, Kate. This is the best Thanksgiving ever because you’re my wife and we have Laurie.”

Tears sprang to my eyes and I hugged him. “I’m so worried about Evelyn. That’s a family that might lose their mommy tonight.”

Jim held me. “You can’t think that way, honey. They saved the baby. I’m sure they’re thankful about that. All we can do now is pray.”

We held each other in silence. After a moment we heard Mom call from the dining room, “Where’s my pumpkin pie?”

I brought out Paula’s magnificent pie and served it at the table with a generous scope of vanilla ice cream on the side. When it was ready, Jim poured coffee and splashed a little Irish Crčme into each cup.

As I sat down to dig into my pie, the phone rang. Jim and I looked at each other expectantly.

“Let it go,” Mom said. “Whoever it is can call back.”

I jumped up. “I can’t. It might be—”

“Kate? It’s Evelyn. Thank you.”

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER ONE - At Sea

CHAPTER TWO - Outreach

CHAPTER THREE - Digging

CHAPTER FOUR - Nurture

CHAPTER FIVE - Disconnect

CHAPTER SIX - Batting 100

CHAPTER SEVEN - Protection

CHAPTER EIGHT - Safekeeping

CHAPTER NINE - Playing Catch-Up

CHAPTER TEN - Washed-up

CHAPTER ELEVEN - Falling Behind

CHAPTER TWELVE - Keeping Up

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Sitting Duck

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Sucker

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Emergency

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Faux Pas

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Second Wind

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Redirected

CHAPTER NINETEEN - Rolling Over

CHAPTER TWENTY - The Grizzly

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Two’s Better Than One?

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - Unstable

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Watchful

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - Research

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - Preparation

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - Talking

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - Risk

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - Reward

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - Praying

CHAPTER THIRTY - Rooting

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE - Swimming?

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO - Labor

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE - Thanksgiving