Caitlin had always been aware of her own lineage.

She had a pedigree.

But, aside from her father, she had never really felt as if she had a

family.

She wanted this to be her family.

In a way, she supposed she was as hungry as he for acceptance.

Graham glanced at Caitlin as she joined him at the door.

She was almost pale, he thought.

A moment before he placed the key into the lock he covered her hand

with his own and squeezed it.

Caitlin looked at him in surprise.

She opened her mouth to say something, but he was already unlocking the

door.

Within a moment the lower half of his body was wrapped in as huge a hug

as Jake could manage.

"Hey, what's this?"

His own arms went around the boy's slight shoulders.

Jake's greetings were usually enthusiastic, but nothing like this.

Jake remained with his face buried against his father's stomach.

Even at this age, he was keenly aware that a man didn't show tears.

Or fear.

His grandmother had said so.

He didn't want to dishonor his father by behaving like a baby.

But he had been afraid last night when his father hadn't come home

again.

Afraid that he had been abandoned a second time.

"Dad, I thought you were never coming back."

Graham gently moved his son back, holding him by the shoulders.

He studied the small, solemn face.

"Hey, I said I'd be back."

Jake nodded.

"Yeah, but things happen." he had expl Things happen.

That was the way ained Celia's abrupt departure to the boy.

Re hugged, Jake to him.

There was no way he was going to leave this boy, gr.

have him taken from him.

Graham glanced at Caitlin, unaware that there was gratitude in his

eyes.

But she saw it and hugged it to her.

Another tiny piece of the wall between them had come down, she

thought.

"Those kinds of things don't happen,',' Graham assured his son

fiercely.

That seemed to placate Jake.

He looked up, suddenly aware that his father hadn't returned alone.

Jake stared at Caitlin.

"N" o's this?

Before Gray could answer, Caitlin dropped to one knee.

She wanted to be on eye level with the boy, recalling how much she had

always hated having adults look down at her as if she was somehow beneath them.

"Hi, Jake, my name's Caitlin."

His eyes were soft a brown.

Like hot chocolate, she thought.

Like Graham' "Your dad does nothing but talk about you."

The statement coaxed a broad smile from Jake's lips, b it was obvious that he was still reserving final judgment her.

He turned toward his father.

"Why is she here, Dad Caitlin rose and saw the discomfort in Graham's

eyes.

Can't tell them, canyou?

Is it so hard for you to say that, your wife, Gray?

Even if it's just supposed to be make believe?

She looked at Jake as Graham searched for the rig words.

"I'm here to make sure you stay with your dad as long as you want."

Jake's mouth fell open.

"Are you magic?"