"For you." He said simply, holding it out. He quirked a smile. "Happy birthday."

She opened it and grinned when she saw it. He had gotten her a cupcake. "How did you know?" She shook her head. "mom."

"YeS."

She lifted it from the box, peeling back the wrapper. "Like a bite?"

"This one yours. I sampled as she baked."

She laughed as she got icing on her fingers. "This is great."

He waited until she finished, then reached over and wiped away a spot of icing she had missed at the corner of her mouth with his thumb. "I know you would have preferred to skip recognition of this day. I know how you miss your dad and Carl, but you need to let those around you celebrate. It helps them have something positive to do."

"What did you guys do?"

He came around and opened her car door, offered his hand. "Marcus?"

"I figured you should have at least a small warning."

He walked with her to the house, took her gym bag when they reached the porch, and reached around her to open the door for her. "Surprise!"

Marcus had given her about a minute to adjust and prepare, but it would have been hard to prepare for this no matter how much time she had-the streamers, the balloons, the hand drawn signs done in colorful markers. The dining room table had been set out with a buffet of finger foods. The guys from the security details, those off duty. had joined her family. It was like being fifteen again and finding herself the focus of the extended family. "How did you-" She just shook her head and laughed. "Never mind. I don't think I want to know."

Josh wrapped his good arm around her shoulders. "We had fun." Shari let herself be tugged into the room. She grinned as she recognized where all the cartoons from her newspapers had been going. They were intermixed among the streamers. "Cute, Josh."

"Get yourself a plate. We'll let you eat while we drown you in presents."

"Impossible. I can never have too many presents." She hugged her mom. "Thank you," she whispered. "Your dad would have been proud of you today. Enjoy it." They had insured it would be impossible not to.

She picked up the first plate and officially opened the party.

Shari was very aware of Marcus through the afternoon, as he slipped in and out of the room, talking on the security net. Ie had made this possible. She deeply appreciated it.

When Josh insisted, she settled on the couch in the den to open pre sents. There were videos, and locally made taf an engraved watch, and a large puzzle. Small gifts that reflected the circumstances.

mom had bought her a dress. It was absolutely beautiful. Her gaze caught Marcus's across the room. She looked down with a blush when she saw his smile.

Josh had gotten her a hand-tooled leather briefcase. It was the gift her dad had been threatening to get her for years. She looked at it for several moments, then reached over and wrapped her arm around Josh's neck, hugging him. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

With a laugh she let him go. The wrapping paper had bunched beside her on the couch. She reached for the trash bag.

"One more."

She leaned her head back at Marcus's words. He was holding out a thick package. It was wrapped in heavy brown shipping paper. She accepted it, curious. "From you?"

"Something to keep you occupied."

It was heavy and she would have thought it was a book except the package gave and she had to grasp it with both hands to steady it. She set it in her lap and opened the package. "What's this?"

Marcus just looked at her, a slight smile edging up the corners of his mouth. "What's it look like?"

It was well over a ream of loose pages. The top page simply said Paula-centered, on the middle of the page. It took her a moment to realize she was holding an I-I. Q. Victor manuscript. It was...she checked... 728 pages.

"Her next book. I asked Quinn to bring it back with him. It should keep you busy for a few days," he said, satisfied.

She caught his hand when he would have stepped back. "Marcus. Thank you," she whispered.

"My pleasure."

Most of the party banners and streamers had been cleaned up, the party was over. Marcus made his final rounds for the night, then passed off security to Craig. The lights were still on in the den. He had wondered if Shari would turn in early given how long her day had been. He leaned against the doorpost, delighted to find she had waited up for him.

She was reading the manuscript. She was slouched in the seat with the manuscript in her lap, turning pages with one hand and eating a carrot with the other. He was willing to bet she had been seated just like that for the last several hours. The bag of vegetables left over from this afternoon's tray was almost gone, and about a hundred pages of the manuscript had been set down in a semineat pile on the floor. There was an absorbed expression on her face as she read. "Is it any good?" "What?"

He moved into the room. "The sto Is it good?"

She stretched her arms back over her head, arched her back, and smiled. "One of her best."

"Am I going to interrupt if I join you?"

"No, but I'm tossing you out if you yawn so I can keep reading," she replied with a small laugh. She set the manuscript down beside the chair.

He settled down on the couch. "Thanks for being a good sport today.

I'm afraid once the planning started, it got out of hand." "mom told me you instigated the food." "Guilty. I enjoy the leftovers."

"Thank you for arranging it. I didn't want to celebrate without Dad, and that would have made the day drag by. With the celebration, the day flew by and it was much easier to handle."

"It's hard to feel sad when Josh is tossing peanut shells at you for flubbing a joke."

"Yeah."

He saw a look of private amusement cross her face. One he had seen in his own family. "What?"

"I short-sheeted his bed."

"You know if you start going tit for tat, it's going to escalate on you fast. There's plenty of time while you are stuck here to dream up the practical jokes."

"I know. And I'm going to enjoy it." Her amusement changed to seriousness. "What do you want to talk about tonight?"

He had thought about that a great deal throughout the afternoon, and he chose to offer a serious, difficult topic, one he knew they needed to talk about. He had made the decision he wanted a lot more with her than just a friendship, and it was going to mean facing some topics that were going to be difficult for both of them. He was a cautious man when it came to introducing something that would hurt a friend, and he knew the risks. He brought up the subject of religion as an indirect observation. "Jennifer is going to want to talk about what she believes."

"Very likely."

"Shari, she's praying to be healed, and instead she's having to face growing worse. I don't understand, and I don't want to say the wrong thing."

Her posture straightened, and her focus narrowed. "Do you really want to know what I've discovered about prayer?"

There was a flank challenge to her words. She didn't think he was going to like her answer. "Yes, Shari, I do."

"To be passive and throw up your hands and say. 'I don't care, whatever You want, Lord,' is as much a cop-out as pushing for only what you want and not being able or willing to accept something different. To deny him being Lord." She looked across at him moodily. "It hurts to have prayers not answered. The difference is I still believe in the One to whom I pray. whereas you simply stopped praying."

Her warning had been with cause. It was the first time she had shown him the emotion behind what she thought of his disbelief. She didn't temper it, and he had to admit, hearing it stung. It pricked where he was vulnerable, being called a coward.

"We put everything we are into our prayers. What we think about Jesus. What's happening in the world around us. What our dreams are about how life should be. Our sense of hope. Prayer is the ultimate struggle. It can be exquisite joy. and it can also be painful tears.

"I don't want to belittle the pain you felt over what happened to your mom . But you decided through the eyes of a child what the world was like, what God was like. If adults struggle to understand Him and sometimes get it wrong, don't you think a child might too? Jennifer will get through this moment because she knows Jesus. However He decides to answer her prayer, she'll be the strong one. It's you I worry about."

Her words ran out and she flushed, dropped her gaze.

He didn't know what to say. "Ouch."

"You asked. But I didn't mean to say it exactly that way."

"Shari." He waited until she looked back up. "You're direct. I've always admired that. And you are right in one thing. You kept trying to understand, and I gave up." He gave a faint smile. "And you just told me in more eloquent terms than Jennifer ever will what she will be thinking."

He had offered an olive branch to diffuse the tension and he was grateful when she accepted it. "You're forgetting Kate."

He groaned. "Tenacious gets a new definition with Kate."

Her expression became serious. "Marcus, you can trust Jesus with Jennifer. He loves her. I know that."

"I'll think about it."

"Thank you. I know you can't make a decision just to please me, or Jennifer. You're kind enough you would probably try on most subjects to do just that. But this is different. You have to make a decision you can live with."

"No, Shari. I have to make a decision I can live with and one I can defend," he corrected. "I've got O'Malleys to deal with."

"I'd commiserate with you, but I'm secretly delighted they are there pushing you out of your comfort zone. I like your family."

"I've noticed," Marcus replied dryly. "Kate calls me and promptly asks for you.

She gave a small smile. "Like I said, I like your family."

"What do you talk about anyway?"

She laughed, and there was no mistaking that blush. "You."

That blush did it. He got up and invaded her space, resting his hands on the arms of her chair. He leaned down, until he was inches away. then went still, searching her gaze, finding the anticipation waiting there. Ie had been thinking about the kiss from this morning throughout the day. wondering. Apparently. so had she. He leaned forward and ended the lingering questions.

This kiss was warm and touched with an intriguing sense of mystery. The softness and sweetness pulled him to explore. He angled his head to deepen the kiss as she reached one hand up and slipped it behind his neck.

Ie forced himself to ease back. Ie was tangling with her emotions, her heart, and he wasn't going to do that to her, not until he could promise he was going to be a forever part of her life. She'd had enough tears; he wasn't going to be the cause of any more. Ier bemused expression made him feel so good. "Finish your book," he whispered. "This is too explosive for tonight."

"Probably" Her hand at the back of his neck tightened gently and then she grinned. "Sweet dreams, Marcus."

"Shari-" He swooped to steal one last kiss. "Good night, minx."

Fourteen.

M.

arcus flew to Baltimore on Tuesday, taking a predawn flight. It was going to be a long, hard day, seeing Jennifer, then flying back very late that night. His sleep had been intermittent at best. Shad had accomplished more than she realized with that good night of hers. He had spent most of the night dreaming about what might be. He was almost glad to get the day away, A week ago he had thought it would be a chance to get back his perspective; instead it had become a chance to decide how best to proceed.

He lifted his briefcase to the empty seat beside him and opened it, intending to do some work. There was a small white envelope resting on his planner with his name on it. Surprised, he picked it up. He recognized Shari handwriting. Under it was one addressed to Jennifer. Curious, he opened the envelope addressed to him and slipped out a piece of stationa Marcus, I wanted to say thank you for a wonderful birthday. You helped ease my way through a painful day. That was not only thoughtful, that was very kind. And I loved the gift.

I wish there was something I could do to repay that and help you get through the tough day you now face. I hope that seeing,Iennifer will clarify how you can help her and your family.

I am so sorry I was abrupt last night when you asked about prayer. Please let me apologize again. You have become such a good friend, and at times I find the chasm of faith between us so frustrating, but that doesn't excuse "directness" that lacked tact. Forgive me. Hug Jennifer Because you love her, help her laugh. Because I believe, 17I pray for her We will both be good medidne.

I7I be thinking about you today, and if you just want to talk, call me. You know my number She had dotted the i in her name with a small heart.

Shari. The very presence of the note touched his heart.

She cared about his family. He leaned his head back against the seat, his thumb rubbing the edge of the note. He felt a deep sense of relief. He was falling in love with her. And the idea no longer felt like bad timing. He had planned to get the O'Malleys settled first, but Shari was showing him she had room for his family without even realizing she was doing it. She was moving toward his family, inviting him to share them, and showing she wouldn't feel uncomfortable in their circle.

This case could not be resolved soon enough.

He closed his briefcase, putting aside the work, and leaned his head back, closing his eyes. How did he proceed? He had not only Shari and her family to think about, but the O'Malleys. To change the family dynamics in such a fundamental way-this wasn't going to be easy. and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt any of them.

The flight was landing in Baltimore before he had figured out a plan. Kate met him at the airport. He saw her leaning against a concrete pillar watching the passengers as he entered the concourse from the departure gate. She was in jeans and a blue shirt, arms crossed, and even from this distance he could tell she was letting the post support her. His eyes narrowed at the sight, for to show that exhaustion wasn't like her. Hospitals and doctors had always been a strain for her, and the stress of the situation was now plain to see.

Kate saw him, straightened, and came to meet him. As soon as they were free of the crowds, Marcus wrapped her in a hug. He was going to have to get Dave out here to be with her somehow. Kate wasn't one to let many people support her, but Dave was one person who could get under her guard and take care of her.

"You look tired."

So do you, he thought but didn't say. "A little. Thanks for coming to meet me."

"My pleasure. How's Shari and her family?"

"Recovering. It's been quiet. How's Jennifer?"

"Delighted that 7ou could come."