That was why Paige had risen early on Sunday, bathed and fed Sami, then packed up a proper diaper bag, strapped the baby seat into the car, and driven to Nonny's.

Turning away now from the white wicker-framed photograph, she took the deepest, steadiest breath she had taken since learning of Mara's death.

Nonny was a balm, a reassuring presence even before she spoke, and her home was as cheery as the woman herself. It was a tiny garden apartment, done up in the red and white that Nonny had insisted upon when she had sold the larger Victorian.

UEvetything red and white?" Paige had asked at the time.

"Everything. I adore red and white. I've always adored red and white, even when I was the littlest girl, only we didn't have the money to decorate then."

"But I thought you liked blue. Our house in Chicago was blue."

"That was for your mother, who was rarely there anyway, and when I moved back here and bought the Victorian, it was easiest to just use what I had. But now I want red and whiteand don't tell me I'm too old. I may be moving into a retirement community, but I'll never be one of those old fogies. So," she had said, sighing, "I want red and white. At last."

Catching Nonny's excitement, Paige had helped furnish the little apartment, and although she had worried that the colors might grate in time, that hadn't happened. To the contrary, they had grown on Nonny, such that she had taken to wearing whiteblouses and skirts or leggings, even warm-up suitswith red in a beaded necklace, earrings, or a hair ribbon.

On this particular day she was wearing a flowing white caftan and tiny red slippers.

Given that she was slender and petitelike Chloe, while Paige was long-legged like Paulshe looked elfin.

She sat on her favorite white wicker chair, holding Sami, who was studying her curiously.

"A baby. My word, Paige. You should have called me the minute she arrived!" ill was in a mild state of panic. I didn't want to burden you with that. Besides, this is the first breathing space I've had since I opened the door and found Sami there."

Saturday had been devoted to moving the last and largest of the baby paraphernalia from Mara's, which she had accomplished with the help of a revolving contingent of excited neighbors. There had been a return trip to Mount Court, another round of questions from another representative from the adoption agency, then more moving.

"She's such a sweet little thing!" Nonny cooed Paige bent over, bracing her hands on her thighs putting her eyes level with Sami's.

The child met her gaze for a minute before looking back at Nonny.

"She's good as gold, sleeps through the night, rarely cries. I think she's still hung over from her tripshe may not be sleeping so much once her body adjustsbut she's in good health. I had Angie examine her.

whWhy Angie?" Nonny asked, adorably indignant "Doctors should never treat their own. Not that Sami is mine," Paige added quickly. ill only have her until permanent parents are found. But I felt Angie would be more objective. She was a help Friday night, let me tell you." She suppressed a shiver. ill can't remember ever coming so close to losing it like that before."

Nonny darted her a worried look before taking Sami's tiny hands and clapping them together lightly. What happened?"

Paige straightened, sighed, leaned against the chair. "It was a combination of everything, I guess Mara's death, the funeral, having to deal with the O'Neills. Then Sami arrived and I insisted on taking her, then the girls from Mount Court called, so I ran over there." And had a run-in with the new Head. That had been the last straw.

Fortunately, he had been out of sight when she had returned on Saturday. "It's like my immune system was down and then suddenly I found myself with this huge responsibility."

She touched Sami's silky brown hair. "And you are a huge one, for such a little girl. Forget the amoeba infection you came with, and the inoculation program we've had to start from scratch, and the exercises to build up your muscles, and the language barrier. Even aside from all that, I've never been into mothering before."

"To my eternal sadness," Nonny said without remorse. "You mother everyone else's children but your own."

"Which is totally satisfying."

"Totally?" Nonny chided.

"Totally. Besides, what with all I'm doing, I don't have time to have a child of my own."

So what are you doing with this one?"

Paige opened her mouth, then closed it again.

"Beats me," she finally said in bewilderment.

"I'm telling you, something was amiss. My common sense was on hold. I was mourning Mara, thinking that I'd finish up the things she started, and then Sami was at the door, and it seemed critical that I finish that up, too. It was," she said deliberately, "sheer impulse. I mean, it's fine and dandy to say that you can take care of a child and have a career at the same time, the reality of it is something else."

"If anyone can do it, you can."

"But can I do it well? Will I be able to give this little one what she needs? And she needs plenty. She needs to be touched and talked to and played with, i and encouraged to sit and then stand and walk.

She needs to be weaned onto regular milk and the kinds of foods that other fourteen-month-olds eat" "She's that old?" Nonny asked in surprise "That old," Paige replied. "That's what I'm telling you. She needs extra love and care if she's going to catch up, but I'm not sure I'm able to give it to her."

"Of course you are."

"What with everything else I have to do?"

"You're the one who talks about quality time."

Paige grunted. "Sounds good, huh? But does it work?"

"You'll know soon enough," Nonny advised, then brightened. ill can help. Let me baby-sit while you're at work."

"No way. Babies are hard work." usO?se "You've paid your dues twice, first with Chloe then with me." iso? Why can't I do it a third time?

I'm only seventy-six. My friend Elisabeth is eighty-two, and she babysits her great-grandchildren all the time."

"This isn't your great-grandchild " Paige reminded her. "She's only here for a little while."

"All the more reason why I can help. My friend Sylvia works three days a week at the day care center in town, and she's eighty-one." I'll need someone five days a week. With Mara gone, my caseload will be heavier than ever." ill can work five days a week. My friend Helen does it, works at the library five days a week, and she's seventy-eight."

"And then there's Gussie VonDamon," Paige teased Nonny scowled. "Don't even mention Gussie She's an old biddy if ever there was one, gives senior citizens a bad name, driving around in that boat of a car at fifteen miles an hour, yelling out the window and honking all the timeOooh, pumpkin" she drew Sami close when the child puckered up "I'm talking too sharp? You'd understand if you knew Gussie VonDamon, and you may well, one day. If she catches sight of Paige bringing you here, she'll be knocking down my door asking all kinds of questions.

Far better if I drive over to see you."

"It's a long drive."

"It's only forty minutes."

"Nonny " Paige said, giving her grandmother's delicate shouider a squeeze, "this is a moot point. I've already arranged to have Mrs.

Busbee baby-sit. She lives two doors down.

It's a perfect arrangement." Unfortunately, it was also temporary. In several more weeks Mrs. Busbee would be going south for the winter, and Paige would have to find someone else.

"Is she good with children?" Nonny asked.

"Very."