Randall Wedding. Judy Christenberry

And she was running from whoever that was.

      He checked on Isabella. She was still sleeping, her face almost as innocent and young as Angel’s.

      He fixed himself a sandwich and turned on the television. He had a satellite dish and got the latest in weather. His family had been right. The snow was supposed to taper off this afternoon. Come to think of it, he didn’t hear any wind now. He stepped to the window and opened the drapes.

      It was a winter wonderland. There was the occasional little gust that stirred up snow crystals, but most of the snow had settled on the ground. He crossed to his front door, which looked down on Main Street, and saw several individuals outside, clearing off the sidewalks. He waved and went back inside.

      Then he heard steps on the outside stairs. He opened the door just as Jon and Tori reached it.

      “May we come in?” Tori asked, not waiting for an answer. She ducked under his arm and darted into the warmth.

      “Hi, Jon.” Russ said. “I hope you didn’t have any trouble getting here. I think we’re doing all right.”

      “No, no trouble. Except I tried to leave Tori at home with the baby. But Rosa will take care of him.” Rosa was their housekeeper.

      “Oh, Jon, come look. She’s beautiful. Look at those curls!” Tori exclaimed.

      Jon joined his wife at Angel’s carrier. “Is she all right? Do I need to check her?”

      “I don’t think so. I think she’s about a month old and she’s eating every four hours. She has incredibly healthy lungs,” Russ said.

      “I know. So does Jonny. If anything, they get louder. Jonny is almost nine months old,” Tori informed him. “I thought you might not know since you’ve avoided all the babies.”

      “I know.”

      Jon changed the subject. “Where’s her mother?”

      “In my bed.”

      Tori gasped.

      Russ turned bright red. “I slept out here! On my air mattress, Tori. That’s the only bed I had available.”

      “Oh. Of course. I’d break it to your mother in a different way, Russ. She’ll have you married before you know it.”

      “Tori, behave yourself,” Jon ordered. “That’s none of our business.”

      Russ said nothing.

      “I’m serious, Jon! Janie wants Russ to remarry. She’ll use any excuse she can find!”

      For a minute Russ didn’t even object. That meant he could keep Angel with him if he married Isabella. But marrying Isabella, even for Angel’s sake, was a lot more complicated. She was a warm, passionate woman. He had withdrawn from life. They couldn’t possibly live together unless one of them changed. And he couldn’t change, so he returned to sanity. “Don’t be ridiculous!”