Hanging out with the usual characters at the bakery was more fun anyway, and after thirty minutes or so I returned with coffee and Danishes for all.

Letting myself in, I could hear everyone in the nursery and, after setting the pastries and coffee down in the kitchen, I stuck my head in the nursery door and cheerfully said, “Man on deck!”

Mama laughed and said, “Oh, you come over here and let Mama give you a big hug!”

Always one quick to obey, I got a big hug from Mama, as Maggie announced, “Well, Jim, you’ll be happy to hear that Mama and Myra are going to start coming over tomorrow to help out around here and you can go back to work!”

After a few quick glances around the room, we all just smiled and made our way into the kitchen.

As we gathered around the small table in the dining area and focused on the pastry, it was Mama who broke the ice. “So, Maggie has asked me and Myra to alternate days and come sit with her and Layla in the mornings.”

I looked at Maggie still holding Layla, who was fast asleep, and said, “That sounds great, Mama, as long as Maggie’s happy about that.”