"Come here, baby, come here, come to Mama," Marissa crooned as she tried to lure Emma back to her in the sitting room.

Emma looked back at her and smiled that mischievous smile of his "ma...ma." He called out the words experimentally, as he had been doing these days.

"Yes, baby, mama is right here. She's been busy. Just come over here like the good boy you are, and let's stay here together. She smiled even as she thought, "Who am I kidding?"

Emma sat on his haunches. He looked back at her and then at the doorway that led to the bedroom as if he were considering his options....