Instead of cooking, we decided to invade the locale Chinese buffet, and Maggie insisted on helping Heidi with her plate.

"Connie, is there anything she can't have? Allergies, or such?"

I shook my head, marveling inwardly at the genuine civility in her tone. "Nothing we've run into yet."

Sarah gave me half a smile and followed after them, while I stayed at the table holding baby Dara and watching our stuff, as well as everyone else.

Up at the buffet Heidi was pointing excitedly at some of the items, and her nose crinkled and she shook her head at others. I saw Linda and Matthew fixing their little ones' plates,...