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She took my hand and practically pulled me up to the master<br />
bedroom. She pushed me onto the bed, took off my shoes, and<br />
covered me with a blanket. Within minutes, I was asleep. I<br />
didn’t wake up until late afternoon. By then, the floors were<br />
sparkling clean, and the kitchen looked better than it had since<br />
we moved in. <strong>The</strong> dirty dishes were out of the sink. <strong>The</strong> spoiled<br />
milk was gone. <strong>The</strong> coffee, donuts, Cheerios, baby food, bread,<br />
and crackers were off the counters and in the cabinets. I didn’t<br />
see a single crumb anywhere. Everything was orderly and neat.<br />
I looked out the window and saw Annie working in one of our<br />
gardens. She was weeding the flowers. <strong>The</strong> speaker that connected<br />
her to the baby’s room was on the ground next to her. We both<br />
heard Steffy wake up. I climbed upstairs. Annie was right behind<br />
me.<br />
“Listen dad,” she said. “Go downstairs and let me do my<br />
job. I’ll be along with Steffy in a few minutes. If you’re<br />
hungry, brunch is in the refrigerator. Just dig in.”<br />
I went into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and took<br />
out a platter with grapes, pineapple, sliced apples and mangos,<br />
a big triangle of brie, and stoned wheat crackers. <strong>The</strong> coffee<br />
was perking and a bloody Mary was sitting on the counter. It had<br />
a little sticky note on it. I took it off and read it. It had my<br />
name on it.<br />
“Ideal,” I said, and started in on the grapes.<br />
______<br />
Jane came home with two large bags and a glow from an<br />
afternoon at the spa. She took the booty into the living room<br />
and put it on the sofa.<br />
“Look,” she said, pulling out a Prada handbag and matching<br />
alligator boots. “This will look wonderful with the business<br />
suit you bought me for the Cabot board meeting.”<br />
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