"Mom? Hi. What's up?"
"A girl?" Peter's face split into a wide grin and he laughed joyously. "That's great! Are they both OK? How's Todd doing?"
"I'll be there. Hey, does Kacie know yet?"
"See ya later, Mo--" The phone clicked in his ear before he could finish. He was still holding the receiver in his hand with an indignant look on his face when Skalany stopped at his desk.
"She hung up on me," he said indignantly.
"I thought you'd be used to people hanging up on you by now, Partner," she teased. "Who was it this time?"
"It was Mom, calling to tell me that Carolyn had her baby." He scowled as he repeated himself. "She hung up on me."
"Peter, compared to a brand new granddaughter, you're lucky she took time to talk to you at all."
Kermit sauntered by on the way to his office, nose buried in a file. He stopped short and looked up. "Did I hear someone say new granddaughter?" He propped a hip on the corner of Peter's desk. "You been up to something we should know about, Peter?"
Peter made a face at Kermit before hanging up the phone, which was now buzzing a dial tone in his ear. "No, smart-ass. Carolyn had her baby, a little girl." A shadow crossed his face. "I wish Paul was here. I can just picture him stuffing cigars in everyone's mouth."
"Mother and baby are OK?" Kermit asked with no small concern.
"Mom says they're both perfect."
"Hmm," Kermit murmured. "Yes, Paul certainly would be excited about the birth of his first grandchild. If he knew..." He got up and walked toward his office, deep in thought.
"Mary Margaret, what do I get for a new baby girl?" Peter asked in confusion.
"Just about anything in pink, Peter," she told him. "Hey, can I go shopping with you? I'd love to watch this. Somebody who still plays with trains should be a natural when it comes to buying stuff for kids."
Peter made a face at her, muttering about smart-ass women detectives, before returning his attention to his computer screen.
Annie sat in the chair beside the bed holding the tiny new life in her arms. From time to time she ran sensitive fingers ever so softly over the baby's miniature features and the downy fuzz covering the top of the small head. She felt the tiny hands and counted the fingers again and again.
Peter kissed Carolyn's cheek and handed her the rose.
"What do you think of her, Peter?" Carolyn asked proudly.
He looked at the wrinkled, beet-red face. {Jeez, she's really pretty homely.} Covering his thoughts, he smiled and gallantly answered, "She's just beautiful."
Carolyn beamed at her brother. Unseen beside her, Todd winked knowingly at Peter, though he himself was unable to keep a proud grin off his face.
"Where's Kel?"
"Kelly's been here all day and just left to start baby shopping," Annie informed him.
Peter looked around hopefully. "Has Kacie been here yet?"
"Not yet," Carolyn answered. "But she should be here any time."
A quiet knock sounded at the door. "May I come in?" a soft baritone inquired.
Annie's face lit up. "Caine, come in and meet my new granddaughter."
Caine bowed low before entering. His smooth stride carried him over to Annie, and he peered down at the small form. His slow smile lit up the room and he shifted his gaze to Carolyn. "A beautiful child. May she bring as much joy and gladness to your heart as my child has brought to mine."
Peter ducked his head at his father's words, feeling gratitude and embarrassment at the same time. When he looked up again, he saw his father wistfully watching the baby.
Annie, ever attuned to the vibrations of others, spoke up. "Carolyn, I know that Caine is dying to hold your daughter, but would never ask for himself."
"Please, go ahead," consented the new mother.
Caine bowed, a pleased grin spreading over his features as he went to wash his hands. After putting on his own hospital gown, he took the child from Annie's arms. His movements were skillful and sure, and his face took on a faraway expression as the baby started to yawn and kick. Soon the tiny face screwed up and the distinctive wail of a hungry newborn filled the air.
Never losing the distant expression, Caine smiled and handed the squalling child to her mother. "She is hungry. You are nursing her?"
Carolyn smiled at him and nodded shyly. "I'm pretty new at this mom stuff."
Caine rested a hand briefly on the top of her head, as if in benediction. "Peter's mother was also disquieted at first. But nursing soon became a special time for all three of us." He smiled again in remembrance, a tender glow in his eyes.
Peter watched him and felt an ache in his throat. He had a sudden mental picture of his father sitting with his mother, just as Todd and Carolyn were doing.
He was pulled out of his reverie when Annie directed him and Caine out of the room while Carolyn prepared to nurse her baby.
The Caine men stood and visited quietly out in the hallway. The elevator door opened, and they both looked over to see Kacie striding down the hallway toward them. She moved with an athletic grace, the baggy sweatshirt emphasizing her slim build rather than disguising it. Caine watched as his son's eyes lit up with pleasure at the sight of the attractive brunette.
Kacie's eyes danced with mischief as she walked up to Peter and gave him an affectionate hug. "I hear it's 'Uncle Peter' now." She turned to Caine, greeting him with a smile and extended hand.
Caine reached out to take her hand in his. "You are looking well."
"Thank you," she said shyly. "I think it was mostly due to your tea. Would you accept..."
He immediately held up a hand to stop her words, and looked slightly offended. "I will take no money for my herbs. Your recovery is payment enough."
Kacie's smile faded and she flushed in embarrassment. "I was only going to ask if you would accept a dinner invitation some evening," she finished quietly, dropping her eyes.
Chagrined at his error, Caine quickly reversed himself and said, "That is something I would accept from you gladly. Thank you."
Her head came back up and she gave him a pleased grin. "I'll make arrangements through Peter for, let's say, some time next week?"
"I would be honored." Caine bowed and joined his fist and palm in his customary hand salute.
Peter grabbed Kacie in another quick hug. "I've missed you," he groused. "How come you always gotta work?"
She laughed in his face. "Hey, who was the one that stood me up three times in the past two weeks?" she demanded.
He grinned shamelessly. "Oh, yeah, I forgot."
She shoved his chest playfully. "Convenient memory lapses you have there, Detective Caine."
Annie came to the door. "Peter? Caine? You can come back in. Kacie, did I hear you?" She reached out her hand and the girl walked into the waiting embrace. "Oh, Kacie! Wait until you see her. She's such a beautiful baby." Annie linked arms with Kacie and escorted her into the room. Peter and his father trailed in after them.
Todd walked up to Kacie and wrapped her in a bear hug. "About time you got here to meet the newest member of the family."
"How ya holding up, Dad?" she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Me? I'm great. I could have another baby tomorrow."
"I think not," Carolyn objected loudly, and they all laughed.
The baby was sleeping soundly in her mother's arms, and Kacie looked at the child longingly.
"Go ahead. You can hold her," Todd said.
"Carolyn, or the baby?" quipped Peter.
Kacie hugged Carolyn carefully around the precious bundle. "Need anything?" she asked.
Carolyn sighed happily. "No, I have everything I need right here." She gazed down at her baby and cast a loving glance at Todd.
Kacie quickly and efficiently cleaned up and donned the required gown. She collected the child from Carolyn and her eyes glowed with a special light as she cuddled the baby.
Peter suddenly spoke up. "Hey, you guys haven't told us what her name is yet."
Todd and Carolyn shared a special smile and Carolyn nodded to Todd. He cleared his throat dramatically. "Ladies and gentlemen, Carolyn and I take great pride in introducing our daughter, Katherine Ann McCall."
Startled, Kacie looked up at the new parents and saw the gratitude shining from the eyes of both. Quick tears sprang to her eyes and, suddenly overcome, she hid her face against the sleeping baby's form.
Peter put an arm around Kacie's waist and looked over the top of her head at the baby. "I think it's a perfect name."
Caine put a hand on Annie's shoulder and she reached up to link her fingers with his. "I, too, think it is a fine name," he said in his slow and distinct voice. "If the child grows to have the same courage and qualities as her namesakes, she will be truly blessed."
Annie patted Caine's hand in thanks, and Kacie turned her head to rub her cheek against Peter's shoulder.
Caine watched his son and his son's friend with an enigmatic smile.
Peter looked over at his father and caught a glimpse of the bemused expression on Caine's face. {Why is he looking at us like that? I'm gonna have to ask him about that later.}
The bedside phone rang, and Carolyn picked up the receiver to answer. There had already been tears in her eyes, but a veritable flood was released as she recognized the voice. "Daddy? Daddy? How did you know?" Everyone froze in astonishment. "I'm fine, Daddy, and so's the baby...Yes, everyone has been here...We named her Katherine Ann, Daddy. Yes, after her and after Annie...Oh, Daddy, do you have to go already?...I'll tell them, Daddy...I love you, too." She hung up, and Todd held her close as her happy tears continued to fall.
Annie's radiant smile was tremulous, and Caine quite naturally embraced her.
Kacie raised shining eyes to Peter, who stood grinning from ear to ear. "This has been a perfect day, hasn't it?" she choked out.
He nodded happily. "The only thing that could have made it more perfect would have been for Paul to be here in person."
Peter walked into his foster sister's room on the maternity ward carrying a bud vase with a single red rose. Carolyn looked radiant, though tired, and Todd sat cuddled next to her on the bed, a loving arm around her shoulders.
