The Way to Yesterday Read Online Free PDF Page B

was clean and safe and everything they'd lost could
be replaced. Then she looked at Daniel, watching the animation on his face as
he talked to Mike about his plans for the future and knew there was one thing
she'd almost lost that was irreplaceable-her relationship with their son.
    'How's the cake, Mom?"
    Phyllis blinked, then made herself smile and take a bite.
    'Very good," she said, although the guilt she was feeling threatened to
choke her. "I wonder if this is from a mix."
    'Nope. It's out of one of her old cookbooks. She collects them, you know.
One of her favorite things to do is to prowl antique stores for cookbooks,
although she hasn't had a chance to do that for quite some time now. Hope is a
pretty demanding little squirt."
    Mike chuckled. "Then she takes after you, boy. I well remember how many
nights you kept your mother and I up. You had your days and nights turned
around for a good four months. I used to tease Phyllis about finding a way to
return the merchandise."
    Daniel laughed. "Yes, that's the thing about having a family. You'd
better be damn ready to give up every indulgence you once enjoyed."
    'It's fine if you've had a hand in the decision to be a parent,"
Phyllis said.
    The smile froze on Daniel's face.
    'Mother, I'm going to chalk that up to the stress you were under tonight.
But I better not ever hear you say another denigrating word to Mary or about
her ... do you understand?"
    Phyllis paled. "I didn't-"
    'Yes, you did," Daniel said. "And Mary didn't tell me. I heard you
myself, remember?" Then he looked at both of his parents and sighed.
"She didn't get pregnant... we did. And I couldn't have been happier. I
have been in love with Mary almost from the first date. I'd already put a down
payment on an engagement ring when she told me she was pregnant. It didn't
change anything I'd planned except the date."
    Phyllis looked stunned. "But you never said ...I didn't know
that-"
    'Mom ...I was twenty-six and long past telling you everything that went on
in my life. The fact that I introduced you to Mary on our second date should
have been warning enough that I was serious. How many other girls had I brought
home before her?"
    Phyllis frowned. "None."
    'I rest my case."
    She looked at Mike and then sighed. "And I apologize. I was
wrong."
    'Fine ...but I'm not the one who deserves the apology, am I?"
    Phyllis stifled a groan. The last thing she wanted to do was face her
daughter-in-law with this guilt.
    But she'd already lost a lot this night. She didn't want to lose what was
left of her family as well.
    'I'll tend to it tomorrow."
    Daniel gave her a cool look. "And I hope with more meaning than you
just implied."
    Phyllis had the good grace to blush.
    Chapter Three
    Mary woke up on the sofa with the first rays of morning sun shining in her
eyes. The last thing she remembered was sitting beside Daniel and
    Oh lord! Mike and Phyllis were here! She sat up with a jerk and then jumped
to her feet. What must they think?
    When she dashed into the kitchen and found it neat and gleaming, she
groaned. Another mark against her. Phyllis would find a way to insinuate how
Daniel had to do all the work. She pivoted quickly and started down the hall,
expecting the doors to open and see accusing fingers pointed in her direction.
Instead, she was met with the soft, but familiar, sounds of muted snores from
the spare bedroom.
    Thankful that her in-laws were still asleep, she peeked into her bedroom.
Their bed was empty and she could hear the shower running. Daniel was up and
getting ready for work. His diligence at the law office was starting to pay off
and she knew he didn't want to give anyone an excuse to deny him a future
partnership.
    With a small sigh of relief, she moved across the hall to the nursery and
pushed the door inward. Hope was lying on her back, waving her arms at the
Mother Goose mobile hanging over her crib.
    'Good morning, pretty girl," Mary whispered. The baby turned toward the
sound of her mother's