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Daisy’s lower lip jutted out again.
    “You objection is noted. But that’s not fish, it’s chicken.”
    “Mrs. M. gives me tuna.” Daisy looked doleful. “I don’t like tuna.”
    “No tuna here. It’s chicken.” Jess was beginning to feel slightly desperate. “Maybe you can’t handle that spoon by yourself. Would you like me to help you?”
    “I can do it myself!” Daisy gave her an outraged look, then jammed a spoonful of soup in her mouth. After a moment’s pause to evaluate it, she swallowed and dipped her spoon again.
    Jess grabbed a bite of her own soup, then gave Jack another spoonful of his turkey.
    “I’m gonna marry Jack,” Daisy announced.
    Jess raised an eyebrow at her as she managed another bite of soup. “Are you?”
    Daisy nodded. “When I’m five. He’s too little now.”
    “Yes.” Jess wiped Jack’s mouth quickly. “Very high maintenance.”
    Daisy’s brow furrowed. “What’s high main’nance?”
    “A lot of work,” Jess explained. “He can’t take care of himself very well yet.”
    “I take care of myself.”
    “Yes,” Jess agreed quickly. “You’re a big girl. He’s a baby.”
    Daisy shrugged. “He’ll be old when I’m five.”
    Jess felt a sudden twinge. Don’t grow up Jack, not yet, not yet. “He’ll be older, anyway.”
    The next crisis came after lunch, but Jess was ready for this one.
    “I don’t take naps,” Daisy snapped, pushing her lower lip forward again. “I’m too big.”
    Jess shook her head. “That’s too bad. I was going to give you the bower. I guess I’ll have to give it to Jack instead.”
    Daisy narrowed her eyes. “What’s a bow-wow?”
    Jess pointed toward the window alcove she’d equipped with a stack of lace-covered pillows and a woven throw from the guest cabin. “Over there. It even has a drawbridge you can pull up.” The baby fence she used to keep Jack away from the window leaned against the wall next to the pillows.
    Daisy stared at the alcove, blinking, then turned back to Jess. “I’ll try. Can I take those?” She pointed at the stack of Jack’s picture books.
    Jess nodded. “Sure. But I need to get Jack ready for his nap. It would go faster if I had some help. Do you think you’d be able to do that?”
    Daisy’s eyes narrowed in disdain. “Course I can. He’s a baby.”
    “Yes, he is,” Jess agreed, settling into the rocking chair in Jack’s room. “Why don’t you pick out a book for us to read while I give him the rest of his lunch?” She pushed her T-shirt up and began unfastening the nursing bra.
    Daisy stared at her wide-eyed.
    Well, crap. “I’m going to nurse Jack, Daisy. Do you know what that means?”
    Daisy shook her head, totally silent for the first time all day.
    “It means he’s still getting part of his food from me. That’s what mothers do for babies until they’re older.” She angled Jack’s head into the crook of her elbow as he fastened enthusiastically onto her nipple.
    Daisy was still staring. “Did my mama do that for me?”
    “Probably,” Jess hedged. “It’s good for babies. Did you find a book?”
    Daisy nodded, handing Jess a large picture book she’d pulled from the stack.
    “Okay.” Jess extended the arm not holding Jack and helped Daisy clamber into her lap. “You’ll need to turn the pages, but you can do that, can’t you?”
    “I can do that.” Daisy nodded. “I’m a big girl. And Jack’s a baby.”
    “I know.” Jess sighed. “Believe me, I know.”
     
     
    The call came in late afternoon. Lydia was unsurprised. Roy Westerman was a weasel, but he was her weasel. She knew he’d find someone, particularly since he’d have a commission on whatever his contractor was paid.
    She clicked the connect button on the cell phone she’d purchased just for this particular caller, then flicked the lock on her office door. It wouldn’t do to have someone wander in during this call. Particularly Preston. “Yes?”
    “Mrs. Moreland?”
    The voice sounded