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so happy, she could barely contain the bubbly emotion. She pressed her fingertips against her lips, fearing she might break out in sudden laughter.
    She'd done it. She'd bested the Elders. She'd won her battle for custody of her sister's baby girl. Surely, things would sail smoothly for her and Lily from here on out.
    Gage pulled up to the curb in front of Arlene Johnson's house. In her mid-fifties, Arlene was a widow whose one grown daughter, Hannah, owned the restaurant down the street. Arlene loved children and ran a daycare center in her home. Jenna had come to know Arlene well over these past weeks of battling with the Council of Elders, and the two of them had become friends. Although the woman had sympathized with Jenna's plight from day one, she'd also been staunch in her adamancy that the Council's dictates be followed to the letter.
    Jenna opened the door of the truck even before the vehicle came to a complete halt. "I'll be right back," she called over her shoulder. She stopped suddenly, and turned back. "Unless you want to come in."
    "I'll wait."
    Was his grip on the steering wheel tighter than necessary? Jenna let the question go unexplored as the thrill of the moment swept her up once again.
    "I'll hurry," she said, and then jogged up the cement walkway toward Arlene's house.
    Her friend mu st have been watching for her b ecause the door opened when Jenna stepped onto the porch.
    Arlene cradled a sleeping Lily in her arms. "Good morning. So everything's official?"
    "Sure is." Jenna stepped into the neat living room, her eyes locking onto her niece. "Can I hold her?" she asked, grinning.
    The transfer went so smoothly that the baby didn't even stir. Jenna kissed Lily's forehead tenderly.
    "Congratulations," Arlene told her.
    "Thanks, ” Jenna breathed. "I've been dreaming about this day for a long time. I was beginning to think I'd never get custody of Lily."
    Arlene was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "I'm happy about that, too. But I was congratulating you on your marriage."
    "Oh. Of course. Thank you." Jenna occupied herself with smoothing out Lily's light cotton receiving blanket.
    "Jenna." Arlene's tone was soft. "You did get married for the right reason, didn't you?"
    She lifted her gaze to her friend's and never wavered as she proclaimed, "I got married for the best possible reason."
    Although the woman nodded, Jenna could tell she remained speculative.
    "I'd love to stay and chat," Jenna said, "but Gage is waiting in the truck and we need to get home and get settled."
    "I've got Lily's things packed and ready to go. And the car seat is right here, too. I'll help you carry everything out."
    "Thanks."
    As the women approached the truck, Gage got out, rounded the truck and took Lily's small suitcase from Arlene. Jenna noticed that Gage's greeting to Arlene wasn't the friendliest, but it was clear he knew the woman. He moved to the back end o f the vehicle to stow the case.
    "Want me to secure the car seat?" Arlene asked.
    "I'll do it." Jenna handed Lily back to Arlene. "I need to figure out how it works sooner or later."
    Gage's pickup had a small bench seat behind the front seat. Jenna figured this would be a safer place for Lily. She struggled with the car seat's straps and buckles for several frustrating minutes and then turned to Arlene.
    "The belt won't snap."
    "Let me try." Arlene handed the baby over.
    Jenna smiled. "Don't you just love baby juggling?"
    Arlene chuckled. "It's the best kind of juggling there is."
    While Arlene bent over the car seat, Jenna glanced to ward the back of the truck at G age. He looked tense, staring off at the horizon.
    "Got it," Arlene pronounced. She backed her way out of the truck's cab and turned to Jenna. "It'll just take a little practice. Car s eats fit in each vehicle differently. You'll get the hang of it quickly, I'm sure."
    Jenna tucked the sleeping Lily in the seat and fastened (he bell across her little chest with a click. Then she gave Arlene a big hug.