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sweating as she strained to remember.
    Grant gave her an encouraging look. “Don’t press it, Emma. We have lots of time to talk about the past.”
    Kate folded several receiving blankets. “Well, one thing you never learned to enjoy doing was laundry. But with Carly around, there isn’t much choice.”
    Emma laughed and Grant smiled at her, easing the tension. Then he said, “Do you want me to wake Carly and bring her to you?”
    â€œNo. Let her sleep. I hate to disturb her.” Emma twisted her hands together, wondering if that was a memory surfacing or simply a coping mechanism.
    Disappointment momentarily crossed Grant’s face as he gestured around the room. “Well?”
    Tension crackled between them. Emma met his gaze, unable to avoid the pained hope in his eyes. “No, I’msorry. I don’t remember…anything.” As her last word broke, a baby began to cry and the sound tugged at something deep within her.
    â€œIt’s Carly, our daughter,” Grant said, his jaw tight.
    Emma bit down on her bottom lip.
    â€œShe’s not very patient when she first wakes up. Especially if she’s hungry.”
    â€œI’ll go get her,” Kate said, hurrying from the room.
    Grant leaned against the brick fireplace, studying his polished shoes. He looked handsome in his pleated khaki trousers and navy polo shirt. Emma suddenly wished he’d brought her something to wear home besides this colorless sweat suit. Surely she had some nicer outfits. Or did she usually wear such frumpy attire?
    The baby had stopped crying, and she could hear Kate talking to her softly. Emma glanced at Grant for some clue as to his thoughts. Worry lines creased his face and anguish glittered in his eyes. The enormity of the situation suddenly caved in around her, and all the emotions she’d been trying so hard to suppress welled up, collecting in her chest. Salty tears filled her eyes as she listened to Carly’s gurgles. “Was…was I a good mother?” She almost choked on the last word, and she buried her face in her hands, unable to look at Grant.
    He knelt in front of her, pulling her fingers away from her face, taking her cheeks in his hands, stroking her tenderly. “Emma, you were… are a wonderful mother. The best. You may not remember everything, but don’t ever doubt that.”
    Emma leaned against Grant, absorbing the strength in his powerful body as he curved his arm around her trembling shoulders. “This is so hard,” she whispered. “What kind of mother can I be now, when I don’t remember my own baby? I’ve forgotten if she even has a favorite lullaby.”
    â€œI know this is tough,” he said in a rough voice. “But you are a wonderful mother, and when you hold Carly, all those feelings will come back.” He gently kissed her temple.
    Kate brought the baby in, wrapped in a fluffy yellow blanket. Emma saw two tiny fists waving in the air. She felt a painful tug on her heart. “She’s so tiny.”
    â€œYou cried the first time you saw her, too,” Grant said quietly, brushing her damp cheeks with his fingers.
    Emma swallowed, desperately trying to control her raging emotions.
    Grant took Carly from Kate, cradling her in his arms. “How’s our little doll?” Carly waved her hand and smacked Grant’s lower lip with her chubby fist.
    Emma’s clammy hands tightened around the bear. This was her baby. Her little girl. She couldn’t let Carly suffer because of her memory loss.
    â€œYou want to see Mommy?” Grant asked. Carly cooed. “Yes, I know you’ve missed her. But she’s home now.”
    â€œI’ll heat dinner,” Kate said, rushing from the room.
    Grant turned to Emma and scooted back against the couch, awkwardly situating Carly in his arms. Finally he angled the baby so Emma could see her face.
    Carly’s little feet pedaled in the air.