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was loading up the dishwasher with the breakfast dishes.
    “You’re a bit late. She just left.”
    “Oh.” Jo paused. “She can certainly move quickly when she’s got an idea in her head. I only popped out to take Luke to school.”
    “Thank you for telling her about my leisure plans.”
    “Sorry,” replied Jo. “She had me there.”
    “How so?”
    “She asked Luke at breakfast this morning what he was doing this afternoon. At first I thought she actually intended to spend some time with him.” She sighed. “It wasn’t until she pressed me about how you had enough free time to take him to the zoo that I began to wonder what she was getting at, but by then she’d already made her decision to put you to work. I take it you couldn’t think of an excuse in time.”
    “Unfortunately not.”
    “I figured,” said Jo.
    “How’d she manage it?” asked Julie as she headed into the kitchen to fix herself some hot chocolate.
    “You know Mom’s tactics. She asked Luke if he wouldn’t rather come with me to the office and have a look at Dad’s latest project. He told her that he was looking forward to your trip to the zoo. He knows his own mind—you’d have been proud of him. So then she pursed her lips, you know, like she does when she can’t get her own way, and said she understood.” The sound of rattling dishes continued in the background, and Julie heard Jo take a gulp of what she assumed to be her morning coffee. Then Jo continued. “I thought that would be the end of it, but then she suddenly started telling him about the new water park that Dad’s building and about the plans and models and all that. She said Grandpa was sure to want his opinion on it. Then, almost as an afterthought, she added that she needed your help this afternoon for an important job and that she was sure he’d understand. He just looked at me with his big wide eyes. I was struck dumb.”
    After Jo had finished giving her all the details, Julie took a deep breath.
    “I don’t believe her! First she pumps her grandson for information, and then she goes on to wreck half the family’s plans without batting an eyelid,” said Julie. “That woman really is incredible.”
    “She was probably desperate.”
    “I don’t understand how you could stand by and watch without saying a word. Luke’s your son, after all.”
    “I wasn’t thrilled about it, but what could I do? She walked all over me. For what it’s worth, I can think of better things to do than drag Luke around the office this afternoon and see that he doesn’t wreck the models.”
    “OK, so let’s swap places,” suggested Julie. “I’ll babysit your son, and you take care of the photographer.”
    “Not an option, I’m afraid. I’ve got to finish the annual accounts,” moaned Jo.
    “Then I’ll see you on Sunday for the compulsory weekly get-together.”
    “We’re excused from that,” Jo said in a small voice.
    “You’re not leaving me in the lurch on Sunday too. If you don’t come, I won’t get a moment’s peace from her nagging.”
    “Sorry. We’ve been invited to a christening. I couldn’t say no to it.”
    “She’s trying to play matchmaker again.”
    Jo pricked up her ears. “Who with?”
    “Some architect from the firm. Very charismatic, she says, which means young, dynamic, full of potential. Do you know who she has in mind?”
    “No idea, but I’ll keep my ears open.”
    Julie sank back down on the sofa with her mug of hot chocolate. “What are you doing on Saturday?”
    Jo paused for a moment. If Julie knew her sister, her family’s various itineraries were racing through her head. “Max has to go through a few contracts, and I’ve got some errands to do in town. I was going to take Luke with me to give Max a bit of peace, but I’m sure he’d be grateful for a better alternative.”
    “How about we do the zoo on Saturday?”
    “That’s a great plan.”
    “Of course it is.” Julie giggled. “After all, I’m cool Auntie