Page 5 (1/2)

"Gwen," I said, reaching for the bread basket, "this bread is delicious Did you get it from that new Italian bakery near the train station?"

She looked at the basket inbefore, then blinked and nodded "Yes, I did And the tira for dessert, too"

"Ooh, yum I love tiramisu," I said, so heartily I almost peeked into the de to me But of course Gluttony wasn’t the problem

Nick came to the rescue--or tried to "So," he asked Kane, "do you think the Celtics are going to make it to the playoffs this year?"

Kane is a workaholic who doesn’t know thefor paranoro to a basketball ga event for fun But sports soh to discuss whatever sport was in season when he was sch with influential people Just last week he’d taken a couple of congress

Kane and Nick talked about basketball for several o all the way this year Kane made soloith pleasure as he reeled off statistics

Gwen, on the other hand, see food around her plate Kane kept glancing her way He wrapped up the conversation with Nick by inviting hiain--in a couple of weeks

Whoa Courtside seats My brother-in-law rated as highly as a senator Thatin its heels and refused to go down that path

Kane turned to Gwen "Do your kids like sports? Any budding basketball stars in the fa Gwen back into the conversation by asking about her kids It was a topic my sister and her husband could discuss for hours

"Not basketball" Gwen looked up slowly "Not yet, anyway Nick proets a little taller But Zack is only six, so he’s got quite a bit of growing to do"

"He’s a pretty good shot with that kid-sized basketball hoop we got him," Nick pointed out

"Oh, and you should see him when Nick lifts hie made Gwen smile "He’s so cute when you do that" She turned back to Kane, her face softened with pride in her kids "Zack and Maria both play soccer, although I think Maria is going to give up soccer for ballet She’s crazy about dance She says she still wants to play softball this spring, though She’s a good shortstop"

"She’s a terrific shortstop," Nick corrected "You would not believe this one play she made last season" He launched into a description, Gwen ju in here and there with ht questions in the right places Soon, the stiffness hadthe conversation again Crisis averted No wonder Kane was so good at his job He was apeople to relax and open up

In my peripheral vision, the kitchen door cracked open and Maria peered through I pointed at Gwen to ask whether she wanted et her mom’s attention, but Maria’s eyes widened and she shook her head vigorously She pointed at er

I stood and picked up my plate Gwen pushed back her chair, but I put a hand on her shoulder "You sit and talk," I said "I’ll clear the table Everyone want coffee? I’ll get that started, too"

"The tiraether a great dinner I can handle dessert"

Balancing the stack of dirty dishes, I shouldered open the swinging door into the kitchen Maria sat at the table in her PJs She slu back and forth

"Hi," I said

"Hi" She glanced at me, then examined her hands

"So what did you want to talk about?"

She shrugged and chewed at a thumbnail

Okay Maybe she didn’t kno to broach the topic, whatever it was I’d let her get to it in her own time I slid the plates onto Gwen’s spotless counter "Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?"