Free Born in Shame by Nora Roberts Page A

yesterday.” Taking pity on her husband, Brianna slipped Kayla into her arms. “And from the looks of it, there’s none left but for the crumbs.”
    â€œI was just distracting the kid,” Gray said in his own defense. “Kayla needed to be changed, and the phone was ringing. Jesus, Brie, how can two of them be more than twice as much work as one?”
    â€œIt’s just one of those unfathomable mysteries. Redeem yourself, Grayson, and take Shannon’s bags to her room, if you please?”
    â€œNo problem. It’s really a quiet place,” he assured her. “Usually. Ah, Brie, I’ll explain about that spot on the parlor rug later.”
    Brows knit, Brie took a few steps forward, viewed the chaos of the room she’d left meticulously neat. “Be sure you will. Shannon, I’m sorry.”
    â€œIt’s all right.” In fact, it was more so. The noisy welcome had done more to relax her than any smooth manners could have. “This is your baby?”
    â€œOur daughter, Kayla.” She stepped back so that Shannon could have a better look. “She’s a month old today.”
    â€œShe’s beautiful.” A little more stiffly, she turned back to Maggie. “And your son?”
    â€œSuch as he is. Liam, say good day to . . .” She trailed off, stumped. “To Miss Bodine,” she decided.
    â€œShannon.” Determined not to be awkward, Shannon offered a smile. “Good day to you, Liam.”
    He responded with something that would haverequired an interpreter, but the grin needed no translation.
    â€œI’m going to clean him up, Brie. Let me have Kayla, and I’ll tend them while you show Shannon her room.”
    â€œI’m grateful.” She passed Kayla over so that Maggie headed toward the kitchen with a child in each arm.
    â€œChocolate,” Liam demanded, quite clearly.
    â€œNot on your life, boy-o,” was his mother’s response.
    â€œWell.” Brianna lifted her hand to her hair, which was slipping out of its pins. “Let’s get you settled. I’ve put you in the loft room. It’s two floors up, but it’s the most private and the most special.” She glanced over as they started upstairs. “If you’d rather not have so many stairs to deal with, I can change it in no time.”
    â€œI don’t mind the stairs.” She found herself uncomfortable again. Odd, she mused, how much easier it was to deal with Maggie’s abrasive challenge than Brianna’s open welcome.
    â€œThe room’s only been ready for a few months. I had the attic converted, you see.”
    â€œIt’s a beautiful house.”
    â€œThank you. Some of the changes to it I made after my father died and left it to me. That’s when I started the B and B. Then when I married Grayson we needed more room still, for a studio for his writing, and a nursery. Our rooms are on the first floor, off the kitchen.”
    â€œWhere’s Kayla?” Gray wanted to know when he met them on the stairs on his way down.
    â€œMaggie has her.” In a move so natural and of such long habit she barely noticed, Brianna lifted a hand to his cheek. “You should go for a walk, Grayson, clear your head a bit.”
    â€œI think I will. It’s nice to have you here, Shannon.”
    â€œThank you.” She lifted her brow when Gray kissedhis wife. It didn’t seem quite the casual kiss a husband might give before going off on a walk.
    â€œI’ll be back for tea,” he promised and trooped off.
    Brianna led the way to the next floor where a door was already open wide in invitation.
    The room was more than anything Shannon could have expected. Wide and airy with a charming window seat set under the sloping eaves of one wall, and a big brass bed tucked beneath the other. Skylights and pretty arched windows let in the sun and the spring air. The lacy curtains billowed and matched