Free She's Having a Baby by Marie Ferrarella Page B

found that it wasn’t a notice from the housing development taped to her door—it was an invitation for dinner. From Aggie and Cyrus.
    She removed the invitation from her door and smiled to herself. Maybe that was exactly what she needed, not solitude but a friendly stranger. She’d come close to breaking down twice at the studio today. Each time had had something to do with what Dakota had said. The woman’s kindness undid her.
    She needed to spend an hour or two in the company of a woman who was trying to perfect her comedy routine, MacKenzie thought. It was as good a diversion as any.
    Slipping into her apartment, MacKenzie remained only long enough to freshen up.
    When she walked by the kitchen on her way out again, she noticed that there were no dishes in the sink. She always left hers sitting there, too much in a hurry to get to them until later in the evening when she returned home again.
    Belatedly, she remembered that when she’d come out of the shower this morning, Quade had already gone, but he’d left nothing in his wake. No dirty dishes, no coffee cup, nothing. Obviously he’d even washed out hers.
    The man was incredibly neat. A rare thing these days, she mused.
    After shutting and locking the door behind her, wishing she had something to bring besides her less-than-healthy appetite, MacKenzie made her way to Aggie’s door.
    An instrumental chorus of “Hello, Dolly” greeted her as she pressed the doorbell. It brought a smile to her lips. She loved musicals and went to the theater every chance she got.
    The next moment, the door was opening and wonderful smells emerged, surrounding the cherubic-looking woman standing in the doorway.
    Aggie seemed delighted to see her. “Ah, you got my note.” Looking over her shoulder, she called out, “You can take the bread out of the oven. We can get started now.”
    Instantly MacKenzie hung back. This changed things. “You have company?”
    Aggie looked directly into her eyes. MacKenzie could feel the touch of amusement in them. “I’d rather think of you as a friend-in-progress.”
    â€œNo, I mean whoever you were just talking to just now—”
    But as MacKenzie began to back away, Aggie took hold of her wrist, drawing her into the apartment. “Just another friend-in-progress,” she informed her. “And also another potential place holder.”
    MacKenzie’s brain felt fuzzy. “Place holder?”
    â€œIn my audience,” Aggie told her, ushering her into the apartment. With a flip of her wrist, Aggie locked the door solidly behind her. She ushered MacKenzie into the tiny dining area. “Did I tell you I was going to be on at the Laugh-Inn? I need a few friendly faces in the audience to look at and Quade here half promised to be there.” She patted MacKenzie’s shoulder. “I was hoping you could work on him for me while I got the salad ready.”
    Just as Aggie mentioned his name, Quade moved into MacKenzie’s line of vision.
    To say that she was surprised to see him was an understatement comparable to saying that Noah and his family had taken a couple of pets on a cruise.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” The question slipped out before MacKenzie had a chance to stop it.
    â€œSame as you, dear,” Aggie said, cutting in. “Everyone’s got to eat and not too many of you know how to cook these days. Fortunately, it’s one of the things I’m quite good at. Besides, it’s hard to say no to me.” She winked, then waved her hands at both of them. “You two mingle while I get dinner on the table.”
    When MacKenzie made no effort to move from where she was standing, Aggie shooed her toward Quade.
    MacKenzie shook her head, a fondness entering her heart despite the awkward situation. She’d never had a grandmother, but if she’d been able to put an order in, the woman would have been very much like Aggie. And