The Things We Do for Love

Of course there wasnt. No baby had ever worn this, or wakened to the light that shone from Winnie-thePoohs honey bucket.

She closed her eyes, remembering every nuance of her nursery. Remembering the night shed packed it all away.

In her mind, she saw a tiny dark-haired girl with her daddys f

lashing blue eyes.

"Take care of our Sophia, Papa," she whispered, getting to her feet again.

It was time for all these things to come out of the bleak darkness of this storage unit. They were meant to be used, held, played with. They were meant for a babys room.

One by one, she carried the boxes to her car. By the time she locked up the storage unit again, it was raining.

ANGIE COULDNT BELIEVE HOW GOOD SHE FELT. THIS day had shadowed her horizon for years, blocking out the light.

The nursery. The baby clothes and toys. Shed known that as long as she kept those things, she was somehow stuck.

Now, finally, she was free.

She wished Conlan were here to see her now, after all the times hed found her sitting on the nursery floor, holding some rattle or blanket or knickknack and crying. There wasnt an item in all those boxes that hadnt been watered by her tears.

In fact . . .

She hit the speed dial on her mounted cell phone.

"News desk. "

"Hey, Kathy," Angie said into the speaker on her visor. "Its Angie. Is Conlan in?"

"Sure. "

A minute later Conlan answered. "Hey, there. Are you in town?"

"No. Im on my way back to West End. "

"Youre going the wrong direction. "

She laughed. "Guess whats in my trunk. "

"Thats a new line. "

She felt like an alcoholic whod finally admitted to having a problem. Her AA meeting was in cardboard boxes in the trunk of her car. "The baby stuff. "

There was a pause. Then, "What do you mean?"

"The crib. The clothes. Everything. I cleaned out the storage unit. "

A pause crackled through the tiny black speaker. "For Lauren?"

"Shell need it. "

Angie knew Conlan heard the distant echo of the other side of those words. And we dont.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Thats the amazing thing, Con. I feel better than okay. Remember that time we went helicopter skiing in Whistler?"

"And you didnt sleep for three nights before?"