The next morning during breakfast, Keir had spent about 90% of his time filling his parents, Joe, and Deb in on his life these days.

Every time he went to take a bite, someone had a question to be asked. When he did manage to get a bite in Keir was frustrated to find that his eggs were cold.

"One of my co-worker's sisters is very ill. I'd been with her to see how she was doing. When Sev went home, I got a ticket here."

Lolly, Keir's mother just seemed so proud. "I can't believe you work for the FBI. Just wait until the ladies in my book club hear about this! You'll be the talk of t he town."

Keir's expression fell.

"Perhaps he doesn't want everyone knowing, Lolly."

Keir sent a grateful smile to his dad.

"But Wayne--"

"No, Mom, Dad's right. I'd like is this was kept quiet. Just tell them I still run the cafe."

Lolly nodded in understanding, looking only moderately displeased.

There was an uneasy silence that followed, only to be broken moments later by Joe's four year old son, Seth. "Uncle Keir, you gonna find a new wife now?"

Two times in less than 24 hours. Keir was both impressed and amused. Hardly annoyed, though. Glancing across the table to his brother and his wife who both looked mortified, Keir smoothly answered the little guy.

"I don't know yet, buddy. When I find the special girl, you'll be the first to know." He sent the little bow a wink and Seth grinned in response.

THere was more silence and Keir let it stay that way. He knew Seth's questions probably stemmed from yesterday when he wanted to know where Aunt Becky was. Joe and Debra more than likely explained to the 4 year old that she'd died.

Once again, it was Seth that broke the silence. "Daddy is takin' me fishin' Uncle Keir! But Ashley can't come because she's just a baby."

Like clockwork, three year old Ashley made a fuss. "I go too!"

"No!" Seth yelled.

Keir looked at Deb who was busy getting up from her seat, moving behind Seth.

"I wanna go!" Ashley kept saying, big crocodile tears running down her precious face.

Before Deb could get him out of his seat, Seth reached over and hit Ashley. At this point, all hell broke loose. Joe got up from the table as well to tend to the now wailing Ashley. After a few hectic minutes, the room quieted as the children were taken into other rooms.

Keir shot a glance over to his mother who looked as if nothing had happened.

"Don't worry about that, dear. Those two kids fight all the time."

Wayne pushed his plate away and patted his Santa Claus belly. "They're close in age like you and Joseph were. Right now is the hardest time. Give then a few more years and they'll be inseperable."

"Joe and I never fought." Keir grinned.

Giving her son a skeptical look, she shook her head. "Whatever you say dear." Keir laughed as she waved her hand at him dismissively. "You two were the most behaved, though."

Wayne looked at his wife and left the table without another word. As he left the room, Keir looked to his mother for an explanation.

She sighed and began to clear the table. "It's about Beth."

Fear of the unknown gripped his heart tightly. He hadn't heard or seen his baby sister Elizabeth since she left home at 15. "Is she alright?"

Dishes clanked together as Lolly dropped them in the sink and ran the faucet. "Yes, yes. She's as fine as she can be."

Keir thought of the many possibilities of where Beth could be. Almost three years ago, She'd called Keir 3 weeks after running away to say she'd moved to Arkansas with some friends. When Keir had tried to get her to come home, Beth proceeded to get angry, tell him she had a 28 year old boyfriend and then hung up. None of the family had heard from her since. Or so Keir had thought.

"She moved to San Angelo about 8 or 9 months ago." Lolly paused to turn to Keir, hands settling on her hips. "She should be here soon, actually."

"She came back home?!" Keir was astonished. Little Beth, well, she wouldn't be so little anymore. "How old is she now? 18, right?"

Lolly nodded. Almost 19. She's living with her friend Amelia now."

"I can't believe she's back." Keir was excited. He'd missed Beth alot. "What made her come back?" Keir finally stood up from the table and began to dry the dishes his mother had finished.

"It's complicated, but I suppose she got tired of being alone." Turning back to the sink, Lolly resumed her dishwashing. "I have to warn you though, son..."

"About what?"

Her lips pursed together in thought. "Well," another sigh rushed past her lips. "None of us knew until she moved back to Texas, but she has a daughter." Waiting for that news to ssettle, Lolly glanced over at Keir.

"A daughter?" Lolly nodded. "Did she get married, or no?"

Lolly shook her head. "She got pregnant young." A frown flickered across her face. "The girl just went crazy, Keir. I don't know what got into her."

"Does she know who the father is?"

"Yes, that David fellla."

"David Reese?" Keir's head snapped up in anger. "That 28 year old she'd been with. Keir had never forgotten about him.

Lolly nodded. "She says that it was consentual," knowing exactly what Keir was thinking. "But of course, he walked out on her."

"HOw old is the baby?"

"Claire? Oh, I'd say about 15 months. I think that's what Beth told me."

"Does she visit often?"

"As often as she can. Dad doesn't like her visiting. He's ashamed of what she's become. I know he loves her, but your dad is just so prideful. And," Lolly said with an exasperated sigh, "she won't ask for help because your father is so hard-headed." the dishes were finally done, so Lolly ushered Keir into the front room.

"And let me guess, Dad wont' let you help her until she asks."

The doorbell rang and Lolly nodded. Done just in time! Keir stood up from the couch he'd just sat on anxiously as the door opened. A short, brown haired girl stepped over the threshold, free arm open to her mothers embrace. The two women greeted one another happily. Keir caught a few glimpses of the dark haired baby, but his mother was blocking his view.

"Where is he?" Beth asked excitedly. As Lolly poited off to the side, she turned to watch Keir's face intently.

Keir's dark brown eyes drank in the welcome sight of his baby sister, then her daughter. Claire looked uncannily like Emmaline and it caught Keir by surprise. Beth ran into his open arms and gave him a long hug. Keir couldn't take his eyes off of little Claire.

"You've been gone for a while!" Beth exclaimed as she pulled away.

"So have you," he replied distractedly.

Lolly, having been expecting this kind of reaction from Keir, stepped forward. "I think he's a little shocked, Bethy, like we all were at first."

"ohh, yeah." Beth nodded and shifted Claire onto her other hip and tipped her towards Keir. "Wanna hold her?"

Keir didn't say anything. He was busy trying not to cry like a little boy. As the baby was passed into his arms, the little girl looked at him in silence. After a moment or two, he pulled the baby against his chest and hugged her gently. A sob rose in his throat and his shoulders shook. In that moment, he wasn't hugging his niece, he was hugging his lovely baby daughter, Emmaline Joy Harding.

He finally pulled away, struggling to keep a tight reign on his emotions and handed her back to Beth.

"Keir?" Lolly looked up at him in concern.

"I'm sorry," he chocked out. "I have to leave for a while." He moved for the door, grabbing the keys to his rental. "Don't leave, Beth, until I get back."

The front door slammed shut behind him as he left.