"I can't be here when the police arrive. Considering the circumstances. You understand, don't you?"

She nodded miserably and hugged herself. "I'm scared, Richard."

He drew her back into the circle of his strong arms, fitting her cheek against his chest. He kissed the top of her head. "We'll get this worked out, babe. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."

"Promise?" she whispered, lifting her gaze to his.

Richard cupped her face in his hands. "You have no reason to be afraid, Julianna," he murmured, bringing his mouth to hers. "Never again."

"Welcome back, Kate!" Blake, Marilyn and Tess called in unison as she walked in The Bean's front door early Monday morning. The maternity leave she had given herself was officially over and although she had continued managing from a distance and had even worked an occasional day here and there over the past six months, today marked her first day back full-time.

Kate stopped dead, surprised and overwhelmed. Her employees had strung a banner above and behind the counter area that announced She's Baaack! A Mylar balloon decorated each table, a bouquet of them bobbled beside the register.

Her three employees hurried across to greet her. Marilyn took Emma, Tess grabbed the overflowing diaper bag and Blake took her arm. "Come on in, honey," he said. "The surprises have only just begun."

They led her to the back of the café. They had turned the furthermost corner into a play place for Emma, cordoned off with accordion-style baby gates and filled with bright-colored toys. The tile floor had been covered with a big patchwork rug; above the area hung a sign that read Baby Central in primary colors.

All three of her employees starting talking at once.

"We all went together-"

"Some of the regulars, too-"

"-and bought the baby gym, fun saucer and Johnny jump-up."

"I made the sign," Tess said.

"We wanted to do something for you and Emma and thought this way-"

"Working would be so much easier-"

"For both of you." Marilyn beamed at her. "We're so happy you're back, Kate. We've really missed you."

Kate turned to her employees, tears stinging her eyes. "I don't know what to say. You guys are the best."

"Glad you think so," Blake said, grinning, "because we're not done yet." He caught her hand. "Now, for your office."

"My office," she repeated weakly.

Giggling like kids, they led her to her office. There, they'd installed a portable crib and a big, old rocking chair.

"The chair was my sister's," Marilyn murmured. "She said you could use it as long as you like."

Kate shook her head. "This is too much, guys. Really, it is."

"Richard helped us."

"He knew about this?"

"Oh yeah." Tess laughed. "He gave me and Marilyn carte blanche at the baby store. It was really fun. I was born to spend other people's money."

From out front came the sound of knocking. Then a call of, "Hello. Anybody here?"

Blake looked at his watch. "Oh, man, look at the time. We opened ten minutes ago."

"Should have opened ten minutes ago," Kate corrected, already heading for the front of the café. "Please tell me the menu boards are done and that the coffee's already made." They weren't. From that moment on, they played catch-up. As the day progressed, many of the regulars made an appearance to welcome Kate back and make a major fuss over Emma. Deliveries ran late, the cappuccino machine went on the fritz, and a mother-and-toddler group came and let their children run amok.

In other words, business as usual. Kate decided it was really good to be back.

When they had a quiet moment, Marilyn sidled up to her. "How are things with Richard?"

Kate considered all of her employees friends, but she and Marilyn were particularly close. They often discussed their lives, using one another as a sounding board. Some time back, Kate had confided to the other woman that Richard was having trouble adjusting to parenthood.

Kate smiled, happy that she could honestly answer that things were good. Though he had been gone from home a lot-frantically busy between securing support for his bid for D.A. and handling several weighty cases at the firm- when he was home, he was attentive and loving. To her and Emma. She had found it heartening to see him finally responding to his daughter. Being affectionate with her. More often than not he came home with some trinket for the child, a stuffed toy or bow for her hair, a rattle or picture book. Kate smiled to herself. He had even taken to bringing his wife a little something-flowers, a special bottle of wine or dessert she enjoyed.

It was as if their last, awful fight had changed not only his attitude but in some fundamental way, his feelings as well. He was like a new man.

"I'm so glad," Marilyn said when Kate finished. She gave her a quick hug, then grinned wickedly. "Nothing like a guilty conscience to straighten a man right up."

Blake wandered over, a carton of napkins hooked under his arm. He caught the last of Marilyn's comment. "Straighten a man up?" he repeated, his expression deadpan. "Honey, you're entitled to your orientation, but don't go and ruin it for the rest of us."

"Why is everything with you always about sex?"

Blake smiled. "You know what they say, girlfriend, everybody's good at something. I just happen to be the prince of peni-"

Kate held up her hands to stop them. "No doubt about it, I'm back now."

"Then you're ready to be brought up to speed?" He stowed the carton under the buffet, then turned back to the two women. "It's been a regular Peyton Place around here."

"Peyton Place, huh? Since we're in a lull, fill me in."

"Ralph and his wife split," Tess said, referring to one of the regulars. "She got custody of the Jeep and the cat."

"He was devastated," Blake added. "He loved that vehicle. And he'd just made the last payment, too."

They went on to tell her about a surprise pregnancy, that their resident writer finally sold a book, and that Big Burt Beals had lost twenty-five pounds on the Sugar Busters diet. "Not to mention," Blake added, "Tess's five new love-of-her-life boyfriends."

"It was six, I think." Marilyn laughed.

"I heard that." Tess bopped up behind them, carrying Emma. Obviously fascinated by Tess's blond hair, the infant had a fistful of it. The young woman seemed not to notice. "Can I help it if so many guys are fatally flawed?"

She turned to Marilyn and Blake. "Did you tell her about the new guy?"

"She's referring to our newest regular," Marilyn offered from the counter where she had gone to take an order. "Actually, we have three."

"All men," Tess murmured. "Though only one's a hunk-a-hunk of burning love. Nick Winters."

Kate freed Tess's hair and took Emma from the other woman. "Tell me about them all. Nick Winters first."

"He's really cute." Tess crossed to the counter to help Marilyn, took an order, then glanced back at Kate. "And single."

"And too old for you." Marilyn rolled her eyes. "But she's right about him being attractive. He's rugged but also an intellectual. Up until recently he was a professor of philosophy at Cleveland State College. He inherited some money, sold everything he owned and hit the road."

"What's he doing down here?"

"Just one of his stops on his Tour of America."

"Then there's Steve Byrd," Blake said, "my personal favorite. A real flashback to the sixties kind of guy, complete with a ponytail. He followed the Grateful Dead for the past twenty-five years, making a living selling Dead paraphernalia at the concerts. Says since Jerry Garcia died, life has no meaning."

"I don't think there's much doubt that this guy all but fried his gray matter with drugs." Marilyn shuddered. "I never could understand that whole scene."