Karen's job was long hours and hard work, even if it meant that she was finally able to provide for herself. The house was hers, paid in cash up front and sold into her name. There were people who'd given her privacy but also take care of her and Angie if an emergency popped up. Compared to her cramped life with her husband the freedom was nearly overwhelming.

So it couldn't hurt to give a little something back. This time of night Jonathan would probably be at the university; he hadn't answered his house phone for certain. And Karen...just needed to do the motherly thing today. It was more playacting than genuine sentiment but she enjoyed it. It made her feel like she was starting to make up for her years of ignorance and neglect.

So here she was with cookies.

"Jonathan?"