"Grace, this is Alex. Get a sitter for tonight and put on your best dress. We're going out for supper."

"Yes sir," Grace said, responding in her office voice, then realizing that he had addressed himself to her as Alex, and that he was no longer her employer, she laughed. "Is this official, or personal, Alex?" It was the first time she had ever addressed him on a first name bases. Indeed, it was the first time she had ever thought of him as anything other than Mr. Edwards.

"Some of both, I should say," the man said dryly. "I'll be by about seven."

Even after he had broken the connection Grace stood telephone receiver in hand, a strange feeling stirring in her breast. Mr. Edward's voice had been as impersonal, as brisk and hurried as ever in spite of using his first name. So brisk and impersonal, in fact, that for the first time since Johnny's death she felt a sudden urge to make a man notice her as a woman.

Foolish, she thought as she hung up the phone and turned back to the stove. Foolish, she thought again as she dropped batter on the hot skillet with more force than was necessary. What did she care what Mr. Edwards thought of her? Then she began to plan what she would wear that evening.

"Oh, Aunt Grace, you look like a fashion model!" Peggy exclaimed, coming into the room and seeing Grace standing in front of the full-length mirror.

In response Grace did a half turn before her reflection, feeling both self-conscious and yet at the same time rather pleased. Soft folds of deep cherry pink material fell gracefully from a slender silver belt, matching the silver trim around the dipping neckline of her blouse. On her feet petite, silver sandals peeked out from beneath the long flowing skirt.

It was a scandalous outfit for someone on her budget, she told herself, then took comfort in the fact that it was not her own indulgence, but Pat's, who had purchased it for her.

Even Pat would be proud of her tonight, Grace reflected, turning away from the mirror. Though she would, no doubt, still criticize her sister's choice of hairstyle, which was, as usual, arranged in a thick bun, though now that bun was pilled loosely instead of being pulled severely back.

Sitting down at the dresser Grace bent her face closer toward the mirror. Her cheeks were pink enough, and the blue of her eyes stood out clearly against the dark lashes now that she had discarded her heavy glasses. She added a touch of color to her lips and leaned back to inspect the results. Not too bad for an office secretary who hadn't been out on the town with a man in over ten years, she thought, reaching for a bottle of perfume.

She had just finished applying a touch of the floral scent she had worn for so many years before moving to the city, when she heard the sound of a low, deep voice coming from the living room.

Glancing at her wristwatch, the silver, diamond one that had been Papa's wedding gift, the one that had been stored in her dresser for years in favor of her more practical digital one, she noted that it was seven o'clock. No doubt Mr. Edwards was here. He was never too early nor too late, but always kept his appointments precisely when they were scheduled.

Debby came bursting in while Grace was hurriedly putting a tissue in her small handbag.

"Look," she cried in excitement. "You got flowers, Aunt Grace! Aren't they pretty?"

"Oh," Grace explained, spying the single red rose nestled in a small bunch of fern.

"Isn't that a rather strange corsage, Aunt Grace?" Peggy demanded. "Couldn't he have gotten you an orchid?"

"You've been reading too many romance novels, Peggy." Grace said with a smile. "Mr. Edwards is just showing a little kindness. It's very thoughtful of him to bring flowers. I'm sure he's only trying to take my mind off of our current difficulties."

"Maybe so, Aunt Grace, but after seeing how gorgeous you look in that outfit, I'll bet he brings orchids next time," Peggy said with a mischievous smile.

"That was superb," Grace explained, leaning back after finishing the lemon ice that had followed a dinner of game hen, peas and baby onions. "Such marvelous food and service. No wonder you took your clients here for dinner."

"You should know, you made all the reservations for me," the man said, pushing his own desert dish away. "Would you care for an after dinner drink?"

"No thank you. You said we should wait to discuss serious matters until after we'd finished our meal," she reminded him. "Tell me, have you talked with Mr. Perkins? Has he bad news? Is that why you didn't want to talk about it before we ate?"

"Perkins rang me up last night," Alexander Edwards said matter of factly. "And actually, his news wasn't all that bad. Not that bad at all. The man the children thought might be your sister's lawyer had retired, but it was quite an easy thing for Perkins to track him down. Frost, the fellow's name was, Henry Frost. He remembered the Powers and spoke very highly of them. He claimed they had sought his legal assistance with three of the children, but he doesn't seem to recall any papers being signed by Debby's parents. There may have been some, of course, and that's something Perkins is still working on."

"Has he talked with Mrs. Dillon yet?" Grace asked, feeling Alexander Edwards was holding something back.

"No, but when he enlightens her as too the trouble she'll be in if certain law officials see her attempted blackmail note, I doubt he'll have much difficulty getting any information she may have."

"I hope you're right," Grace said, remembering how angry and sullen the woman had been when she and Pat had taken the children. "But what will we do if Mr. Perkins isn't able to get any papers from Mrs. Dillon? What if we can't prove Kathy had a legal right to the children?"

"That's just what I took you out to talk about," the man said, his face and voice now gravely serious. "Perkins feels you have a strong claim, but that you must be able to prove that you're financially capable of supporting such a large family."

Grace was silent, thinking what a small amount she had in savings.

"Perkins also feels that it would be better if there was a male influence in the home." At his pointed remark, Grace's eyes met his. His probing look sent soft color stealing up under her cheeks.

"Have you no suitors, Grace?" Mr. Edwards, who always went straight to the heart of a matter, inquired. "You know you're a rather attractive looking woman."

"Even if I were interested in a man," Grace said, feeling sudden anger stirring within her. "I certainly wouldn't ask him to marry me so that I could keep Kathy's children."

To her further annoyance instead of being apologetic for the anger he had aroused, Alexander Edwards laughed.

"Let's leave, Grace. Perhaps a ride will cool you off."

Once in his car they drove along the streets in silence for several blocks.

"Still mad?" he asked at length and Grace realized that she had been sitting squeezed over in her own corner, her head turned away from him, her eyes staring out at the brightly lit stores.

"I'm not mad, Mr. Edwards. I was just wondering how we were going to get over, around, or blast away this particular obstacle."

"I'm glad you remember my office philosophy, Grace, though I'm not quite sure which of the aforementioned methods you would consider my solution to be."

There was humor in his voice, but also something else that Grace couldn't quite define. He didn't look at her, but keep his eyes on the street as he continued. "As you know, I've given up my business, at least until I've gotten myself back in condition, but I haven't given up on living. I can't stand idleness, Grace. I need things to do. Challenges in my life. Having considered the matter quite thoroughly, I've come to the decision that we can meet each others needs."

"I'm not quite sure I know what you mean, Mr. Edwards."

"It's really quite simple, Grace. The children need a male influence in the home, you need financial support, and I need something to fill my empty hours. In other words, I think we would both benefit if we were to join forces and get married."

"That's quite a business proposition," Grace said after a short silence. "And just what exactly did you intend for our relationship to be once you became a part of the family?"

"Whatever you cared to make it," he said quickly, as though relieved to have had her respond to his suggestion in such a practical manner. "I certainly would never force myself upon you. You have my word on that."

"I . . . I see," she said slowly. "You won't mind if I don't give you an answer right away, will you? You're quite different from my first husband, you know."

"I wouldn't expect you to get as much from this marriage, Grace," his voice as they pulled up in front of her apartment sounded almost apologetic. He turned toward her then, his face, still shadowed from his resent illness, was sincere.

"But I'd try my best to be a good husband, " he told her "And I'd take care of the children. I'd take very good care of the children."

The soft rise and fall of steady breathing, the faint rhythmic ticking of her alarm clock were the only sounds that filled the room Grace now shared with Peggy, Debby and baby Jenny.

Thoughts and emotions were crowding into Grace's mind so fast that they tripped into one another, causing a tangled mass that make little sense and settled nothing.

The evening had started out so lovely, she thought. Mr. Edwards had been the perfect, escort. Distinguished in his smoke blue jacket, white shirt and dark tie, he had kept the conversation light and easy with tales of his youth and amusing incidents in some of his business dealings. He had brought out her opinions on a number of matters, and though he had disagreed with a few, he had never been disagreeable.

Probably that he had treated her just as he had all his prospective clients, Grace thought, feeling her cheeks burn in the darkness. For she realized now that that was what she had been. All the conversation had been for the purpose of checking her out to see if she were someone he wanted to merge with. A business deal clear and simple. That was Mr. Edwards' mind, that was how he thought. Probably he had sat in that very same chair and said much the same things to any number of tired, old, cigar chewing men. That she might have some emotions, that she might respond to him as a woman to a man would have never entered his mind.

Johnny wouldn't have behaved as Alexander Edwards had, she told herself. Johnny would have built her up with all sorts of flattery until she felt lovely and loved. But then, Johnny would have never wanted the responsibility of children either, would have never said that he would try to make a good husband. Johnny would have just assumed that everything he did pleased his dutiful, young wife.

What was she to do, she asked herself for the hundredth time. Could she marry a man who considered her so unattractive he was able to cheerfully give his word that he wouldn't make any advances toward her?

Yet, she had long respected and liked Alexander Edwards for his many fine qualities. He was kind, in his own brisk way, and he was capable. She could trust the children to his care. She wouldn't have to carry the whole burden. Alexander Edwards had broad shoulders, she could put all her care on those shoulders and trust him to handle every situation with wisdom, if not the greatest of tact. Surely marriages had started with less and still worked out.

"Not," she told herself. "Not when the man has no romantic interest in the woman he intends to live with. Not when he treats her like a business partner instead of a woman." Why Johnny had rained kisses on her, proclaiming in his theatrical way that he wasn't going to stop until she promised to marry him. And Mr. Edwards, ... Mr. Edwards hadn't even tried to kiss her goodnight.

And Grace cried herself silently to sleep, never once asking herself rather she would have welcomed such advances from her former employer.

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