Jenny was having the same problem. “Really, thank you…” she started, glancing worriedly at Shane, “but I had toast right before we came over. So did Shane. Didn’t we?”

“Yeah, toast. We had toast,” Shane lied. I would have laughed if Alice hadn’t sighed in frustration and turned the huge plate to me.

“Thanks Al, but I’m good.”

“But you haven’t eaten since breakfast!” she protested. “What, am I not a good cook?”

“Not really, no,” I said before I could stop myself. That did the trick though, she didn’t offer me the nachos and just left the room in silence. “Shit,” I muttered to Shane, and gave chase. “Al, I’m sorry!” I told her, desperately seeking forgiveness as she headed back into the kitchen.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I know. I was just gonna get more nachos. Are you sure you don’t want any?” she asked. I just shook my head and went back to the nursery, trying hard not to laugh. I wasn’t the only one in the room struggling not to do that, either.

The days passed by a bit too quickly for my liking. Alice was more beautiful than I had ever seen her, and all I ever wanted to do was kiss her. Unless she was eating weird things, then I didn’t so much want to kiss her until she was done. But I even found the eating cute.

Everyone went with her when she had appointments or book signings or anything else, if I couldn’t be there. Sometimes one or more of them would go with us even if I was able to, but I did still have to leave every now and again to make an appearance somewhere or do a guest spot. But it was fine, Alice was in great hands and she had a large number of women giving her advice.

Lenore was great. I think Al’s pregnancy was the only time I’ve seen her shamelessly dote on her daughter, and it seemed to catch Alice by surprise too. Lenore was constantly offering to watch Kallie for us, even when she was just fine at home. We appreciated it, but it was a little weird anyway.

“I want to be closer to my grandchild than I was to Alice,” Lenore confessed to me one night after Alice had fallen asleep. Kallie was dozing, leaning up against her grandma’s side after her bedtime story. We were watching the day’s tennis analysis on ESPN quietly. “I wish I’d been better to her. I’m trying to correct it, but it’s hard.”