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you.”
    She could see him trying to figure out the relationship.
    â€œMy ex-husband, Scott, rents an apartment in my house.”
    He thought that over and then raised an eyebrow. “That’s a unique arrangement.”
    â€œI know it is. And it’s not always easy.” She wondered how much to tell him. The gossip mill at St. Joe’s was formidable, and she hadn’t really confided in anyone except Leslie. She found herself wanting to talk to Tony, though. Somehow she knew she could trust him to keep her confidences private.
    â€œWhen Scott and I first separated, I realized I wouldn’t be able to see Eliza every day, or be part of her life the way I had been, and it broke my heart,” she began.
    He nodded and waited.
    â€œI could see that it was affecting her, as well. She started having nightmares and trouble getting to sleep.”
    â€œYour ex never remarried?”
    â€œNope.” Kate shook her head. It was something she’d wondered about after the split. Although Scott had dated from time to time, nothing permanent had developed. She surmised that the women were simply smarter than she’d been, and could see that he wasn’t prime relationship material.
    â€œThe thing is,” she explained, “having Scott and Eliza living in the same house keeps her in mylife. We married when she was a tiny baby. I’m the only mother she’s ever known.”
    He thought about that. “You don’t think you’ll have other children?”
    She shook her head and heard herself say in a level tone, “I can’t have kids.”
    â€œI’m sorry.” His deep voice was gentle. “For a woman who so obviously enjoys children, that’s too bad.”
    Again, he surprised her. She’d thought he might say, as so many others had done, Oh well, you can always adopt.
    And of course it was true, she could. She had, in a sense, with Eliza. But Tony seemed to understand that not being able to grow a child in her own body had nothing to do with adopting. The two were separate, just as she supposed the love parents felt for their children differed from one child to the next. Not more, not less. Just different.
    â€œYour ex is a fortunate fellow to have you mothering Eliza,” Tony continued. “I’m a single father, and I know how tough it is to raise a daughter by yourself. I’m lucky because I have a large family around, and now my mother’s living with us. But before that happened I went through a series of housekeepers.”
    â€œYour mother adores McKensy.” Whatever else Dorothy was, she’d come across as a doting grandmother.
    â€œI’m grateful to her for being there when I can’tbe.” Tony raised an eyebrow and a small smile came and went. “You met my mother, Georgia said.”
    Kate nodded.
    â€œThen you understand why it isn’t always easy to explain to McKensy that Mom’s attitudes aren’t the ones I want her to copy. You must have noticed my mother can be difficult to be around.”
    His openness surprised and touched her. It was hard to know how far to go with this, though. “Dorothy seems to be quite angry,” Kate ventured tactfully. “I wonder if she’d agree to some counseling? It can’t be easy for her to feel that way all the time.”
    â€œCounseling’s crossed my mind several times, but she’d never go. Besides, what good would more talking do?” He blew out an exasperated breath. “Mom already wears everyone out with talking.”
    â€œIt’s a difficult step to take.” Something in her was relieved to know that Tony could view his mother in an impartial, albeit loving, manner. His brother Wilson didn’t seem to see her clearly at all. “It can’t be comfortable for her, feeling such strong negative emotions all the time.”
    â€œWhat worries me is that McKensy will pick up some of her