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right, and I’ll bet you ten smoothies it’s a baby or my name ain’t Arthurine Grimes.”
    “You don’t know half as much as you think you know, Miss Grimes.”
    “Is that so? And I’m still Mrs. Grimes.”
    “Was that the doorbell?”
    “I didn’t hear any bells.”
    I don’t dare comment but when I look over by the door, there’s Snuffy, curled up and unconscious in his little nappy fur bed. “You think Snuffy heard it?”
    She does not think this is at all funny. Snuffy’s now on that deaf list Arthurine was pretending to be on. I’m pretty sure it’s Sabrina. As always, she’s late. “Would you mind seeing who it is while I start dinner?”
    “I’m available to help, depending on how complicated this meal is you’re fixing,” she says, heading toward the front door.
    “It’s quite all right, Arthurine. I’m just tossing a salad and stir-frying some chicken for the pasta. And maybe have sorbet for dessert.” I have decided to compromise since Sage will be here. She’s Nevil’s daughter from a previous relationship but Sabrina is the only mother she knows, which makes her my granddaughter. The pasta dish will come from the freezer, but I will spruce it up so it tastes homemade.
    “You think this’ll be enough?”
    “Go, before I put some of Snuffy’s medicine in yours!” She is giggling. I do care about Arthurine and would even go so far as to say I love her, but very often the people you really care about are the hardest to love. I hear Sage squealing and running at the same time. Boy can she move fast, like most two-and-a-half-year-olds. When Sabrina walks into the kitchen—with the exception of her long brown dreadlocks and the thin gold ring in her nose—she could be me twenty years ago. It’s a weird feeling.
    “Hi, Ma,” she says, walking over to give me a kiss and a hug. She always smells like that oil or incense you buy from the vendors on Telegraph Avenue. “I wish I could stay longer and I’m rushing of course but I wanted to tell you my excellent news face-to-face.”
    “More news? Come here, Sage, and give Grandma some sugar-wooger!” I don’t know if I can stand any more personal news right this very minute on this particular day. And here comes this little ladybug with a head full of braids, wearing yet another new-age outfit that turns into a parachute when she jumps into my arms and rubs her nose back and forth against mine the way we always do it. “Hello there, Miss Sagebrush!”
    “Sage is going to have a little brother or sister in about seven and a half months! Isn’t that just amazing, Ma!”
    I lose my grip on Sage and she slips out of my arms and I hear the rubber soles of those little purple and mustard boots land softly on the floor. “Well, congratulations, Sabrina. I didn’t even know you guys were trying.”
    “Who tries?”
    “Not me,” I say.
    “You’re too old to have to worry about this kind of stuff anymore but when you’re young and fertile and in love with the most brilliant man in the world, our first baby together is just what the doctor ordered.”
    “You think?”
    “I think! I know! And gotta go! Love you!”
    “Wait a minute, Miss Homeopath! Since Nevil got that fellowship, does this mean you’ll be having the baby in England?”
    “I hadn’t thought of that yet. I just found out today! I suppose it does! But as they say in London, ‘No worries, mate.’ I’ve gotta go, Ma, or I’ll be late, later than I am already and Nevil freaks when we have to rush! MaMo loves you, Sage! Bye Grandma Art! Hi to big-headed Daddy! And please don’t forget to share our news with him and the twins! Speaking of which, how are they and have you heard from them lately? They’ve certainly forgotten my number. Anyway, don’t answer right now. Tell me later. I’m outta here!” And she disappears.
    Arthurine is now standing by the kitchen door like this is really not news. She has changed her clothes and is wearing yet another one of her