With a Little T.L.C. by Teresa Southwick

legs.”
    â€œThat’s great.” Liz smiled a little wistfully. “The one drawback about this job is that we send the babies home and most we never see again. As the support group moms get a handle on things, they disappear, busy with their lives. I’d love to get periodic updates on the kids.”
    Joe studied her for a moment. “So come to her birthday party.”
    â€œWhat? Who?”
    â€œMy niece. It’s this Saturday. At my folks because they’ve got the biggest house with the most toys—swimming pool, table tennis etcetera. And there’s room for the whole family. It’s going to be an outdoor thing in the backyard. Very informal.”
    â€œI don’t know—”
    â€œMy brothers will be there—”
    â€œAh, now I get it.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou want to finish the job you started a year ago. Locking me in the broom closet. And that’s supposed to make me want to come?”
    He chuckled softly. “I promise there are no closets with locks anywhere on the premises.” He settled the baby more comfortably in his arms.
    Liz remembered his brothers. All the Marchetti men were exceptionally good-looking. Although she thought Joe the most handsome. From a strictly observational point of view. They had made her laugh. And their love and loyalty and protectiveness on behalf of little sister Rosie was very appealing. A big devoted family. If nothing else, she wanted to see what that was like. Find out if such a thing reallyexisted. In her experience it was the stuff of fantasy and fairy tales.
    â€œIn that case, I’d be delighted to go,” she agreed.
    He looked momentarily surprised, but recovered quickly and simply said, “Good.”
    Â 
    Several hours later Liz walked down the hall. It was time for the changing of the guard. The day shift nurses came on about fifteen minutes before starting work to take reports from the departing night personnel. The volunteer sign-in book was on the counter beside the timeclock. Joe was there, standing head and shoulders above several women surrounding him.
    Liz felt her stomach knot. Just when she was beginning to believe that she’d been wrong about him, the sight of him and his acquired harem hit her between the eyes. And the worst part was that they were all women she liked and respected.
    At least it explained why he’d been in the nursery during the night. This was the group of women that he hadn’t scoped out yet. Catch the first shift just as they came on duty, while they were fresh. Even as that catty thought raced through her mind, she dismissed it. That was way too much effort for a playboy. But if that wasn’t his angle, what was he doing there in the middle of the night?
    As she drew closer, she spotted Samantha and heard her say, “I’m looking forward to the weekend. Almost every Saturday we have a weekly unwinding session.”
    â€œIt’s cool,” said Jeannie Drummond. She was a plump brunette, fun and witty. “Just dinner. But there are always laughs. We pick a place where anyone who wants to can dance. You should join us, Joe.”
    In her enthusiasm, perky blonde Tanya Quinn grabbed his arm. “Great idea. Come on, Joe. It’ll be fun.”
    As the conversation wafted over to Liz, her spirits deflated like a punctured balloon. She hadn’t realized until that moment how much his invitation had pumped her. So much for meeting his family on Saturday, she thought. What philanderer in his right mind would pass up playboy heaven to go to a family gathering? Although she believed he was fond of his niece, it was a child’s birthday party.
    After searching so hard for it, she’d finally found confirmation for what she’d always believed to be his ulterior motive. Yet she took no satisfaction in being right. She felt angry—and sad.
    â€œSounds like you ladies know how to have a good time,” he