There had been a mild uproar when Melanie arrived, during which Stella had almost peed herself with excitement, crossing her legs suddenly and galloping off to the bathroom. Braden had shrieked in confusion like a dog that doesn’t know who’s knocking at the door and therefore can’t decide how he feels about it. Melanie didn’t visit often enough to satisfy the five-year-old or to be recognized by the baby. “Coffee?” Sarah asked. “Sure,” said Melanie, rising from the kitchen table. “I can make it.” “I got it.” “You want me to take the baby?” asked Melanie. Sarah pulled the coffee cups from the cabinet. “No, I got it.” Melanie sat back down, relieved. She loved her niece and nephew, she really did. She just didn’t understand them. After filling Sarah in on the basics over the phone, Melanie had agreed to come by for a visit and some psychological profiling on her new beau.
