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her rosy face.
    “Betsy, what are you doing here?” Rory asked stepping around Chance and the children. “You have an inn full of your own guests to feed.”
    “I decided Ron and my daughter could handle that for one morning,” Betsy insisted as she carried the baking sheet to Allison and Paige.
    “Steven...” Rory turned to one of her favorite innkeepers. “You didn’t leave David on his own, did you?”
    “Now, don’t fuss, Sugar.” Steven plopped his hand on one hip. “We knew you’d have your hands full with so many town folks to feed on top of your guests and that news crew.”
    “We would have managed,” Rory insisted.
    “That’s what I told them,” Allison said, laughter dancing in her eyes. She sat on a stool at the center island as she glazed cinnamon rolls.
    “Listen to you,” Betsy scolded Alli with motherly affection. “Eight months pregnant, waiting on a hungry crowd.”
    “Relax, Betsy,” Alli said, glowing with a serenity that had enveloped her since her pregnancy had started to show. “I promise not to lift anything heavy.”
    “As if we’d let you,” Betsy said.
    Paige ducked her head, but not before Rory saw her stifle a laugh.
    “As for you”—Betsy turned to Rory—”I don’t want to hear any objections about me helping. Truth is, I’m here for purely selfish reasons.” A smile blossomed on her face. “I wanted to be part of the action.”
    “Well, I’m glad you’re here.” Rory crossed the spacious kitchen and hugged the woman who was both mentor and friend. She smelled as comforting as the pastries she’d been making. “Thank you.”
    “Thank you,” Betsy said, hugging her back.
    Watching them, Chance breathed a sigh of gratitude. Having a few extra hands in the kitchen meant he could focus fully on Aurora. Especially if he pulled them in for kid duty.
    “Hey, Allison,” he said, putting AJ on the floor. “I don’t suppose I can talk you into watching these two for awhile?”
    “I’d love to.” Alli beamed at Lauren and AJ. “Come on, Sweeties. Grab your step stools so you can help get these trays ready.”
    The kids raced noisily for the stools in the corner, no doubt hoping some of those fresh-from-the-oven goodies wound up in their tummies.
    Chance noticed Aurora had gone to see what Steven and Rusty were whipping up so he moved closer to Allison to talk without his wife hearing. “Thank you,” he said, nodding at the kids. “One less thing for me to worry about.”
    “How are you holding up?” she asked quietly.
    “I’m nearly as much a wreck as Aurora.”
    “You’re hiding it well.”
    “Trying to.” He huffed out a breath. “Letting her know I’m nervous for her would just make her more nervous.”
    “You’ve learned to read my sister well.” She nodded in approval.
    “And thank you,” he added to Paige. “We really needed you today.”
    “You know I’m always happy to help out.” Paige looked a bit confused that he even felt a need to thank her.
    He suppose she had a point since she was the closest thing he had to a sister. “Still,” he said, “it’s appreciated.”
    “Then you’re welcome.” She sent him the shy, nurturing smile he knew so well. To his surprise, she and Captain Bob had never started a family of their own, but they seemed content to keep it just the two of them. “Be warned, though, my husband is out there with his digital camera, ready to do a photo-documentary of the whole day for Aurora’s Website.”
    “You know”—he chuckled—”I think after this is all over, she’ll actually be happy about that.” He checked his watch. “Right now, however, I need to drag my camera-shy wife off to a fate worse than death. Aurora?” he called.
    “Hang on.”
    He turned to see she’d slipped on an apron. “Naw-uh,” he said, going to pull it off over her head. “No cooking.”
    “I was just going to help stir the hollandaise. I have time.”
    “No, you don’t.” He tugged the apron away from