His Unexpected Family by Patricia Johns

stepped inside, Greg could see his mother sitting in her little chair by the window, her Bible open in her lap.
    “Oh, hello,” his mother said uncertainly. “Can I help you?”
    “Hi, I’m Emily.” She stopped in the doorway. It was a respectful gesture, and Greg was grateful for it.
    “Hello. Are you from the neighborhood?”
    “Yes,” Emily said. “I just thought I’d stop in and say hi.”
    “Come on in and have some tea,” his mother said, giving her a smile. “Forgive me for not standing, but once I get down, in my condition it’s hard to get back up again.”
    “Oh, don’t worry,” Emily said, stepping inside. “I’m Emily.”
    “I’m Laura. Why am I here? I don’t remember why I’m here. Is this a hospital?”
    “Sort of...” Emily glanced up at Greg.
    “Because of the baby?” her mother asked. “I’m due in October.” She gave a shy smile.
    Greg felt a surge of sadness. She was farther back in time now, back to her pregnancy.
    “I just thought I’d stop in and say hi.” Emily gave a small shrug. “Congratulations. You must be so excited about the baby.”
    “I am.” His mother blushed and looked away. “Tony will be back soon, I’m sure.”
    “This is Greg,” Emily said, then stopped, sensing a mistake. It didn’t seem to faze his mother, though. The old woman rubbed a hand over her stomach.
    “It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? I’m going to be someone’s mother.”
    Emily nodded. “I still can’t get over that.” She laughed softly. “This must be your first?”
    His mother nodded tiredly, a smile on her lips. “Our very first. I’m positive it’s a boy.”
    Greg couldn’t help but grin, and he attempted to hide it behind his hand. In her mind, she was pregnant with him.
    “Do you know what you’ll name him?”
    Greg’s gaze flickered toward Emily’s face, but she didn’t look in his direction at all. Her entire attention was focused on his mother.
    “I like Ernest.” His mother smiled. “That’s my father’s name. But my husband wants to name him Gregory.” Her eyes moved over to Greg, and she frowned slightly.
    “I like them both,” Emily said quietly. “I guess you’ll know when you see him.”
    His mother’s eyes flickered toward him again, and her frown deepened. He tensed. Was it coming—the confusion, the anger?
    “Your husband looks a lot like my husband,” his mother said, looking at Greg more closely. “Isn’t that strange....”
    “Do I?”
    “Well.” She batted her hand, letting it fall back onto her stomach. “They say there are only so many faces in the world, and we have to share them around.”
    Greg nodded, relaxing. She said the same thing to him every time he visited. It was almost comforting. Cora squirmed in the car seat, and his mother looked down at her.
    “She’s adorable,” his mother said. “What’s her name?”
    “Cora.”
    “That’s pretty. I really like it.”
    The women were getting along splendidly, and Greg couldn’t help but smile watching them chat. The fear and shouting that normally surrounded his visits didn’t seem to be coming, but he wasn’t sure if it was safe to feel relieved yet. It was all talk about babies, but he could see his mother relaxing and looking happy. So this was what she’d been like when she’d been a young woman. Couple that sweet personality with her looks, and he could see why his father had asked her to marry him after two weeks. She was a catch.
    “It’s very nice of you to come visiting with your wife,” his mother said, turning toward him. “And you two have such a beautiful baby.”
    “Thank you.” Greg grinned, glancing at Emily. A small blush had risen in her cheeks, and he thought it suited her.
    “What do you do?” she asked politely.
    Before thinking better of it, he said, “I’m a cop.”
    “So is Tony.” A rare smile broke over her lined face. “Imagine that. Well, this has turned out very well. Emily and I will have someone who understands