“Good luck with your apartment hunting.” She waved him back, headed toward the exit, then called out over her shoulder, “Why don’t you try Cambridge or the Seaport?”

Her cell rang as soon as she hit the street.

“Mike! Hi—"

“Lisa’s water broke,” he began without preamble. “The baby’s coming earlier than expected, and Emily’s at a rehearsal. Can you get here right away to stay with Bobby?” His voice was tight, his words rushed. Her brother-in-law definitely did not sound like Mike Brennen, confident quarterback of the Boston

Riders, a position he’d held for ten years. He sounded like a worried husband.

“Why don’t you all go straight to the hospital,” Jen said, “and I’ll meet you there. Saves time. Seems like the baby can’t wait to make an appearance.”

“Great idea. See you in a few.”

Walking was not an option now. Uber. She needed Uber. She searched her phone apps, made the call and paced outside the restaurant.

Five minutes could be an eternity. She barely noticed the noise when customers entered or left the place. She barely heard the karaoke music. She did recognize a familiar male voice, however, call her name.

“Jen…what are you still doing here? I thought…

“Change of plans, and look…here’s my ride.” She charged inside the car without waiting for driver to open her door.

“Brigham and Women’s—you know where that is, right? And step on it!” She slammed the door shut and looked outside to see a puzzled Doug gazing after the cab.

##

Two hours later, after returning with little Bobby to her sister’s house, she cuddled with her nephew, reading the three-year-old just one more story while his eyelids drifted closed. She inhaled the clean, little-boy aroma of baby shampoo and snuggled in for a goodnight kiss.

“Sweet baby,” she whispered. “Your Auntie Jen loves you very much.”

She heard a contented sigh, then another, and tiptoed from the room, leaving the door open. Taking one more glance, she chuckled at the sight of his nerf football under one arm and his favorite worn-out blankie under the other. At the end of the hall, she descended to the main floor of the brick Tudor, the home of her teenage and college days, the roomy suite on the top floor perfect for the adolescent girl she had been.

According to Mike, the Beacon Street house would always be home to Lisa’s

siblings. In time, he’d become the legal guardian along with Lisa, to Jen’s younger sister and brothers. And Jen had been Lisa’s right-hand gal from the beginning. Her twin brothers were still in college with two years to go, and Emily, sweet, talented Emily, had just turned eighteen and had taken over Jen’s suite.

She heard the sound of a key in the front door and glanced at her watch just as the door opened.

“Jenny! I didn’t know you were coming tonight.” Emily rushed forward, violin case in hand, and hugged her sister, then looked around. “Where is everyone?”

“Bobby’s sleeping upstairs, maybe dreaming about his new baby sister. Come into the kitchen.”

But Em’s complexion had paled. “It’s too soon. Isn’t it?”

“Just a little. Mike said everything’s fine. The baby is just…just petite.” Jen pressed her lips together. “She’s in an incubator, but all her systems are working.

Breathing on her own. No tubes.”

“Oh, that’s good. Right?”

“Yeah, that’s very good. She just needs time to grow. And I need you to stay home tomorrow morning with Bobby-boy. Mike’ll be at the hospital with Lisa, and I have a mandatory rehearsal. The concert’s in two weeks.”

It seemed like a year before Emily responded. “I can change my practice time tomorrow.” The teen paused, looked at Lisa with shiny eyes and quivering lips.

“Why do bad things always happen in this family? Why is everything so hard?

Even Lisa’s little baby has…has…to struggle.”

Stepping close to her sister, Jen wrapped her arms around her. “Every family has bad stuff, Em. But we Delaneys are tough. The baby, too. They’re naming her Brianna. Do you know what that name means?”

Emily shook her head.

“Strong. It means strong. Brianna Grace will be as strong as we are.”

“Oh-h, she has mom’s name, too.” With that, Emily took out her violin, and Jen knew exactly what to expect. Amazing Grace. The prayer her protégé sister played every night before bed to connect her to their mother.

“I’m not strong,” whispered Emily, tucking the instrument under her chin.

“Except when I’m playing. When I’m with Mozart, when I’m lost in that world…nothing can hurt me.”

Jen’s breath whooshed out, and she clasped her sister’s shoulders. “You—and I

—are stronger than we think, Emily. That’s what I’ve learned. We are as strong as we need to be. Your world—even without Mozart—would be fine.”

And I’m a fine one to talk. She needs Mozart like I needed Gloria Gaynor.

Emily whispered, “I can’t believe that this year is my last one with the Boston Youth Symphony. I don’t want it to end.”

Change. Her little sister was afraid of change. Jen understood that too well.

“Oh, honey. You’re heading into your next adventure is all. First, Tanglewood this summer. Didn’t you say Maestro Perlman would be there again this year?

Then the New England Conservatory. Come on, play for me.”

Where was Mike when she needed him? Elite quarterbacks knew how to handlepeople. She was the worst psychologist in the world.

Emily’s first note brought Jen’s thoughts to a halt. No matter how often she heard her sister play, she always forgot how magnificent her music was. She recognized Mozart’s A Little Night Music. Emily’s eyes had closed, her bow flew as if of its own accord, and Jen knew the girl had, indeed, become part of another world.

She waited a bit before approaching. “Enough, Em. You need to be awake for Bobby in the morning and focus on him. Mundane, real world stuff. Got it?”

The dreamy eyes sparkled. “I think I can handle my nephew. You go to your rehearsal. No worries.”

Right. In the Delaney family, there were always worries. But she wouldn’t let Doug Collins be one of them. She hadn’t even mentioned him to Emily, which

proved her point. He was forgettable.

##

A few minutes before ten o’clock the next morning, Jen greeted other members of the All-City Chorus in the lobby of the Commonwealth Theater. Excitement reverberated. The group had only two full rehearsals left before their performance.