Peony was looking from one to the other of them with a baffled face. "Can we go back now?"
Norris shook his head. "You're going to spend the night with us, Peony," he said softly. "Your daddy wants you to."
His wife was watching him thoughtfully. Norris looked aside and plucked nervously at a corner of the telephone book. Suddenly she caught Peony's hand and led her toward the kitchen.
"Come on, baby, let's go find a cookie or something."
Norris started out the front door, but in a moment Anne was back. She caught at his collar and tugged. "Not so fast!"
He turned to frown. Her face accused him at a six-inch range.
"Just what do you think you're going to do with that child?"
He was silent for a long time. "You know what I'm supposed to do."
Her unchanging stare told him that she wouldn't accept any evasions. "I heard you trying to get your boss on the phone."
"I canceled it, didn't I?"