Stifling a curse when Mary leaped from his lap, Paul rose, ready to blast the idiot who had screeched to a halt in front of the house. The ricochet of a car door slamming erased what was left of his good mood. The air hummed with barely contained energy generated by the sudden cacophony and the palpable ire rising from their unwelcome visitor.

To their surprise, it was Josh who strode up the walkway looking ready to spit nails. Hoping to defuse Josh’s anger, Paul assumed a genial tone he...