She ordered two cheeseburgers, a large fries, and a vanilla milkshake. “We’ll bring it to your table,” the teenage cashier said. This was new, she thought, as she took a metal stand with a number and placed it on her table. Definitely needed, though, as she only had two hands. Another worker pulled a high chair over to her table. Samantha couldn’t remember a fast-food place ever being so accommodating. Times were changing. These were all good changes, too, she thought.

  Once she had Caroline in the high chair, she sat in the booth relaxing for a few minutes while she waited for her food. As soon as they brought the tray to her table, Caroline’s little hands waved through the air, knowing it was time to eat. Samantha took a couple fries from the red-and-yellow box and set them aside to cool. With Caroline almost eight months old, Samantha had stopped nursing when the baby reached six months, and had begun to introduce her to real food this last month. She knew fast food wasn’t the healthiest, but figured as a special treat it couldn’t hurt every once in a while.

  She opened the yellow wrapper and took a bite of the cheeseburger, rolling her eyes as though digging into a gourmet meal. She ate a few fries, then took a disposable plastic table mat from the diaper bag, stuck it to the table, and placed the fries on it. Caroline grabbed the fries, her tiny hand making a fist as she crammed them into her mouth. Her dark blue eyes, an exact match of Samantha’s, widened at the unexpected taste and texture. Samantha laughed out loud. “I take it you like french fries, little lady,” she said. She broke a few more fries into pieces and waited until Caroline swallowed the mouthful, then placed a few more on the placemat.

  Samantha finished off her food, then took a jar of carrots from the diaper bag and fed Caroline the entire contents. “Good girl,” she said as she wiped the bright orange carrot off her daughter’s face. A face that reminded her so much of the man who had changed her life. Stop. Stop, she told herself. It wouldn’t do her any good to go there.

  Not now.

  She made quick work of cleaning up the table as much as she could, then packed up the bags and took Caroline out of the chair. She slid the contents of the brown tray into the garbage while also holding her child and two bags—a delicate balancing act. Motherhood had taught her a whole new set of skills.

  Once she was on I-75, she relaxed a bit as the traffic eased up. Caroline was fast asleep, as she always fell asleep in the car. During the first few weeks after she was born, Samantha had to get Felipe to drive them around during the wee hours of the morning when Caroline had gone through a few colicky nights. This, Samantha knew, was the beginning of her baby’s love of sleeping in a car. Poor Felipe, she thought. He and his wife, Angelica, had been such good friends to her after the baby was born. Hired as her driver in Italy when she’d returned to cover a devastating earthquake, he and Angelica became her anchors on those nights when poor Caroline was a newborn. Having fathered eight children himself, he’d offered so many helpful tips that she wished he and Angelica lived in the States in case she ever needed help with the baby even though she would have her own family nearby.

  Once her mom and dad got over the shock of learning they were grandparents, she knew they’d be awesome with Caroline. She’d seen them with her cousins, and they were naturals, just as they’d always been with her. Revealing the secret she’d kept for so long surely wouldn’t be as frightening as she imagined. Or at least that’s what she hoped.

  After driving for three and a half hours, Samantha was ready for a break. She pulled into a service station. Though she was able to fill the tank while Caroline slept, Samantha had to wake her since she needed to be changed and was probably ready for a bottle. Although she was almost eight months old and could hold her own bottle, Samantha didn’t feel comfortable letting her do so in the car seat while the car was moving, so she found a small seating area in the back of the station and spent the next twenty minutes feeding her. She grabbed a coffee to go on her way out. She needed a caffeine boost if she planned to make it to Naples without stopping for the night.

  Though she was tempted just to stop and spend the night at one of the many hotels just off the interstate, she’d arranged to spend tonight at the bed-and-breakfast, so the owners were expecting her. Also, she’d sent Maria an e-mail telling her where she was staying. She’d made her swear she wouldn’t tell anyone she was in town and promised to have lunch with her at her new house the next day. They’d kept in touch throughout her time in Afghanistan and Europe. Maria was the only person back home who had known that Samantha was pregnant. Since Samantha had left the States, Maria had married and now had a son, Ian, who was just four months old. Samantha was looking forward to seeing her former roommate and meeting her new family. She knew Maria would have plenty of questions for her about the baby and her plans for the future. Samantha would tell her friend as much as she could without giving away too much.

  Once she’d settled Caroline back in the car seat, Samantha headed south, counting the minutes until she saw the sign WELCOME TO NAPLES at she entered Collier County.

  Forty minutes later, she found the Orange Tree Bed-and-Breakfast and pulled into the driveway. The timing couldn’t have been better. It was six fifteen, which would give her time to get Caroline settled in for the night, then call Maria to let her know she’d arrived safely, just as she’d promised to do in their last e-mail exchange.

  Once again, life as she knew it was about to change.

  Chapter 2

  “You look fantastic,” Samantha said as she gave Maria a hug. “If I didn’t know you’d given birth four months ago, I’d never know you just had a baby,” she observed. Maria, with her dark hair styled in a sleek bob, her makeup as perfect as it’d been when they’d lived together, hadn’t changed a bit.

  Samantha stepped inside the airy foyer and hugged her friend as best she could with a baby in one hand and a diaper bag in the other.

  “Or you,” Maria added, pulling her in and grabbing the diaper bag. “Hard to believe we’re both moms now.”

  “I know,” Samantha agreed.

  They were having lunch at Maria’s house. It would give them time to talk, and easily take care of their babies’ needs. “I’ll take this little beauty off your hands,” Maria said, relieving Samantha of her daughter. “I don’t have time to go to the gym anymore. A trip out with Ian is enough of a workout for me these days.”

  “Never thought of it that way, but it makes sense,” Samantha said, laughing. “I’ve developed arm muscles since Caroline’s birth.”

  “Let me have a look at this little gal,” Maria said, holding Caroline away from her. “She’s beautiful! Has your eyes. Her olive coloring is definitely not from you—you’re still as pale as a ghost.”

  “Still queen of sunscreen, nothing new there. Of course, I knew you’d say that, so before you ask any more questions, her father’s Italian. That’s all I’m saying,” Caroline announced to head off any more discussion of the subject. Her daughter’s thick black hair and olive complexion were a complete contrast to her own. Then there were the dark blue eyes. Those are definitely from me, she thought as she remembered a set of deep brown eyes, so dark they looked black at times. Eyes that she’d loved. Still love. Don’t go there, Sam. Not today.

  “You okay?” Maria asked.

  “I am. Now, you haven’t introduced me to Ian, and I’m dying to meet the little guy. Who knows, maybe these two will end up being best friends like us,” she added, hoping to direct the conversation away from Caroline’s father.

  “As soon as he wakes up from his nap, if that’s okay?” Maria replied. “He wasn’t a good sleeper last night.”

  “Colicky?”

  “I think he was just awake and wanted to check out the world. I set up Ian’s Pack ’n Play for Caroline if you want to put her down for a bit,” Maria added.

  “Grand idea. She’s about due for her midmorning nap.”

  Maria returned Caroline to her mother. “I’ll get us a glass of tea; the Pack ’n Play is in the dining room right around the corner.”

  Samantha made fast work of settling her daughter into the portable Pack ’n Play. “I need one of these,” she said under her breath.

  After settling Caroline in, she found Maria in the kitchen, where yummy scents filled the room. The kitchen was modern, with marble counters, white cupboards with black-and-white subway tiles on the wall space behind the countertops. The dishes were bright yellow, and Samantha noticed many accent pieces in the same shade.

  “You cook now?” Caroline asked incredulously. “I didn’t know you knew how to cook, unless it was a frozen microwave meal.”

  Maria gestured for her to sit at a small table in a corner of the large kitchen.

  “When I was pregnant, I had a few issues with sugar and salt, so I decided I’d learn to cook. Found I loved tinkering around in the kitchen, and well, here I am. I hope you still like shrimp,” she said as she removed a bright yellow bowl from the refrigerator.

  “Of course I still love shrimp,” Samantha answered. “Just because I’ve been away for three years doesn’t mean I’ve changed my eating habits. What’s in the oven? It smells scrumptious!”

  They both laughed. Caroline thought that of all the other changes she’d experienced since leaving America, her eating habits had to be the one she’d given the least thought to during her time away.

  “Your favorite,” Maria said. “With all these new baking skills, I had to give it a try.”

  “Real red devil’s food cake that doesn’t come from a box?” Samantha teased.

  “The real deal, and you are in for the treat of a lifetime,” Maria said, grabbing potholders from a drawer next to the double ovens and removing three round cake pans and placing them on a cooling rack. “It’s not your mother’s recipe, but I’m hoping it’s close enough.”

  “I had McDonald’s yesterday afternoon, and just a piece of toast this morning. I’m dying for some decent food. Though I have to admit, Mickey D’s isn’t bad when you’re hungry. I found myself craving their cheeseburgers when I was pregnant with Caroline. The ones at McDonald’s in Europe aren’t the same as ours.”

  Maria made fast work of dishing out the shrimp salad with slices of chilled mango and kiwi placed decoratively around the plate.

  “Go on, we have to eat fast before the babies wake up. I’ve learned to appreciate every free minute these days,” Maria said.

  Samantha took a bite of the cool shrimp salad and felt like she’d died and gone to heaven. “Oh my gosh, you weren’t kidding when you said you’d learned to cook. This is divine.”

  For the next ten minutes, they ate, neither speaking much until their plates were scraped completely clean. Samantha leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment. Florida seafood was the best.

  “So, tell me about Mark.”

  Maria took their plates and placed them on the center island. “It was love at first sight. He took over as the six o’clock news anchor not too long after you left, and I should say the rest is history, which it is, but we wanted to make sure we took things slowly. Then, when we realized we were meant for each other”—Maria held out a hand—“yes, I know that’s cliché, but it’s the way we are. To make a long story short, we married a year and a half ago, now we have Ian, and I never dreamed I’d ever be this happy.”

  Samantha could see that her friend was in seventh heaven. Her face glowed, her dark eyes sparkled, and her smile was genuine. If only things had turned out the same for her.

  She reached for her friend’s hand. “I’m happy for you. Truly. So, when do I get to meet this dream guy?” She didn’t want to talk about herself because she knew Maria would ask questions.

  “We’ll have dinner soon. On a weekend, if you can. I’ll make something, that way you can bring Caroline, and we won’t be rushed. Restaurants want you in and out now. The days of lingering over coffee and dessert are long gone, especially when you have a baby.”

  Samantha knew they were keeping the conversation light, but she felt the small talk was about to run out. “Listen, I know I told you I didn’t want to talk about . . . Caroline’s dad, but I just want you to know, it’s not what you think.”

  “So, you’re thinking that I’m thinking, what?” Maria asked.

  She raked a hand through her still-damp hair. “Sorry. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s just . . . I can’t.”

  “Okayyy,” Maria said, dragging out the word. “But?”

  “There is no but. It’s just that I can’t talk about him. I know that sounds insane, but it’s the way it has to be.” She knew she sounded like a high schooler, what with all the intrigue surrounding her “mystery man,” but there were reasons why she couldn’t talk about her daughter’s father.

  “Then we won’t talk about him. Just tell me this—why haven’t you told Helena and Charles? They’re going to be hurt, you realize this?”

  She nodded. “Of course I do, and I’ll be forever sorry, but there are reasons.”

  A high-pitched cry came out of nowhere.

  “That’s Ian. I’ll be right back.”

  Samantha rinsed their dishes and put them in the dishwasher, then made them each a cup of coffee. Yellow-and-black mugs were sitting beside a black Keurig coffee machine, their favorite dark brew pods neatly arranged next to it. She hoped Maria still drank her coffee after lunch as she had in the past. She took both mugs and put them on the table.

  Maria entered, carrying a tiny little bundle cocooned in a swaddle blanket.

  “Let me see,” Samantha said, walking over to where Maria was standing.

  “Can I?” She held her arms out.

  “Sure.” Maria placed her son in Samantha’s arms, and Sam held him close to her chest, breathing in his soft baby scent.

  “Nothing like it, is there?”

  Samantha knew exactly what she referred to. “Nope. Nothing in the world is sweeter. He’s perfect.” A tiny fist found its way out of the swaddle blanket to a rosebud mouth. “I think this little guy is hungry.”

  “Starving.” Maria took her son and prepared to feed him. As soon as she had him settled to her breast, she spied the coffee and smiled. “You remembered.”

  “No, you remembered. I wasn’t sure if you could have the caffeine.” She nodded at Ian.

  “I shouldn’t, but I allow myself a couple of cups a day. Our mothers drank and smoked when they were pregnant, can you believe that?” Maria asked.

  “Mom didn’t smoke, but I know she was addicted to caffeine when she was pregnant with me. In her day, or this is what she used to tell me, doctors didn’t offer too much advice other than eat healthy and make sure you showed up for your next appointment.” Samantha was about to take another sip of her coffee when she heard Caroline stirring in the next room. “Hold that thought,” she said.

  Caroline was all smiles, her blue eyes scanning the unfamiliar room. “This little girl needs changing. I hope you can direct me to a room that’s dirty-diaper friendly”—Samantha laughed—“’cause this kid is a mess.”

  Maria laughed. “Follow me,” she said, the now-content Ian sound asleep in her arms.

  They walked down a short hall, then to a room at the end. “This is the changing room. His nursery is upstairs; I’ll give you a tour before you leave,” Maria said. “I can’t be bothered running up and down the stairs all day, so I use this room.” She gestured toward a beautiful changing table surrounded by shelves that held diapers and all the supplies one needed for diaper duties.

  Samantha placed Caroline on the table, grabbed a diaper from the diaper bag hanging from her shoulder, and used the wipes that were provided in a nifty wipe warmer. “This is fancy,” she said, disposing the diaper in the pail next to the table.

  Maria smiled. “A gift from my mother-in-law. It’s certainly convenient. I’ll turn this room into a playroom when he’s older, but for now, it’s practical.”

  “It’s nice,” Samantha said, suddenly reminded of all Caroline hadn’t experienced, such as a room like this of her own. A changing table. Not good. Children needed to feel a sense of permanency and security no matter their age.

  “Want to have another coffee and catch up? Really?” Maria asked, her tone serious.

  Sighing, Sam nodded and followed Maria. The den faced an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Lounge chairs with bright blue-and-white-striped cushions were placed at one end of the pool, an outdoor kitchen on the opposite end. Caroline whistled. “You are definitely living in better conditions than you were three years ago,” she teased. “The pictures you e-mailed aren’t nearly as awesome as the real deal.”

  The den was comfortable, with plush off-white chairs, yellow cushions casually tossed about, and a large off-white sofa, all facing the floor-to-ceiling windows with the spectacular view. A closed-off triangular area held a stuffed pig, a giant plush rabbit, and a few other toys she couldn’t put a name to. The floor was covered in thick cream carpet.

  “I use the space for tummy time,” Maria said when she saw the look on Samantha’s face. “I know the white and creams will need to be changed, but this works for the moment.”

  “I like the idea,” Samantha said, as she opened a gate to the playpen and placed Caroline inside. She slobbered and made funny noises when she saw the stuffed animals and the brightly colored toys. Maria placed Ian on his belly on a brightly colored mat, roughly the size of a child’s sleeping bag, except one end had small developmental infant toys attached.

  “Supposedly a few minutes a day will ensure your child develops properly and learns to crawl sooner,” Maria explained. “I put Ian in here most days. He seems to like it.”

  “I see that.” Samantha watched as tiny Ian’s large eyes opened wide the way babies do when they see certain objects. His little hand tried to reach a ring with three brightly colored keys that were about six inches from his fingers. “So, when he reaches the keys, time’s up?”

  “Something like that. You keep an eye on these two for a minute, and I’ll bring the coffee. We can have the cake if you want, minus the frosting?”