turned into swanky, updated condominiums; they sold for prices that shocked even Jacqueline. Alix, however, liked her new home better, as well she should, seeing that she was living in the guest house formerly occupied by Martha, who had retired. Who would've believed when they first met that Alix would become as close as family?
"Jacqueline," Lydia cried as the bell chimed above the door. "Welcome back! How was the cruise?"
"Fabulous. Reese and I loved every minute of it." She opened the shopping bag and pulled out a skein of the Greek yarn, a wool-cashmere blend in a soft shade of mauve with flecks of white. "Look what I found."
Lydia examined the yarn, weaving it between her fingers, then letting it run through her fingers. She handed it to Margaret. "Feel this," she said. "It's incredible."
"I bought enough to knit a sweater. I didn't have a clue how much I'd need, so I bought everything they had. You can have whatever I've got left over."
After Margaret had exclaimed over the yarn, Lydia handled it again. "Where did you ever find this?"
"On an island. I can't remember the name right now. Reese went with me from store to store in my search for yarn. His memory's better than mine - I'll ask him."
"Reese helped you search for yarn?" Lydia shook her head laughingly. "Most husbands would consider that above and beyond the call of duty."
"We do everything together these days," Jacqueline confessed and although she would've objected had anyone pointed it out, she blushed. This trip with Reese was the second honeymoon every couple should have at least once in their marriage.
"I don't think I've ever seen you - "
"Happier," Jacqueline finished for her. She'd heard that over and over again from family and friends. She had no intention of denying it; she was happy.
"Actually, I was going to say you're looking tanned," Lydia said with a mischievous smile.
Jacqueline extended both her arms. "Oh, that. Reese had me out on every golf course in the Mediterranean." She grinned. "I've got a wicked slice if I do say so myself, and I'm a formidable putter." She glanced at her watch. "I've got to scoot. I'm meeting Reese at the country club in an hour - we're having drinks with some old friends. I need to run over to the house first."
"It's so good to have you back," Lydia said, hugging her. "Will you be here on Friday?"
"Of course!" Jacqueline waved away her question as if the answer should be understood. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
With that she was off, eager to join her husband - the man she loved.
CHAPTER 49
CAROL GIRARD
"C ameron Douglas Girard, what are you doing?"
Cameron gazed up from the carpet where he sat sorting through his daddy's sock drawer. The nine-month-old grinned up at her guilelessly as Carol stood with her hands on her hips, trying hard to look stern while struggling not to laugh. "Come here," she said, lifting her baby boy into her arms. Raising him high, she pressed her mouth against his bare belly and made a loud smooching noise. Cameron let out a squeal of pleasure. When she lowered him, he buried his face in her shoulder, gripping her hair with both hands, gurgling and chattering.
In this past year, Carol had learned about a whole new facet of love - about how much one person could love another and how much a mother could love her child. Cameron might not have come from her womb, but he was her son in every way that counted.
"It's time for our walk," she told him.
Cameron knew what that meant and squirmed, wanting her to put him down. She did, quickly returning Doug's socks to the bottom drawer of their chest of drawers. Then she carried Cam to his room, where she dressed him in tiny jeans and a hand-knit sweater. The pants were a gift from her brother, who'd sent them, plus a matching jacket, shortly after the adoption was completed. Released again, Cameron crawled rapidly toward the stroller. Once he reached it, he pulled himself into a standing position, then looked over his shoulder to be sure she'd noticed his feat and appreciated his skill. Cameron loved their walks.
"We're visiting the yarn store this afternoon," Carol told him as she buckled him in. "We're going to see Miss Lydia."
Draping her purse over her shoulder, Carol left the condo and pushed the stroller into the hallway and then into the waiting elevator. They took the same