the stroller. “She’s darling. Pretty in pink and matchy-matchy. Just like me. I love it.”

“Next week our group is going on a dinner cruise,” Margaret said. “Why don’t you join us?”

“A dinner cruise?” I asked.

“We usually meet at my place on Thursday afternoons for a playdate, but since you’re working, you might not be able to make afternoons, huh?”

So there it was. I was working. I wasn’t a stay-at-home.

Something inside me deflated. I wanted to be a stay-at-home mommy. Why couldn’t I be? After all, I wasn’t really working. I didn’t have a current client. I was free on Thursday afternoons. I could make a playdate, whatever that was.

“Helene caught a cruising bug,” Margaret continued. “She scored us tickets for a cruise around the bay. We’re all bringing our husbands.”

“One thing that happens to new moms is that you practically forget about the dads. They need attention, too.” Helene rummaged around her handbag and pulled out a package of Nicorette gum. “Margaret wanted to include our guys. So, Roo & You hired a couple of babysitters to watch the wee ones.” She unwrapped a piece of gum and popped it into her mouth. “And we’re going sailing!”

A bay dinner cruise.

An evening with Jim and no baby? No nursing, no diapers, no bath time, no crying?

Hmmm. A cruise did sound a little more enticing than a playdate.

What would I wear?

Margaret dug a card out of her purse and handed it to me. It read Roo & You—President and had a little graphic of a kangaroo with a baby in its pouch. “You should come along and check out our group,” she said.

“It sounds like fun,” I replied.

Helene poked Margaret. “We need to go. Marcus is probably hungry by now.”

Margaret smiled at me. “He’s six months old and I’m vetting a new nanny. Unfortunately, someone stole the one I used with my two-year-old.”

A nanny. Must be nice.

Helene chomped on the gum. “This stuff doesn’t work. I still want a cigarette.”

“You should try those patches.” Margaret said, linking her arm through Helene’s. She turned to me. “Call or e-mail me. I’ll save you two tickets for the cruise.”

The boat swayed, the motion brought my mind back to the present.

I still needed to call Mom. How could I find a network? I extended my arm and did a ridiculous dance trying to coax more than two bars out of the phone.

I quickly dialed home. All I could see in my mind’s eye was Laurie’s pretty round face with her rosy cheeks and toothless grin. Thank God I’d pumped before leaving the house this evening. I only hoped they wouldn’t keep us here too much longer. I was missing Laurie like crazy.

I twisted and suddenly saw full bars. Mom answered on the third ring.

“How’s Lemon Drop?” I asked.

Samba music blared in the background, then suddenly stopped.

“She fine, dear. Sleeping.”

“What are you listening to?”

“Ricky Martin.”

“Laurie is sleeping through Ricky Martin?”

“Yes, well, she’s really still too young to enjoy the finer things in life.”

I filled Mom in on the developments.

She gasped. “Don’t worry about Laurie and me, we’re fine. Just take care of whatever you need to. We’ll be here.”

What would I do without Mom?

As I was about to thank her and hang up, I heard a male voice in the background. “Who’s that?”

“Oh! That’s Hank. He came over to keep me company.” >

After nearly fifteen years of being single, Mom had recently started dating again. Hank was the man who’d brought her out of hiding.

“What are you, a teenager? You have some guy over as soon as the adults are out of the house?”

Mom laughed. “I needed somebody to samba with and Laurie just wasn’t cooperating.”

From the main staircase four police officers in uniform descended. They wore solemn expressions and walked in lockstep.

“I gotta go,” I said to Mom and hung up.

I returned to our table, where Jim and my, no doubt, cold coffee were waiting.

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, the officers dispersed. Each one approached a different table, the divide and conquer method.

The officer that came to our table was Asian-American. He had a strong compact build and a smooth complexion. He leaned forward, his hands resting on the tabletop, and cleared his throat. “Evening, ladies and gentlemen, I’m Officer Lee. Sorry about the delay. The captain wants to dock as soon as possible, but before we can let you all go—I need to get a statement from each of you and some contact information.”

“How’s Helene?” Margaret asked.

Officer Lee focused on Margaret and