“Thank you for making friends with Buddy, Thomas,” Sydney said when she could speak over the giant lump that had formed in her throat.

Maddie knelt next to Thomas. “This is Mommy’s friend Syd. Can you say hi?”

“Hi, Syd,” Thomas said.

“I hope you don’t mind first names,” Maddie said. “I don’t stand on formality with him.”

“I didn’t with my kids, either.”

“They should be okay,” Maddie said of Thomas and Buddy, who were bonding over Thomas’s squeaky toys. “Let’s have some coffee.”

Still rattled by Buddy’s reaction to Thomas, Sydney patted his head and kissed his nose. “Be a good boy.”

“Good boy,” Thomas said in the serious tone that made Sydney smile.

“He’s adorable,” she said to Maddie as she stirred cream into her coffee. The house boasted a wide-open floor plan that allowed them to sit in the kitchen but still keep an eye on Thomas and his new friend.

“Thank you. Sometime you have to see the way he flips out when Mac gets home. It’s hysterical. The two of them are joined at the hip.”

“Is there anything sexier than a man who loves another man’s child the way he would his own?”

“Not that I can think of. He’s been amazing with Thomas since day one. Until he met us, he’d never changed a diaper in his life. Now he can do it in his sleep—literally.”

Sydney smiled at the picture she painted. “Your home is beautiful. I’m so happy for you, Maddie.”

“Sometimes I want to pinch myself to believe it all really happened.”

“Are you still working?”

“Four days a week. I’d do more, especially this time of year, but Mac wants me to take it easy. He’s telling everyone this is a high-risk pregnancy.”

Alarmed, Sydney said, “Is it?”

“No! He’s being ridiculous.”

Sydney cracked up. “Sorry, but that’s funny.”

“Do me a favor and don’t tell him that. He’s already out of control.” Maddie placed a plate of warm muffins on the counter. “So, how was last night?”

“It was great. Being with Luke is. . .”

“What?”

“Comfortable and yet I’m very uncomfortable, too.”

Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“Mmm. It’s still very hot between us. Like it always was.”

“And that’s bad how?”

Sydney cut a blueberry muffin in half. “It’s not bad. It’s just, you know, I feel kind of guilty.”

“Because of Seth.”

Sydney nodded and took a moment to get herself together when her throat closed. “I loved him,” she said in a near whisper. “I hope you believe me when I say that.”

“Of course you did. You married him, had children and a life with him.”

“It was a good life. I was happy with him. But it was different between us than with Luke.”

“What was different? You’ve lost me.”