I collapsed into the rocking chair close to Ethan's crib, where he slept peacefully. At this very second, I wanted to crawl into the crib, cuddle with him, and sleep just as deeply.

The past week had just about done me in. Kelli had recruited me to be her official party planner for the gathering. Which was tonight. Everything had to be just so.

Over the past few days, I'd either brought Ethan with me or left him with Joel as Kelli had me running errands, making phone calls to catering services, liquor stores, even florists.

You'd’ve thought she was managing an engagement or something. Maybe she was.

In private, the day after she moved in as we ran some errands, Ethan held securely in my arms, she told me that she would pay me extra for all my time and effort.

I gave it my best, trying to please her, keep up with her, and not spend one moment wondering what had attracted someone as shallow and vapid as Kelli Spencer to a computer geek like Joel Farrell. He was a good-looking guy, no doubt about it. Filthy rich too. Still, if he was a player, which I was finding incredibly more challenging to believe, why was Kelli so determined to get back with him? More importantly, what was going to happen when the truth came out? Or would it?

I wasn't about to leave without Ethan, but I couldn't leave with my baby without exposing Kelli's ploy and perhaps even face charges of kidnapping before the dust settled. I tried to talk to Kelli about it, but she waved me off, telling me that we would talk about it later. For now, the party was the only thing on her mind.

I stared at Ethan, sleeping so contentedly, and allowed myself a tired smile. Just then, there was a movement in the doorway, and I turned to find Joel leaning against the doorjamb, gazing at Ethan with a tender expression. My heart literally skipped a beat. He was taking in Ethan, perhaps even falling in love with my baby. Guilt and shame roiled in my stomach at the thought that I had allowed myself to become a pawn in this game Kelli played.

Joel might be a lot of things, but when it came to Ethan, he was everything I had ever hoped to find in a man. Even out of his element, he was game, willing to learn, willing to sacrifice, willing to go that extra mile to ensure that Ethan was well cared for, not only in material supplies, but emotionally. I was going to have to talk to Kelli, and soon. I had to tell her that Joel was growing increasingly attached to my son. I had not expected this to happen. I needed an exit strategy.

Exit strategy.

What a cold, callous way to think about it… but it was true. I’d saved just over ten thousand dollars in my bank account already. How long was this game going to go on? I had plenty of questions for Kelli, but they would have to wait until after the party. Tomorrow, maybe the next day at the latest. This couldn't go on forever.

Tonight, Joel would announce to friends and family that not only were he and Kelli reconciling, but they had a baby. I’d had plenty of opportunity in the past week to see how Joel and Kelli acted together as a couple. In my opinion, Kelli was trying a lot harder than Joel, who seemed a bit reticent about fully committing. He was maybe at seventy-five percent. I couldn't understand the hesitation. Wasn't he glad that Kelli had given him another chance? Wasn't he feeling grateful that she had apparently forgiven him for his indiscretion? Or was he already finagling ways to get Kelli back in his bed and continue his philandering at the same time?

None of my business. All I needed to focus on was—

"I want to thank you for all the help you've given Kelli with planning the party tonight," Joel said, speaking quietly so he didn't interrupt Ethan's slumber.

"My pleasure," I murmured softly, a lie. This past week, I'd witnessed a deeper glimpse into Kelli's character, and I didn't particularly care for what I saw—impatient, demanding, and arrogant. He cleared his throat, and I glanced at him, a look of discomfort in his expression. "What is it? Is something wrong?" I sat up straighter.

"No, it's just a little awkward…" He cleared his throat again and then continued. "Sarah, Kelli has requested that… well, she would feel better if while the party’s going on…"

My mind raced. What was he trying to say? Suddenly, I understood. I nodded and released him of the duty of informing me. "She wants me to keep in the background."

He sighed with relief and nodded.

"Fine with me," I said, meaning it. I didn't want to mingle with these people. Besides, we had to keep up appearances, didn't we? Kelli was supposed to be Ethan's mother, not me. It wouldn't do to have me holding him when the couple made their announcement.

"I'll stay in the kitchen area," I said as Joel's face colored. It was sweet of him to be embarrassed by the request, something I had not expected. "I can keep an eye on most of the gathering from the kitchen area, with the windows overlooking the lanai and the pool… I can keep an eye on Ethan and take him if he gets fussy or needs a changing."

"You're a peach, you know that, Sarah?"

A peach? Who said that anymore? It was such an old-fashioned endearment, one that I’d often heard my dad saying to my mom.

I offered a tired smile. "Thanks. I guess this peach better change her clothes. You tell Kelli that if at any time she needs me, I'll be in the kitchen or in the nursery, all right?"

He nodded, gave a wink, and then turned and left.

That wink of his had me smiling with a tired sigh as I pushed myself up out of the rocking chair. This past week, I'd hardly had time to think, what with Kelli dragging me all over town to arrange the mother of all parties. Still, I knew that after the introductions and the probable noise of the party, Ethan would likely grow fussy–sooner rather than later. I couldn't imagine Kelli dealing with that. Soon enough, I would have my boy back in my arms, but until that moment, I would be hovering at the edge of the party, waiting.

Two hours later, I eyed the mixture of young and older faces gathered through the foyer, the living room, and spilling outside. A man with dark hair and a weatherworn face slowly approached Joel and Kelli. He gave Kelli a brief hug and then turned toward Joel, offering his hand. Joel seemed surprised, but clasped the man's hand in return and shook firmly. At that moment, Kelli turned and spotted me standing in the kitchen doorway, a tray of hors d'oeuvres in my hand. She nodded me into the room, and as I passed, she whispered in my ear.

"That's Joel's father. Hand off the tray to a caterer and bring out the baby."

I did as she requested, handing the tray to one of the uniformed caterers that we had arranged, and made my way back to the nursery.

I made sure Ethan was dry and smelling fresh before picking him up, hugging him to me, then taking a deep breath and stepping into the hall. I’d barely left the nursery with him in my arms when Kelli approached and took him. Ethan uttered a startled cry but settled down. The moment was here. The moment that felt so surreal as Kelli swept into the living room through the guests gathered around, causing a sudden murmuring to sweep through the crowd.

I watched as Joel tapped his champagne glass gently with a spoon, garnering the attention of the partygoers.

"Welcome, everyone," Joel said loudly as the murmurs settled down. "Thank you for coming. This is a special occasion. Not only am I announcing that Kelli and I have been fortunate enough to rekindle our relationship, but I would also like to introduce to you our son, Ethan."

Once again there was a murmur, followed by exclamations, and then congratulations pulsed through the crowd as they gathered closer to the couple now holding Ethan together—Joel smiling down at Ethan, Kelli looking up at Joel. It wasn't the tender look that Joel gave Ethan that cut me to the quick, but the smug expression on Kelli's face. My heart clenched, and the ugly green monster reared up in my brain.

Surrounded by strangers, Ethan fussed slightly with the noise and the different way Kelli and Joel held him. A jolt of pain raced through me. What had I done? Not only to my son, but to myself, and to Joel? Standing here, watching the scene, I’d never felt more alone in my life. My motherly instincts wanted me to race forward, shout the baby was mine and snatch him back into my arms, tell everyone this was nothing more than a ploy.

Had I just made the biggest mistake of my life?