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for help with the baby. Had Joe’s rejection made her that desperate to be wanted by someone?
    Marissa returned with a bag of mini-marshmallows and dumped a handful into both mugs, saving her from analyzing the unsettling question at the moment. Unfortunately, she knew she’d come back to it at some point, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.
    “There were a few rough moments when I sprang the news on Sam,” Nikki admitted without confiding her revelations to her best friend. “But I think he’ll do okay. After the shock wore off, he stepped up to do what needed to be done.”
    “So, these things you want to borrow...I take it they’re for the baby?”
    Nikki gave a sheepish grin. “Do you mind? He obviously only has what his sister left in the diaper bag.”
    “Of course I don’t mind. In fact, I cleaned out Savannah’s closet a couple of weeks ago, but didn’t have a chance to drop of the clothes anywhere, so you can take whatever you need.”
    “That would be great. He said he has some money in savings, but I know everything adds up fast.”
    “Multiply everything times five and that’s why Eric got snipped after Savannah. No more surprises for us.”
    Nikki smiled as she led her downstairs. Yeah, the twins had been one surprise, and then three months later her sister had found out she was pregnant again. Added to the two daughters they had from previous marriages, Marissa and Eric had grown their family fast. She’d lost count of how many times she’d wished for a smidgeon of what they had. One baby, maybe two.
    They spent the next hour loading up clothes and other items Sam would need for Ella. Savannah was still in a crib, but with three-year-old Ethan and Evan in toddler beds, Marissa insisted Nikki take the second crib they’d used for the twins. They carried it upstairs to the front porch, even though it wouldn’t fit in her small car.
    “I can have Eric run it over later, if you want?”
    “Whoa,” came a deep voice from the kitchen. “What are you volunteering me for, woman?”
    Marissa spun around as Eric sauntered into the room, then lifted her head for a quick kiss. Nikki was used to the frequent displays of affection that ran in the Riley family, but after Joe had dumped her, they brought an extra pang of longing.
    “Delivery services,” Marissa informed Eric. “When did you get home?”
    “A couple minutes ago. Savannah fell asleep, so I laid her down. The rest of the herd is out by the swing set. Heather and Reese are watching the twins.”
    Nikki grinned at her brother-in-law’s description of his brood.
    “What am I delivering?”
    “A crib for Nikki.”
    Eric’s surprised, steel-gray gaze bounced from his wife to his sister-in-law. “Ah...congratulations?”
    “No, definitely not. It’s for my neighbor.”
    His eyebrows rose another notch. “Oh...the hunky new neighbor on the right?”
    She turned an accusing gaze toward her sister.
    Marissa shrugged and grinned. “He eavesdrops, I can’t help it.”
    Eric didn’t look the least bit ashamed. “Marissa never said anything about him having a baby.”
    “It’s a long story, but I’ve gotta get going.” She edged toward the door. “Since she’s filled you in on everything else, Mar will catch you up on the situation, and I’ll call about the crib later. If it’s not raining, we’ll stop by to pick it up on our way back from Green Bay.”
    ***
    Nikki bypassed her driveway and pulled into Sam’s about three-thirty. He met her out on the porch as she climbed the stairs with a couple of bags in each hand.
    “Thank God you’re here.” He spoke in an undertone, even though he’d closed the door behind him. “Sherri from down the street stopped by to pick up her pie plate ,” he did air quotes, “and once she saw Ella, she pushed her way inside and now I can’t get her to leave.”
    She forced a smile past a sudden surge of possessiveness at the thought of someone else helping him with the sweet