With an arm around Addie’s shoulder, Bree determinedly steered her toward the terminal entrance. “This just isn’t right,” Addie continued distractedly. “All alone in that cabin…I’m going to talk to your father again, that’s what I’m going to do.”

“Mom, I’ll be fine,” Bree mouthed firmly. “Please don’t worry.”

“Pardon?”

Bree sighed. Her lips formed “I love you, Mom,” and then tightened anxiously as she heard her flight called a second time.

“Well, at least promise me you’ll take care of yourself.”

Bree nodded vigorously four times and offered yet another warm, reassuring hug. Mothers. A moment later, Addie was safely out the door, and Bree dodged a pair of howling twins in a frantic dash for her plane. By the time she reached her flight’s waiting room, her heart was tripping in double time and her nerves felt like tumbling Tinkertoys. “You’re the last one,” the blonde stewardess told her cheerfully. “Have a good flight, now.”

Bree nodded, answering her with an automatic half smile. Inside the plane, another stewardess wanted to see Bree’s ticket, and as she groped in her shoulder bag for it she caught her reflection in the small rectangular mirror on the opposite wall. At least the woman staring back at her didn’t look like a wild lady with a screw loose.

Shoulder-length auburn hair, glossy and thick, framed small, delicate features. The chin was a little stubborn, but the green eyes were huge and downright beautiful…and makeup had done wonders for the circles beneath them. Maybe her skin looked a little oddly pale, but the cream silk blouse and tan linen skirt presented a crisply attractive image. She had the most beautiful smile this side of the moon, her father always told her. That was nice. At the moment, her legs felt as strong as tapioca and her stomach was growling with nerves, but at least those kinds of things didn’t show.