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“I’m going to miss them,” Steph noted as she watched the three teenagers disappear through the gate at the end of the yard.
“This is going to be good for you and Max.” Hannah reached over and squeezed Steph’s hand. “You two need to sort things out, and this way, you do it without the stress of being careful that the twins don’t hear you.”
“I know.” Steph sighed and sat back in the seat, sipping ginger tea.
“I am worried about you driving for two and a half hours alone,” Hannah admitted.
“I’ll be fine.” Steph put on a brave smile. “Besides, the drive will give me a lot of time to think things through, so when I get home, I’ll have a level head and hopefully know what I want to say to Max.”
“And you’re going to tell him about—” Hannah glanced pointedly at Steph’s stomach.
“I will,” Steph assured her sister. “Thank you again for looking after the twins and Tammy to give us this space.”
“I love having my niece and nephews here,” Hannah told her. “I can’t wait to get to a stage when I can have Riley with me too.”
“Do you think Nicky will ever let her daughter out of her sight long enough to visit you?” They laughed.
“I’m sure Nicky will learn to let go eventually,” Hannah said. “She’s only been a mom for a couple of months now, and Riley is not even two months old yet.”
The mention of their older sister Nicky’s baby made Steph’s mind whirl once more as her own pregnancy was still waiting for her to decide what to do. She pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind and went to get ready for her drive home.
An hour later, Steph was on the road in a rental car and heading home to Marco Island. She hadn’t told Max she was coming home, and Hannah would tell the twins not to either, as Steph wanted to surprise him. Guilt surged through her because Steph knew she didn’t want to surprise Max in a good way—she was trying to catch him out so she’d know once and for all if he was cheating on her.
The road from Palm Beach to Marco Island stretched before her like a ribbon of possibilities. The route was familiar, etched in her memory after so many trips back and forth. The early morning sun cast a warm, golden hue on the landscape, illuminating the road as it meandered through South Florida’s coastal beauty.
As the miles rolled by, Steph’s thoughts drifted back two years to that evening when Max had returned from his firefighting course in Naples. The memories of that night were etched in her heart, a stark contrast to the uncertainty and unease that filled her mind today.
In the warm evening air, Max had walked into their home, his face flushed with excitement and a hint of exhaustion from the long day. He’d dropped his gear by the door and pulled Steph into a tight embrace. They’d held each other for a long moment, basking in the happiness of being together.
Max had spoken animatedly about the course and how he had helped a woman with a flat tire on his way back, which was why he’d been late getting home. It was just another testament to his caring nature. Steph had listened with rapt attention as he detailed the events, his eyes sparkling enthusiastically.
Then, his voice had lowered, taking on a more serious tone. Max revealed that he was currently in top position to become the new and youngest Marco Island fire captain in a year after the current captain retired.
The excitement in Max’s eyes had been contagious, and Steph had felt her heart swell with pride for her husband. She’d known how much the position meant to him, the chance to lead his team, and the opportunity to make a difference in the community.
With their twin sons, who were twelve at the time, they’d gone out to dinner to celebrate. Laughter had filled the restaurant as they toasted to Max’s achievements and shared future dreams. It was a night of love, hope, and unwavering support for each other, starkly contrasting the emotional turmoil that had unfolded with the events yet to come.
As Steph continued to drive along the scenic route, she couldn’t help but long for the days when their love was unwavering and those dreams were still intact. Suddenly, the road ahead seemed to stretch infinitely, much like the uncertainty in her heart. Steph swallowed the lump that was burning her throat and pushing tears to her eyes.
While their family was celebrating Max’s future, little did they know that one act of chivalry was about to threaten their happiness and put a strain on their small, tightly-knit family. A week after that night, a woman in her early thirties had knocked on their front door when Max was on duty at the fire station.
Steph had answered it, and thank goodness the twins had been with her mother when Kendal James introduced herself as the woman Max had saved a week ago. She’d brought him a heart-shaped box of chocolates and one of Max’s T-shirts.
The road in front of Steph faded away to that night.
Two Years Ago - two months before the fire
Steph had been getting ready to climb into a relaxing bubble bath when a knock at the door seemed to resound through the empty house. Muttering to herself, she pulled on her robe and slippers, then headed downstairs to answer it. Her brow knit into a tight frown when she saw a woman who seemed familiar standing there.
The woman’s eyes widened in surprise when Steph answered the door.
“Oh!” The woman said. “I’m sorry, I was looking for Max.”
“Myhusband, Max, isn’t here at the moment,” Steph answered, warning bells ringing in her head. There was something about the way the woman had said Max’s name that had made her hackles rise.
“Your husband?” The woman’s frown deepened. “I’m sorry, there must be some mistake. I met Max the other night, and he said nothing about a wife.”
Steph looked at the woman, a mixture of confusion and suspicion in her gaze. She couldn’t quite articulate her feelings, but her instincts told her something was amiss.
