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Alison Williams, 40, of Raleigh and her friend Karen Gray, 43, of Fuquay-Varina feel the same way. Both women also went through post-partum depression.

About her own pregnancy at 35, Gray said, "I was so sick with that child. I gained 6 pounds, and she weighed 7." About Quets, Gray said, "I understand a portion of what she must have gone through."

Williams added, "I think most mothers can relate to the fact that after you have a child, your world gets real small. You're run-down physically and mentally. Your thought process isn't as clear as it usually is. That's where a lot of my understanding comes from."

Williams has visited Quets at the Franklin County jail at least three times, put money in her commissary account and taken her collect phone calls. "I consider her a friend of mine," she said.

Williams, Gray and Buccellato acknowledge that Quets made a mistake in taking the twins to Canada, but they think it was a desperate act by a good mother.

Quets says she's broke

Quets appreciates the support offered by these former strangers.

"To have people show me kindness is everything to me right now," Quets said. "It's renewed my strength and my hope that there are kind people in the world. ... There are people who really care about the babies. It's so overwhelming."

Quets said all she does in jail is sleep, read and respond to letters. She said she is selling her house in Orlando to pay for her new criminal lawyer. She said she has already spent $500,000 on the trial and the appeal in the adoption litigation.

"I'm pretty much out of money," she said.

Federal prosecutors dispute Quets' contention: An FBI agent testified at the last court hearing Feb. 8 that Quets told Wachovia bank officials that she had $300,000 worth of stock options that she wanted to liquidate. A federal judge has ordered Quets detained until her trial. Her next court date is April 23.

Those who operate her Web site, www.allisonquets.com, which raises money and publicizes Quets' case, referred calls to her new attorney, Kathleen Mullin of New York. Mullin did not respond to several messages seeking comment.

During their recent visit, Buccellato asked Quets, "So you feel more positive about the lawyer?"

"Yeah. Oh yes," Quets said.

"You feel inspired?"

"I feel more peaceful."

"That's why you look good."

Their conversation meandered from Buccellato's words of encouragement -- telling Quets the twins know she loves them -- to the realization that they both had lived on Long Island, N.Y. After an hour, it was time to say goodbye. Buccellato put her palm up to the window dividing them. Quets did the same.

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