“I’m sorry this happened to him, but my priority is Katie and she is too young and emotionally fragile to deal with whatever’s going on inside his head. What do you think his childhood was like?”

“I suppose it’s a good thing your parents didn’t have your attitude, or we never would have been together.”

“There’s no comparison.”

“You don’t think I was emotionally damaged? I guess you should have just turned your back on me.”

“We were already together. I loved you and I was stable. I didn’t have Katie’s history.”

“What about Shiloh? Should she have been judged because of something that wasn’t her fault?”

“Is that what this is about? Shiloh? You can’t save her so you want to save him?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lina said, trying to keep the frustration from her voice. “And he doesn’t need saving. And if you would give him a chance, you would realize it. He isn’t broken. He is mature and sensitive, and he adores Katie.”

“Why can we never agree about her?” He sighed. “Just once I wish we could be in agreement.”

“Well, maybe if you weren’t so pig headed.”

“Oh, is that what it is?”

Her voice softened. “I think so.”

“I don’t know why I bother to argue with you. You always win.”

“That’s not true. I didn’t want to put her on restriction for six months.”

“And look how that turned out.”

“That’s not what I was saying. That wasn’t your fault.”

“No? I think we both know if I hadn’t confined her to the house for six month she wouldn’t have cut herself, but we can’t go back, and I don’t know what a better solution would have been.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Lina insisted. “I never thought that. But I like Matt, Phil. I mean, I really like him. I think he’s good for her, and she seems happy with him. Can’t you just try and give him a chance?”

“At this point I don’t think I have a choice, do I? She seems completely infatuated with him. I don’t think she looked at her phone once during dinner. She was too busy looking at him.”

“They’re young and in love. Don’t you remember what that felt like?”

Seconds passed before he answered. “I remember exactly what that felt like.” His voice was like a caress.

Lina closed her eyes. “It’s late. I should go.”

“I know you still love me.”

“Has she had the baby?” It had been in the back of Lina’s mind for weeks. “Answer me,” she said when the other end of the phone stayed silent.

“Yes.”

Her heart dropped. “When?”

“Last month.”

“Last month?” she repeated. “Before Christmas?”

“December 23rd.”

“So when you were with me, you knew?”