“I know you’ve got a lot going on, but you need to see her. I wouldn’t ask you to if it wasn’t important.”

“Does Tracy know about this too?”

“Yes.”

“Great, so everyone knows but me.”

“That’s the way you wanted it when you cut Mom out of your life, Sam. We chose not to go that far. What do you want me to say?”

Her mother had left Skip for another man the day after Sam, their youngest child, graduated from high school. Sam had sided with her dad, and she’d do the same thing again if she had it to do over. Lately, however, especially after what’d happened with Stahl, she’d been thinking it might be time for a ceasefire with her mother. She’d yet to follow through on those thoughts, but Angela had presented her with a golden opportunity.

“How long is she in town?”

“The rest of the week.”

“Set something up for a couple of days from now. Let me get my guys out of the woods first.”

“I’ll take care of it and let you know.”

During fifteen years on the job, Sam had had her share of scrapes and close calls, but nothing like what her ex-colleague had put her through in the basement of Marissa Springer’s home. The incident had served as a wake-up call that life is short and grudges are pointless.

Though she’d probably never again be close to her mother, it was time to put down her sword and allow her mother back into her life. Having Scotty’s adoption finalized was another good reason to bridge the chasm with her mother. He had asked a few times about her mom, and his curiosity had cemented her resolve to make a move—eventually. She hadn’t expected to make that move today.

Nick was sleeping when they returned to his room, so Angela offered to stay with him while Sam took Angela’s car home to check on Scotty.

“He fell asleep about twenty minutes ago,” Tracy whispered when Sam came in to find Scotty sleeping next to Tracy on the sofa. Tracy ran her fingers through Scotty’s hair as he slept, and the sight of her sister tending to her son made Sam weepy again. Enough with the waterworks today!

Sam rested a hand on his forehead, which was cool. “Thank you so much for staying with him.”

“He’s a pleasure to be with, and he was so glad when you guys called earlier and he could see for himself that Nick is fine. That helped to take some of the sting out of missing his friend’s party.”

Sam bent over to kiss Scotty’s cheek. “What a long, crazy day.”

“Nick’s doing better?”