“Oh, Laura…” Sarah brushed at her own tears as she took the mug of tea from Laura so she could hug her. “That’s about the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. It’s such an honor to know you think of me that way. Thank you, honey.” She drew back so she could see Laura’s face. “Being here with you and Owen and Holden truly saved my life, and I’ve loved every minute I’ve gotten to spend with you.”

She tucked a strand of Laura’s hair behind her ear. “For the longest time, I worried that Owen would never take a chance on love or have a family of his own. He’d given up so much of his childhood to help raise his siblings and seemed content with his footloose existence. But the minute I saw him with you, I knew. I just knew you were the one for him, and I was so very thankful that he’d found you.”

“I’m thankful, too. When I think about the condition I was in when we first met… And the beautiful friendship I found with him before anything else ever happened between us. He’s an amazing man, Sarah.”

“I know he is, and I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

“I’m worried about what the trial and the worries about seeing his father are doing to him, though.” She eyed the guitar that sat in a stand on the other side of the room. “I haven’t heard him play or sing in days. Evan told me yesterday that Owen turned down a couple of gigs this week, which isn’t like him. He loves having the chance to play with Evan, which doesn’t happen as often these days because Ev is so busy with the studio.”

“That is worrisome,” Sarah said. “I think we just need to have faith that once the trial is over, the Owen we know and love will be back with us.”

“I hope you’re right,” Laura said. “More tea, please.”

Smiling, Sarah handed her the mug.

“Now let’s talk about this amazing night you had with Charlie.”

Once again, Sarah blushed furiously. “Girls my age don’t share the dirty details.”

“So the details are dirty?” Laura asked with a coy grin.

“I don’t kiss and tell,” Sarah said primly.

“Oh come on! You know you want to.”

Sarah laughed and the sound filled Laura’s heart to overflowing with love for the woman who’d come to mean so much to her. “I really do want to.”

“Spill it, sister.”

Returning to the hotel after his visit with Evan, Owen carried the sleeping Holden and followed the sound of laughter into the sitting room to find his mother and Laura gabbing on the sofa. He immediately noticed Laura’s pallor and the cup of tea she held in her hand. She’d been sick again.