Tess’s focus drifted toward the living room, but Leah guessed that it had actually drifted back decades. “He grew and became a little more serious, a little more subdued. But he was still good, through and through. There wasn’t a mean or malicious bone in his body. He cooked dinner for the family when I wasn’t up to it. If I asked him to take out the trash, he’d do so immediately. If I told him to come home at ten, he’d come home at nine fifty.”

Leah waited.

“He went off to college and earned a degree in business, then started work for an electronics company. It was during those years that he had an idea for a web browser that could display images. He did all the research, worked out all the logistics. He told a few of his closest friends about his idea.”

“Was one of those friends Jonathan Brookside?”

Her lips thinned. “Yes. They were the same age and had started at the company the very same day. Jonathan stole Ian’s idea. He went behind Ian’s back and assembled a team. He was from a wealthy family, and his father lent him the capital to start a company of his own.”

“Gridwork Communications Corporation?”

“Exactly. Jonathan was able to get the web browser off the ground long before Ian could raise the funds.”

“And Jonathan’s company went on to become a huge success.”

“It did. Ian was devastated. He’d been betrayed by someone he trusted. He slipped into depression.”

Tess’s heartache was a palpable thing. Leah could feel it against her skin. “His father and I persuaded him to sue Jonathan,” Tess continued, “and he improved somewhat during that process. He had hope that right would prevail . . . that justice would win.”

“I know that the suit didn’t go his way.”

“I wish, very dearly, that it had. Jonathan was able to afford excellent lawyers. So, no. The case didn’t go Ian’s way. Afterward, we tried and tried to reach him, to help him. But we couldn’t get through. He committed suicide a year later.”

“I’m very sorry.”

Tess’s gaze met hers. “Unless you’ve lost a child, you can’t imagine the grief. I loved Ian with every fiber of my being. His death is not something I’ve ever recovered from, nor ever will. I went on because I had another child, family members, work responsibilities. But I did not get over it. Half my heart belonged to Ian. And still does.”

“I understand.”