“It wasn’t easy. But we had you. And we loved each other. In time, we forgave and moved on.”

Brianna stared at him, thinking how little she had truly known of her parents and who they were in their private hearts.

“And what about you?” A raw, lingering pain made her bold enough to ask. “I know you spent a lot of time on the road. Were you a faithful husband, Dad?”

“Surprisingly enough, I was,” he said. “Oh, I had plenty of chances. But I loved your mother, and I figured that if I slipped up once, there’d be a second time, and a third, and before long, I’d become the kind of man I hated. It was easier not to even start down that path. But you know, Brianna, your mother never asked me what I did on the road—she trusted me that much. And I trust Allison. I don’t plan to ask her anything.”

As if on cue, they heard the garage door open and the sound of a car driving in. Allison had come home. Brianna jumped to her feet.

“You can stay if you want to,” her father said.

“No—I’ve had enough drama for one day. I’m going up to my room. Tell Allison I’m all right.”

Brianna fled up the stairs and down the hall to her bedroom. She could smooth things out with Allison later. Right now she needed to be by herself.

As she closed the door, her gaze fell on the framed photo of her family—her father and Kate, smiling their sun-splashed smiles, as if they’d never known a dark moment in their lives. How human they’d been, how strong. And how safe she’d felt in the little world they’d created for her. As a child, she’d looked at them and seen two perfect people. But now it was time to grow up. It was time to love her parents for who they were and would always be.

She could only wish their kind of love for herself and Liam.

* * *

Allison walked into the living room and collapsed on the sofa next to Burke. “What an afternoon!” she said. “To top it off, I ran out of gas and had to call the auto club. They took forever getting to me. Have you heard from Brianna?”

“She’s upstairs,” Burke said. “She said to tell you she’s all right.”

“Thank goodness! I was looking everywhere for her. I was so worried about her.” Allison felt the knot in her stomach loosen and unravel. “So she told you what she saw?”

“She did. I managed to calm her down. No need to say another word. I understand.”

Absolute trust. That was Burke. Sweet heaven, how she loved the man!