Sarah took another approach and encouraged Nick to talk about his escapades with his dad. She told him how special it was that he could see his dad in his dreams.

Nick found comfort in seeing his dad in that way. As time passed, he accepted his father could only come at night and his grief subsided.

Sarah looked at Margaret and very quietly stated, “Nick doesn’t have nightmares. I encourage him to talk about Sean whenever he wants. To Nick, his daddy is alive somewhere and plays with him in his dreams. I will not allow you, or anyone else, to make him feel that it’s wrong in any way. The doctor and everyone else said he would forget Sean. I don’t want that, and neither should you. So, if he says that his father told him he misses you, then you can believe it. Nick believes it.”

Margaret pressed a hand to her chest, the flood of emotions reflected in her eyes, making her breath unsteady. “He looks just like Sean. More now than when he was a baby. I miss Sean, too.”

Sarah almost hadn’t heard the last sentence. She took another slow breath. “I know you don’t want me here. But I brought your grandsons to see you and spend time with you in hopes that we could put the past behind us.”

Margaret’s eyes narrowed. “Never. You took Sean from me, but you won’t keep the boys from me anymore.” Margaret dismissed her with a glare and slowly went back up the stairs. She excused herself from her guest and made her goodbyes before going inside.

Sarah didn’t even rate an introduction because she wasn’t important.

She would always be the one who kept Sean away, and now the boys.

She didn’t do it on purpose. Life had to go on, and she had to provide a good life for her sons, which left very little time for herself.

She was beginning to see that her responsibilities were wearing her down. She could seriously use a nap and a few days alone with nothing to do.

Wishful thinking.

Sarah stared up at the house, wondering what she had gotten herself into, completely aware of Margaret’s guest’s penetrating gaze and the temptation building inside her to look at him and take in again the imposing but intriguing man.

Chapter Four

Luke took in the entire scene from the porch riveted by the contrasts. Margaret angrier than he’d ever seen her. Sarah, calm and warm with her boys, nothing like he expected. Margaret described her as cold, calculating, and selfish. None of that matched anything he saw in the tired woman’s appearance, eyes, or attitude.

Exhaustion hung on her like a heavy pack weighing her down. She kept up a good front, but he noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the way she stood not quite straight, her shoulders lax.

Petite compared to him, maybe five-foot-four, with long dark hair shot through with strands of red that fired in the sunlight. It looked so soft and silky, he wanted to run his fingers through it like her son had done. Her flawless skin didn’t have an ounce of makeup. Nothing needed to enhance her natural beauty, especially her red lips that even at rest held the hint of a smile.