Bridget gnawed on her thumbnail, looking uncomfortable.

“Why would you cover up what happened?” The lawyer in Luke came out.

“I couldn’t allow the press or public to find out the truth. The stock would plummet, everyone would lose their jobs and livelihoods, the boys would find out the ugly truth about Sean . . . I just couldn’t let them find out . . .” She took a deep breath and finally said the truth out loud. “On the night Sean died he was racing home to confront me. Since he was never home, I left him a message that I was filing for divorce and taking the boys. Without me, there wouldn’t be a company, and he’d go to jail for stealing the money. He was drunk when he crossed the center divider and hit an oncoming car. I settled with the accident victims out of court and paid for their silence.” She looked at Luke. “The report you read said Sean lost control of the car on the rain-slicked road. That was only half true.”

Luke’s mouth drew into a tight line, but he gave her a nod to acknowledge he understood why she’d had to do it.

Margaret stared at her, wide-eyed and in shock.

Bridget bit her thumb too hard and winced.

Sarah wondered if they’d accept the truth, or hide behind denial and keep treating her like the enemy.

Luke already knew most of what she’d said, and a few other things he’d eluded to discovering during his investigation into Sean. She held those back from Margaret. Some things that would only disillusion Margaret more about the son she thought good and honorable.

Margaret needed to know, but—

A knock sounded a second before the library door opened and Jack peeked in. “Uh, Mom, Nick spilled the juice all over the kitchen counter and floor.”

“Na-uh. Jack did it,” Nick called out.

“Perfect. Another mess to clean up.” Maybe she’d confessed enough for one day anyway. “I’m coming.” She dropped the check and contents of the envelope on the desk and headed for the door.

She took Jack’s hand and stepped out of the room, closing the door on any further questions and leaving a lot still unsaid.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Margaret stared at the papers spread before her and thought of all Sarah had revealed. Denial came first. “She’s lying. This can’t be true. Sean . . . He wasn’t like what she said.” Margaret tried to put it all together and understand what happened.

“People change. And sometimes they don’t always show us who they really are. But Sarah . . . She’s open and honest.” Luke’s admiration rang loud and clear in his words.

“It’s just so unbelievable.”

“Is it? Do you think Sean would tell you any of the things Sarah revealed?”

No. Sean never admitted wrongdoing, even when caught. She’d had to scold and punish him for lying often when he was young.

Luke drew her from the past back to the present she didn’t want to face. “If Sean was the one doing all the work, how did she keep the company running and profitable after his death?”