Luke smiled. “She doesn’t know I want to marry her yet. I’ve asked her to stay here with me. We haven’t worked everything out, but I hope we will before it’s time for her to head home.”

“Nothing would make me happier than to have the boys nearby. I really want a chance to make things right. But how am I going to do that?”

“Tell her you’re sorry. Tell her your feelings have changed. She’ll appreciate your making the effort. Thank her for everything she’s done. I’ve discovered that she appreciates the simple, heartfelt things the most. I’m trying to do the same because of her.”

“I’ll talk to her. Maybe I can do something nice, like watch the boys so you two can go on a proper date.”

Luke’s eyes brightened with excitement. He really had it bad. “I’d appreciate it. I’m sure she will, too.”

“So she gets everything she wants,” Bridget said, still smarting from not receiving her own fat check.

“Maybe if you worked as hard as she does, you’d have everything you want,” Margaret suggested.

Bridget threw up her hands and let them fall. “Seriously, now you’re comparing me to her. I’m out of here.”

“Why did you stop by?” Margaret hadn’t been expecting her.

“To talk to my mom about my sucky life, but you’ve made it perfectly clear you have no sympathy for my situation and I’ll never live up to the amazing Sarah, who is so smart and kind and generous. Never mind what Sean thought about how she treated him.” Bridget stormed out.

Margaret took a second to absorb her comments. “She still misses Sean. And her divorce was just finalized. She’s in a bad place.”

“And looking for an easy way out. I get it, but none of that excuses her for thinking Sarah owes her something or that she can take what Sarah gave you as a gift. She can’t blame Sarah for everything and hold Sean harmless.”

“I think, like me, she needs time to process all this.” Margaret planted her hands on the desk and pushed herself up. “Let’s go find Sarah, so I can start making things right.” They headed to the door.

Luke let her walk out ahead of him.

They didn’t find Sarah or the boys in the main part of the house.

Luke glanced out the front door window. “Her car is gone.”

“She just left.” Margaret worried she wouldn’t come back.

“I’ll head back to the ranch. Maybe she needed a break and the boys needed to get some energy out so she took them for a ride.” Luke headed down the steps and pulled something off his truck window, held it up, then read it out loud.

“Luke,

Took the boys grocery shopping. Invite Margaret to join us for Sunday dinner at your place. See you soon.

Love, Sarah”

A half smile split Luke’s face. “I invited her to meet my family.”

“Don’t you think you’re moving a little fast?” Despite everything she’d just learned about Sarah and what happened with Sean and the company, she still wanted to look out for Luke.