“I don’t think Sean really knew how to love.” Why Sarah offered the reason for Sean’s bad behavior, she didn’t know. Consoling Sean’s mistress had never crossed her mind, but in the moment, it seemed Trish needed it, and Sarah commiserated with the woman for finding out too late she’d put her hopes and dreams in the hands of a man who was too selfish to fulfill them.

Trish sighed again. “He loved himself. He wanted to save himself.”

“Yes, he did. But then he died in the accident and I had to save everyone from him.”

“I didn’t tell you about the baby because I just wanted to do the right thing and stay out of your life. I felt guilty for taking the payment you offered even as I thought I deserved it because Sean turned out to be such a shit.”

“Agreed.” If they were going to be in each other’s lives to facilitate a relationship between the kids, then they needed to find common ground. Agreeing that Sean was an asshole seemed like a good place to start.

“For a long time, I let my guilt about the accident rule my life.”

Sarah wondered about that. “Why did you feel guilty about the accident?” Aside from the fact she let her drunk boyfriend behind the wheel.

“We were arguing. I distracted him. The more I pleaded with him to leave you for me, the more furious he got. And yes, I know, I should have never let him drive that night. Truthfully, I’d only seen him down one scotch. I didn’t know he must have had several others before we left to confront you.”

Sean’s blood alcohol test came back showing he’d been well over the legal limit.

“He’d have gotten in that car no matter how hard you tried to persuade him otherwise.”

“He was on a mission that night,” Trish agreed. “And I didn’t help things. I could have lost my child.” The last was said on an anguished whisper.

“But you didn’t. And still you didn’t tell me the boys had a sister.”

“I didn’t think you’d care. I didn’t want to intrude in your life again. I watched you rebuild Spencer Software. You didn’t just move on, you thrived. It took me longer to put the past behind me.”

“I imagine being pregnant with Sean’s baby was a daily reminder of what you’d done and what you’d lost.”

“Yes. But then I had Jamie and a new world of possibilities opened up for me. I met someone new. Someone kind, who fell in love with both of us. A man I could really see being a good husband and father. And he is.”

“I heard you’re engaged.”

“Yes. And he wants to adopt Jamie. We’ll be a family.”

Because Sarah had found Luke, she understood all too well how Trish felt. “I hope you two have a wonderful life together.”

“I know we will.” Another tense pause ticked away the seconds. “About Jamie and the boys . . . I think it would be nice for Jamie to get to know her brothers. I’m just not sure how we’ll do this after what I did to you.”