Sarah sucked it up for the boys, but also because she didn’t want to hold on to this resentment and anger anymore. “I don’t know that we’ll ever be best friends or anything . . .”

“I wouldn’t expect that from you.”

“But I think we can agree to leave the past in the past and be nice to each other because in a weird way, we’re family.” She didn’t know any other way to put it. Except that sometimes you had to move on simply because what tied you together was far stronger than the bad things you could let tear you apart.

“Oh wow. Um, that’s more than I deserve or expected.”

“It’s what Jamie, Jack, and Nick deserve. Family is important. Their connection to each other matters. I hope they will come together, be sister and brothers, and have a bond that lasts them through their lives. That they will always be able to count on each other.”

“I want that for them, too. I’ll do whatever it takes to help facilitate that for Jamie and the boys without making it too difficult on you.”

“I appreciate that. I’ll need to have a talk with the boys and let them know they have a sister. Jack remembers a lot more than I thought.”

“I wondered if he’d remember me.”

“Apparently he does.” For better or worse, that would help him understand how Jamie was his sister. “I don’t know how you feel about this, but I’d like it if for the initial visit you let me introduce Jamie to them alone. You can wait outside if you want, but I’d just really like to meet Jamie, and be present with her, without you and the past staring me in the face.”

“I think I understand. You don’t want to put your feelings for me on her.”

“I guess. Something like that. Yes.”

“Okay. I can do that, but I hope, eventually, we can all spend time together.”

“Yes. Definitely.” She didn’t expect Trish to just drop her child and go every time. They would have to find a way to have a cordial relationship.

If she and Margaret could do it, why not her and Trish?

Sometimes, being a mom meant doing things for your kids you’d normally never do but you did them because they needed you to be a better person than even you thought you could be.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Sarah said goodbye to Trish with a promise that she’d be in touch soon to set up an introduction and playdate for the kids when she returned to her home in Silicon Valley. She couldn’t believe this had become her life. Cleaning up Sean’s messes, reconciling with his family, now inviting his mistress to her home.

Add in work and she had way too much on her plate. All of it took an emotional toll.

She wanted to keep on hating Trish, but it was hard to hold on to anger for a woman who had made the same mistake she had by falling for Sean.