“I don’t feel amazing. That wasn’t easy.”

“You make handling the hard stuff look easy. But tell me. Are you okay? How did it go?”

“It went better than I thought, and I hate her a little less.”

“Well, that’s something.”

“She really loved him. I understand her having those feelings and wanting the life Sean promised her. I suspect Trish got pregnant hoping Sean would finally leave me for her and their child.” She shrugged one shoulder, not exactly sad for Trish, but understanding her desire to get Sean’s full attention. Early on, Sarah had tried, but when it became clear the only thing he appreciated about her was her work output, she gave up on their relationship and focused on the boys. “Trish miscalculated. Sean had no interest in the boys. I doubt that would have changed with Jamie, but who knows.”

“But he didn’t want to leave you because he needed you. Sean led her on. He didn’t want the divorce. He needed you to keep working, so he could keep taking the money. And as his wife, you couldn’t testify against him if he got caught.”

“Now you’re thinking like Sean. Manipulations. Lies. Anything to get what he wanted.”

“He threatened to take the boys away from you to force you to keep working for him.”

“Jack told you that,” she guessed, and Luke confirmed it with a nod. “He remembers a lot more than I thought he did.” Her heart ached for her sweet boy. “Sean had nothing but empty threats. He didn’t really want the kids. They took away from his traveling and partying. As for Trish, she wanted our divorce and fought hard for it right up until the seconds before the crash.”

“They were arguing in the car?”

“Yes. She feels guilty for distracting him. He was drunk and in a rage. The roads were slick from the rain we’d had earlier in the evening. It was dark, the lights from oncoming traffic may have distorted visibility. Was it one thing? Two? All of it? None of it? Who knows? Sean died.”

Sarah pressed her hand to her forehead, then dropped it. “Trish confessed that during the argument in the car right before the accident, Sean said some terrible things, including that he needed me more than a good fuck.” Sarah sighed. “I’m paraphrasing, but you can see why Trish took the money I offered her and disappeared to grieve and reconcile having Sean’s baby with knowing she wasn’t the priority she deserved to be with Sean.”

“You know a lot about how that feels.” Luke sympathized.

She put her hand on his chest. “I also know what it feels like to really be loved.”

Luke stared into her eyes and cupped her face. “You are everything I ever wanted. I hope you never doubt that.”

“How could I? You show me how much you love me every time we’re together.”

He kissed her softly. “How did you two leave things?”

“She’s willing to bring Jamie to meet the boys. I asked her if we could do the first one without her being there, so I could focus on the kids, not her.”