“After our talk about . . . ” Luke glanced at Nick, then said, “. . . your uncle, I completely forgot I asked my guy to look into Sean, too.”

She appreciated that he didn’t say anything in front of Nick about what she’d done as a teen, but it didn’t excuse that he was still digging into things that had nothing to do with whether or not she was a good mother to her boys.

So she had the final word. “What happened when I was a kid, what happened with Sean, they made me want to be the best mom I can be. That’s all you need to know. My marriage is none of your business. He’s gone. I’ve moved on. So should you.”

With that she turned and left, a knot in her gut that if he kept digging he might expose what she’d spent the last two years keeping secret.

Chapter Fourteen

Sarah pulled the large tote bag up to her shoulder and took both boys’ hands in the parking lot just off the Carmel public beach. Margaret carried the chairs and Bridget pulled the rolling cooler.

Margaret and Bridget went ahead. The boys moved slowly over the sand, but they made it to the spot Bridget chose just as she spread out a blanket.

Sarah pulled out the bucket and tools she’d brought and handed them to Jack. “Pick a spot close by to make sand castles.”

Jack and Nick moved a few feet away, plopped down in the wet sand, and started playing.

“There’s Sophia,” Bridget announced. “Why is he walking her all the way here?” She wasn’t enthusiastic about seeing her ex.

While Bridget came to the house to drive with her and Margaret, Sophia had spent the night at her dad’s place because it was his weekend to have her. Rob agreed to drop her back with Bridget to spend a few hours with all of them today.

Sophia ran over, dropped her towel on the blanket, and said, “Hi, Grandma. Hi, Aunt Sarah,” then ran to play with the boys.

Sarah turned and watched Bridget with Rob.

“You’re late.” Bridget held her hand out for Sophia’s bag.

Rob handed it over, checked his watch, then stuffed his hands in his shorts pockets. “By three minutes. Parking on a Saturday at the beach . . . not easy. And this is supposed to be my day.”

“I’m sure Little Miss Tight-ass-no-brains will keep you company.”

“And I’ll enjoy every minute of it because she won’t be spewing this kind of BS at me.” Rob walked away from Bridget toward Sarah. “Sophia told me you were here.” Rob wrapped her in a quick hug. “It’s so good to see you.”

Finally, someone was happy to see her. She and Rob had always gotten along. “It’s good to see you, too. Thanks for bringing Sophia. The boys loved playing with her when she visited their grandma.”

Rob smiled and nodded at Margaret. “Good to see you.”