“And will you share the information you uncovered with Margaret?”

He didn’t answer that, but asked, “Did you come here to also try to mend the relationship so the boys can spend more time with family?”

Luke understood her better than she’d thought.

“Yes.”

“Then I think she should hear about the Sean you were married to from you.” Meaning Luke didn’t recognize the man Sean had turned into either.

“Margaret isn’t ready to listen to anything I have to say about Sean.”

“When she is, I know you’ll deliver the news gently because you’re not out to hurt her.”

“I never was.”

“I know. Time’s a bitch. It allowed her anger to build into a wall between you, you to move on, and me to use work and the ranch to get stuck trying to figure out a way to fix things between us when all I really needed to do was get over the fear that you’d refuse to see me and hear me out and come and talk to you. Because deep down, I knew you’d give me a chance, because that’s who you are.”

“I let work get in the way of things I should be doing sometimes, too.” She had to apologize to her boys a lot lately for working too much and not spending time with them.

“Don’t let me off the hook so easily. I stuck my nose in your business when I should have just spoken to you.”

“I’m sure you don’t take your client’s word for everything.” She understood he needed an unbiased and straightforward accounting of what happened. Still, she didn’t have to like why he’d done it.

He’d only done it because he believed what Margaret told him. Now he knew the truth and she hoped this was the end of it.

“I also made you and the boys a promise and I didn’t keep it. It won’t happen again.”

She believed he really meant it. “You’ve thanked me and apologized.” She pushed the present in front of him. “You don’t owe me anything else.”

He pushed it back. “Open it, Sarah. I want you to have it.” He put his hand over hers on the package. “Please. I picked it especially for you.”

She took the present into her lap and unwrapped the pretty, delicate paper. White roses over a golden background with a gold ribbon tied around to match. She carefully folded the pretty paper and placed it on the table. She lifted the box cover, pushed the tissue aside, and revealed the gorgeous carved wooden box.

Tears filled her eyes.

She pulled the gift out and admired the details. Roses, lots and lots of carved roses. A silver plaque engraved with her name in a very feminine script adorned the lid. With trembling fingers, she lifted the lid and found the inside lined with deep red velvet, and the lullaby she had sung to Ace on the first day she’d gone to the ranch played in soft tinkling notes.