“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” She squeezed his hand to halt his protest. “I’ll try to get more rest. I’ve been giving a lot of thought to cutting back on my schedule and hiring some new people. It’s going to take time, but I know I need to do it. For myself, and for the boys. Okay?”

“For now.”

She ran her hand down the side of his face and leaned up and gave him a soft, lingering kiss goodbye. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and hold on to her. Instead, he reluctantly released her and waved goodbye as she drove away, realizing this was the first time he’d ever regretted ending a date.

He already missed her and couldn’t wait to see her again.

Chapter Nineteen

Two weeks later . . .

Sarah dragged her butt into the kitchen. She’d been up all night finishing the Knox Project. She brushed her mussed hair from her face and found her thermal mug in the dish rack where she’d left it last night after doing the dinner dishes.

Margaret walked into the kitchen.

Sarah pressed the back of her hand to her mouth to cover a huge yawn. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”

“Can you manage? You look like you’re about to keel over.” The harsh words felt like a slap after all she’d done to keep Margaret’s home clean and give her the time she wanted with the boys.

Sarah turned and leaned back against the counter, blocking the coffeepot. “Do you have to do that every time we speak to each other, even when it’s about something as simple as me offering you a cup of coffee?”

“You’re in a mood,” Margaret shot back.

“I’m tired of you swatting at me all the time.”

“Poor Sarah. You don’t like it, you can leave.”

“I’d be happy to pack up the boys and go right now.”

“You can go. The boys stay. Or I will take you to court and use everything I’ve learned about you to ensure I get to see those boys whenever I want. Maybe they’d be better off here anyway. Look at you. You’re barely keeping it together.”

“Yeah. Thanks to you.”

Margaret eyed her. “What do I have to do with you not sleeping? It’s your own damn guilt that keeps you up at night.”

“You would think that because you don’t want to face reality. So let me impart some on you right now. What do you think the boys will think of their grandmother dragging their mother into court for visitation when I went out of my way to bring them here for weeks? What will a judge think of me changing my schedule, working remotely, being mom and teacher to the boys, all so you could have your visit? Do you think those things make me look bad? Or is the truth that I want the boys to spend time with you, therefore I made it happen at your request.”