“If I had been a different kind of father, paid more attention to who he was instead of imposing my wants and needs on him.”

“You were who you were, Max. You did what you could at that time. Is there a parent who hasn’t made mistakes, who if they’re honest with themselves wishes they’d done things differently? If Bella were here, don’t you think she’d search her soul wondering what she’d done or not done?”

“You’re probably right. You do the best you can.”

“And if you have several kids, each one of them remembers an event of their childhood differently. You can’t win,” she said. “I used to berate myself for messing up with my girls, all the things I didn’t say or do or said or did wrong. If you’re lucky, you have the chance to say you’re sorry, and you move on. Hopefully, they’re mature enough to accept your apology. I was lucky to have had that opportunity with Miranda and Laura, and they were mature enough, thank God, to accept my apologies.

“I’ll make it up to him. I’ll take care of Sarina and Sarah.”

Hannah took his hand in both of hers. “Dear Max. You’re a good man. I know you’ll do whatever you can for Sarina and Sarah, not for Zachary and not out of guilt, but because you love them.”

His head fell forward. “I do love them, and I hate my son for hurting them.”

“Many of us share that feeling.”

Across Cove Road, a taxi pulled into the ladies’ driveway, its tires scrunching the gravel. A man got out. He paid the driver, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and mounted the front steps of the farmhouse.

“Who’s that?” Max asked.

“That must be Ben Mercer, the man Miriam met in New Mexico. He’s here to visit her.”

The visitor set his backpack on the porch floor. He turned and his gaze traveled to the top of the mountain behind Max’s house. He shaded his eyes from the sun.

“What’s he doing?” Hannah asked.

“Surveying the scene, I imagine,” Max replied.

“Why doesn’t he knock on the door?”

“He’s probably delaying that. He knows he’ll be given the once-over by Amelia and her housemates.” Hannah laughed and poked Max’s shoulder. “He’s a lucky fellow. Grace is home, and she’ll give him a royal welcome.”

“Doesn’t Amelia like him?” Max asked.

“She likes him just fine. She’s afraid Miriam will marry him and move away.”

“It’s that serious, he and Miriam?”

“Amelia seems to think so.”

“Hmm. What line of work is he in, do you know?”

“Something with computers,” Hannah replied.

“That could be a portable skill,” Max said. “If he married Miriam he could relocate here, and Amelia would be happy.”

Ben saw them and waved.