Kate wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and spoke around her closed throat. “It’s for the best. Thanks for all those home-cooked meals.”

There was a moment of awkwardness as she faced Susan. “Can I have a word with you in private, Susan?” Kate asked.

Susan gave a short nod, her styled hair bouncing, and Kate followed her into the foyer. The woman turned to her and crossed her arms over her chest. The overhead light was harsh on the woman’s face, making her appear older than her years.

Kate tempered her words with grace. “I wanted to talk to you about my mom.”

Susan’s jaw went slack; then she pressed her rosy lips together and looked away. “Lucas shouldn’t have told you.”

Kate shrugged. “I asked him why you didn’t like me, and he felt he owed me an explanation.”

“I don’t want to talk about this with—”

“You don’t have to say a word; just let me say my piece. Please.” It was the last time Kate would see her anyway. The woman needed to hear the truth from someone, and if her own family wouldn’t say it, Kate would.

“What my mom did was wrong. I don’t know if she ever apologized, but it’s too late for her to say it now, so I’ll say it for her.” Kate waited until Susan met her gaze. “I’m sorry. It was a terrible thing for a friend to do.”

Kate wondered if it would help for Susan to know the misery her mom had gone on to endure. A failed marriage and a battle with alcoholism. Not to mention a premature death. Kate had dreamed of the kind of childhood Susan had provided her kids.

Kate could’ve sworn she saw a filmy glaze on Susan’s eyes.

“I’m sure Roy regrets it as well,” Kate continued. “And I hope somewhere along the way, he’s found the words to tell you that.”

“Saying you’re sorry doesn’t erase the pain,” Susan choked out.

Boy, can I relate to that. How many times had Bryan apologized? “I know.” She hoped Susan was remembering that Kate had her own heart broken not long ago. “But at some point you have to forgive the other person. It doesn’t mean what he did was okay. It just means you’re going to stop punishing him for it. Unforgiveness is sin, and sin separates us from God. I know this isn’t news to you, but I felt I needed to say it.”

Susan stood to her full height, her jaws hollowing as she sucked in her pale cheeks.

Kate was treading where she was unwelcome, but the woman had held the mistake over her husband’s head for over thirty years. Kate didn’t know how Roy had endured it.