It hadn’t been the first time Kate put her mom to bed and it wasn’t the last. If her dad had known how bad things had gotten for her mother, he would’ve gotten custody of Kate. But Kate couldn’t stand the thought of leaving her mother all alone, so she kept their secret and spent her childhood feeling anxious and ashamed.

Now, as Kate curled her leg under her, she realized life felt as out of control as it had during those days. And just like then, there was nothing she could do but wait and hope things improved.

Only they never had. Her mother had died an alcoholic.

You made a better life for yourself. Look how far you’ve come from that cold house on Stinton Street. You have a successful career, a promising book, and you get to help people for a living. Help people that otherwise might be swallowed whole by their problems, like your mom.

But regardless of all her planning, she’d lost Bryan to another woman, and she was married to a man she didn’t love.

Only for a year, Kate. Bryan will come to his senses when he realizes his mistake. This other woman is just an outlet for his fear of commitment. Once he realizes that, he’ll be back.

What am I saying? I can’t believe I still want him back after what he did.

Beside her, the door clicked open, and Bo barreled through, with Lucas following. In the dark, his silhouette revealed tousled hair and a shirt that hung open at the front. Kate looked away.

“You okay?” Lucas whispered.

Bo licked the back of her hand, leaving a warm, wet film on her skin. Kate wiped her hand on her robe and crossed her arms.

“Fine. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

Lucas sank into the chair next to hers and silence settled around them. His presence changed the atmosphere. The masculine scent, the warmth of his large frame only inches away, the sound of his quiet breaths. Before it had felt empty. Now it felt . . . alive.

Kate shifted in her chair. Why had he come out here? He was an early riser, but not this early. Even the birds still slept and there was no light yet on the horizon.

“My family treating you all right? My mom didn’t say something to hurt your feelings?”

“Your family’s fine.” Strange but fine. She hadn’t gotten far with Susan, but it was early. First Susan had to like and trust Kate. Then maybe she would open up. And given the history between Susan and Kate’s mom, that was going to take time.

“Mom can be tactless sometimes.”