“Maybe it’s time to sort the whole mess out. At least for the kids’ sake. Without lawyers,” he added, trying to get her to back down.
But she wouldn’t. Not when it came to Sean’s boys. “I’ll spoil those boys rotten while I can, but I won’t make nice with her.” Margaret would make sure Sarah remembered just what she had taken from her. If those boys weren’t happy and healthy, she’d follow through on her threat to take them away from their mother, no matter the cost to herself. They were all that mattered.
“I’ll come by tomorrow for moral support if you’d like.” Luke stopped by several times a month to check on her.
She lived alone in a secluded area. As she grew older, it seemed that over the past couple of years she went fewer places, had fewer visitors, and the house and land had fallen by the wayside because she physically and financially couldn’t keep up with them. She appreciated so much that Luke kept in touch. Especially since Bridget only stopped by because she needed something, usually money or a babysitter.
Luke returning to the neighboring ranch where he’d spent summers had been a wonderful surprise and a much-needed gift in her life.
She patted his hand. “I’d love the moral support. Face it, you’re curious, aren’t you?”
“You like most people, so the fact that you despise her intrigues me.”
“You’ll see tomorrow. I’m sure she won’t disappoint either of us. A leopard doesn’t change its spots, even when it is camouflaged in a Chanel suit.” Margaret eyed him and prodded, “You’ll see when you run the full background check and dig up every speck of dirt on her.”
Margaret wouldn’t let Sarah get away with taking her son and her grandsons from her.
Chapter Three
Margaret believed Sarah had taken her son away. She thought Sarah was a terrible wife and mother. She thought Sarah kept Sean and the boys from her. She blamed her for Sean’s death.
And because of all that, she wanted to punish Sarah for everything.
But Sarah wasn’t the one to blame. She hadn’t done anything wrong.
At this point, she didn’t think she could convince Margaret of that no matter how hard she tried.
Back in college, Sarah believed Sean wanted to make a life with her. He loved her.
Or so he’d said.
But life doesn’t always work out the way you hope.
People aren’t always what they seem.
And what Sean said was not always what he did.
Her marriage to Sean turned sour long before his death, because the Sean she thought she loved was just an illusion.
He didn’t want her or a family. So she’d tried to be mom and dad to the boys long before Sean’s death.
She worked hard to give them everything they needed.
Thanks to her, they would never know a day of desperation for food, shelter, or love. Not the way she did growing up.
Jack leaned forward in his car seat and tapped her shoulder. “Mama, will Grandma remember us?”
“Of course. She can’t wait to see you.”
“Will we be able to watch TV and play in Grandma’s yard? Does she have a swing? What about a slide?” Jack liked to ask a lot of questions. And apparently he already missed his things at home.
Sarah took the left onto Carmel Valley Road. Her stomach tied into a knot as they drew closer to Margaret’s home and six weeks of what was sure to be torment. “I’m sure you can watch TV and play in the yard, but I don’t know if there’s a swing. If I remember right, Grandma’s property backs up to a horse ranch, so maybe we’ll see some of the horses.” She thought fondly of the ranch she’d transformed after her horrible time growing up there. Her private getaway—that she never got away to because of work.
Still, it was there waiting for her when she needed it.
“I’ve never seen a horse.” Nick frowned, despite the excitement in his eyes.
“Maybe we’ll get to see lots of new things on this adventure.” She hoped with all her heart this trip would be good for the boys and not bring up sad memories.
Both boys went back to watching their tablets. She used the time to settle her heart and mind. She reminded herself that no matter what had happened between her and Sean, he had given her the greatest gifts in her life. Jack and Nick were her world and her greatest accomplishments.
She followed the GPS directions. It had been a while since she’d been to her mother-in-law’s home. A wedding gift from Margaret’s third husband. Custom built on six acres with a grove of trees surrounding it. Of course, husband number three hadn’t lasted long and Margaret retained the house in the divorce settlement. She said he loved that house and there was no way she was going to let him have it. After all, he owed her.
For what, Sarah didn’t know. It seemed he ended the marriage simply because he and Margaret didn’t have enough in common to hold it together when they bickered all the time.
At least he wasn’t as bad as her second husband, a workaholic who sometimes liked to drink a little too much and turned out to be a mean drunk. Sean had actually really liked him because he taught Sean a lot about business when Sean worked for him in the office during his high school summers. The guy also bribed Sean and Bridget with gifts so they’d forgive the epic shouting matches he had with Margaret.
Margaret had Sean and Bridget with her first husband, who had an affair when the kids were young and Margaret was trying to be a good wife and mother to two rambunctious little ones. Sean remembered his father fondly as the guy who showed up on weekends in expensive sports cars and lavished him with extravagant gifts and always had a beautiful woman in his life, though they never stayed long. His dad passed young, when Sean was in his first year at college. He died in a tragic boat fire while on a scuba diving trip.
Sean grew up to be a lot like how he described his dad. Then he died young, too.
Three failed marriages and two children who turned out to be self-centered had left Margaret unfulfilled and unhappy.
Sarah couldn’t change the past. She couldn’t bring Sean back. But she could try to make this visit as pleasant as possible for her kids’ sake. So she vowed to be herself during this visit and not let Margaret get to her.
At least, she’d try.
She wound her way down several back roads and finally reached her mother-in-law’s magnificent tree-lined driveway. The leaves shown in beautiful golds and reds. Fall was Sarah’s favorite time of year. The white house with dark green shutters flanking large windows came into view. The huge porch wrapped around the first floor. French doors opened onto the second-story balcony, providing wonderful views and a quiet place to sit in the rocking chairs and relax.
As she drew closer, she noticed the whole place had a weathered and neglected feel. The paint was peeling, the gardens were overgrown, the lawns had gone to weed, and the drive needed to be re-graveled.
Margaret had always been particular about the appearance of her home.
Sarah almost thought she had the wrong place until she parked in the drive and noticed Margaret sitting on the porch with a visitor. The other person remained hidden in the shadows, but she couldn’t help but see Margaret’s frown.
She glanced in the rearview mirror. Sure enough, the boys had fallen asleep. She exited the car and waved. “Hello, Margaret.”