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Katherine lifted her head, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I didn’t even stop to think about Zach. Poor, sweet, always-there-when-you-need him, wouldn’t-hurt-a-fly, Zachary. He must be devastated right now.”

“Or not.”

“What?” Katherine blinked.

“Maybe he’s forgiven Beth Ann. Maybe they’ve already talked it through, and their relationship is even stronger for it.”

“But she lied.”

“People lie, Katherine. And other people forgive those people. Can you?”

“But—”

Millie raised her hand to stop Katherine. She was about to add more pain and regret to the stockpile of shame Katherinealready felt. “Think about Lucy and Lyla. Or Florence and the girls. Think about how much they all love you and Beth Ann. How much they like and respect Matthew and your father and Justin.”

Katherine swallowed against the overwhelming lump of guilt in her throat. How could she not even consider them until now?

“Did you know those ladies attended the charity benefit this year and saw firsthand what was going on between Julia Brandon and Grant Adams? Because they didn’t run to you or Matthew and tell you everything, does that make them liars, too? Or does it make them just like the people who knew about Beth Ann and Max and didn’t know what to do?”

Katherine’s heart ached. “I did hear them saying things after the benefit about Julia and how bad they felt for Matthew. But I thought they meant they were sorry for his loss.”

“Well, they were. But they also saw more than they wanted to. Everyone did. Those two carried on all night, giggling and playing around like two drunken teenagers. It was sickening how they didn’t care who saw what. Frankly, I’d come to the end of my rope with it and went to tell them as much.”

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t get the chance to say anything. We caught the two of them carrying on out in that van.”

“What? Right there while they were supposed to be working?”

“Oh, they were workin’ alright,” Millie scoffed. “But it wasn’t the kind of work they were supposed to be doing.”

Katherine looked scandalized, and even though the older woman apologized for her colorful choice of words, Katherine couldn’t stop herself from laughing.

“I’m sorry, Millie. I know it’s not funny, but for some reason, coming from you, it is. You’re a grandmother. Grandmothers aren’t supposed to say those things.” When Millie blushed,Katherine realized she was witnessing a rare moment. “I can’t believe you just saidthey were workin’ alright.”

“Well, I didn’t know what to call it. I was scandalized when Henry pulled open that van door. I haven’t seen a bare white bum like that since the last time my dear husband Hamish wore his kilt. And that man was a stickler for tradition if you know what I mean.”

With that, Katherine was face-down on the couch in tears, although this time, her tears were accompanied by roars of laughter.

“Please, Millie, you have to stop. I swear I’m gonna wet my pants.”

“Well, I think I already did,” Millie laughed. “But don’t be alarmed. It was only a little.”

Raising herself off the couch, Katherine reached out and wrapped her arms around Millie’s neck. They hugged, laughed, and clapped each other on the back until there was a knock on the door. Then Millie pulled away, attempting to shush the giggles out of Katherine.

“Yes?”

Katherine covered her mouth with her hand as the study door opened.

“Mother, are you okay in here?”

It was Millie’s son, Henry, with Katherine’s brother-in-law, Andrew, following him into the room.

“Why yes, my dear boy.” Millie shot Katherine a look that saidkeep it together. “Why do you ask?”

“We didn’t know if we heard crying or laughing,” Henry said, visibly uncomfortable with invading female territory. “So, we thought we’d check on you.”

Then Henry and Andrew surveyed the scene before them. Two women with tear-streaked faces shrugging in feigned innocence. An empty tissue box tossed on the floor. A mountainof used tissues piled on the table beside the tea service. And a plate of crumbs sat next to an empty flask that lay tipped over on a serving tray.