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Katherine blanched but did as she was told. When she choked on the vile liquid, Andrew slapped her on the back so hard she was convinced that the smack did more than the coffee because she calmed down enough to finish eating.

“Thanks,” she said after taking another bite. “You’re officially my favorite brother-in-law.”

While Henry and Andrew cleaned the kitchen, Katherine and Millie finished eating. Once they were done with their coffee, both ladies were escorted back to Millie’s study, settled onto opposite couches, and covered with blankets. Then, both of them were sternly instructed to sleep.

Almost immediately, Millie’s eyes closed, and she started to snore louder than a bear. Katherine, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to fall asleep despite how tired and emotionally drained she felt.

At first, she thought it was because of the noise from across the room, but eventually, she had to accept that her restlessness had more to do with her thoughts about Matthew.

She wondered where he was and what he must be thinking. She thought about how he’d said he didn’t want her to leave him the first night they’d spent together. And then, later, how he said they could make it through anything.

Now, Katherine wondered if it was still possible.

Chapter 28

The following Sunday, Katherine got up early and drove to the diner. She had called Zach the night before and, with a lot of persuading, convinced him to bring Beth Ann by The Copperwall so the three of them could talk.

“Thanks for coming,” she said as they entered the diner hand in hand. “Please let me say that I am so sorry to both of you. The things I said and how I acted were inexcusable, and if there’sanyway that we can work this out, I’d like us to be friends again.”

“I’d like that too,” Beth Ann said, her voice still filled with remorse. “But I do need to tell you everything I was never brave enough to tell you. Things you should know before we can talk about being friends again. Because you may not feel the same way once you hear what I have to say.”

“Okay…” Katherine agreed with hesitation, wondering if she had the strength to hear what Beth Ann needed to tell her.

As Beth Ann took a breath to calm her nerves, Zach had to whisper that he was by her side and that he knew she could do itbefore she was able to go on. After giving him a teary smile, Beth Ann turned back to Katherine.

“What you need to know is that after Max died, I came here to Windsong to throw our relationship in your face.” Tears streamed down Beth Ann’s cheeks as she spoke. “I wanted to hurt you because, for years, Max made me believe you were standing in the way of our happiness. He told me that he never wanted to be with you, that you tricked him into marriage, and that you tricked him again when you got pregnant.”

Katherine’s shocked expression stopped Beth Ann, and once again, she had to look to Zach for the strength and encouragement she needed to go on.

“When Addison came into the picture, I was so jealous and angry that I tried to break things off with him, but he brought her to me and put her in my arms when she was six days old.”

Katherine remembered that day when Max said he was taking Addy to his parents’ house.

“It felt so wonderful, andshewas so beautiful that I started to hate you. I became so angry and jealous of you. I didn’t think you deserved them. And in some crazy way, I thought you somehow stole my life from me. When I threatened to confront you, Max told me that because you were an unfit mother who cared more about your future career than your own baby, he would divorce you and fight for full custody of Addison on the grounds of abandonment. He promised that one day we’d get married, and I’d be Addison’s mother instead of you.”

Katherine paled at Beth Ann’s words. “And you believed him?”

“At the time, yes. But the moment I met you, when I saw how broken and sad you were behind that friendly, welcoming façade, I knew in my gut that everything Max had said was a lie and all the things he had promised were just a way to use me. I was so young and so gullible when I met him, and hetook advantage of me. He saw that I had no one in my life who loved me and that I didn’t even love myself. That’s how he manipulated me and made me believe him.”

“When did we first meet? Was it at the funeral?” Katherine asked. “Because I don’t remember meeting you before you came and interviewed for a job.”

“Thatiswhen we met. And I didn’t come here for a job. Like I said, I came to Windsong to hurt you. But when I got here, you had bought the diner and were interviewing people, then one thing led to another, and you know the rest.”

“Oh my gosh.”

“I didn’t mean for that to happen, but it did because I never expected you to be who you are. Max always made it out like you were some kind of monster. But you were so nice to me.Everyonehere was so nice to me,” Beth Ann said, glancing at Zach, still by her side. “So, you see, I don’t want you to apologize to me because it’smewho owes you an apology. Once I knew who you really were, I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I know that now,” Katherine said, rushing forward to hug Beth Ann.

“Do you? Do you really?” Beth Ann cried out, holding on to Katherine. “Because all my matchmaking wasn’t to make up for what I’d done. I really just wanted to see you fall in love and be happy. And not the kind of love you thought you had. But real love. The kind you deserved.”

“The kindwedeserved,” Katherine said, pulling back to smile at Zach. “Now that I know what I know, I’m so glad you found it.”

“Really?Because I wouldn’t have without you.”

“No.” Katherine shook her head, blinking away tears. “You would’ve found each other somehow. You two were meant to be together.”

“Just like you and Matthew.” Beth Ann beamed, her expression as hopeful as the day she announced Matthew was moving to Windsong.