Trish had an appointment with Sydney, and it worked out well, because Mick went to see his friend at the Brigham. Meg had a cesarean section when her blood pressure rose and she and the baby were at risk. Mother and baby were both doing well, but they were being watched closely. It had been a long time since Trish studied obstetrics, but she knew toxemia came with risks. She also trusted the qualified doctors at one of the best obstetrics hospitals in the country.

Every time Trish stepped into the office, she felt nervous. Once Sydney greeted her with a reassuring smile she relaxed. After small talk, Sydney asked how things were going with Mick.

"Good. He's amazing. Patient."

"Do you love him?"

"I think so, but?"

"Let's explore that but. What causes you to hesitate?"

"I loved Joey."

Sydney nodded. "And..."

"It hurt when he betrayed that love."

"Do you still love Joey?"

Trish felt a tear fall. "No. Yes. I don't know."

"If he came back to you on his knees would you take him back?"

She shook her head. "He has a wife and child."

"So, is it safe to say that you love the past? The memories of falling in love and being in love? The good times?"

Trish wiped a tear. "I definitely don't miss the fights we had. Not the guilt I felt for pursuing the career he knew I wanted from our first date."

"Think about what's in the past and what kind of future you would like."

"Mick, but the hurt, how do I let it go?"

Sydney sighed. "People live with hurt. The key is to not let it consume you. Think of the person who lost their spouse. Many find love again, but the memory of their loved one stays with them in the background."

"So I need to push my hurt to the background."

Sydney smiled. "You need to let your guilt go. He is solely responsible for his actions. He had many other choices, but he chose another woman."

"That's the guilt. What about the hurt?"

"My guess is both are coiled together so you don't know where one starts and the other ends."

Trish nodded. "It's like a tangled wire I carry around my neck."

Sydney smiled. "I like that vision. Try this one. Take wire cutters and clip away at it and discard it. I bet your Mick can clear some to make room for himself. Let him in your heart. Embrace the beauty of being in love. It's ironic that the memories you want to hold on to are the ones that you can create anew with a man who you described as amazing, patient, and loving."

"Have I been stupid?"

Sydney smiled. "You were wounded. Heal yourself. You are smart, kind and capable. You deserve happiness."

"What if it doesn't last?"

Sydney frowned. "I don't have a crystal ball, but you are strong and I'll always be here."

"I really like Leigh. She's proof."

Sydney nodded. "You know I can't speak about her journey, but she can help you. So how do you feel? Would you like to set a goal to report on next week?"

"I want to feel Mick's love and be ready to love him back."

Sydney smiled. "That sounds like a perfect goal. I'll look forward to seeing how it goes when I see you next week."

As Trish stepped outside her head spun. Why would she want Joey when she had Mick? The air was frosty as she walked from the subway to her apartment. She considered walking to Brigham & Women's but no new mother wanted a stranger visiting. As she stepped into her building her phone rang. She answered by tapping her buds without looking. Trish preferred to listen to music on the train instead of the rattle and squeaking brakes.

"Hello, are you..."

"Hey, you finally answered. I miss you."

"Jonathan. I, um, thought you were someone else."

"Someone else? Like a friend?"

Trish smiled, but ignored his question. "I was expecting a call." She imagined telling him about Mick and Jonathan telling Joey. The realization of her thought hit her like a two by four. She cared what her ex thought of her, when she was none of his business.

"You got mad at me and avoided me for weeks. I'm glad you answered so I can apologize."

Trish smiled. "Um, I'm seeing someone."

"That doesn't even make sense. You put me off because you still loved Joey, so I know you aren't suddenly seeing someone new."

She sighed. "You and I were never gonna happen. You are his brother. That situation might work for Reddit stories, but not for me in real life." Trish had spent a lot of time reading on-line stories about cheating. "Don't believe me, I don't care."

"You don't even trust me?"

"I trusted your brother and have spent a lot of time feeling like shit because of him. I'm done with him and you by association. The last time we were together, reminded me we can't be friends." Her phone buzzed. "I'm getting an imaginary phone call. Goodbye." Maybe he listened for once. "Mick."

"Hi. Can I come over?"

"Yeah. How are mom and baby?"

"Good. How are you?"

She smiled. "I'm good too. I just walked in. Are you hungry?"

"Yeah. I'll grab a pizza."

"From the place I love down the street?"

He laughed. "Can you call it in? I'll see you soon."

She smiled. "I can't wait." It was true she felt as excited about seeing him as she had going to school at sixteen. Love was thrilling.

Mick arrived carrying a flat box. She went to reach for it. "Pay the toll."

Laughing, her words were like a song. "What toll?"

He leaned over and she tipped her chin up to meet his cold lips. The kiss was over before it started, but it satisfied her desire to connect with him.

When he leaned back, he said, "You missed me. Tell me how your appointment was."

She opened the box and put a piece on each of two paper plates. "It was thought provoking. Tell me about the baby. No complications?"

Mick had his pizza halfway to his mouth and stopped. "Could there be some?"

She shook her head. "Hopefully, not. Her doctors will do their job."

"Brynn. She's tiny." He looked at Trish. "I want one someday."

She felt her heart soar. "I always wanted kids. I dwelled on how unfair it was. He had one, and I was alone."

"You aren't alone anymore."

Trish knew her life would be better with Mick. Maybe it was because both of them were wounded they understood each other. "You'll be an amazing father."

"My dad wasn't as bad as I thought. I feel bad the awful memories blocked the good, but he tried. Once a year, he took me away. We went to Florida or the Cape, or Maine."

"He loves you."

He smiled and with a teasing voice asked, "Do you?"

Focus on the future not the past. "I do."

Mick dropped his pizza. "Seriously?"

She nodded. "I think I always have."

"Te amo."

"Si. Te amo."

Mick stood and lifted her and spun her around. Then his mouth covered hers in a searing kiss. Her heart leaped. She loved him.

Because they were in love, she agreed to go to Sunday dinner at his aunt's house. Trish had never met Putty's family.

Before they arrived at the home in the suburban neighborhood, Mick made her promise to ignore his mother. "Whatever she does or doesn't do, just ignore her."

"Okay." She agreed but already had the urge to tell the awful woman off.

Putty's mother greeted them. She was warm and welcoming like Chickie had been. "Mick has never brought a guest before?"

She smiled. "Not even Tyler?"

He shook his head and pulled her closer. It was becoming harder for her to resist him physically. Before Mick could respond a young man appeared. He was definitely Putty's brother, but even more handsome.

"This is Hudson."

"Hey. We all heard you know my brother. Ignore Heidi, she's under the influence of crazy town."

"What?" Lori and Mick asked together.

Hudson shrugged. "Your mother." He made a circle around his ear.

Mick whispered, "Ignore her. Remember." Then he looked up. "Is Hunter bringing Jocelyn?"

"She isn't coming."

Trish looked at Mick. "Don't worry you'll love Harper and Hunter will keep you safe."

"I haven't seen Jocelyn all week. I wonder what she's doing."

Hudson said, "Hunt wanted to spend the day with his old love alone." Trish's jaw dropped. Mick squeezed her side. Before he could say anything. Hudson laughed. "Just kidding. I mean who would like my brother when she could have Mick. Seriously, he didn't get any maternal genes and poor Hunter got them."

"Your mother is pretty."

Hudson said, "Her sister ain't."

Lori sighed. "It caused a problem when we were young. She always wanted to date one of my boyfriend's friends. I hated trying to fix her up. That's how she dated your father."

"He must have liked her since he married her."

Lori turned without answering. Interesting. Why had he married her? Maybe she was pregnant.

Putty arrived with his sister, Harper. "Where's Jocelyn?"

He shrugged. "She wanted some alone time."

Mick frowned. "Are you two good?"

Hunter nodded. "Yeah." He smiled. "We were last night."

Harper pushed her brother. "Levi's on his way. We are very good. Thanks for asking." She turned to Trish. "I'm so glad to meet the girl who got Mick's heart. You are as pretty as your picture."

Hunter said, "When did you see her picture?"

She shrugged. "After Mick came home. He mentioned someone, so I, um, peeked at his phone when he went to the men's room. I think your story is romantic." Harper was an ally.

Putty said, "If you showed me the picture, I could have saved you some time."

Mick laughed. "You would have lied."

Putty looked at Trish. "Could I have gotten away with it?"

She smiled. "Sorry Putty."

"Get out of my kitchen. Shoo."

Hudson looked at Mick. "Football?"

"Sure. You want to play?"

It had been a long time since she played with the Murphy family. It was unseasonably warm for November.

"Watch her hands. She's a brilliant surgeon."

Trish smiled. "Thanks, Dr. Putty. You are a very caring physician."

"Ok. Jacobsen, let's play." Putty grabbed a ball.

Before they formed teams, the youngest sister arrived with her fiancé. When another man arrived, Harper walked to him and kissed him. Mick whispered, "My boss."

Trish ended up on the opposite team from Mick, with Putty, Levi and Harper.

When Harper passed the ball to her. Mick tackled her by picking her up and carrying her towards his end zone. Putty yelled, "Flag, flag!"

After a while it seemed like Heidi was out to get her. Trish wanted to stop the game and confront her. She had never met her before and it was obvious the youngest Putnum didn't like her.

Instead, she kept her mouth shut. When Putty questioned his youngest sister on her aggression. Trish walked away. She had seen the bathroom, just inside the back door off the kitchen. After she entered the house, she heard voices and Mick's name. With her hand on the door so it wouldn't make any noise, she eavesdropped.

An ugly voice said, "What about him?"

"You promised to take care of him. I told Michael he shouldn't marry you. He said you promised to love his son."

"He sure as hell never promised to love me."

Lori sighed. "He was mourning. Kathy was everything to him."

Trish's head reeled. "I told you to never mention her name. He agreed to never mention her."

"Seems to me Mike was the only one who lived up to your sick bargain. Mick deserves to know the truth."

She slipped out as quietly as possible. Poor Mick for thinking he was unloved by his mother. Kathy. Mourning. She had to tell him and warn his father.

Mick ran over to her. "Are you okay?"

She gave a fake smile and nodded. "I'm going to sit out."

Putty said, "Let's quit. We need drinks."

Trish stayed to the back as the group plowed into the kitchen. There was no way the two women wouldn't hear them. She was reluctant to see the face of the woman she hated. A part of Trish was relieved that she didn't need to pretend because the bitch wasn't Mick's mother.

Mick had his arm around her when she finally saw the hateful woman. She wasn't attractive. With her long face, she looked like a horse. Trish could tell her clothes were expensive, probably all designer labels. Her manicure was perfect, but none of it made her pretty.

Heidi had hugged her aunt with affection. "I had so much fun yesterday."

Mick said, "Yesterday."

"Wedding dress shopping. She's buying my dress. It's a Vera Wang." The young girl lifted her chin proudly.

The shock on Lori's face meant she hadn't known her daughter went dress shopping. Mrs. Daigle stared at Trish ignoring her sister's hurt.

She snarled up her face. "You! How dare you show your face here after you broke sweet Hunter's heart for him? What a whore going from one man to another."

Mick stepped forward. "Don't you dare call the woman I love a whore!"

The sick woman laughed. Trish didn't care about her virtue, although ironically she hadn't had sex with either man. "A whore is someone who makes promises to lure a man and goes back on those promises the minute she traps him."

Lori looked shocked, and it wasn't because Mick announced they were leaving. His aunt followed them outside. "I'm sorry Mick."

"You don't need to apologize. You always loved me." Mick said.

She shook her head. "I do. I really do." She hugged him and turned to Trish.

It was obvious she felt guilty for her silence. Lori hugged Trish. Softly Trish said, "You better warn his father, because I have to tell him."

Lori looked white as a ghost as they drove away.

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