Lost and Found Family by Jennifer Ryan

The doorbell rang right at noon. Sarah and Luke had their talk about the future on the back patio and stayed out there long after they’d made the decision to make the ranch home base and use her place in Silicon Valley for the days and nights Sarah and Luke worked in their offices there, though they promised each other that one of them would always be with the boys back at the ranch, even if that meant she and Luke had to coordinate their schedules and spend more time apart than they’d like. But it was worth it to give the boys the stability they needed and deserved.

She loved that they could sit and talk about everything openly and come to a decision that worked for both of them.

She didn’t need to give anything up for Luke. He didn’t need to for her either. They talked about how they could have what they both wanted with a little give-and-take.

Optimistic about their future, and excited that Luke was going with her on her trip overseas, she felt like her life was finally on track and included everything she’d ever wanted.

“Sounds like the kids are home. I bet they’re excited to be back.” Sarah rose to get the door.

Luke followed her. “Um, I might have forgotten to mention that I have another surprise for you.”

She turned in the living room and looked at him. “What surprise?”

He gave her that grin she loved so much. “Open the door and find out.”

Sarah rushed to the front door and opened it to her entire pieced-together family standing on her doorstep, Jack and Nick right up front.

“Surprise!” they all shouted.

Luke stood beside her and put his arm around her back, his hand on her hip. “I invited everyone over to celebrate your big night last night and you finishing your huge project.”

No wonder the chef Luke hired was still in her kitchen.

Sarah smiled at everyone, then pushed the door open wide. “Come in.”

As everyone passed by, they said their hellos.

Lyon, Norah, and Tyler came in after Jack, Nick, and Margaret made their way inside. Behind them, Luke’s family: his parents, brother, sister-in-law, and little Emma.

Bridget and Sophia each gave her a hug, then went to find everyone else settling into the living room.

Abby brought up the rear. “I really like your guy. You two are going to have a great trip.”

Sarah hugged Abby. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Luke said it was a family event.” Abby winked, because she knew Sarah considered her the sister she never had, then walked in.

A car pulled up to the curb outside.

Before Sarah closed the door because she didn’t think anyone else was coming, Luke halted her. “We have one more guest.”

Sarah glanced back at the car where a man stood holding a sweet, little blond toddler. A woman stepped out of the passenger door and stared at her. Trish.

“I thought it might be easier to introduce Jamie to everyone at once.”

“Trish agreed to this?”

“Like you, she wants Jamie to get to know her brothers. This way, there are a lot of us around to make it seem like a party rather than a strained introduction. At least, that’s what I hoped it would feel like for everyone.”

Trish and her fiancé arrived on the stoop with Jamie. Trish looked unsure of her welcome. “Hello, Sarah.”

“Trish.” Sarah took a breath, unable to take her eyes off the little girl who looked so much like Sean and her Nick. “Thank you for bringing her over.”

“Luke made a good point. The first meeting, no matter how hard we try, will be awkward and difficult. This way, Jamie gets to attend a party and have fun and maybe that’s a good way to start.”

Finally Sarah met Trish’s eyes and found regret and remorse, along with hope.

Trish glanced at Jamie, then her fiancé, who gave her a nod to go ahead. “I’m sorry, Sarah, for everything I did to hurt you. I look back on it and wonder how I could be so selfish and not think of you, and what you were going through. While I regret the pain I’ve caused . . .”

Sarah looked at Jamie. “You can’t regret that it happened because you got a beautiful little girl out of it.”

Trish’s gaze fell to the ground. “Yes. That’s true. She’s my whole heart. I know one day I’ll have to tell her about her father. And me. And how she came to be. My hope is that having Brett here to love her and be the father she deserves will help ease the loss for her and that she’ll understand I let my feelings get away from me and didn’t use my head.”

Sarah glanced at Luke, the man who’d be the father her children deserved. She thought of how she’d let her heart and desires for a family override her good sense in seeing Sean for who he really was until it was too late.

“Would you like to stay?” Sarah thought Luke’s idea of starting with a celebration was way better than getting caught up in the past.

Trish eyed her. “Um. Are you sure?”

“I’ve moved on from Sean.” She looked from Trish to Brett. “You’ve moved on. You and I are starting something of our own today. Luke invited the family. Jamie is family. And that makes you family, too.” Sarah stepped back and held her hand out for them to enter her home.

It was a big step. One she didn’t know she needed to take to really put the past behind her, but it seemed right.

Trish, Brett, and Jamie stepped into the house.

Trish paused and took Jamie into her arms, then turned to Sarah. “Jamie, I’d like you to meet my new friend Sarah. Sarah, this is Jamie.”

Sarah went along with the introductions. “Hello, Jamie. I’m so happy to meet you. I can’t wait to introduce you to—”

“Your brothers,” Trish interjected. “We told her she’s coming over to see her brothers.”

Sarah nodded. “They’re right in here.”

They all walked into the huge living room and the boys ran over.

Jack stared up at the little girl. “Are you Jamie?”

The toddler stared down at him wide-eyed.

Trish helped out. “Hi Jack. It’s nice to see you again.” She bent down. “This is Jamie. Your sister.”

Jamie wiggled to get free of her mom’s arms. Trish let her go.

Jack took her hand. “We have toys. Come see.”

Nick took her other hand. “I’m bigger than her,” he said to Luke.

Luke ran his hand over Nick’s head. “Be careful with her.”

“I will.”

Luke held his hand out toward the kitchen. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“I could use one,” Brett said, following Luke.

Trish hung back and stood beside Sarah as they watched the boys playing with the balls they pulled out of the toy box. Emma joined them and all four kids played like they’d been friends forever.

“It’s so easy for kids to just be friends.”

Sarah stood there, watching them, loving having them all together. “It’s only hard for adults because we make it hard by holding grudges and not giving someone a chance. Let’s not do that.”

“I appreciate that, Sarah. It’s more than I expected or deserve.”

“And that’s the last of that. You’re my guest. In time, we’ll be more because they need us to be.”

Trish touched her arm, then took her hand back. “Thank you, Sarah. I think I’ll go get that drink.”

Sarah didn’t move. She glanced around the huge room and took it all in.

Lyon and his wife were engaged in conversation with Margaret, James, and Lila by the back sliding doors. Tyler was on the floor, his back against the sofa where Jack had sat a moment ago, both of them with controllers in their hands as they played video games together. Sophia sat on the opposite sofa watching something on her tablet. Jason, Brett, and Luke sat on the steps that led up into the dining room, each with a beer in hand, watching over Emma and Jamie play with a ball, rolling it back and forth between them. Abby stood with Michelle, Bridget, and Trish. The ladies all had a glass of wine and conversed like they were old friends. Nick ran out of the kitchen with a cookie in his hand and slammed into Luke’s back and wrapped his arms around Luke’s neck. Luke reached back and ruffled Nick’s hair and kept talking to Jason until Jamie stood up and put her hand on Luke’s knee. He immediately picked her up and held her to his chest. Brett handed him a sippy cup, which he gave to the little girl, who didn’t seem afraid of strangers. And Sarah didn’t think any girl, young or old, wouldn’t fall for Luke.

Sarah’s eyes filled with tears.

Everyone was here. In her house. Together.

And there was Luke, taking care of and loving on the kids.

He sensed her staring and looked across the room, his eyes bright with joy.

The tears spilled from her own eyes and she brushed them from her cheek.

“Who you?” Jamie asked Luke.

Nick hung over Luke’s shoulder and said, “He’s my dad.”

Luke’s eyes went wide and met Sarah’s again. She pressed her hand to her heart and gave him a nod to let him know, yes, he was Nick and Jack’s dad.

Luke looked a little overwhelmed, but he smiled and wrapped his arm around Nick.

Abby came over and handed her a glass of wine. “You look like you need this.”

“This . . . It’s what I always wanted.”

Abby bumped shoulders with her. “It took a lot of . . . I don’t know what. Heart, to invite Trish to stay. I hate what she did to you.”

“Me, too.”

“But I get that you want to move on and make this work for the kids. And you and Luke, you’re perfect together. And he’s way better and hotter than Brett, so you totally win there.”

Sarah laughed under her breath. “You don’t even know Brett.”

“I’m sure he’s great. Still. Luke. Hot. Rich. Thoughtful. Romantic. Totally going to be a great husband and dad.”

“Absolutely.”

“He gets you, Sarah. He knows he can buy you anything you want to make you happy, but this, your family all together, that’s all you’ve ever wanted. Still, the ring better be spectacular.”

Sarah hugged Abby. “I love you.” She wanted Abby to know that.

Abby squeezed her back. “I love my job because of you. You make me feel like it’s us, even when it’s mostly you. You always treat me like I’m your friend.”

Sarah leaned back and held Abby’s gaze. “My best friend,” she corrected.

“Which is why I love you right back.” Abby held up her wineglass.

Sarah clinked hers to Abby’s, though she didn’t take a sip because she had a feeling she shouldn’t right now.

Bridget joined them. “Sarah, can I have a word?”

Abby gave her a smile, then walked back over to join Michelle and Trish.

“How are you, Bridget?”

“Fine. Better if you say yes.”

Sarah cocked an eyebrow. “To what?”

“A job.”

That surprised her. “Really? You want to work for me?”

“I was talking to Michelle. She told me about what she’s doing for you, working from home, setting her own hours. You know I’m an artist. While I love what I do, it’s never paid the bills. I thought maybe, if you were willing, I could draw the characters for your children’s line. For like . . . on the packaging and stuff. Or I’d love to learn how to do the video games. Maybe you’d have someone train me. That would be something I could do on the computer from home, right? Then I could take care of my daughter and be there for her before and after school but still have something that’s mine. I’d make my own money and not have to rely on alimony or my mom to bail me out.” She looked at Sarah with such earnest eyes. “I could be more like you.”

And that sold Sarah on the fact Bridget really wanted to learn and work and do this for the right reasons, not just for the money. “Okay. You’re hired.”

“Really? To do what?”

“Whatever most appeals to you.”

Bridget looked taken aback. “Thank you, Sarah.”

“I’ll expect you to do your best work and be diligent about putting in the hours required to meet deadlines.”

“I will. I promise. I’ll work really hard. To earn your trust as well.”

To ease Bridget’s mind, and help Sarah really take it in that she had family, she said, “It’ll be nice working with my sisters.” Sarah glanced at Abby and Michelle chatting. Abby had been by her side from the beginning. She was more than just an assistant or best friend. She was just as much a sister as Michelle and Bridget.

The handsome chef touched Abby’s shoulder. She jumped and turned to the man. They exchanged a few words before the chef went back into the kitchen. Sarah caught Abby checking him out as he walked away.

Maybe there was something there. Abby worked hard and barely had a personal life. Just like Sarah’s life used to be. Perhaps now that Sarah had hired some new people and evened out the load, freeing up herself, thereby freeing up Abby, Abby might take a chance and find the kind of happiness Sarah had found with Luke.

“Lunch is ready,” Abby announced to the room.

Bridget walked with Sarah to the dining room. “Thank you, Sarah. For giving me a second chance.”

“I think we all have a chance now to have what matters.”

Bridget went ahead.

Luke met her at the stairs going up to the dining room and took her hand. “Everything okay?”

“It’s a whole new beginning for all of us.”

Luke kissed her hand and they walked up the three steps and joined everyone at the massive table. They were a bit squished together and extra chairs had been brought in to accommodate everyone, but no one seemed to mind.

Luke held his wineglass up and everyone followed suit. “To family.”

“Family,” they all chorused and everyone started passing bowls and platters.

Sarah filled her plate but didn’t eat right away. Instead, she took in the people around the table, the conversations going on, and the love in the room.

Luke took her hand, leaned in, and whispered, “This is family. This is home.”