I sat on a wooden bench, not far from the Los Feliz Boulevard entrance to Griffith Park, just past the pony and train rides. From my position, I was able to watch people strolling into the park and heading for the merry-go-round, the picnic areas, or one of several walking trails that branched off from the entrance nearby.

Lifting my face to the warm California sunshine, I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of eucalyptus and pinon pine… and the ponies, hotdogs cooking on the grill, and freshly popped popcorn. I’d come here every day for the past couple of weeks, hoping to get a glimpse of her… and Ethan.

I wanted to be angry with Sarah. I wanted to be so angry that I could never forgive her for what she had done, for the part she played in Kelli's twisted plan.

Nevertheless, after full disclosure and conversations with not only the police, but with my security chief and investigator, I had learned why she’d done it. Apparently, Kelli had told her that I was the one who’d been caught sleeping with someone, and not the other way around. She had told Sarah that I tossed her out on her ear and she was desperate to make up with me, to get me back. What better way than to approach that plan with a baby in tow?

It still hurt deeply. I had fallen in love with Ethan, and, now that I had regained control of my company and Kelli’s noise was absent, I realized that I had begun to fall in love with Sarah too. She had gone along with Kelli’s plan because she was a mother and wanted the best for her son. It made me cringe to know she'd been living in homeless shelters.

My god! If I had been more aware, paid more attention to how Sarah was with Ethan. Watching her with him should have been a dead giveaway — she loved him more than life itself. But as usual, I tended to think the best of people, even Kelli. Not that I was overly trusting, I trusted people who I thought were my friends. Like Eric. That was another blow that cut deeply.

I had been incredibly angry and bitter for the first couple of months after the betrayals. During that time, things settled down, work was going smooth again. My relationship with my dad was going well. He was being supportive and understanding. Several individuals from Graphica had been arrested and were awaiting trial, as were Kelli and Eric. My life was back on track, but I’d never felt so off track that I could remember.

I’d forgiven Sarah, not just because she had been lied to as well, but because I knew that it was only a sense of desperation that had driven her to do what she had. That night we'd made love, I’d seen the true Sarah. I had already seen the mother, the caretaker. That night, I had been able to see her as she truly was: passionate, loving, giving… kind. She had a kind soul.

I’d loved both Ethan and Sarah, but I’d steadfastly refused to contact her since she was rescued, wanting to be sure the feelings I had were real. But now, I wanted to see her. See Ethan. What would happen after that, I didn't know. I had no idea how you went about fixing something like this when everything you had shared was based on a lie.

But her affection for Ethan hadn’t been a lie. Her response to me on a sexual level had not been a lie. Her kindness and compassion were not a lie. So I decided that re-establishing a connection, if she wanted one, would simply be a one day at a time process.

I contacted a friend of mine who ran a large clinic down in Buena Park, and without giving him a rundown of what had happened, let him know that Sarah was determined to get back on her feet, go to school, provide a solid environment for her son. David had agreed to hire her, and from his latest update, he couldn't be happier with her work ethic. That made me happy, and proud. I hadn't been wrong about her.

For now, she didn't need to know that it was me who had arranged her job, her apartment, or the potential long-term contract with the clinic if David—me, again—paid part of her fees to attend school. She was making her own way, and I hoped she knew that she could do it. Someday, she would be able to stand on her own two feet. And she was working at it, getting ready to start classes in the fall, negotiating for child care. She was a strong woman and would become even stronger once her confidence returned.

Now, here I was, sitting on the bench at the entrance to Griffith Park, remembering the day we spent here. A short time indeed, but long enough for me to realize that I wanted to get to know her better. As a woman, a mother, who had briefly stepped over to the dark side for the sake of her son. It was the love for her son that had attracted me in the first place. A love for her son that I shared. I wanted to be part of his life, if she would let me. And hers.

If I could just—

My heart skipped a beat as I saw a shock of medium length brown hair pulled up into a high ponytail. I kept my gaze on that heart-shaped face and gorgeous hourglass figure. And then, as the crowd parted, the stroller came into view. Inside, Ethan was sitting up, wearing a tiny baseball cap. I smiled, relief flooding me.

I knew I was about to take a big risk, but as I watched Sarah slowly approach, meandering along the pathway as she talked to Ethan, I knew by the reaction of my own body, that she was the one for me. I could get past what had happened, if she could. Together, both of us could recover. I had no doubt of it.

I had gone through a rough time to get here, yes, but now there was only one piece missing. Well, two.

Sarah and the stroller were perhaps fifteen feet away when I rose from the park bench and slowly walked toward the path. She glanced my way, back to Ethan, then did a double take, her eyes wide.

"Hello, Sarah," I said, taking in her beautiful face, noticing the tears that shimmered instantly in those hazel green eyes of hers. "You look good."

"I… Joel… I didn't expect to find you here."

Ethan let out a gurgle and a squeal of pleasure. I glanced down and my heart burst with joy as I realized he recognized me and was gazing up at me with a smile on his lips. I smiled back as I crouched and extended my hand toward him. He grasped my finger and pulled it toward his mouth. I laughed the first real laugh in months, and as it rolled through me, the tension I’d held so deep evaporated with it.

Gazing up at Sarah, a stunned expression on her face, I said, "He hasn't forgotten me. Have you?"

A tear trickled down her cheek and she quickly brushed it away, a tremulous smile forming on her lips. "Never."

I stood and gestured down the path. "Shall we?"

Without a word, she nodded toward the handle of the stroller. My throat closed as I realized she had just taken us back to that day when I’d pushed Ethan through the sunshine. Now was so much better, because our futures waited for us just up ahead.

This was a first step, a big one. Nothing mattered more to me than this woman and this child. Not my company, not my money, not anything.

I placed my hand over hers on the stroller, squeezed, and we slowly began walking down that path.

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