The Way They Were

Prequel to A Family Affair: The Secret
Sometimes we're lucky enough to get that second chance – in life and in love. That Second Chance Series are stand-alone stories of strong women who battle heartache and loss with a courage and determination to find new paths and true love. What ties them together? A common theme: belief in the beauty of that second chance.

The Way They Were is Book Two of That Second Chance Series. It is also the prequel to Mary's bestselling family saga, A Family Affair: The Secret, Truth in Lies, Book Eight.

They promised to love one another forever, but tragedy tore them apart. Now, destiny may just bring them back together.
At eighteen, Rourke Flannigan and Kate Redmond thought they'd spend the rest of their lives together--until a family tragedy tore them apart. Fourteen years have passed, and they've both carved out separate lives hundreds of miles apart--hers as a wife and mother, his as a successful, driven businessman. But once a year, Kate pulls out a red velvet journal and writes a letter, which she'll never send, to the man who still owns her heart. Once a year, on the anniversary of the first and only night they made love, Rourke permits himself to read the annual investigative report detailing an ordinary day in Kate's life.
When a subcontractor at one of Rourke's holding companies is killed, Rourke decides to pay the widow a visit and offer condolences, never dreaming the widow will be Kate. As they embark on a cautious journey of rediscovery, one far greater than they could have imagined, secrets and lies threaten to destroy their newfound closeness--forever.
That Second Chance Series:
Book One: Pulling Home (Also prequel to A Family Affair: The Promise)
Book Two: The Way They Were (Also prequel to A Family Affair: The Secret)
Book Three: Simple Riches (Also prequel to A Family Affair: Winter)
Book Four: Paradise Found
Book Five: Not Your Everyday Housewife
Book Six: The Butterfly Garden

"He's back."

Kate's brush slipped, smearing red paint onto the gray siding of the miniature dollhouse. Damn. She snatched a rag and began dabbing at the red spot.

"Kate?"

She dabbed harder as if she could blot out Angie's words. "I heard you."

"And?"

Kate glanced up, proud of the outward calm she displayed when her insides were a jumble of panic.
"And what?"

"Oh for heaven's sake, it's me you're talking to here, the one who sat up with you for three nights straight after that jerk left." Angie swore under her breath and muttered, "He didn't even have the decency to say good-bye."

"It was a long time ago." Fourteen years in July.

"Sure."

Angie Sorrento was a pint size dynamo with a giant sized temper who swore in Italian and English and could carry a grudge longer than anyone Kate had ever known. The only grudge larger than the one Angie had for Rourke Flannigan was the one relegated to the ex-fiancé who skipped out on her three days before the wedding.

"Really, Angie. Fourteen years is ancient history."

Angie's dark eyes narrowed. "That's what I'm worried about, Kate. Your history with Mr. Jerk."

"There's no need to worry." Kate dipped her brush in red and filled in the trim along the roof. This house was a four bedroom cape cod, designed for Rachel and Jared Hennessy and their seven year old twins, Jeffrey and Jason. The family had relocated from Richmond, Virginia last year so Jared could teach Sophomore English and coach basketball in Montpelier. Great family -- devoted couple, beautiful kids . . . even a golden retriever named Jed.

Angie started up again. "Even if it weren't Mr. Holier than Thou, let me grace you with my presence in this Podunk town, and even if said man-boy weren't someone you'd been intimately involved with, I'd still be worried."

"Unnecessarily." Kate ignored the way her pulse skittered when Angie talked about him.

"You're vulnerable."

"Stop." Her pulse tripled.

"You buried Clay five months ago. That makes you a lonely widow. The perfect target."

"You watch too many Lifetime movies." Had he heard about Clay? That was ridiculous, how could he have heard? She had no idea where he lived and now, suddenly, he was here. Why?

"Katie? Are you all right?"

No, she wasn't. She hadn't been all right since--Kate pushed the unwelcome truth away and glanced at her friend. "I'm fine."

"Fine is code word for no. Look, I know you don't want to talk about him, but there are some things you've got to know before this guy comes waltzing back into your life."

"He's hardly waltzing back into my life--"

"Steamrolling then. You just wait and see."