After Maria married James, he started to beg James for money with the promise that he'd use it to take care of Linda and Sophia. James was too kindhearted to refuse and gave Tom whatever he asked for. But Tom gambled and drank the money away, and Linda was forced to take on whatever work she could to support her daughter.
Catherine shook her head to clear away the unhappy memories, but she couldn't shake the image of Sophia crying. Throughout their friendship, Sophia had often broken down—crying about the horrible things her father had shouted at her or the way she'd seen him hitting her mother.
Sean's low voice interrupted her unhappy thoughts, "You're sighing again."
"I know," she said. "I'm thinking about Linda and Sophia."
"They're going to be okay," he said. "I promise."
"I know," she sighed. "And I'm really grateful for everything you're doing. I just hate to trouble you with all my problems."
