people who were turned and twisted by cruel Fate,
whose only fault was they longed too hard and too
much for love."
He lowered his head, exhausted from his
revelations. For a long moment neither Luke nor I
spoke. Then I reached forward and slowly took my
father's hand. He looked up to meet my eyes, and in
his eyes I saw Mommy's face. I saw her smiling,
beautiful face. I felt her comfort and her love, and I
knew that everything Troy had told us was born of
love, words from the heart.
I h
ated no one; I faulted no one. Actions taken
long ago had determined that two families as different
as night and day would cross paths and destinies. The turmoil that resulted swept up both houses, kept them forever in the midst of winds of passion and hate, driving some mad, shaking the very foundations of
both families.
Now Luke and I stood alone in this confusion.
Now my true father had decided it was time to end it.
He showed us the way out of the maze.
"We don't hate and there is no one to forgive."
He smiled through his tears.
"There is so much of Heaven in you. I believe
what you have of her will be strong enough to
overcome any melancholy you have inherited from
me.
"For a long time, I lived in shame, regretting
that night of love Heaven and I shared, but when I
saw how beautiful you were and realized what your
life could be if you were free of all the lies and
deceptions, I decided to give you the best, the only