“But he is ruthless about getting what he wants.”

“And you are ruthless in standing for the truth. That can be overwhelming at times and a great burden to bear at others, but it’s as far from the man who exploits the weakness of others to provide for his own ill-gotten luxuries as the life you now live is to the one you were born to.” She needed him to see that.

“I did not want him punished for what he did to me, but I wanted his world to see him for who he was and how he took advantage of others.”

“I know.”

“He destroyed too many lives.”

“And I bet he was never sorry he did so. He and Art have more in common than you and him.”

“Too bad they are not related.”

“Yes, it is. Art’s family are decent, nice people. I have no idea how he turned out so selfish and blind to his own faults.”

“My mother did not want to give me up. Even when I was a small boy, I understood that. She felt she had no choice. She did not want me to be raised in a whorehouse.”

“So, she chose the lesser of two evils, and paid the rest of her life for having to do so.”

“I think you are right.” He looked like he was having a revelation.

“It’s that mother-to-be oracle thing again,” she teased.

He smiled and then went serious again. “That is why you want to invite her to the wedding. You think it is time she stopped paying.”

is time you both stopped

will call her

“Thank you.”

told him she loved him before leaving him at

burned and he

tinny way that ring tones

grabbed his cell phone and pressed the talk button without

to marry him. She was going to go all gooeyeyed over the wedding ring set he had ordered to be overnighted

it go?” Piper asked without

“She cried.”

“You’re not surprised.”

after Piper had warned him to expect it. “We agreed to meet for dinner on a day before the wedding, as you suggested.” Piper had thought him seeing his mother for the first time in more than two decades at his wedding might be too much

he might be grateful for it, too, he

we meeting

us to come to her home,”

“And you agreed?”

“Yes.”

was quiet for a second and then

it all out at

met that

talk to

he want

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