“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.”

you both stopped paying for things

will call

“Thank you.”

the many times she told him she loved him before leaving him at the home. He could see something in that mental picture that he had never let himself acknowledge before, the terrible pain in eyes so like his

burned and he

by Etta James started playing in that tinny way that ring tones did, bringing him firmly

phone and pressed the talk

going to go all gooeyeyed over the wedding ring set he had ordered

it go?”

“She cried.”

“You’re not surprised.”

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

his mother’s sake. If he thought he might be grateful for

we meeting at

us to come to

“And you agreed?”

“Yes.”

second and then asked, “Will

as well get it all out at

met that

to talk to

did he want

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