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What a difference Lucas could've made--for everyone

To his credit, Lucas put up a hand to silence Molly instead of letting her argue for hiht you could use some support," he said

" Now? Where were you when Molly was eight years old? Where were you when Grace--"

Clay's throat constricted at the host-white face How could Lucas love her and Molly so much less than Clay did? Lucas was their father

And how could Molly talk to Lucas as if he'd done nothing wrong?

Clay couldn't begin to understand, which onlyhard, he decided to end the conversation Lucas didn't deserve a single kind word fro Their father sih What he'd wanted for himself had mattered more than all of them

"It's ti to say to you"

Lucas smiled at Molly "You turned out to be a beautiful woman"

"Shut up," Clay said, disgusted

"Maybe I shouldn't have come back atat this late date, Clay," his father said "But so a bunch of questions, and I--" he sighed "--I ht've made some mistakes in what I said I've been worried about that I didn't want to make the situation worse for you I--I wanted you to know that if I blew it, it wasn't intentional

My wife said I should--"

"Your wife? " Clay echoed

"Lorette"

"That's her naerly

Clay clenched his teeth as Lucas nodded Lorette Who was this woman? he wondered

Whoever she was, shethey weren't "Well, you can tell Lorette that it was a nice thought, a kind thought of her to have for coers But like you said, you shouldn't have come As far as we're concerned, you don't exist"

Molly said nothing Clay could feel how torn she was, how difficult she found it to lose her only chance to speak with their father He'd tried to keep his mouth shut for her sake, had even let their father walk into his living room, which he'd never dreamed he'd do But he couldn't tolerate the er

Head bowed, his father stared at his shoes "You're right," he said "I'm sorry"

"Go with him if you want," Clay muttered to Molly

He couldn't stop her, didn't want to cause her any more pain If she could accept so little from Lucas and be okay with it, he was happy for her

But she didn't go anywhere She drew closer and slipped her hand in his, as if he was her father and not Lucas

As Lucas started out the door, Clay expected to feel some sense of victory or relief At last he'd seen thewithout a trace of kindness or forgiveness

Lucas had deserved exactly what he'd gotten