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"Amen," she said softly, and the prayer ended Only this ti hands Everyone looked up Gazes slid from face to face around the table, and for once, there was no looking away, no aardness

It was Lissa ithdrew her hands first "So, ants so for the platter

"Wait!" Jack said without thinking

They all glanced up at hiine what had prompted him to speak "IuhI mean I'm the father I'll carve the meat"

He took the carving knife fro over the s the roast

Lissa and the girls lapsed into quiet conversation The ordinary sounds of clanking forks and cutting knives peppered suppertime air

Jack paused, the knife poised at the roast's blackened hulanced around Lissa was at the foot of the table, cutting her potatoes and talking aniarden Katie sat hunched over her plate, her elbows resting on the table as she listened with rapt attention to her

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Jack felt a surge of emotion so raw and powerful, he eak He swayed unsteadily His hand crashed onto the table and held hiht

Glasses clinked against crockery plates at the sudden movement Everyone looked up Three pairs of concerned eyes landed on his face No one said a word "Sorry," he mumbled

The girls turned their attention back to their plates, but Lissa didn't look away A slow smile curved her lips She stared at hi inside his soul, seeing that black, twisted place, and finding it not so very dark after all "It's nice, isn't it?" she said quietly He knew exactly what she was talking about Glancing at his daughters, then at his wife, he smiled "Yeah, it is"

After the supper was finished and the dishes washed and put away, Savannah and Katie hurried off to bed Jack and Tess were left standing in the kitchen The air thickened with anticipation Both of them wanted desperately to reach out, but neither one kne

"II guess I'd better put Caleb to bed," she said lamely

He nodded stiffly "Yeah I guess so"

They stood there, staring at each other Waiting Hoping