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"I forgive you, Dad," he whispered

It’s what his therapist had told hiood to finally forgive his father It didn’t right any of the things his father had done: All thedifferent--unaccepted--the freak of the neighborhood All the years of not living after both his parents died because he’d been afraid He was only glad now that he’d ed to overcome that fear when it was ina

She brought all this change into his life, including talking hi out all that he held in, all the pain he numbed away after both his parents’ deaths It did feel better to let it out, and he kne needing a therapist didn’t ood to let it all out

~~

Regina

Watching Brandon kneeling at his father’s graveside was al way She’d been surprised when he agreed to join her in seeking the therapy to help the with It was only once every teeks, but it was already helping Brandon had told her ood-bye forever and he’d never co here today, but she was proud of hie step for him

Her family still didn’t know about what happened that day in her condo She wasn’t sure she’d ever tell the the patched up bullet hole in the ceiling of her bathrooh, and she didn’t want to be re her head, she still couldn’t get thehiet up and open the door to coht to one off in her hand The force had been so ainst shower tile and had been knocked unconscious

She’d woken to Brandon’s sobs He’d been cradling her in his arms, but they’d been sobs of joy He later explained that, before he was able to break the bathroom door in, he really believed he would find her dead in a pool of her own blood He also confessed that his only thought the entire ti suddenly, she watched as he stood up and began walking toward her She too stood and met him halfway "How do you feel?" she asked tentatively

"Good" He sina wrapped her arms around his waist "I’ away to look at her

She looked up at hio do this"

~~~

Bell set the birthday cake on the table It was considered in bad for, but it’d been over three months since their father had died, and their mother insisted it was time Her father wouldn’t have wanted them to mourn for weeks or even days much less months

Romero sat in front of the cake with Ro happy birthday to hiina took ice-cream duty as Bell set slices of cake on plates She s debate with Ro rooina didn’t know any better, she’d say her sister enjoyed arguing with hi and then leaned into her and whispered, "Don’t you dare tell her I told you, but she’s had hiina’s jaw fell open "You’re kidding ina as she continued slicing the cake "The first ti tahed "She had hiether, so you knoas there for hours Another time she said he’d offered to take a look at her dryer because she’d , but she insisted that’s all he’d done She thinks she’s being sneaky, but she doesn’t know Manny tells Ro to Manny, she’s all Max ever talks about these days He also says they get together wayPat and Max!" Bell covered herup at Pat, Regina saw her sister place her hand on her hip, suddenly looking completely appalled at whatever Max had just said She then stood up and walked off toward Regina and Bell "Uh, oh," Regina whispered "Looks like trouble in paradise"

Both Regina and Bell went back to quietly filling the plates with cake and ice creairls helped pass them out Pat came over and picked up two plates: one for her and one for Max, no doubt She eyed Regina, who couldn’t wipe the s about?" Pat asked suspiciously

"Nothing" Regina shook her head "I’ood mood That’s all"