CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
(part four)

“She never loved me,” Sandy said.

“I think she loves you. I guess I have to believe that she loves you… in her own way,” Seth said. “You know that she’s not my favorite person.”

“She disowned me. She…”

Sandy’s body flooded with pain and emotion. Tears streamed down from her swollen red eyes. Seth took her hand.

“You’ll get through this,” Seth said. “Norsen will get out of jail. You’ll get well and have your daughter…”

“Son.”

They smiled at each other.

“There’s no way for you to understand a woman like your mother. God knows I don’t understand her,” Seth said. “But you can love her, if you want.”

“Maybe tomorrow. Today, I hurt too much,” Sandy said.

“I understand.” Seth touched her face. “And I’m sorry.”

“What’s going to happen to Aden?” Sandy changed the subject hoping to wipe the overwhelm from Seth’s face.

“He’ll get out in the morning,” Seth said. “Then there’ll be a hearing or maybe a trial. He and his lawyer have already talked to the DA. The DA wants to get rid of him without a lot of fuss. They’re dealing with a press nightmare over your father. The only reason they kept Aden overnight was to avoid the crowd waiting for him. The DA’s hoping to quietly release him in the morning. They want to focus on your father, not Aden.”

“What’s that mean?”

“I’m not sure, Sandy,” Seth said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

“But…”

“Aden broke the law, Sandy. He knows that. He’s going to have to pay for what he did. The only question now is how much will he have to pay for it.”

“And my father?”

“He’s with the Feds,” Seth said. “The Feds will be done clearing out his house tomorrow or the next day, then we’ll get him back.”

“What’s going to happen to him?” Sandy asked.

“Nothing nice,” Seth said.

“Good.” Sandy moved her head in a slight nod.

They sat in silence for a while.

“Listen, I know you’re…” Seth said at the same time Sandy said, “You want to watch…”

“I’d rather talk to you,” Seth said. “I know it’s weird, feels weird to say, but I have something to say.”

“Okay.”

“No one deserves a mother or a father like yours. No one. And you…” Seth’s face flushed red with emotion. He shook his head. “I hope they rot in hell for what they’ve done.”

“Dad used to say that about my father.”

“Yeah, he did,” Seth said. “Now let me finish.”

“Okay.”

“You’re loved by so many people, Sandy. You’re the only family I have besides my ex-wives. Jill loves you. Aden’s not perfect but I think he really cares for you. I’ve seen you with his kids and they adore you. Your funny friends… the girls? What are their names?”

“Tanesha and Heather?”

“Right, I think of them as the clowns.”

“Clowns?”

“They’re funny,” Seth said. “They would do anything for you. All of your clients, your old high school friends, everyone loves Sandy.”

“They don’t really know me. They don’t know about all of this…”

“I do! Jill and the clowns do! And we love you anyway.”

Sandy shrugged.

“These people? They are your family now. You didn’t have a choice to have these horrible parents, but you have a choice now. You won’t raise your daughter…”

“Son.”

“Daughter like you were raised. And you’ll have more kids, more friends, and the big happy life you deserve. I know it’s been tough, but you’re surrounded by so much love, so many people adore you. They’re your family of choice.”

“Family of choice?”

“Like me,” Seth said. “You’re not my biological daughter, but I wouldn’t love you any more if you were.”

Sandy’s eyes welled up.

“You’re crying again! What did I say?” Seth exclaimed.

“You’re just very sweet,” Sandy said. “I’ll remember that – family of choice.”

“Family of choice.”

“I’m honored that you’d chose me.”

Seth’s eyes welled. Before he could swat it away, a single tear ran down his weathered face. He gave Sandy a light hug.

“Go to sleep now,” Seth said.

With Seth by her side, Sandy fell into a deep sleep.