Daddy looked at me. “I wish I could be there to see you fly, honey.”
I leaned down and hugged him, the first hug I ever wanted to give him. “You will be there, Dad.”
He smiled. “I’m going to see you fly.” He looked up at my mom. “Ann Marie, I never told you that I love you. I do. I love you. And I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through. Forgive me?”
Mama’s lips trembled, and tears coursed her cheeks. “Of course I forgive you, Earl. I love you too.”
She would forgive him. She always forgave him. But I couldn’t. The hurt ran too deep for me. Of course he didn’t ask me to forgive him. He knew I wouldn’t.
Late that night, he woke again, his face twisted in pain. He gasped for breath for a moment, then suddenly seemed to calm. An almost peaceful expression passed his features and he looke
