Chapter 72

“Dad, I don’t even know what to say.” Emil sighed. “I want to be mad at you for looking all that stuff up. It’s Makai’s story to tell, not for you to look up in some impersonal paperwork!” He felt frustrated for a moment, but…. “I understand, though, why you did it. I appreciate it, but….”

“He lost a decade of his life. He hasn’t had normal young adult experiences, and he’s thirty, Emil. That was one of the things that worried me. But I know him better now, and with what I learned….” Dad took a deep breath and looked at Emil. “Sadly, you two aren’t that different. You aren’t on two different levels like I originally thought. And it’s so wrong. Neither of you should’ve had to go through all the things you did because of other people.” Dad swallowed hard. “If this is who you want to be with, if Makai is the person for you, son, then I’m glad. He’s a good man, and he shouldn’t have had to save two people he didn’t even know that well just to get me to see through my prejudice.”