"What if there is more to it than that, Grace?" Stephen asked, lowering his eyes to the pavement. "What if he didn"t start out that way? I mean, my mom is a good judge of character. What if he started out good, but just became worse with time? What if I"m doomed to have the same thing happen to me? I couldn"t stand that, Grace."Grace shook her head fiercely, "I don"t believe that could ever happen. I"ve seen your soul, Stephen. You"re not him." She stopped firmly, begging him to look at her, just before they entered their neighborhood. "Stephen, my portal waited for you for twenty five hundred years. It took that long to find a man worthy enough. You are that man. You have no reason to doubt yourself, my love."
"I just don"t understand how he could be like that. I don"t get it, Grace. For all these years, I knew he was no saint, but I just thought maybe he was misunderstood. Now, I see it for what it is. The only person lacking understanding was me."
"I think someday he"ll come to regret what just pa.s.sed between you two," said Grace, as they neared the driveway to the house. "It may take him a long time, but it will hit him someday. He had a chance to have a real family, and he squandered it. Something tells me it will be the thing he regrets the most about his life some day."
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Stephen just shook his head, not trusting his voice to respond to her words. The pain was too raw still.
"Stephen, wait a moment," Grace turned to face him again, taking his hands in both of hers, "For what it"s worth, you were very brave back there. I can"t imagine how hard it must be to take a stand to your own father. But you stood up for me, and for yourself too, and I can"t tell you how happy it made me. I love you so much." She willingly pressed her lips to his, her tongue seeking his own.
"Thanks, Grace," he replied after the kiss ended, letting her words wash over him. While the pain was still raw, it did feel good to stand up for the both of them. So many things he had wanted to say, but long since repressed, bubbled to the surface during their time in the diner. Giving a quick toss of his head, he was ready to move on, and put it firmly in the past, where it belonged.