"I love you too, Maddy." Alex looked up and saw Rachel standing beside the chair.
"Thank you," Rachel said as she reached for her daughter. She picked her up and gave her a big hug before turning back to Alex. "I'm sorry for everything."
Alex slowly stood and turned her back on the house as she looked at Rachel. "You shouldn't be giving an apology, Ray, you should be receiving one." She turned and made her way into the kitchen to pull the lasagna from the oven.
Nikki walked up and sniffed as she rolled her eyes heavenward. "That smells amazing." She placed a hand on Alex's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "Would you like me to carry it to the table?"
"Yes, please. I'll get the salad." Nikki picked up the lasagna and carried it out to the table while Alex reached into the refrigerator for the salad. She placed it on the table and sank into her chair, watching quietly as everyone began to fill their plates. She listened as Dani and Nikki tried to engage John and Donna in meaningful conversation, updating them on recent events. She finally had enough of the strained and awkward silences, and decided it was time to shake things up. "I have a question." Everyone turned to her expectantly. "It's a question for John and Donna. I was wondering if you could tell me what caused this rift between you and your daughters? What happened to drive you apart?"
John set his fork down beside his plate and sat back in his chair, a look of sorrow on his face as he looked down at his lap. Donna reached for her wine, and drained her glass. "You mean they haven't told you?" she asked as she set the empty glass back down and reached for the bottle.
"I've learned it is always best to hear both sides of the story, and I'm curious to hear what you have to say."
Donna eyed her warily for a moment before deciding to explain. "They chose to defy God, the church, our teachings, and wishes by playing house with other women instead of doing what is natural. I just don't understand what we did wrong." She gulped her wine, nearly draining her glass.
Alex took a deep breath before saying, "I'll tell you what you did wrong. You assumed they chose this life. No one would choose to be gay. There is too much hatred and fear associated with it, and they have no rights or protections under the law. They didn't defy God, they chose to honor him by accepting what he gave them and making the most of it." She took a drink of her iced tea and quickly continued before Donna could catch her breath and interrupt. "You both raised two beautiful, amazing, strong women. You should be proud of them instead of ashamed. After all of the grief and disgust you have shown them, they stand here today welcoming you with open arms, and offering you the opportunity to know them and your granddaughter. Your ignorance is causing you to miss out on knowing three women I am proud to call my friends, and it's causing you to miss out on the love of a very special child. Let me tell you a story, and then I'll leave you alone."
She looked away for a moment as she wondered if she should have just kept her mouth shut. As she met Nikki's eyes, shining with love, she knew she'd done the right thing. "A long time ago a young woman fell in love with a young man. Her parents didn't like him, and told her she couldn't see him anymore. She ran away and married him with the hopes that they would eventually come around. A year after she got married she had a little girl. Her parents refused to have anything to do with the child because of him. The husband became violent soon after the baby was born, and the young woman had no one to turn to, so she stayed and took his abuse. A few years later another little girl was born. She did her best to raise her children on her own, and protect them from their father." She reached for her tea with a shaking hand. "One day he snapped and flew into a rage. She hid the girls in the closet and tried to barricade the bedroom door. He broke it down and beat her for it, before stabbing her to death in front of the two girls. They ran from the room, and the older of the two hid her baby sister. When she wouldn't tell her father where her little sister was, he killed her too."
She looked up into Donna's eyes. "The police found me two days later, still hiding from my father and covered in the blood of my sister." Donna's eyes widened. "My grandparents could have saved my family, but their pride and ignorance cost them everything. They didn't save me either, but left me to foster care and mental facilities. No one wants a four-year-old child that won't talk, and wakes up screaming every night. Rachel is nothing like my father. You have no need to fear her. Learn from my family's mistakes before one or more of them are taken from you forever. If you walk away from them today, you may never get another chance." She pushed her chair back and grimaced as she tried to stand. Once she made it to her feet, she turned to Madison. "Hey Maddy, how about you come inside with me for a while? I have a new book for you." She turned her back on the group and began to walk into the kitchen.
Madison turned to Rachel and asked, "Can I go with my angel, Momma? Please?"
Rachel smiled indulgently at Madison and quickly agreed. She watched as Madison jumped down from the chair and ran after Alex. Turning
