They’d decided to stay on at Fire Lakein one of the cottages. It was home, after all, and all threeagreed it was the best place for them. John had taken a moment tosit by himself under the old oak tree and pulled the crumpledenvelope from his pocket.
It was time he read his father’s lastwords to him. He was finally ready.
Dear Son,
I’m sorry you’re readingthis letter because that likely means your mother and I have passedon. But believe me when I say we will never be gone from you. Youare the light and joy in our lives, and we’re thankful for youdaily. As you probably know by now, things weren’t quite as theyseemed, but never question our love for you. From the first momentI laid eyes on you, I knew you belonged with me and your mother.She couldn’t have been prouder to have you as her son.
A family comes in manydifferent shapes and sizes. Their biological parentage is not theirdefining moment. Those are every moment after that. Every smile,laugh, tear, joy, sorrow, and experience makes you who you are, andbelieve me when I say you are our son.
I hope you can somedayfeel that same joy and know the truths I speak of. The love wefeel, the hope and pride in your future. Never allow your past todefine the truths of your existence. You have the heart of a lionand deserve love and respect. I pray you find it and know howimportant you are to us.
Our paths may not havestarted together, but they are intrinsically intertwined now andfor all time. We love you, son, and always will.
Dad
The tears rolled down his cheeks, andas he looked up at his found family, he realized something for thefirst time: everything had come full circle. He was his father, andFrank was him.
And together, they had Stryker intheir corner.
Things were finally lookingup.
