This was it. He had to tell her the truth. "Because I can be a controlling jerk like dad, and she shouldn't end up all alonelikeyou."
Her eyes misted as she petted his hand. "Your father is not the only personinsideyou.”
“I see him when I look in themirror.”
“You're your own beautiful soul, and you're also my son, Peter. You even look like me,nothim.”
“He taught me to be justlikehim.”
“But I can see in your eyes that you still have some of me in you too. You still have that protective spirit you had as achild."
She was about to cry again. She started tocough.
Peter jumped off the bed and then said,"Mom, take it easy. We want to takeyouhome."
She finished coughing and held her hand up for him to hold again. "Take your own advice. When I get out of here, I want to sit and have a nice dinner with this girl of yours. Your brother and sister picked out nice people to marry, and I want to see you have the samehappiness."
John knocked on the door. "Can we comebackin?"
Peter held his mother's hand as he called out, "Sure." Then he met his mother's brown eyes, and again he told her how he felt. "Mom, Dad locked you away for years and had you listed as merchandise in a ledger. You of all people shouldn't believeinlove."
Vicki and John went white as they stepped insidetheroom.
Their mother held out her other hand as she answered Peter. "I wantfor you what I should have expected for myself. I fell for your dad's good looks and charm, but that doesn't mean you will. Trust yourheart."
Vicki took the offered hand. "Is everything okayinhere?"
Peter didn't let go. He stared into his mom's face. "Yeah. Mom wants all her childrentogether."
Their mom quickly added, "Andhappy."
John stood beside Vicki with hishand on their sister's waist. "Weare,Mom."
His mother nodded. "I intend to get out of here for Peter's New Year's party. There is a family matter that needs to be done in person and not at ahospital."
"We'll all be there." Vicki added, "It's going to be fun to ring in the New Year together. "Or we can schedule something the day yougetout."
"Both will be good." His mothernodded.
Peter stared at his family. With Belle at the party, his life would becomplete.
