James cracks out a smile, quickly masked. “But he didn’t. Now, can we agree, whatever is in the past, it is behind us? I made mistakes too. We have all made mistakes with each other. From here on, whatever happens, we’re going forward. All of us.”
He meets Michael’s gaze, eye-pointing Klempner. Michael nods, presses his lips to Charlotte’s, then turns her by the shoulders to face her father.
James repeats, a touch of steel in his voice. “All of us.”
Charlotte hesitates, looking down, then up again. Then she breaks into a smile and sucking her lips, nods. Taking two steps towards Klempner, she says, “Happy Christmas, Father…” She swallows. “… Dad. Thank you for the gift.”
For the space of a heartbeat… two… three… time stops…
Then Klempner wraps his arms around Charlotte and kisses the
