“I don’t think he felt that way about them. He never knew his parents and Gytha married and moved away when he was very young. Ma, Pop, and us children were the only family he cared about.”
She leaned closer, using the darkness between them as a confessional. “But to have all that power, and not be tempted to use it... He must have been an extraordinary man, Jakob.”
“I guess so. I didn’t think of him in those terms when I was with him. He was just plain old Dad. But now I understand him a little better, I guess. All he wanted was a simple life on Asaruthe with the people he loved. As long as he had that and an ocean to sail on he was content.”
Her worries swarmed back. “And what about you, Jakob? Are you content?” Tessa held her breath, waiting for his answer.
He sighed to the wall. “Y
