LIZZIE WALKED THROUGH the front door to find wine, candlelight, and a tantalizing aroma waiting for her.
“What’s all this?” she said.
“To let you know I missed you,” Donny answered, as he wrapped her up in a hug. “Is it over? Did you catch the bad guy?”
She burst into tears, and Donny immediately sat down and pulled her into his lap, cradling her and rocking her as she grieved for an abused little boy whose path had been forever altered so long ago.
***
* * * *
WHEN NATHAN GOT HOME that evening, the very first thing he did was pick up his son and hug him tightly.
“Hey, buddy,” he whispered, with tears in his eyes. “I love you, and I sure did miss you. Did you have a good day?”
“Yep,” Charlie said, then put his tiny hands on Nathan’s cheeks and said, “Uh oh, no Daddy, no cry.”
“Hon
