Part 150 (2/2)

took her by the shoulders. ”I didn't want to love you, Emma. Then

suddenly, I just did. I didn't plan it, I didn't stop one day and tell

myself that you deserved a chance. I just fell in love with you.”

Emma broke down then, dropping her head onto Bev's shoulder and weeping,

weeping brokenly, shamelessly, as the fire crackled and Bev stroked her

hair.

”I'm so sorry, luy. So sorry I haven't been there for you. Now you've

grown up, and I've missed my chance.”

”I thought you hated me-because of Darren.”

”No, oh no.”

”You blamed me-”

”No.” Bev drew back, stunned. ”Good G.o.d, Emma. You were a child. I

blamed her, and I was wrong. I blamed myself, and I pray I was wrong.

But, ihatever unforgivable things I did, or thought, I never blamed

you.”

”I heard 'm crying-”

”Ssh.” She gripped Emma's hands, bringing them up to her cheek. She'd

had no idea Emma had suffered this way. If she had ... Bev closed

her eyes for a moment. If she had, she hoped she would have been strong

enough to have put her own pain aside for the child's sake. ”Listen to

me. It was the most horrible thing that's ever happened in my life, the

most destructive, the most painful. I lashed out

at the people I should have been holding close. The first few years

after Darren's death, I was ... I hardly knew what or where I was.

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