He swept the boys around, settling them down only when he saw his mother and father. He tried to say something, but whatever it was caught in his throat. “Rayhan,” his mother wept, coming to him, her tears wet on his cheek. “Oh, Rayhan. Rayhan…Rayhan.”
It was as if she couldn’t say his name enough. Ray’s father was more stoic, looming in the doorway, but his hands were trembling. It was so hard for Ray to face them, knowing what he’d done. Not just the things he’d confessed to in court, but the things he’d done as a minotaur, too.
“I didn’t think you were ever coming home,” his father choked out. “I didn’t have faith. I didn’t believe.”
“I’m here now, Dad,” Ray whispered, his voice thick with emotion, his chest tight with regret. “But I’ve done some things I’m not proud of.”
“You’re our son and we love you,” his mother said, her arms around his neck. “We don’t care. It doesn’t matter….”
“No, it does matter,” Ray’s father said, putting his hand on Ray’s shoulder. “Maybe if we’d admitted something was wrong with your brother, we could’ve helped him before it was too late. It does matter what you’ve done, Ray, but you’ve paid for it more than any man should have.”
Ray swallowed, hoping he’d be that kind of father for his own kid. He wouldn’t close his eyes to his child’s faults, but would lovingly guide his daughter to do better. Ray reached for Layla’s hand, their fingers twining. “I know you’ve talked on the phone, but this is my wife, Layla, and our daughter. Your granddaughter. Isabel.”
As Ray said this, he swelled with pride, but Layla wilted beside him. “Mr. and Mrs. Stavrakis…” she began, but couldn’t finish.
Ray’s mother tried to smooth over the awkwardness with a tight smile. “Come in, Layla. Bring my beautiful grandbaby and we’ll talk over tea and baklava!”
“I need you to know that I’m sorry.” Layla’s voice wobbled on the last word and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry for my part in what happened to your son.”
“Ray wouldn’t be a free man today if it weren’t for you,” Ray’s father said. “So if he forgives you, so do we. That’s what family does.”
Tears slipped over Layla’s long dark lashes. “I’ve never had a family….”
“Now you do,” Ray said, kissing her until her hard-won tears turned to joy. “Now you do.”
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1585-6
DARK SINS AND DESERT SANDS
Copyright © 2011 by Stephanie Dray
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Dark Sins and Desert Sands Page 23
