Chapter 261

• Two strong hands press down on my shoulders, anchoring me in my seat as a pair of fiercely determined eyes lock onto mine.
• "Your mother was a wonderful person. She was compassionate and loving. And she did not deserve those accusations, not then and certainly not now. I was the one who chose to start something with her. We'd been close friends for years, and she always spoke of the imprint with respect and understanding. She never pushed."
• Vivid images of my mother begin to flash in my mind. Her wide and infectious smile, her open and honest laughter, her unconditional love. Tears immediately well up in my eyes.