Helanie:
He was welcomed by the warriors who had been told to give him special protocol, and I could tell my father felt like a king. He had a wide smile on his lips. He probably thought he had achieved everything, that he would never be confronted for his crimes. I took a deep breath, but it was Norman's hand on my thigh that gave me comfort.
Then my father walked straight toward where we were sitting, and he was asked to sit with us. His shoulders looked broader than ever. He looked around with a bright smile, admiring the preparations like he was some real king. He sat down and accepted the wine glass from the server. I guess because my mother had left, he thought I never got to know his truth.
My stepmother had a similar look, but hers was suspicious. She kept glancing around. Whenever our eyes met, she narrowed hers at me before looking away.
