Page 22 - The Last Gift

“Mother, I’m sorry about all of that.”
She spoke softly. “Not as sorry as I am,

Jacob. Somehow I always dreamed that he
would welcome you back with open arms, and
you could forgive him, but, in all reality, I knew
it would probably be like this.”

Rachel also tried to help ease the tension by
suggesting they all go into the house to visit. She
so badly wanted to hear about the last 18 years of
Jacob’s life, and to, in turn, share some of hers.
He answered her cooly. “There is no need for
that. I only came to visit with Mother.”

His terseness with Rachel, in many ways,
cut her deeper than any abuse she had received
from Matthew. She knew she deserved Jacob’s
scorn, but she didn’t deserve it from Matthew.
When it’s undeserved, it’s easier to dismiss. But

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