The following week, Emily found out her grandfather was in the hospital, and went to see him. He was looking better than she'd seen him for years.

"Hello, Grandfather."

He glanced up as she moved to stand beside his bed, and then dropped his eyes back to the bulge of his feet under the covers.

"Grandfather, I know your life hasn't been the greatest, but..." Her voice quivered and her eyes filled with tears. She noticed his breath didn't smell like alcohol.

"All of my life, anyway since Grandmother died, all I wanted was for you not to hate me."

His mouth twitched, but he didn't try to stop her.

"I'd like you to explain how you could hate my father just because his skin's a little darker." She paused, hoping for a response.

But he gave none.

"Can you at least tell me how that's an excuse to hate your own granddaughter?"

All at once, he looked up with hurt in his eyes. "It's because of your father that Rachael's gone." The old man dropped his head, fumbled with his hands. She saw the familiar pulsing of his jaw-line. "Your father didn't belong with Rachael in the first place. It's wrong, mixing breeds. We don't go mixing cows with cats, or pigs with chickens, do we?"

"But you're talking about animals. We... you, me, and my father, we're humans." She took in a breath, suddenly feeling empowered. "No one can ever take back the pain and loneliness I've felt all my life. But now I'm going to do something that only humans can do, and that's to say I forgive you. I have to because I feel so, so, sorry for you." She stopped and looked around the room, trying not to burst into sobs.

He moved his eyes from his feet to his hands clinched on his lap. She was surprised to see he was blinking back tears.

She reached over to cup her hand over his for a moment. Then she pulled a small cloth sack from a pocket and set it on his stand.

"These are your diamonds." She didn't want to embarrass him any longer and turned to leave.

When she reached the door, he called to her. "The gun wasn't loaded."

She swung around to face him.

When he raised his eyes to hers, she bit her lip, not wanting to spoil the moment with tears. "Thanks for telling me."

When she returned to the car, she told Rose, "I feel so much better. You'll never believe what he said to me."

"Well?"

"He said the gun wasn't loaded."

"Yeah? And?" She gave Emily a hard look. "That's it?"

Emily smiled.

"You're happy as a lark 'cause the gun wasn't loaded?" Rose shook her head.

Emily smiled some more. Obviously Rose would never understand. "I guess it's just that I don't think he hates me anymore. I could see it in his eyes. Maybe after everything that's happened, it's made him see life differently. I don't know. Something's done it, anyway. And I think it's mostly because he hasn't had a drink for over a week now."

Rose moaned. "You sure don't expect much, do you, Emily?"

She shrugged. "Actually I do, and what he showed me was something."

"Well, that's good, of course," Rose said. "Forgiveness is important... important for the soul. But just don't let him hurt you again."

"You know, I just thought of something that might help prove Father's innocence," Emily said. "I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. It's a letter my Aunt Francine wrote to him. He gave it to me when I was in the hospital."

Her father phoned the next day before she even got a chance to reach the lawyer.

"We're both here, Father," Rose said.

"You'll never guess what happened. Emily, your grandfather dropped the charges. I'm out of jail."

"Grandfather? But he's here, in the hospital."

"Nevertheless. He had a good talk with the police, and told them what really happened. The judge accepted my lawyer's request. The case is closed."

"So when're you coming home?" Rose asked.

"I'll be there tomorrow afternoon. Oh, Emily, listen. I talked to Steven several days ago and gave him our address. He sent you something. If you don't get it today, I'm sure it'll be there by tomorrow."

"What is it?"

"I want it to be a surprise. You'll like it, though, I promise."

That night, Emily could barely sleep, wondering what Steven could possibly have sent her. Maybe a picture of the cats and dogs? It still hurt to think of them. She tried not to.

The next morning she got up early and looked out the window. If she stretched her eyes just so, she could faintly make out the end of the driveway where the mailbox stood.

It was Saturday, and after breakfast Adah invited the girls to go into town for groceries.

"I think I'll pull out a book and sit on the porch, if you don't mind," Emily said. "A little time of solitude might do me some good."

Rose gave her a knowing grin as she left with Adah.

Emily watched them disappear up the road. The first thing she did was retrieve the acorn from her bag, and plant it where she could keep an eye on it from her bedroom window. Today seemed like a perfect day for planting.

She picked up a couple of books and took herself out onto the porch. She hadn't bothered to ask what time the mailman came, but kept listening up the road for him to stop at the end of the driveway. She walked up twice, checked both ways, and then headed back to the porch.

Finally two and a half hours later, the mailman pulled up to the house.

Emily went down to pick up the bundle of mail. The large package at the bottom was for her.

She put the other mail on the kitchen table and took her package up to her room. She pulled the box open, and found a note from Steven, and another box inside. She picked up the note.

Emily, Glad you're okay. We found these letters up in Aunt Francine's attic.

Steven She ripped the box open, and picked up one of the letters her father sent to her throughout the years. "My Dear Emily," the letter began, the way they all did. Tears streamed down her face as she read.

Later, Rose walked in, knelt beside the bed, and listened as Emily finished reading the last one.

"Whew. This could make a person weep for days. And then again, if I were you, I might just be angry."

"I was at first, but I'm not anymore."

"It's easier that way, isn't it. Say, Emily. I was thinking about the drama club. And well, if you want to join, I thought since you'd be with me, you'll make sure I don't let you know who sweep me off my feet."

"You're kidding me. Oh, Rose, really?"

"Yes. Really. We'll join the stupid club, and try out for so many plays that they'll soon be running out your ears."

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR.

Emily went back to the hospital to see her grandfather, but when she walked into his room the bed was empty. She rushed down to the nurse's station. She couldn't believe he was gone just when something good had happened between them.

"I came to see Rupert Rezell. I-I noticed he's not in his room. Did he...did he...?"

"He checked out of the hospital a few hours ago. Are you Emily, by any chance?"

"Yes."

The nurse handed her an envelope. "He left this for you."

Emily found the nearest chair and sat.

Emily, I'm an old man who drank hard and lived like a fool, who hated himself as much as anyone. Actually, I haven't had any booze now since I came into the hospital. I already feel better. Longest time without a drink in over nineteen years. The doctors are setting me up with a group back home, with people like myself.

I'm not proud of what I did to my sister. But here it is. Carl and I were gambling one night. Francine hated that. This one night there was a once a year bash in Chicago. Carl always said he'd hit it big one day. Well that night he did. The diamonds. No one but me knew exactly how much they were worth. Anyway, Carl said he'd split the profits with me if I'd hide them at my house until he could figure out what to tell Francine. I hid them in the necklace box.

Carl died shortly after. I thought I'd let them sit till Francine was gone. She didn't have enough ambition to do anything worthwhile with them anyway. Somehow she ended up with the necklace. When she died I searched high and low for that box. We both know where it was. Anyway, not long before you left, I lost big in a poker game. Melanie's father, remember the lady in court, well he set the whole thing up, I'm sure. The guy's been threatening to take the farm for years, and now he's more determined than ever. I'll finally be able to pay him the money he thinks he's owed so he'll leave me alone.

No matter what's happened or how I feel about things, you did take care of us men for all those years. And when I sell the diamonds I'm going to send you half the profit for college or whatever.

"Huh, just like him, didn't even sign his name." She folded the letter, and walked up the corridor, not really thinking about why she was taking the long way around, and maybe not actually intending to. She had taken the second turn when a small group of people came around a corner. There was Michael right in the middle of them. She managed a smile then hurried by.

She had foolishly waited and hoped he would call. But he hadn't, obviously because he didn't want to talk to her. She should've known better, realized whatever conversation they might have now would be overshadowed by the fact she'd spent time in jail. He'd probably be embarrassed to be seen with her.

The corridor twisted one way, then another, and it wasn't long before she was lost. Another corner took her to a dead end. Frustrated, she turned back.

"Emily," Michael said, stepping from the group he was with. The medical team slipped into a room across the hall and left the two staring at each other.

"Hi, Michael." She was sure he would think she came to see him. "I... I didn't expect to see you. I came to see my grandfather," she added quickly.

"Your grandfather? Here?"

"He was, but he left."

"So he came out to visit?"

"Yeeah... you might say that."

"Say, Emily... I was just wondering the other day how you were doing. How'd everything go in Illinois? I should've called, I know. I got your number from your file, and I meant to. Although I've been so busy. I apologize."

"No need to apologize. And yeah, everything turned out just fine. I'm free." she added, with a hands-up gesture, and a laugh to indicate it wasn't so bad.

"That's good. That's real good. I never doubted the outcome." Another group passed and slipped into the room. They both watched the door close.

No need to keep him any longer. "So, I guess I'd better go," she said.

"Yes, I'd better go inside."

"Bye." She turned to leave.

"Emily."

She stopped and looked back.

"I'll give you a call sometime and we'll meet for coffee or tea."

"That would be nice."

She watched him walk away, and then laughed to herself as she turned up the corridor with a visual of him in his doctor attire and herself in a jail uniform having coffee. She didn't see how he could possibly look at her any other way.

Yet, they'd had something, and she knew in the core of her being that it could've been something special... if only. Even now, it still hurt when she let herself think about the time they spent on the train, especially that kiss she could still feel if she closed her eyes. Yet, in a way, she hoped if he did call, it would be after she made something of herself, after the memory of her past was put in its place.

She sat outside the hospital entrance, waiting for a ride, remembering how excited she was about coming to San Francisco. She thought of how her vulnerability placed her in the hands of those who took advantage of her, and how she was let down by some, herself included, even Sam who was probably not so bad. Then there were people like Peter and George, Otto too, and Bruce, Donna, and of course Maria and Nathan, and how they had shown her just how good it could be to have real friends.

The familiar blue Chevy came around the corner and pulled up to the curb. Rose was in the driver's seat.

When her father stepped out of the car, her heart leaped for joy. He was what she had come for in the first place, wasn't it? And now she had so much more.

Tears filled her eyes as she went into his arms. Maybe the road ahead would be winding, but she knew that with her family she had an anchor to hold onto. For now, that was good enough.

Acknowledgments.