Trying To Understand

Arthur smiled faintly, his own gratitude mingling with hope. "He sees what we're trying to do," he agreed. "And that's a good start. We'll keep showing them, in every way we can, that we're here to stay."

Lydia leaned into his embrace, drawing strength from his confidence. As daunting as the road ahead seemed, she knew they were taking the right steps. If they could gain Jared's trust, perhaps they could begin to build the bridge to their daughter's heart as well.

"She loves him," Arthur said after a pause. "And that love is fierce. But I have to believe that there's room in her heart for us, too."

Lydia sighed, leaning into her husband's touch. "I want to believe that too," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "But she doesn't know us. We've already missed almost 30 years of her life, Arthur. She's her own person now, with her own beliefs, her own family. We're strangers to her."