city: regret, shame, and lament that tried to flood him. His consistent control and ability to maintain a calm, detached attitude even in the most trying circumstances had always made him somew

moment, he noticed a side of Elizabeth that he had not really seen before: the artist, the visionary, the lady who had poured her whole life onto the canvas in spite of all her challenges. Michael felt a great sense of stunningness at the power and flexibility of the one who had borne his child and fashioned a life for herself despite his relinquishment. A flood of pride mixed with his guilt. His attention was drawn to a spectacular artwork as he got closer to the far wall: a whirl of crimson and gold that seemed to pulse with almost obvious force. Driven gently closer, he ended up encircled by the circle of composition, his appearance mirroring the intricate patterns and delicate blasts of variation. He saw it there, buried among the chaos of brushstrokes: a little, delicate figure with an obvious aura of resistance and will. It was a picture of Elizabeth in all her ferocious beauty, evidence of the relentless spirit that had seen her through the toughest of circumstances. Michael watched the raw force of the work, the unadorned reality it unearthed, a knot coiled in his throat. This was Elizabeth-a lady whose spirit had been tempered by her struggle-a woman who had faced the toughest obstacles and emerged stronger for it without pretense or artistry. Michael's last of his conceit disappeared as he felt a great feeling of humility and a fresh respect for the woman he had so badly offended in just one instant. He recognized her as a power of nature by her own doing, a woman whose strength and adaptability had created a close relationship with the child they shared, not as a triumph to be achieved or an award to be assured. A torrent of defense erupted inside him, an intuitive impulse to hide and protect this amazing woman and the child he had just barely located. Beyond words, he knew he would do anything to gain their trust and turn into the person they deserved-the person he should have been all along. Michael squared his shoulders and headed for the exit from the captivating canvas, his steps reoriented with a fresh goal. Not for his personal gain but rather for the chance to be a part of their life and the father and partner he had so fiercely rejected as a youngster, he would search Elizabeth, expose himself, and ask her forgiveness. Michael felt a weight lift from his shoulders as he emerged onto the clamering road, replaced by a consuming conviction that set all his nerves finishing land. He wouldn't rest until he had righted the past's mistakes and justified himself worthy of the respect and confidence he had so carelessly squandered. With every stride, his wil