CHAPTER FORTY-ONE — THE SECRET

When Hope was ten years old, Marilyn finally showed her the old photograph.

“This is your father when he was young.”

Hope laughed.

“Dad! You look funny!”

David pretended to be offended.

“Excuse me?”

Marilyn laughed.

“And this is me.”

Hope looked at the photograph.

“Where were you?”

“At school.”

“How did you meet?”

David and Marilyn looked at each other.

Then David said:

“That's a very long story.”

Hope sat down.

“I want to hear it.”

Marilyn smiled.

And they began.

They told her about the classroom.

The books.

The movies.

The friendship.

The jealousy.

The separation.

The letters.

The university.

The return.

The wedding.

Hope listened carefully.

When they finished, she asked:

“So you almost lost each other?”

“Yes,” Marilyn said.

“Why didn't you?”

David looked at his daughter.

“Because we kept choosing each other.”