Free Twisted by Jake Mactire

forgive me, because I can never forgive myself.” She started crying full out now.
    Mike had had his head in his hands as she spoke. He said to her, “Mom, it’s gonna take me some time to come to terms with everythin’ and process all the information that you and he gave me. One thing though, I do love you, and I do want you in my life. It’s gonna take time to rebuild a relationship, but I’m willin’ to give it a go.”
    “Thank you, Mike, that’s more than I deserve.” She continued to cry. I could hear Guy and Eve in the background trying to comfort her.
    Mike finally spoke. “Mom, Eve, Guy, I do wanna get your opinions on somethin’. I still got a lot of anger about what happened, and I’m very confused about and angry at him. I don’t even know what to call him. Dad just seems wrong. He says he’s changed. What do you think?”
    Eve spoke first. “You know, Mike, he doesn’t expect you to ever forgive him. He feels what he did is unforgivable. He said to us that your just listening to him was way more than he deserves. I think his being so involved with PFLAG in part is a kind of atonement. He wants to educate others to try and prevent someone else from ruining a bunch of lives through ignorance.”
    “He said that?”
    “The part about ruining a bunch of lives, yes, he did say.”
    “You know, Mike, after you were gone, Mom left Dad. Eve went with her. I tried to stay with Dad for a little bit, and every night he woke me up crying over what he did. I know his regret doesn’t make it right, but I do believe he’s sincere.” Guy’s voice had almost a pleading quality to it.
    “Son, he has changed. He’s a totally different man now than he was when you were at home. I think when he realized how heinous the things he did to you actually were, it broke him. Maybe that is what it took to show him that what we believed was not based on love but on hate.”
    “It’s hard for me to realize that the person you’re talkin’ about is the one who abused me so badly.”
    “It was hard for us to believe too,” Madeline added, and then Eve spoke.
    “Honestly, it took years before we believed it wasn’t an act.”
    “I got a good amount to think on. I’m much obliged for the opinions. Now, let’s talk about somethin’ else. You know I’m gonna make gumbo tomorrow.”
    “That’s great, Mike. Can I help with a recipe?” Madeline was ready to jump right in.
    “I appreciate your offerin’. I reckon I know how to make it from watchin’ you when I was there.”
    “Hey, Mike, Jeff, I saw a bunch of people skiing beside the road in one of the magazines about you guys. I thought people skied on hills.” Guy wasn’t afraid to ask a question.
    “This type of skiin’ is called Nordic or cross-country. It’s a lot of fun and one hell of a workout. Mike and I go all the time.”
    “Can I come out and visit you guys and try it?”
    “Sure, do you got clothes for cold weather?” Mike asked.
    “No, not really.”
    “You can borrow some of my gear. Jeffy, we got more skis around here somewhere, don’t we?”
    “Yep, we have several pairs extra.”
    “You’re welcome anytime, Guy. So are you, Mom, and Eve. Speaking of skiin’, we’re plannin’ on goin’ tomorrow. We ski several days a week.”
    “Mike, Jeff, in the articles it looked like you were having a lot of fun when you were downtown singing and had the Santa caps over your cowboy hats. I know Mike can sing. Can you sing too, Jeff?” Eve laughed as she asked the question.
    “Jeff can sing real good. We do karaoke in town all the time. The Schoolhouse Brewery gives me, Jeffy, Maria, and Smitty free food and drinks because we bring a lot of tourists in when we sing.”
    “Mike’s right, and we had a lot of fun Christmas caroling in town for Christmas at the End of the Road. That’s when the pictures were taken.”
    “Is it true you were making everyone sing ‘Christmas for Cowboys’ and ‘Santa got lost in Texas’?” Eve