“Then why do you think I would allow any man to pursue one of my daughters if I believed that his intentions were not entirely pure? Do you think I would not have intervened if I’d believed there was any lack of integrity at the root of your affections?” Henry hung his head and tried to take that in while Oliver continued. “Viola and I knew from the day we met you that you were a man in need of a family, and we loved the way you fit so nicely into ours, and we would have been glad to have it be that way forever whether you had married one of our daughters or not. And we knew that you knew that, which means we both knew your feelings for them were not misguided or selfish. If I thought you’d done something wrong, son, I wouldn’t be afraid to tell you. Truthfully, you are one of the finest men I’ve ever known and I consider it a privilege to call you my son.”

“You really mean that?” Henry said, looking at him again, wanting to be certain.

“I really do. So, enough of this feeling like a fool. It’s in the past. You kept it from us because Amala asked you to. We understand that.”

“I’m not certain I understand it,” Henry muttered. “I think I’m still trying to figure it out.”

“I’m sure none of us ever could have predicted or imagined such a complicated and grievous course of events occurring in our family.”

“No,” Henry said, “we certainly couldn’t have.”

“But we know what the situation is, and Kat’s been gone at least long enough for us to begin to think clearly again. I hope that’s why you’re finally here; I’ve been waiting, you know.”

“Have you?”

“I have. Every night Viola climbs into bed and asks me if you came to talk to me yet.”

Henry sighed. “And so the two of you can still see right through me.”

“Let’s just say we consider it somewhat of a parental duty to pay close attention to our children and their moods and behaviors. And not one of you could ever be pushed into something before you felt ready. But you’re here now, so why don’t you just ask me what you came to ask me. And, no, I have no idea what you came to ask me, but I know when I see the need to ask a question; it must be a big one from that look in your eyes. So get to it, son.”

Henry sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “If I had come to you back then . . . asking for your permission to court Amala . . . what would you have told me?”

“Funny,” Oliver said with an expression that contradicted the word, “Amala asked me that exact question only a few days ago.”