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“Yes.”
“Thank you for being honest with me.” He lifted his chin. “But I still want to be a part of it.”
“Michael—”
“I know you’re worried, but do you think that I’m supposed to be doing this? Snowboarding?”
“Of course. We’ve often talked about how God has gifted you, not only with an amazing brain, but also with athletic ability.”
“And it’s your job as my parent to help me grow into that, right?”
“Yes.” His father looked wary now.
“I think I need to do this, Dad.” His father’s furrowed brow didn’t bode well for the response. “Think about it. I’m not saying I should go out there without a plan, but I already have marshals watching out for me. I have no doubt that security is aware of the situation and will be alert to any trouble. Why should we let the possibility of this threat keep me from doing what I’ve been born to do? You’ve always taught me we’re not to live in fear but to embrace life and all it brings—including the challenges. I don’t want to hide from this, but I do want to be safe. Isn’t there some sort of compromise we can come to? A way to do both?”
A soft puff of laughter escaped his father’s lips. “We’ve done too good of a job with the parenting, haven’t we?”
Michael grinned. “Of course.”
“I’ll talk to security and see what they have to say.”
“Are the marshals still here?”
“Just one.” He stood. “Stay tuned. I’ll be back.” He walked to the door. “Come inside where it’s warm. You’re going to be cold soon enough on the slope.”
“I’m never cold on the slopes. I don’t even feel the chill.”
“Just the exhilaration of the run?”
“Exactly.” But Michael followed his father inside and went to change into his gear. The practice started in less than an hour.
Fifteen minutes later, he exited his room and found his parents sitting on the couch, expressions sober. “What is it?”
“We talked to security and they don’t think you should participate,” his mother said.
His heart dropped. “Theydon’t oryoudon’t?”
“Mike—” His dad pointed to the recliner and Michael dropped into it.
He let his gloves fall to the floor. “I thought we were okay with me doing this. Why else would you bring me here?”
“We were hoping that the danger would be over by the timeyou had to get out there, but it’s not. And,” his father said, “while you made a good argument, your mother made a better one. We don’t know what the threat entails, and while there’s still a chance this guy could show up, we can’t risk something happening to you.”
“But all the security ... I have so many people watching out for me that he wouldn’t be able to get to me anyway.”
His mother dropped her chin to her chest, then looked him in the eye. “We’re sorry, Michael, but we’re going to have to veto this event.”
He wasn’t going to change their minds, not when they had those identical “this subject isn’t open for debate” looks on their faces. He grabbed his gloves and stood. “I’ll be in my room. Please don’t ask me if I want anything to eat. I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Hold on a second.”
Michael paused and his father exchanged a glance with his mother before pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket. “We think you should read this.”
“What is it?”
“A note from your birth mother.”
Michael took the letter, then picked up his gloves and returned to his room. He stood there for a moment, then opened the letter.
