CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN – FORGIVENESS IS KEY

Henry cleared his throat gruffly. "Why don't you both have a seat? I think we all need to...clear the air here." Jasmine cautiously took a seat in the armchair, her nerves thrumming as she watched her father lower himself onto the couch beside Anita. Whatever was about to be said, it was clearly momentous enough that Anita needed the support and solidarity of her husband. "Your mother told me about Elena," Henry began in a low tone, looking sidelong at Anita. "She told me everything - about having to give up your older sister all those years ago when she was just a kid herself." Jasmine felt her throat constrict as the wounds from Anita's revelation were ripped open anew. She stared at her mother, whose eyes remained downcast with shame. "At first, I'll admit - I was furious with your mom," Henry continued, an undercurrent of pain edging his words. "Furious that she kept something that huge from me, from our whole family, for more than thirty years." He sighed deeply, suddenly loo