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Daniel and his father sat across from each other in a steak house located in the Cherokee Pavilion. The pavilion was new, and so was Harrah's — a casino featuring 60,000 square feet of gaming space. Vegas-style entertainment, Daniel thought, on his homeland.

He gazed at the man he had abandoned 16 years ago. George Crow had aged, but the lines around his eyes and the gray in his hair managed to strengthen his appeal.

"So what do you think of all this?" Daniel asked, gesturing to their surroundings.

George looked up from his meal. "It's good for the Real People," he said, using a traditional term for the Cherokee. "They share in the gaming profits."

Daniel smiled. His father was still an old-fashioned man, but apparently he had accepted the growth of his people and their plunge into the modern world. He seemed wise to Daniel now, a proud Cherokee warrior.

"You've changed, Dad."

"So have you, Gv-he. But you've lost so much."

Daniel's smile faded. In spite of his monetary success, he couldn't deny the years of turmoil and pain that had come with it. He'd told his father about Clarissa and the baby, praying they were at peace in the Nightland.

Reaching for his coffee, he glanced out the window. Frost fogged the glass, a reminder that Christmas was just days away.

Christmas. Now the holiday season made him think of Traci and Parker, of their smiles and laughter. He missed them terribly. He'd sent Parker a passel of books and toys from one of the reservation gift shops, but he couldn't find an appropriate gift for Traci.

There was nothing he could give her that would express how he felt. She had changed his life, encouraging him to face his past.

"Did I make you sad?" George asked.

Daniel turned away from the window and met his father's gaze. He shook his head, hoping he didn't look as lonely as he felt. "No. I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine."

"No, really, I am. It just feels strange to be back here."

"It's good to have you home."

They stared at each other, man to man. Daniel felt a lump forming in his throat. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too."

Before he embarrassed himself with watery eyes, Daniel cut into his steak. His emotions teetered, tipping his heart. He could feel it tumbling in his chest, struggling for balance.

He couldn't remember the last time he had dined in a restaurant with his dad. But then, money had been tight years ago. Frowning, he sipped his coffee. George Crow still lived in the same modest home, the same tiny, hilltop dwelling. "Why did you return the checks?"

"What would I do with all that money? I have everything I need. The tourists come in the summer, and the winters are quiet and serene. That's enough for me."

"Do you want me to stay, Dad? To move back?"

"Is that what you want?"

"I want to be part of your life, and I want to be Cherokee again."

"You can be one of the Real People without living here. I didn't used to think so, but I know better now." He set his fork down. "You and I, we're from different generations, but we're both still Cherokee. Still father and son."

Feeling shamed, Daniel leaned against the table, his voice quiet. "How can you say that after I denounced my heritage?"

"Because you struggled with it. You knew it was wrong, and it affected everything you did."

"It's been a long, hard road." And it amazed him that his dad could forgive him so easily.

"I shouldn't have been so tough on you. I should have encouraged you to spread your wings."

"Thank you. That means a lot to me."

"And you coming back means a lot to me." Although George smiled, it faded quickly. "But I can tell you're confused. Who is she, son? Who walks in your soul?"

Daniel caught his breath. "You think I'm in love?"

His father looked him square in the eye. "It can happen more than once. Your wife and child have been gone a long time, and now your heart is beating for someone new. Isn't it?"

To be continued...



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