If Neal had learned anything, it was that people couldn’t be trusted. They were out for themselves. They might be there one moment and then as soon as something better came along, they were gone.

Take his father. The only thing he knew about him was his name. He wanted nothing to do with his son or Neil’s mother. His mom hadn’t wanted him. She wanted a husband and when she found him she forgot all about Neil. If that wasn’t bad enough, she had more kids, kids she never abandoned, kids she loved.

This is why he couldn’t risk getting close with Audra. Sure, Audra was interested in him now, but as soon as she found someone better, someone worthy, she would leave like all the rest.

There was just something missing inside of Neil. Something that made him easy to forget.

But was that true?

Kerry and Genesis had opened their home to him. They stood by him as he had tantrums and got into trouble at school. He was a difficult, angry child, but they still accepted and loved him and so did his grandmother.

Still, could he risk getting his heart broken again?

Was Audra worth the risk?

“Give it a try,” Kerry urged him, “you may always wonder if you don’t.”

Kerry decided he would see Audra again, but just casually. They would see a movie or have dinner and then they would part ways. He would give her a peck on the cheek. He would go home and she would be all he could think about.

Genesis wanted to meet her. She somehow convinced Neil to invite her over for dinner.

“Won’t that give her the wrong impression?” Neil asked. He picked up the phone to cancel.

“What that you like her? That your interested?” Genesis smiled.

“It’s just dinner Neil, that’s all,” said Kerry.

Neil didn’t say a lot at dinner, but had a slight grin on his face the whole time. Audra was polite and friendly. Kerry and Genesis approved. They went to bed early to give the couple a chance to be alone.

“Your family is so nice,” Audra said.

Neil could not keep his emotions bottled up any longer. He looked Audra deeply in her eyes and kissed her.

Audra and Neil grew closer. Neil felt it was time she met Chase. Chase came to visit as he did during school breaks.

The three agreed to meet at the park. She played on the playground with him and they laughed and chased each other.

Neil was in love.

Audra and Neil bought a house together.

Audra was an accountant. She enjoyed playing the violin.

Kerry asked if marriage was in the picture. Neil shrugged.

“One step at a time,” he said.

Lucia married Terry.

Lucia was musical and played several instruments. She wrote songs and performed at night.

Stella and Kerry began visiting each other more often.

Eventually, Neil would come to dinner while she was there. He even introduced her to Audra.

While Stella and Neil would never be close, they developed a friendly relationship. Stella began to call Neil once a month.

Neil invited her to his upcoming wedding to Audra. Living together had gone well and he couldn’t imagine a life without her.

Audra and Neil focused on their careers the first years of marriage.

One day they invited the family over for a barbecue.

“We are having a baby!” Audra exclaimed.

Neal beamed. Who thought life could be like this?