Jake gaped as Luke concluded his story.
“So were you the reason my father divorced Mom? Was it you that made things suddenly turn upside down?”
Luke gasped, shaking his head. “No…”
“I hated my father because of you! Gods! How come I never saw you so I could kill you?” Jake shot to his feet and staggered to his desk.
Luke bowed his head, wringing his hands. His chest heaved deep and hard. Was it his mistake that Jake’s father—his name was Jake, right?—picked him from the dark alley that night? Not that he was ungrateful to be spared death. But what about him? Jake’s father didn’t merely touch him. He might be indebted to Mr. Welther but he thought he’d paid enough. More than enough.
Jake didn’t seem to finish. “Are you that mean,” he yelled from the desk, “that you let a mother walk ou
