I think my jaw just about hit the floor when I saw her walk into the room with a dozen roses. Sneaking a glance at Ashley I saw that she too was shocked.
Then, the most surprising thing of all day happened. My mother apologized to Ashley and me.
�Dana, I�m sorry for the way I�ve treated you for the past years. I haven�t been the best mother possible and I�m afraid that I�m partly responsible for this.� Then she turned to Ashley. �I�m sorry for treating you the way I did too. Instead of treating you like a member of the family, I shunned you and even blamed you for Dana being a lesbian. I never gave myself the chance to know the you that my daughter loves. Above all things, I�m sorry for what happened and I�m sorry for giving my son ideas.�
Then she turned and walked out of the hospital room saying, �I have to go talk to the police about Josh. He�s been arrested and charged. So have his friends.� With that, she was gone.
I turned to look at Ashley. I�m sure that the stunned look that was etched on her face was mirrored in mine.
�Am I dreaming?� I finally asked, afraid of the response.
�I� I don�t think so�� Ashley shook her head. �You mom just apologized to you� to us.� Her face broke into a huge smile and right then I knew that everything was going to be okay.
Well, as okay as things can get with a father working full time and a brother doing time. But at least Ashley and I have each other� and I have my mother.
epilogue