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done everything you can to convince her, but your sister has her heart set on going to La Belle. If you don’t let her have her way in this, she may strike out on her own.” His lips curled in a quick smile. “She is an Anderson, after all.”
    Lily couldn’t help the laughter that broke past her lips in response to her husband’s not-so-subtle reminder of her own stubbornness. “But that was different. My aunt and uncle were trying to force me—”
    “Trying to get you to do what they thought was in your best interest.”
    Her chin lifted. “I’m not trying to push Camellia into a loveless marriage.”
    “I know that, Lily. But you’re the one who told me how adamant your sister is about going to that finishing school.” He shrugged. “I don’t see much wrong with letting her live in New Orleans. We have friends who will watch out for her safety, and if it becomes dangerous, we’ll have the opportunity to rescue her and bring her safely back to Les Fleurs. Or keep her aboard with us if you want.”
    He was right. She knew he was right. But still she worried.
    Blake dropped a reassuring kiss on her forehead. “Where is Camellia, anyway? I thought you wanted to spend all of your leisure time with her on this voyage since it will probably be the last one we manage before school begins.”
    “I sent her up to visit Papa.” Lily glanced at the staircase behind his right shoulder. “She still seems so stilted and formal around him. I don’t understand why. Camellia couldn’t have felt the same way I did when I thought Papa had abandoned us. She seemed to get along well with him before she knew his real identity, and I would like to see them work out their differences before she goes away, before her heart hardens so much that—”
    Blake’s face, so warm and caring before her answer, hardened into a cold mask.
    Remorse washed through her. “I’m sorry, Blake…. I didn’t mean…. I wasn’t trying to—”
    He put a finger over her lips, silencing her apology. “It’s okay, Lily. I suppose what I’m feeling is more guilt than anything else. Besides, we’ve had a similar discussion before when I was trying to get you to be more accepting of Henrick. I know I need to make peace with my own father.”
    Lily wanted to put her arms around Blake. She wanted to comfort him, tell him that she would always be there for him no matter what he decided to do about his relationship with his father. But she held her tongue and waited for him to finish. Her patience was rewarded after a long minute ticked by.
    Blake sighed. “I just don’t know if I’m ready to take that step yet. You cannot know what it was like—”
    Unable to keep silent any longer, Lily interrupted him. “But I know what you’re like, Blake. I’ve seen you grow closer to the Lord since we’ve been together. I love the time we spend together in devotion and prayer.” She hesitated for a moment, trying to pick her words with care.
    Blake smiled, but his eyes were filled with uncertainty. “But …?”
    Lily didn’t want to cause Blake unnecessary pain, yet she owed him her honest opinion. “I can sense a hard place inside of you, a place you don’t want to let Him touch. Maybe it’s because I once harbored the same feelings toward my father that I recognize them in you.” She put a hand on his arm, feeling the hard coil of his muscles under her fingers. “If you don’t release the anger, it will consume you. I’m afraid it will make you someone different from the man I know and love. I don’t want to see that happen to you … to us.”
    His head dropped toward his chest. “I know you’re right, but it’s not easy. I understand with my mind that I have to forgive my father, but I don’t feel the truth of it in my heart. I’ve been praying about my father. So far, God has been silent on the subject. Maybe when things settle down some …”
    Lily stood on her tiptoes and placed a whisper-light kiss on his cheek. “I love