Acceptance

      “You tried to kill me,” Josie said, and she could tell that she had the Minister’s complete attention now; it was as if he had become deaf to the sounds of battle around them.  In some ways she felt deaf to them, too, but Josie was no fool—she knew exactly what her grandfather was.  Yet at the same time she understood what he had gone through.  He was no monster.  He was just a man, made bitter and cold by the tragedies of life.  The day her father stepped through the Last Window, he had put into motion a chain of events he never could have anticipated—and he had caused those who loved him unbelievable pain.  That sort of pain Josie had seen in herself, along with her mother and Jack.  In the face of such agony even good people could stumble.  For that reason, Josie said quietly, “I forgive you.”