Page 149 of Lee

He recognized the two detectives who’d been in charge of his case, who were now retired. They’d both been interviewed for the docu-series, though they’d given no indication that they were aware that Lee had survived.

Also present was another doctor and the lawyer and judge who had advised them on the legalities of the decisions made. More people knew what had transpired than his parents had been aware of.

Considering how many people knew, Lee was a bit surprised that his secret had remained hidden all these years.

“I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to see you like this,” the judge said. Like Dr. Stein, he was elderly. He’d lost all his hair, but his gaze was sharp as he looked at Lee. “I had hoped that the decisions we made would allow you to live as normal a life as possible, and it looks like that’s what happened.”

Lee nodded. “I had a wonderful childhood with my adoptive family. Mom and Dad gave me a stable and loving home, and I’m very grateful.”

“I knew they would,” Dr. Stein said with a smile. “I figured if they were anything like your grandfather, you’d be in good hands.”

They spoke a bit about the docu-series, with the people who’d been interviewed giving their thoughts on it. This was the first time Valeria was up for parole, and the group were split on whether they thought she’d be granted it.

“Would she get out on good behavior?” Lee asked.

The one detective shrugged. “She had a few incidents early on in her incarceration, but nothing over the past few years. Unlike Ian Sr. He’s had plenty of run-ins, even though he’s getting up there in years. He’s had to spend time in solitary because he attacked fellow inmates and even a guard.”

Lee didn’t like to hear that the man had continued to exhibit aggressive behavior. It was the biggest issue he’d struggled with during his sessions with Susan. The belief that he carried similar traits as his biological father was a hard one to let go of.

Rori didn’t talk much, but she seemed comfortable and at ease as they ate. He’d told her she didn’t need to come if she didn’t want to, but she wasn’t having any of that.

He wasn’t sure that he would have managed to move forward as well as he had without Rori in his life. She’d listened when he needed to talk. She’s held his hand in silence when he’d needed company but not conversation. And she always had a hug for him.

In some ways, he felt she’d brought more to his life than he had to hers. Anytime he said that, however, she reassured him that wasn’t the case.

As he looked around the table, Lee was filled with gratitude for each person there and the impact they’d had on his life. Were it not for them, he wouldn’t have had the privilege of growing up in a loving, Christ-centered family. And were it not for the Halversons, he most likely would have lived a very different life.

And then there was Rori. She meant the world to him. Though she’d been a new Christian—newer than he’d realized at the time—she’d constantly pointed him to the Bible and to God as he struggled with his past.

Her growing faith had strengthened his, and he’d come to appreciate the strong foundation it had built for their relationship. And he wanted to continue to build on that foundation, which was why he had hidden a ring in his car and had made plans for an outing with just Rori immediately following that meeting.

As he spoke with the people present—especially the detectives—he learned that they felt much like his parents and Susan. He was in control of who he was. Not his genetic make-up. Only Dr. Stein and one of the detectives—Mick Sellers—were Christians, but they didn’t hesitate to share that they believed that God had given him a new life. One that wasn’t tied to his birth parents.

In total, they spent four hours together. Some in the group had flights to catch since they’d only flown in for the day, but Dr. Stein and Mick Sellers remained after the others had left.

“If you have any questions about the case or anything pertaining to Ian and Valeria, do not hesitate to contact me.” Mick handed Lee a card. “That has all my contact information on it.”

“Thanks,” Lee said. “I appreciate that.”

“I’ve always carried such heaviness in my heart over what happened to you,” the man said with a sad smile. “As a detective, there’s always that one case that never leaves you, and your case was that one for me. I was on the scene when they found you and Ian, and it’s something I’ll never forget. But now, anytime those images want to drag me down, I’m going to think of our meeting today and thank God that He helped us save you.”

Lee hadn’t thought about how the police might have been impacted by what they’d encountered. He’d struggled with the pictures he’d seen. He couldn’t imagine what it might have been like to have seen it all in real life.

“Thank you for everything you did. Speaking with you all today has given me a real sense of peace over the way things transpired after Ian died.”

“I don’t know why God allowed you and little Ian to suffer like you did,” Dr. Stein said. “Like Mick, this case has lingered in my heart and mind. But it seems that God has brought good from the midst of horror. I hope that you will continue to seek His will in your life and that you don’t allow what happened to you to define your future.”

“I’m doing my best to not allow that to happen. Rori and my family have been a wonderful support. I’m not sure I would have been able to move past what happened without their help.”

After chatting for a couple more minutes, they made their way out of the room and to the entrance of the hotel. They shook hands, then watched as the detective and the doctor walked to the nearby parking lot.

“I think that went very well,” his mom said with a smile. “What do you think, Lee?”

He nodded. “It went better than I dared hope, to be honest.”

“It has been great to see that there were good people who were willing to step up and do what was necessary to protect you in the midst of a horrible situation,” his dad said. “And that none of them have ever revealed the secret, even when they were interviewed for that show.”

His dad had watched it, but his mom had declined. She’d said she didn’t want those images of her baby boy in her mind. Lee knew that she carried sadness that she hadn’t been able to love and care for Ian the way she had been able to for him.

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