His eyes scanned the harbor for sight of the ship that would bring his brother home. Behind him the winding cobbled streets, gabled roofs, and church steeples of London offered a familiar sight to welcome Brother Stephen.“Three years since I’ve laid eyes on him,” Richard said to himself, squinting his eyes to the sun as sails of an incoming vessel came into view. The ship skimmed the waves like a dancer as screeching gulls circled overhead, swooping down toward the deck as the sails were furled.The port was a seething beehive of noise as the sailors moved about, unloading the cargoes of riches arriving for London merchants from foreign ports. He couldn’t help but wonder if any of these chests were for Heather’s father.Richard felt more at peace now than he had in a long while. Heather had now heard his story, knew the truth. She hated him no longer. It had been such torment to leave her after the kiss in the garden, but he had known that to stay for one moment longer would have meant that he would not have been content with just the taste of her lips.“She loves me.
