"He really loves you all," Gloria whispered into his ear. "I know some people wonder how he could love so many different people. He has so many wives, plus you kids… I know it's not true, but I've heard many from both worlds mutter that he must be a heartless bastard. They figure that he just has the wives for sex, and doesn't care for his offspring, but there is no denying his love. Your father is a great man. I can see a lot of him in you."
Eldon didn't know how to take the compliment and kept his mouth shut. He'd heard some of the same things growing up. People assumed that they understood him, without ever meeting him. All they saw was his public persona. They saw a man with multiple wives, with kids among some of them, and assumed they knew what kind of man he was.
