I first met him on January 27, 1999; at the youngest of my brothers' birthday party, at what was then our home in Irving. My mother had brought him home for us to meet and give our approval; Douglas Maynard would soon become my step-father and teach me the most important lesson I was to learn in life. My mother first met Douglas when they both worked at Omni Hotel Corporate Office. My mother had always told me everything so I was shocked to find out they had been dating for quite some time. "Oh well" I told myself, "give him a chance and see what happens." He would lead me through som…
