Page 53 of What If I See You

I huff a soft laugh, hiding my surprise. “Oh. Yeah. Of course.”

Mr. Ollenberg embraces me warmly and for the first time—I think ever—I feel like I might know what the Grinch felt like when his heart grew three sizes. My parents aren’t huggers. They never have been. I was rarely hugged as a child. In fact, standing here right now, I can’t remember even three times that I may have been hugged by either of my parents. So, being in the loving arms of a parental figure feels…odd. Odd but also…amazing.

My shoulders relax with every passing second and when he releases me and cups my face in his hands, much like his son does, and murmurs, “Welcome to our family, Layken,” I almost start sobbing right then and there.

“Thank you, Mr. Ollenberg.”

“Please,” he says with the warmest smile. “Call me Grant. Or Dad, if you prefer.”

I smile, choking back tears, and nod as he makes way for Griffin’s mother to join us. Griffin steps in, putting a quick arm around me, and says, “Mom, this is Layken.”

Griffin’s mom is already crying as she steps up to me with glistening eyes and a huge smile on her face.

“After all this time,” she says. “I finally have a daughter.” She throws her arms around me and squeezes me tightly, whispering, “Thank you so much for loving my son.”

“I…” I swallow the lump in my throat and simply squeeze her back because I have no idea what I’m supposed to say to that. I’m overwhelmed with emotions I didn’t expect to feel.

Gratitude.

Surprise.

Happiness.

Relief.

All of that mixed with a little fear and a little anxiety.

These people have every right to dislike me, to question me, to wish I wasn’t here right now, but instead they’re accepting me into their family like I’ve been a part of it for years and this was just the next natural step in the game of life.

And I’m not exactly sure what to do with that.

These kinds of things don’t happen to me.

At least, they never have before.

Mrs. Ollenberg releases me and places her hands on my shoulders. “We are so glad you’re here, Layken.”

“Thank you, Mrs.—”

“Gail. Or Mom. Whichever you like, Layken.”

“Thank you…Mom.”

I don’t miss the satisfied smile on Griffin’s face, but I turn my head away and take a deep breath when Gail gestures inside the house.

“Please, come in, both of you. Make yourselves at home. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Gage leads the way followed by his parents. I watch as his parents walk through their own doorway holding hands and quickly swipe a tear from slipping down my cheek.

“Hey,” Griffin whispers, concern etched in his brow. “You okay?”

I nod and wrap my hand around his. “Yeah. Good.”

“See? Told you,”Griffin remarks, taking another huge bite of his dinner. “Best lasagna you’ll ever have.”

Swallowing my bite and dabbing the corners of my mouth with my napkin, I nod in agreement. “You definitely weren’t lying. This is amazing!”

Gail smiles proudly. “Thank you, Layken.”

---