Page 30 of The One Who Risked it All

Dad snorted, but I ignored it. “So, Rebecca needed help. You know me, always happy to lend a hand.”

Dad’s face darkened like storm clouds rolling in over the Blue Ridge Mountains. I braced myself, wishing I could melt into the couch cushions and disappear.

“Carla Jean,” he began, his tone carrying a warning, “I thought we’d been clear about associating with those people.”

Those people. As if the Wells family were some kind of alien species instead of our neighbors for the past three generations. I bit back a sarcastic retort, reminding myself that antagonizing Dad wouldn’t help my case.

“Come on, Dad,” I said, keeping my voice light. “They’re just kids. It’s not like I was plotting some kind of Wells-Putnam alliance.”

Even as the words left my mouth, I felt a twinge of guilt. Because while I might not have been plotting anything, the time I’d spent with Eli had definitely stirred up feelings I thought I’d buried long ago.

Dad’s frown deepened, creating canyons in his weathered face. “It’s not about the kids, Carla. It’s about principles. About loyalty to your family.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Sometimes, I wondered if Dad realized we were living in the 21st century, not feudal Scotland.

“I am loyal to my family,” I insisted, sitting up straighter. “But that doesn’t mean I have to ignore half the town because of some ancient grudge.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I’d pushed too far. Dad’s face flushed red, a vein throbbing in his temple. I braced myself for the impending lecture, wishing I’d kept my big mouth shut.

“Ancient grudge?” Dad’s voice rose, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair. “Is that what you think this is?”

I tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, trying to calm the nervous energy coursing through me. “Dad, I—“

“No, you listen here, young lady,” he cut me off, leaning forward. “Have you forgotten what that family did to us? To your grandfather’s business?”

I felt my jaw clench, the familiar knot in my stomach tightening. Of course I hadn’t forgotten. How could I, when it was brought up at every family gathering, every holiday dinner? Eli’s grandfather and my grandfather had been business partners. Until Eli’s grandfather torpedoed the business. No one knew why. Or if they did, they weren’t telling me. That was the most frustrating part. No matter how much I pushed, I never got the whole story.

“Whatever happened—whatever the reason was? That was decades ago,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. “And his kids had nothing to do with it. You and Harold used to be friends, didn’t you?

Dad scoffed, his eyes narrowing. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Carla. You’re being naive.”

I bit my lip, memories of Eli’s kind smile and gentle teasing flashing through my mind. If only Dad knew how wrong he was. But I couldn’t tell him that without revealing too much.

“I’m not naive,” I argued, my frustration building. “I’m just trying to live my life without being weighed down by ancient history.”

Dad’s voice boomed, making me flinch. “Your Grandpa Kenny lost everything. And you think that’s ancient history?”

I closed my eyes for a moment, willing myself to stay calm. When I opened them, I met Dad’s gaze head-on. “I understand why you’re upset, but—“

“No, you clearly don’t,” he interrupted, his face flushed with anger. “If you did, you wouldn’t be fraternizing with the enemy.”

The word ‘enemy’ echoed in my head, and I couldn’t help but think of Eli’s warm laugh, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. Some enemy.

“They’re not the enemy, Dad,” I said softly, my heart heavy with the weight of unspoken truths. “They’re just people, like us.”

Just as I thought Dad might explode, Mom’s gentle voice cut through the tension like a cool breeze on a sweltering day.

“Jim, honey,” she said, placing a hand on his arm, “maybe we should all take a deep breath. Carla’s a grown woman now, and she’s always had good judgment.”

I shot Mom a grateful look, feeling some of the tightness in my chest ease. Dad’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and I seized the moment to gather my thoughts.

“Look,” I began, taking a deep breath, “I know this is complicated, and I understand why you’re worried. But I’m not a little girl anymore. I can make my own decisions.”

Dad opened his mouth to argue, but I held up a hand. “Please, let me finish. I’m not trying to hurt you or disrespect our family’s history. But I can’t live my life based on a feud that started before I was born.”

As I spoke, I couldn’t help but think of Eli. His cocky grin, his quick wit, the way he always seemed to know just what to say to make me laugh. But there was more to him than that – I’d seen the vulnerability in his eyes when he talked about trying to prove himself to his father.

“The Wells boys aren’t their father or grandfather,” I continued, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach. “They’re just... people. Good people, actually. And Eli, he’s...” I trailed off, realizing I’d said more than I meant to.

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