Page 53 of The One Who Risked it All

“I don’t know, sweetheart,” she said softly. “He loved his father… I didn’t want to change that. Kenny was a decent man who made some big mistakes. But he loved Jim. How could I tarnish the man Jimmy looked up to his entire life?”

I shook my head, my mind racing. My dad was hanging on to a lie about his dad and it was ripping my life apart.

And how could I even broach this subject with Eli? ‘Hey, by the way, did you know our families have been feuding over my grandfather’s affair with your aunt and the child he abandoned?’ Yeah, that’d go over well. Of course Harold Wells hated my family.

If what Carol had said was true, that she’d been pressured – I pushed back the thought. One version of the truth was bad enough, but if my grandfather had been a manipulative monster in addition to being an unfaithful husband?

I’d deal with that later.

“Carla,” Grandma said, reaching out to pat my hand, “I know this is a lot to take in. But maybe knowing the truth can help heal old wounds.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Heal? Grandma, this is like finding out our whole lives have been built on quicksand. How do we even begin to fix this?”

It was time to face the truth – not just about our families, but about my own feelings as well. How could I ask Elijah and his family to forgive something like a rejected child and an illicit affair?

“I have faith in you, Carla. You’ve always had a way of bringing people together, even as a little girl.”

Her words struck a chord, and I felt a tiny spark of hope ignite in my chest. Could I really be the one to bridge this divide?

As if reading my thoughts, Grandma squeezed my hand. “It’s time to put this feud behind us.”

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I agreed with her. I stood up, my legs feeling like jelly beneath me. “Thanks, Grandma,” I said, wrapping my arms around her frail shoulders. “For everything.”

She hugged me back fiercely, her strength surprising me. “You’re welcome, sweetie. Now go on, make us proud.”

“I’ll try,” I said, planting a kiss on her cheek.

I made my way out of the nursing home, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The antiseptic smell faded, replaced by the crisp winter air as I stepped outside. My feet carried me toward my car, but my brain was miles away.

CHAPTER 21

Elijah

Istood in the corner of Nathan and Rebecca’s living room, nursing a mug of eggnog and watching the holiday chaos unfold. The scent of fresh pine filled the air as the family bustled around the Christmas tree, hanging ornaments and tinsel with cheerful abandon. Laughter echoed off the walls, accompanied by the quiet Christmas music Rebecca had turned on the TV.

“Eli, catch!” Nathan called out, tossing a sparkly star my way. I fumbled it, nearly spilling my drink in the process. I sighed in relief that it didn’t shatter on the floor.

“Nice hands,” he teased.

I forced a chuckle and pretended to chuck it at his head after I picked it up, but inside I felt a pang. Nathan was here, surrounded by his perfect family. A wife who loved him and boys who thought he hung the moon. And where did that leave me?

Still the screw-up, apparently. Couldn’t even close the deal with Carla. I’d thought of nothing else since the night we’d talked on the patio. She hadn’t answered my calls, and her text messages had been short and lacked all the warmth I had grown used to. I kept telling myself that she was busy with work. Meanwhile, I was on my forty-eight hours off duty. Forty-eighthours that had slowed to a complete crawl without glimpses of her during my days.

It may have only been two days since Nathan and Rebecca got home and Carla and I had moved out of this house, but a couple more days of this and I’d lose my mind.

I wanted to talk to her about what Nathan had told me. The whole thing was crazy, but I understood a little more about why my dad felt so strongly about her family. Still, it had been decades and Carla wasn’t at fault.

Kenneth Putnam had died years ago, but the feud lived on. What a legacy.

Rebecca expertly wrangled their kids into helping with the lower branches, subtly rearranging the ornaments after they placed them. I couldn’t help but notice how in sync she and Nathan seemed. The rocky patch in their marriage was clearly behind them. They moved around each other with easy familiarity, stealing quick kisses anytime they were close.

My mind drifted back to Carla and the moments we’d shared over the week together. Late night conversations on the couch, walks through the neighborhood. Her laugh as I quoted21 Jump Streetwhen she talked about her classes. The way her hand would linger on my arm, eyes sparkling...

“Earth to Eli!” Rebecca’s voice snapped me back to reality. “You gonna help decorate or just stand there looking pretty?”

I plastered on my trademark smirk. “Oh, my bad. I thought you invited me so I wouldbethe decoration. I mean, it’s a tough job looking this good, but I’m willing to make the sacrifice.”

Nathan and Alex groaned in reply to my jokes, and I sighed in relief. This was familiar, at least.

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