Page 48 of Waiting Game

“I wouldn’t let your father stop me from seeing my grandchildren.”

I settle a measured glance at her. “You think we’d let him?”

“No, you’re right.” She sags. In relief.My old man is a piece of shit.“You’ve always been on my side, haven’t you, Cole?”

“Always.” I snag her hand in mine and quickly squeeze it. “You’re no longer under his thumb, Mum.”

“I know.” Her smile is tight. “So, come on then. What’s wrong?”

It’s not that I particularly want to talk about Mia, but I don’t want to discuss Pops either.

Scraping a hand over my chin, I loop her in on what’s been happening the past couple days. What I researched online during the flight too.

By the end of it, she looks as uneasy as I feel.

“Did Gracie know that the bar was struggling?”

“No, but she was an employee there. Why would the boss tell her how bad things were?”

“It’s a shame he didn’t because Gracie is the type to help if it’s within her means.”

That’s so true that it makes this even more bittersweet.

“I really liked her.”

“I can tell.” She tips her head to the side. “But it can’t be helped. You owe Gracie far more loyalty than you do a roll in the hay.”

“I know.”

While that isn’t a lie, she’s been on my mind throughout the trek home. Occupying more space than any one woman has in a long time. Not even a smutty audiobook distracted me.

“Hmm,” is all Mum says because she knows me too well.

Peering into the dark sky beyond the many windows in this room, I get to my feet and stretch. “I’m going to catch some Zs.”

“You sure you don’t want anything to eat?”

“I grabbed something at a service station on the way in.” Leaning over her, I kiss her cheek. “It’s great to have you home, Mum.”

“It’s wonderful to be with my boys. Goodnight, son. See you in the morning.”

I like that more than I want to admit.

I was one of the first to whoop with joy when she left him, and I wasn’t lying about resenting him, not her, but that didn’t stop me from missing her.

Mind oddly torn between Mum and Mia, I wander toward the wing where the sons have always historically slept.

Seven Cs was named after the seven boys from the original Korhonen who settled here.

Ever since, the unfortunate descendants were all doomed to be named with a ‘C.’ No one has ever been as prolific as the OG frisky Korhonen, though.

Thank God.

Back in the day, those seven sons worked the land, raised families in this house, and so it continued.

It sounds like my idea of hell, but hey, whatever floated my ancestors’ boat.

It means, however, that the house is fucking enormous, but the unmarried sons always,alwayssleep in this wing.

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