Page 69 of Grady

“I did come to tell you that, but I don’t want any hard feelings between us.”

“Kirk, there are no feelings at all between us! Why are you making this so difficult? Go back to your fiancée. You’re only sticking around because I’m in love with someone else,” she snapped and knew by the look on his face, she was right. She entered the house and slammed the door.

****

Grady joined his father on the back deck, sipping a cold beer and admiring the small back yard and the woods surrounding the cabin. His parents had moved and downsized to a smaller house in a close-knit community in Clifton, but this place was where they spent a lot of their time.

“What’s on your mind, son?” Vic Henderson asked.

“Nothing, Dad,” Grady replied evasively.

“You never were a good liar.” His father took a long swig of beer.

“I’m fine. Really.”

“Your mother doesn’t seem to think so,” Vic remarked.

Grady chuckled at this comment. “Well, we all know she’s always right, don’t we?”

“We just let her think that.” His father winked.

“Because I can make your life miserable if you don’t,” Lena chimed in as she joined them on the deck and settled into one ofthe rocking chairs.

“So, how’s work going?”

“It’s going well, Dad. I really enjoy my job,” Grady replied.

“I know you do, son,” Vic said.

“And are you still seeing Savannah?” Lena inquired.

“Now there’s the question I knew was coming.” Grady sighed.

“I’d love to meet this woman. Your mother says she is absolutely beautiful,” Vic continued.

“She is,” Grady confirmed with a smile.

“But?” prompted his mother.

Grady shook his head. “We had an argument, and I thought it would be best to give her some space for now.”

“I see,” his mother murmured.

“I’m glad someone does.” Grady shook his head.

“What did you do?”

“Why do you assume I did something?”

“You’re a man, aren’t you?” His mother smirked.

Grady chuckled. “Is that all it takes?”

“To piss off a woman? Usually.”

Grady looked at his dad, but he only shrugged.

“You’re not going to say anything?”

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