Page 86 of Every Promise Broken

“Mmhmm, is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

“Oh, you knock it off.” She swats at Whit’s arm, making him bark out a laugh. “And what about you two lovebirds? I’m assuming with the way you ran out of the barn last night, things are okay?”

Whit glances over at me, his gaze soft behind his glasses. He nods and says, “Yeah, we’re more than okay.”

“Wonderful! Now, help me get the pancakes started.” She hands Whit a bowl, and that’s that. The three of us work side by side, fixing breakfast before sitting around the table to eat. It’s an incredible way to spend a Sunday morning, and that overwhelming feeling of gratitude from earlier comes back tenfold as I flit my gaze between my Whit and my nana, realizing just how blessed I am.

After we finish eating, Whit shoos us out of the kitchen, insisting he clean up the dishes himself. Nana and I shuffle out to the porch swing outside, and I know we need to talk anyway. She beats me to it, though.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the divorce?” she asks, gaze fixed out into the yard. I’m a little surprised this hasn’t come up sooner.

“You love Whit, and I didn’t want to admit to you that I lost him,” I explain, a lump forming in my throat. “Besides, it happened so soon after Mom and Dad died. I couldn’t do that to you.”

She’s quiet for a moment. “I wasn’t born yesterday, you know.”

I turn my head, taking in her side profile. The makeup on her face, even this early in the morning, the huge, flashy earrings, but mostly the defiant jut of her chin, which tells me everything I need to know before I even have to ask. But I do anyway. “What do you mean?”

“Connie boy,” she breathes out, turning to look at me. “I’ve known about the two of you. I knew you had gotten a divorce.”

Hearing her say the words sends a pang to my chest. “How did you know?”

She chuckles. “You aren’t exactly the best liar, sweetie. Every single time we spoke, you told me Whit was at work. I know damn well the boy doesn’t work that much.”

Looking back out into the yard, I scrub a hand over the scruff of my jaw. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I was hoping you two would figure your stuff out and find your way back together before I had to.” She hums. “But it would seem you’re both more stubborn than I thought.”

“So, you coming here was an elaborate plan to bring us back together?”

“Of course not,” she hisses. “I missed my boys. It had been far too long since my last visit, but I knew by coming, it would either force you to finally admit it to me or it would bring you two together.”

“I don’t remember you being so sneaky, Nana,” I say, turning my head to look at her. She’s smiling as her gaze meets mine. A proud smile.

“It’s because I’m good at it,” she offers. “Unlike you.”

My chest rumbles with a laugh.

“You know,” I start, wanting to bring up something I’ve thought a lot about lately. “If you ever decided to move back to Copper Lake, you’d always have a home here.”

Her eyes soften as they look up at me. “What makes you say that?”

“Maybe you’re not as sneaky as you think.” I chuckle. “I just have happened to notice that you still haven’t made plans to fly home, and you purposely chose a one-way, which I know isn’t even the cheaper option despite you telling me it was. Now, of course, the choice is up to you. I just wanted you to know that you’d always have a home on the ranch, should you be maybe considering staying.”

Quiet for a moment, Nana gazes out into the yard, but I can practically hear her thoughts from here. “I have thought about it,” she says. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of traveling that I’ve done, and living in Greece the past several years has been incredible. It’s helped me feel close to your grandfather. But I think it’s time I settle down with my family.” She pauses, wringing her hands together in her lap. “But I would never want to impose.”

“You could never impose,” I tell her.

“Well, with you and Whit just getting back together?—”

“I’m going to stop you right there,” I murmur. “I can safely speak for both of us when I say that you are always welcome here. You have a home here no matter what.”

“Connie’s right,” Whit says, walking through the backdoor. “Sorry, I’m not trying to eavesdrop, but I heard the last part of that, and he’s one hundred percent right. Besides, having you permanently in town would be a blessing. Who else is going to gang up on this grump with me?”

Chuckling, she stands up, placing a hand on his arm. “Thank you, dear. That means a lot to me.” Glancing back at me with aglint in her eye, she says, “I’ll leave you two alone. I’m going to lie down for a nap. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Whit barks out a laugh as I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh. “I could’ve gone the rest of my life without knowing that, Nana.”

“Oh, get used to it, Connie,” she calls out before disappearing inside.

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