Page 126 of Here and Now
“I don’t know about all that,” Penelope says, walking over to sit with me on the couch.
I smile, looking at her warm blue eyes. “I knew she’d like you. How could she not?”
Eloise makes a gagging noise. “Anyway, now you have to keep her because we all adore her.”
“That’s my plan,” I say, just needing to find a way to make her want to be kept.
twenty-five
Penelope
Tonight has been much better than I could’ve anticipated. Miles’s family have welcomed us with open arms, and I promised Gran I would come by this week to pick up something she wants to make for Kai.
Being here tonight was both wonderful and a little heartbreaking.
I don’t have this.
I never did. My parents didn’t live anywhere near our grandparents, so we never saw them, and they didn’t speak to me. Miles’s family loves him so much. They’re close and warm, and it was beautiful to be a part of.
During dinner we laughed and they told old stories. Then we had the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had in my life. Gran was a baker and used to own the bakery in town. She definitely still has all the skills.
Now Miles and I are out walking down toward the falls, my hand laced in his, and I rest my cheek against his arm.
“I feel like we’ve been walking more than five minutes,” I say as we wander along the tree line.
“I may be taking you the long way.”
I smile. “I don’t mind. I like having quiet time with you.”
It’s the best. We don’t need to fill the silence, we just are together.I never knew there could be so much peace with another person, but with Miles, it’s effortless.
“Good. Do you remember what I told you about the falls?” he asks.
“Yes, that Gran owns half, which doesn’t make any sense.”
Seriously, how do you split a waterfall?
Miles chuckles. “The land splits right down the middle of the river. So the right half is Lachlan’s and the left is Gran’s. Of course, they’re not putting ropes in the middle, but it was divided to protect the falls from ever being one person’s.”
“I think that’s kind of cool. The ancestors of this town really thought about it.”
“They did. They wanted everyone in the town to have a chance to heal themselves.” He kisses my temple and veers us to the right. “When the land was divided, it went to two families who hated each other.”
I glance up at him, surprised anyone would do that. “Really?”
“I always thought this was such a cool part of the story, and it always gets left out. This land has been in my family’s name since the beginning. Gran’s great-great-great-grandfather was the hated one.”
“What?” I ask, jaw falling slack. “Why did you leave this part out?”
He chuckles. “Honestly, most of the time I just forget. Anyway, the Andersons and the MacLeroys hated each other. It was ugly. I think they stole cows and one slept with the wife of the other. I don’t know, it was very messy and caused huge issues. So the town came together because they’d often suffer during their fights.”
I’m honestly fascinated by all of this. “You make it sound so serious.”
“Well, it was. I mean, old man MacLeroy could’ve taken my great-great-great-grandma, and then ... I wouldn’t be here.”
I laugh softly. “That would be tragic.”
“See, I knew you’d understand.”
