Page 31 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

“I guess I better hurry, then.” He seemed determined.

“Don’t rush on my account.”

“You’re worth it.” He smiled.

Oh, how wrong he was. He of all people should know, I was never worth it. Ever.

Chapter Seven

I watched the flames dance in Grandma and Grandpa’s stone fireplace while I rested my head on Grandpa’s shoulder. Grandpa never said a lot, but you could always tell how he felt about you. With him, I always knew I was loved and that I belonged somewhere. From day one, he had done his best to let me know he was a safe landing place. Even now, he didn’t judge me for my obviously poor decisions. And any moment now, he would probably say something profound that would either make me feel a hundred times better or make me think deeply about how I needed to change my perspective. Perhaps even how I could improve myself. I clearly needed that advice.

Grandma sat on the other side of me and held my hand. She had already gotten her tirade out of her system after I told her about Carter and Giselle’s offer. Although she wasn’t speaking anymore, I could feel her fuming.

Grandma and Grandpa were complementary in that way. Grandma was fiery like the flames, and Grandpa was mellow like the low burning embers. Both had the power to keep you warm, and you couldn’t have one without the other.

“Are you really considering moving away?” Grandma asked, her voice quavering a bit, which was unusual for her.

It made me feel a little bit guilty, or a lot. And the thought hurt my heart, but . . . “Yes. In a way it makes sense. Everyone here is moving on with their lives. Getting married and having babies. And I’m kind of stuck.”

Grandpa snorted. “Now we’re getting to the root of the problem.”

I lifted my head and stared at him with narrowed eyes. “What do you mean?”

His wise, crinkled eyes twinkled. “You’re feeling sorry for yourself, so you want to give up.”

Uh. No. How could he say that? Didn’t he see I was in pain and my life was crumbling around me?

He rested his dry, calloused hand, which testified of how hard he’d worked all his life, on my cheek. “Don’t hide from the truth. You’re stronger than that.”

I shifted uncomfortably. See. What did I tell you? He was going to hit me with a truth bomb. Why did he have to be so right? I sank back against the couch and sighed. “I do feel sorry for myself,” I whispered.

“We all do from time to time, kiddo.” Grandpa smiled. “It’s what we do about it that counts.”

“I don’t know what to do,” I whimpered.

“Oh, I think you do.” He put his arm around me.

“Okay, tell me.” I laughed softly.

Grandma patted my leg. “I think your sisters did you a disservice by not letting you fight your own battles sometimes. It’s given you the wrong impression of yourself.”

“You think I’m weak?” I sounded like a wounded animal.

“No, you do. I think you are the strongest of all our girls.”

“Me?” I pointed at my chest. “I don’t think so. Dani and Ariana lived through much worse than I ever did.”

Grandpa scrubbed a hand over his scraggly layer of gray scruff. “They certainly had a rough go,” he said regretfully, “but you did too. Except . . . you were the most resilient.”

“Agreed.” Grandma kissed my head. “You never tried to hide behind a steel exterior or become a reclusive slob,” she chuckled.

“Well, Ariana might have been onto something. And Dani was only trying to protect herself.” No one could blame her after everything she’d endured as a child, including drug and sexual abuse. Not to mention all the foster homes she’d been shuttled between.

“All very true,” Grandma said. “Yet, you were always the one to push through and keep a smile on your face. And there has never been a kinder girl than you.”

I ran a hand through my hair, which I had washed after my exhausting run this morning. While my hair felt good, my body was still trying to recover. “I haven’t had very kind thoughts today.” I’d been cursing Giselle and Carter all day. Tristan, too, for that matter. I’d been using all the four-and five-letter words in my head.

“Good. You’re going to need that fire to fight for what’s yours,” Grandpa said.

“You think I should fight to keep the restaurant?”

Grandpa dipped his chin to his chest. “Why would you give up so easily? You’ve worked too hard for this, kiddo.”

When he said it like that, giving up sounded like a pathetic thing to do. Except . . . “I don’t know if I can win, even if I do fight. Carter and Giselle have more resources than me.”

“You have us and Brant.” Grandma’s amber eyes danced way too much when she said his name.

---