Page 82 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

“Why can’t anyone choose me?” I whimpered out into the silence.

“We chose you, honey.” Grandma gave me a squeeze.

That didn’t bring me any comfort. She was probably just saying that to make me feel better, but she didn’t mean it. I couldn’t trust anyone. If Dani could lie to me, everyone was suspect.

“I think I should go.” I set Oscar next to me and started to stand. As scared as I was of Jill, I was more frightened of being fooled and being the fool.

Grandpa gently held me back. “Not so fast, kiddo. You’re in shock, and everything looks worse in the dark.”

“I think I’m finally seeing things correctly,” I sobbed. “I need to leave.”

“No, you don’t.” Grandpa gathered me up into his arms and wouldn’t let go. “You got kicked in the teeth tonight. It’s no time to go off half-cocked and do something you’ll regret. I know you want to run away, but that’s not the answer.”

“Nobody wants me. Just let me go.”

Grandma stroked my hair. “Don’t you dare tell us that we don’t want you. From the moment we laid eyes on you, we knew you were ours.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn’t want to believe her. Love only meant pain. I tried to extract myself from Grandpa, but he wasn’t having it.

“Kiddo, I’ll be damned if I let you leave here thinking we don’t love and want you. We made that mistake with Joanie, and you know how that turned out.”

Joanie had been a train wreck and had, unfortunately, taken poor Ariana on that ride with her. It was amazing how Ariana had overcome the neglect and abuse. But I wasn’t Joanie. I had no plans for relationships with dozens of loser men, all while subjecting my child to a nomadic life. I was done with men. I had to face the fact that I would never have a family of my own.

“Please, just let me go,” I begged.

“No.” Grandpa held on tighter. He was pretty strong for an old guy. Either that or I was too tired to fight.

“Kinsley,” Grandma’s voice cracked with emotion. “You are so loved and wanted. I have to believe there is more to the story than we know.”

“I don’t want to know more.” I could only imagine that the more I knew, the more devastated I would be.

“You at least need to hear Dani’s side of the story,” Grandpa said firmly, but kindly. “If you want to leave after that, we won’t stop you. But ask yourself what Jill has to gain out of all of this and what you have to lose. Don’t let her steal anything from you that doesn’t deserve to go.”

“That means us,” Grandma choked up.

I felt awful, and so confused. I didn’t know up from down anymore. I was still rolling and rolling. I buried my head into Grandpa’s chest, wishing I could make it stop. Grandpa held on tight, and I allowed myself to take some comfort from him. Enough that I eventually fell asleep.

When I woke up in the morning, I found myself lying on the couch, covered in blankets. Oscar was cuddled up under them with me. I didn’t even remember Grandma and Grandpa leaving. All I knew was my head hurt and my mouth was dry. I sat up and rubbed my eyes—the sunlight streaming in through the windows was too bright for my taste this morning.

“Kinsley,” Dani’s voice caught me unaware, making me jump. People really needed to stop sneaking up on me.

I whipped my head in the direction of her voice. She was behind me, sitting on the rocking chair. She looked how I felt—awful. Her eyes were red and puffy, her hair disheveled, and she looked to be wearing the same clothes that she had been in yesterday.

I scrambled to move as far away from her as I could. Oscar didn’t appreciate this and clawed my leg. I groaned and grabbed my new wound.

“Are you alright?” Dani asked, obviously worried.

I gave her a blank stare. I didn’t need her to worry about me. “No. I’m not alright.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Kinsley,” she cried out. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I get a lot of that.” My own tears came. “Funny, you were the last person I ever thought I’d hear that from.” I couldn’t keep the bite out of my tone.

She moved to the couch. I inched farther away.

“Please, Kinsley, listen to me,” she pleaded. “I know how this looks, but it’s not what you think.”

My eyes widened. “What other way could it be? You were pregnant with Brant’s baby. For all I know, you’re carrying his child now.”

She shook her head vehemently. “No. This baby is Brock’s.” She rubbed her abdomen. “I swear to you, I’m not sleeping with Brant.”

“I’m sorry, but that doesn’t mean much to me.”

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