Page 48 of Scandalously Yours

“Has he even tried calling you?” my grandfather asked, and I nodded.

“Yes, and he wants me to talk to him, but how can I? My entire career and everything I’ve worked so hard for is at jeopardy. Not to mention, he could lose his career, too. His position at the hospital is one of the highest ranking ones you can have. I might’ve cost him everything he’d worked his entire life for.”

My grandfather lowered the footrest part of the recliner, then leaned forward and put his hand on my knee. I felt his warmth as it infused me. “It seems like the only winner in this is his ex. You’re a Johnston, for fuck’s sake. I expected a lot more fight from you, Ale.”

I almost couldn’t believe the advice I was getting from him, not only because of his Alzheimer’s, but because the words he spoke were the last ones I would’ve expected from him. I had imagined he would threaten to tan my hide, or even disown me. Instead, he was encouraging me to fight for something that wasn’t even mine right now.

I stared at him in disbelief until he let out a small chuckle. “I haven’t sprouted three heads yet, Ale. Stop looking at me like that. Would I ever disown you for following your heart? No. The truth is that if I hadn’t defied others and followed mine, I would’ve never ended up with your grandmother.”

“But—”

“No buts, Ale. Love is always worth fighting for, and don’t let anyone ever make you think otherwise. If this man makes you happy, and the two of you want to be together, then don’t deprive yourself of that happiness. Unless he isn’t worth fighting for, and in that case...”

I knew where this conversation was leading, and he was right. I had been so selfish to leave Kristopher when he was at his lowest. “I’m scared,” I finally admitted.

“That’s part of the ride, Ale. Nothing worth having ever comes easy.”

“It sounds so simple, but what if it is too late? What if she’s already won?”

My grandfather then gave me one of those stern looks I had missed so much. “With an attitude like that...”

I laughed. It was a very Grandpa thing for him to say, and it reminded me of different times in my childhood. From learning to ride a bicycle, to shooting a gun for the first time. I’d been scared each time, and when it came to the bike, he told me to keep getting right back up despite the number of times I had fallen.

“God, how I’ve missed you,” I told him, then rose from the couch when he tapped his lap.

I moved over and carefully climbed onto it. He wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my face against his chest. “I love you, Ale. There will be a time when I’m not here any—”

“Shhh,” I murmured while he continued to stroke my back.

“We both know my time is limited, so I need to know you’re happy, Ale. I’m so tired, but I can’t leave you like this.”

I began to sob. I didn’t want to think about losing him, even though I knew it was inevitable. Even if he didn’t die, this man I was with right now could still disappear and never return again. “I love you so much, Grandpa.”

“Just remember what I told you about fighting for what you want. You claw, scrape, bite, and fight your way to the happiness you deserve. It’s there if you try hard enough. I—”

“Earl,” my grandmother gasped from the doorway.

“Lonnie,” he breathed. I got up off of his lap, then helped him stand.

Watching the way both of their eyes lit up when setting their gazes on one another was enough to bring a tear to anyone’s eyes. The two of them moved closer, both with such a look of wonder on their faces, that I finally realized what true love was. It wasn’t the toxic relationship that Kristopher had with Hayley, or the scandalous one that he had with me. Love was these people who had been together a lifetime, but lost it in the blink of an eye. Those memories never died, no matter how bleak things got between them. As they embraced each other so passionately, I yearned to find that same sort of unending connection with someone, and that person was Kristopher.

“I can’t believe you’re back,” she told him.

“Not forever,” he answered, cupping her face between his hands. “I don’t want to waste a single second with you, especially since I know one day that I’ll have to leave you.”

She smiled back at him. “I told you once, so I will tell you again. Wherever you go, I’ll follow.”

The two kissed just as my mother came over and wrapped her arms around me. I leaned back against her, and we watched the true definition of love, and it was something I wanted, and something I deserved.

“They’re amazing, aren’t they?” my mother asked.

“They are,” I answered.

“And don’t think this lets you off the hook when it comes to what we heard you talking to Dad about.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. I was sure she would try to talk me out of fighting for what I wanted. Could I see Kris and me in each other’s arms once we were old and gray? I could, and I just hoped I hadn’t ruined everything with us before it ever had a chance to start.

---