Page 96 of Making New Plans

I remembered. I’d been too angry to read them and had thrown them away. “If you’d really cared, you would’ve come and taken me away.”

She sighed. “I had no idea you were miserable or that you even missed me.”

“Oh, please, Nana,” I said sarcastically.

Dead silence on the other end of the call. I checked my screen to make sure I was still connected. Yep. Sixteen minutes thirty-four seconds. Thirty-five. Thirty-six.

“You haven’t called me that since you were little.” For the first time, her voice wobbled the slightest bit.

Oh. Heat flared across my face. “It slipped out.”

She coughed and continued. “Anyway, yes, I could’ve tried harder to reach out. But you could’ve, too.”

“I thought you didn’t want me,” I said in a small voice, feeling pathetic. But now that the vaults were open, my deeply held secrets were pouring out.

“Oh, sweetheart, I’ve always wanted you,” Sal said, her voice wobbling more. There was a definite sniffle as well. “You were always the bright spot in my life. I looked forward to every day I got to take you to Monty’s. And when you let me walk you to school a few times. And that day you came to me crying when somebody bullied you at school.” She gave a broken laugh. “I never told you, but after I comforted you, I found that kid and scared the piss out of him with my cane.”

I chuckled past the tightness in my throat and swiped at my wet cheeks. “No wonder that kid gave me a ten-foot berth every time I saw him after that. I thought it was maybe just the scary face you taught me.”

“I’m sure that helped.” She sniffled again. “Of course, I always wanted you, Hunter. Why do you think I orchestrated that whole stipulation?”

“Aha!” I pumped my fist in the air. “I knew you had something to do with that! What, is Harold a friend of yours? An old poker buddy or something? Is he even a lawyer? Or were you threatening him with something?”

Sal laughed. “That sounds like me, but no, Harold was actually your father’s lawyer. But before your dad died, I went and talked to him. Laid out our mistakes concerning you. And he agreed to write in this stipulation.”

I blinked, the information not computing. “He agreed to this?”

“My son was not the brightest bulb and was certainly a lackluster father, but under the layers of disappointment in himself, he wasn’t a bad man. He wasn’t exactly looking for a way to make things right, but when I presented my idea to him, he agreed.”

“So, you both thought you knew what was best for me again?”

“No, Hunter. I merely wanted to open your eyes to the possibility of another kind of happiness. The kind that comes from letting go of the past and embracing what could be instead of what was. I wanted you to see that not everything was bad here. I didn’t plan on your relationship with Chloe, but I’m glad it happened. And I got to be with you. After so many years, I did everything I could to right the wrongs I’d committed.”

Sal dragged in a deep breath before continuing. “I called you today because I didn’t want to go another two decades without you knowing what you should’ve known back then: I love you, Hunter, and I would like to spend as much time with you as time and space permit.”

My face crumpled, and I buried it in one of my hands as old, aching wounds started stitching themselves together, her words the healing thread I’d been missing these past years. She’d gone to such lengths to bring me home. And keep me there this time. Even the small part my dad had played in it soothed my lingering resentment toward him, and it felt like another step on the path of closure between me and my family.

After giving me a minute, Sal spoke again. “Now, about Chloe. How do you feel about her?”

“I’m in love with her,” I croaked. I’d guessed it the moment I’d driven out of town and had to pull over until I could catch my breath and the chest pains subsided.

“Excellent. Tell her.”

That familiar fear rumbled in my chest, somewhat mollified but still present. “What if she doesn’t love me back?”

“I know you’re worried, Hunter. Judging from your past relationships with family, I understand your desire to run when you think your feelings aren’t reciprocated. But listen to me. You can’t let fear rule your life, especially where love is concerned. The people that hold back on love will never experience one of the greatest joys in life: to be loved in return. I’m not saying it’s not scary to put yourself out there. Lord knows I almost puked when I plucked up the courage to ask out Jameson.”

“Wait, what?”

“Oh, yeah, Jameson and I have been dating the past six months. He asked me out years ago, but I was being a crotchety old lady afraid of change and said no. We were still friends, but, well, you know, there was more to it.”

I smiled. “I’m happy for you, Nana. He seems great.”

“Yes, well, whatever. This is about your messy love life. Bottom line: Don’t wait until you’re my age to make a move. Body parts don’t function as well by then.”

I groaned. “Great, thanks for that image.”

“I love you, Hunter, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be pissed as hell if you don’t come home and fix this. Grab that happiness by its ass cheeks and don’t let go.”

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