She bit the inside of her cheek before speaking. “You... you won’t be having any more grandchildren,” she said. In the minutes that ensued, Chelsie told her parents the same details she’d shared with Griff, and waited for the same painful end.
To her shock and relief, it never came. Her sister’s death had changed her parents—too late for Shannon, but just in time for Chelsie.
“Well, at least this wife will be the last woman he abuses.” Her father sat with clenched fists, his skin pale beneath the Florida tan.
Chelsie gnawed on the inside of her cheek. “I’ve been thinking about that. The system never works quite the way it should. The courts are overcrowded, and given Jeff’s propensity to charm and talk his way out of things, he might get off with a hefty fine and community service.”
“The man needs help,” her father muttered.
“Exactly. And I think I know a way to see he gets it.” For Chelsie, it was also a way to make amends for not acting in the past.
Even Griff couldn’t fault this idea, considering he, too, wanted assurance that her ex-husband would get the help he needed. Unfortunately, Griff would fight her involvement out of concern. He might not want her in his life, but she knew him well enough to know he’d protect her anyway. Which was why she had no intention of mentioning this particular idea until it was complete.
Her father leaned forward. “I’m listening.”
She smiled. He was. After a lifetime of drought, she had unconditional support at last.
Hours later, she knew she’d done the right thing and she’d explain that to her ex-partner when she got home. Since her father had excused himself, Chelsie now sat alone with her mother. She eased back in the family-room recliner.
“Remember, if he doesn’t want you, it’s his loss.” Her mother crossed the room and knelt down beside her.
Despite the painful words, Chelsie burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Ellen Russell asked.
“You’re talking to me like I’m a teenager and I’ve lost my first true love.”
Her mother reached out and touched her hair. “Haven’t you?”
“Haven’t I what?” Chelsie asked. She’d been brutally honest about everything in her life except her relationship with Griff. That particular loss was still too painful and fresh.
Her mother’s wise gaze met hers. “Lost your first true love?”
Chelsie opened and closed her mouth, unable to form an answer. Apparently a mother never lost her intuition, even after years of neglect.
“I lost your teenage years in a selfish fog, but I’m here now. And I know what I see.”
“What’s that?” Chelsie asked, too emotionally spent to get her anger up or argue.
“A heartbroken woman. And I know as sure as we’re sitting in this room, talking like mother and daughter, that your pain has nothing to do with your ex-husband and everything to do with Griff.”
She blinked back tears, but they fell anyway. Then Chelsie did
the one thing she needed most. She cried in her mother’s arms.
* * *
The roar of airplanes sounded in the distance as Chelsie bid good-bye to her parents at the airport.
“We’ll be back at the end of the month,” her father promised, “apology in hand and knocking on that man’s door to see our granddaughter.”
Her father had referred to Griff as that man ever since her mother had informed him he’d turned Chelsie away. In her opinion, they were taking the parent routine too far, but they’d get past it. “I’m sure I can arrange visits. He’s not unreasonable, Dad. And given everything you put him through, an apology would help ease things between you.”
“I’ll do it, but after what he did to you...”
“That’s between us, and you owe him.” She leaned over and kissed her father’s weathered cheek.
“I know. But I still don’t like what went on between you two.”