“I’m not leaving, Daddy. I’m here because I want to bring you in. I want you to be a part of our new family.”
His brow furrows, and I don’t try to deny it. I haven’t even told Gray yet. “He did exactly what I said he would.”
“No, he didn’t!” My voice rises, but I can’t help it. “He asked me to marry him. He’s richer than Bill Gates, and he wants to take care of us. To take care of you… Even though you’re not giving him much of a reason.”
“I’m not taking anything from him. His family tried to destroy ours.”
My chin drops, and I decide to tell him what Danny wrote. “It wasn’t like that. Mom was only trying to comfort Mack. It’s probably where I got my desire to be a therapist. She saw a sad person, and she wanted to make him happy.”
His expression darkens. “Don’t defend him. You didn’t know him like I did.”
“Maybe not, but I knew my mother. She was devoted to her family.” I reach out and touch his arm. “Can’t you at least have faith in her?”
“I won’t discuss this with you.” He rises from the chair, walking unsteadily toward the nursing home.
I jog to catch up with him, holding his arm. “It’s okay, Dad. You don’t have to talk about it. Just listen and hear me. I love you. I want you to be in our wedding. Gray wants to put the past behind us. Can’t you at least do that for me?”
His cold blue eyes slide down his nose at me, and I can’t tell if it’s agreement or dissent. I step forward and wrap my arms around him, hugging him with all the feelings I’ve held back for so long.
“I love you, Daddy. Please try to let go of that old bitterness. Please come back to your family…”
Pastor Hibbert finishes his sermon with a prayer for God to help us learn to heal and forgive, and when it’s over, we all file out to the lawn.
“Grayson!” Florence Stern waves her handkerchief as she jogs across the grass to where we stand, my hand in the crook of his arm. “Grayson Cole!”
I feel him exhale deeply as he turns to face her. “Hi, Mrs. Stern.”
“My goodness!” She puts her hand on her chest, smiling like he just paid her a compliment. “What good manners you have, Grayson. You always were such a good boy.”
I swallow the puking noise I want to make, and she proceeds to go on about how she’s organizing a big welcome home celebration for him. Naturally, she didn’t do it six weeks ago because she wasn’t sure he’d be staying, what with all his East Coast family connections and all…
“Sure.” He doesn’t hesitate, but my eyebrows quirk up.
We’re back at my family house eating my signature dish, shrimp and grits, before he even brings it up. “I guess it’s okay for her to do what she does. It serves a purpose.”
I’m indignant. “She’s a two-faced bitch, and you don’t have to go to her stupid party. In fact, I’d be happy to skip it.”
He gives me a little smile. “We’ll go. And we’ll have a fun time with the good people in this town.”
A few days ago, I gave him Danny’s journal. He kissed me and took it down to the grave to read it. When he came back, he was so changed. I could tell he’d been moved by what he read, but he didn’t want to talk about it.
He didn’t need to. I understood.
Looking around the kitchen, he nods before meeting my eyes again. “We can get some contractors in to do repairs on this place. We can stay down at the lake house while they work here. Then I’ll have them fix up that place, too.”
“Gray, you don’t have to—”
His expression is stern. “It’s going to be our place when we’re married, right?”
“Yes, it is.”
He nods. “And I want to move your dad to a better place. Do you think he’d agree to go to Betty Ford?”
I can’t take it anymore. I go to him and put my arms around his waist, resting my cheek against his chest as the tears fill my eyes.
“Hey…” He puts his arms around me. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t raising my voice at you. I really want to do these things.” His words turn my tears of gratitude to tears of joy. He lifts my chin. “What’s going on with you?”
“I guess I’m more emotional lately.” Lifting my hand, I place my palm against his cheek. “I have another surprise for you.”