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“But I thought you lost your insurance.”

Gran frowned. “Why would you think that?”

Sadie jerked her head toward the front porch. “When the tree fell, you learned your policy had lapsed.”

Gran scanned her face, then her eyes lit up. “Oh! Goodness me! I didn’t tell you. I called the company and explained about my fall and subsequent surgery. I reminded them I had been a customer for over fifty years. I caught up my payment, and things are as right as rain.”

Sadie stared at Gran as she tried to process the news. She sighed and lowered her eyes to the shredded napkin torn to bits in her lap. “Well, that’s a relief.”

Gran lifted Sadie’s chin and caught her gaze. “You are not a failure. You are sweet and kind and brilliant.”

Sadie shook her head. “I put my trust in the wrong person. Again. When will I learn that men are nothing but liars?”

“Sadie girl, that’s not true. And it’s not fair to sweep all men together because of the actions of one man.”

“Two men. Garrett and Asher.”

“Well, truth be told, I never cared for Garrett. He was too slick. But Asher, on the other hand, he’s a good man.”

Sadie jumped to her feet and paced the kitchen, arms wrapped around her waist. “No, Gran, he isn’t. You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I know.”

“I know what I need to know.”

Biting her lip, Sadie shook her head. She pressed her back against the kitchen sink and closed her eyes as images from her web search about the bus crash flickered through her head. “He’s the reason Lauren’s dead.”

The words sent a spike through her chest, flaying it open for all of her pain to be exposed once again.

Gran moved in front of her and took Sadie’s hands. “He’s not, Sadie. Lauren died in a tragic accident. It wasn’t Asher’s fault. You need to talk to him and forgive him so you can find your own healing.”

“Forgive him?” Sadie’s words came out in a gasp as her eyes widened. “Are you crazy? He destroyed our family.”

Gran looked at her with patient eyes, but the light had dimmed. She shook her head. “No, he didn’t. Our family is still intact. We still love and support one another, even across the miles. There’s no distance that love can’t bridge.”

Sadie pushed away from the sink and paced between the table and the stove. “I read the articles. I saw the pictures.”

“Speculations. Not facts. Talk to Asher and learn the truth. Forgive him so that bitterness doesn’t consume you.”

“Dani knew and didn’t say anything either.”

“Forgive her too.” Gran released a sigh and reached for her hand. “And you’ll need to forgive me while you’re at it.”

Sadie’s eyes jerked back to Gran. “Forgive you? For what?”

The timer dinged, and Gran slid her hand into an oven mitt. She pulled a pan of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from the oven and set them on the cooling rack, then faced Sadie, a hand on her hip. “Because I’ve known who he was from the moment he stepped foot on island.”

Sadie’s eyes widened, and all the words on her tongue disappeared as her jaw unhinged.

Gran lifted the baking sheet off the cooling rack and started removing cookies. Her face didn’t bear any malice as she mentioned Asher. How could that be?

“How did you know?”

Gran removed the last cookie and set the sheet on the stove. Then she returned to her chair and rubbed her left hip. She pointed to Sadie’s empty spot. “Sit, and I’ll tell you.”

Sadie did as directed and waited.

Gran’s eyes locked with hers. “Angela Quinn has been my prayer partner since she and Terry bought the ranch. She was a young mom who felt in over her head. Jared’s death was hard on them, but they leaned into their faith. When they considered asking Asher to join them on the ranch, Angela came to me and we talked. I had to pray and ask the Lord to uproot any seeds of bitterness and to show nothing but His love and grace to this tortured young man.”

“I can’t imagine it was easy.”