Page 18 of Bear With Me
“Fine,” he says. “As long as you keep your distance from that guy.”
“That guy didn’t do anything wrong that I’m aware of. In fact, he was perfectly respectful, not that I owe you any explanation.”
“The hell you don’t.”
“If anyone deserves an explanation, it’s me. Yet Nonna doesn’t seem to think any of my questions deserve answers.”
“I don’t care who he is. He’s obviously a danger to you and you need to stay away from him.”
I roll my eyes at him and pack up my bag for my second day of doing work-study at the Hillsborough Chronicle. The university offers a program for students to shadow during the summer as an extra credit. With none of my other classes available and no positions open at any of the law firms, the Chronicle was my last resort. When the managing editor learned that I discovered the body in Swift River, he couldn’t wait to grill me for all the details and take me under his wing. That lasted for a couple hours until he tired of me. Then he left me to fact check and do grunt work for the real reporters.
Thankfully Sam leaves for an early class so I won’t have to put up with him hovering. For a while at least. Not for the first time, I consider sneaking out to pop over to Declan’s shop to demand answers.
I nearly manage to pluck up the courage when I hear the click of Nonna’s heels coming down the stairs. For the first time since the scene with Declan happened at the police station, we’re alone and I’m determined to find out what the hell is going on.
She peers around the corner and her eyes widen when they land on me leaning against the counter. “Oh,” she says, “I thought you left with your brother.”
“Nope. I thought we could talk.”
Nonna smoothes a hand over her hair and frowns. “I don’t have time to talk right now, Sullivan. I’m supposed to be in a meeting in twenty minutes.”
“You told me that you wanted us to be a family, right? That you wanted for me to trust you? How do you expect me to do that when you won’t tell me why you have a problem with Declan? The police interviewed him for Christ’s sake. They didn’t see any cause for concern, so I don’t see why you’re so adamant about me staying away from him.”
She crosses the kitchen to the coffee machine, taking her time selecting a mug and a little cup of her favorite French roast. She puts the cup in the machine and turns it on. The smell fills the kitchen as I wait for her to respond.
“Did your mother ever tell you what happened to your Poppa Joe?” she asks.
I lean my elbows on the counter. “She said he had a hunting accident when we were very little.”
“Well, Declan was with him,” Nonna says matter-of-factly.
My mouth opens and closes a couple of times before I manage to say, “He was?”
She nods. “They went on a hunting trip just before Christmas that year. There was a bad snowstorm and they got blocked in the forest. Your Poppa Joe and a couple others, including Declan’s father became trapped and Declan had to go for help. He didn’t make it in time. Declan and his father’s friend Red were the only two to survive the ordeal. The others, along with your grandfather, died from the cold.”
A gamut of emotions race through me as I digest the information. No wonder they were so shocked when they saw each other at the police station. Growing up here after dealing with all of that must be why he seems so lonely. Ostracized with no family. I can’t imagine how he must have felt. “I didn’t know,” I tell her.
“I don’t hold it against him. He was only a boy at the time. But we still steer clear of each other whenever we run into one another in town. It’s just too painful a reminder. I hope you understand.”
“I do. Thank you for finally telling me.”
“Despite what you may think, Sullivan. The last thing I want is to come between you and someone who makes you happy. I know how fleeting love is, believe me.” She rubs my arm and I try not to show how confused I am. I don’t want her to think I blame her for what happened with Declan.
“It was only one date.” One helluva date. “I was more caught off guard than anything,” I say.
“I know you were. I should have told you sooner, but it’s hard for me to talk about, as you can imagine.”
“No, I completely understand.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” She pulls me into a hug. “Now, I hope this doesn’t keep you from seeing him again. Our past aside, I’m sure he’s a great man. You were practically floating when you came back from your night with him.”
“I don’t know, he seemed pretty sure when he said we shouldn’t be together.”
“Sometimes women have to tell a man what’s best for him, sweetheart. They’re misguided in that way.”
“I’ll keep that in mind if I see him again.”
She pauses for a second before saying, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while about a…matter and I haven’t quite had the words, but I think now is probably a good time. So we can get everything on the table.”