Page 80 of Easy Reunion

“And I don’t care. Because if I hold on to what I felt for Ry at that moment, then I should hate myself still, shouldn’t I?” Silence greets my declaration in both ears.

“Kelsey.” Ry breaks it first as he reaches for my hand. “Sweetheart, you have nothing to hate yourself for. We talked about this.”

“And I was so afraid of the doubt feeding my mind that I didn’t trust my heart.” I give his hand a quick squeeze as the tension in me dissipates. “I’d have recognized I was better well before everyone else thought I was. If I’d realized that, maybe I’d have been able to stop sabotaging the happiness in my life. Who knows whether our lives would have intersected at a reunion five years ago? Ah…” I’ve forgotten I’m on the phone at all. I squeeze the hand I’m holding tighter. “You went back for me.”

He nods. We pull into the driveway at his house. Putting the car into park, he unclips his seat belt and faces me. “Every five years. In my mind, I couldn’t erase the pain on your face. I needed to know you were happy.”

My lip trembles. “There was no right answer then.”

“And there’s no right answer now. It’s going to take your grandfather time to trust me, Kels. Don’t begrudge him the chance to do that when he spent so many years nurturing the heart that I’ve dreamed about.”

Lifting the phone to my ear, I ask, “Did you hear all that, Pop-pop?”

“I…I don’t know what to say, sugar. Maybe your nana and I will try to make a trip to visit you once you’ve settled in your new home.”

I nod, and it’s a moment before I realize he can’t see me. “Or we’ll come to you,” I offer.

Ry’s head jerks in shock. Then he leans down and places his forehead against mine before whispering, “Anytime you want, sweetheart.”

Leaning against him, I whisper, “Love you, Pop-pop. Tell Nana I said to send you to quilting class.”

He groans in my ear. I smile as Ry nuzzles my nose with his. “I’ll know if you don’t,” I warn him.

“I know, sugar. I know.” My grandfather swallows hard. His voice is raspy when he says, “I love you, Kelsey. You be careful. And tell that boy to take better care of your heart this time.”

“I love you too, Pop-pop.” I hang up. The phone clatters to the console between the two of us. The air is thick with emotion. “What is it?”

“I realized I could have been okay without you, but I’d never have been this…” Ry shakes his head as if he’s in a daze, and he needs to clear it.

“What?”

“Happy. I’m just happy.” And the kiss he gives me reinforces that.