Page 43 of Take This Heart (Windy Harbor #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

OLD WOUNDS, NEW TRUTHS

MILO

I don’t know why I’m nervous. I’m not the one seeing my half-sister. Or the one coming into the home of the people I committed arson against. But the unease in the room is thick before Ava even walks through the door.

Everett asked me to be here. I thought it was probably for Ava’s sake, but the way he keeps checking on Goldie lets me know it was for her.

Goldie and Ava have had a horrible start.

I wouldn’t blame the Whitmans if they didn’t want anything to do with Ava, but it’s just a testament to how gracious they are.

After all, they’ve accepted me as a Granger.

I’m beginning to think that the whole family feud thing is one-sided at this point.

I walk into the kitchen to get a glass of water and it’s impossible to avoid hearing Grandma Nancy and Grandma Donna arguing in the den.

“I don’t know why Everett’s doing this. It’s crazy!

I’ve tried to talk him out of this little…

get-together or whatever we’re calling it…

until I’m blue in the face, but he’s not listening to me.

Ho-no. Not listening to a word from his mother,” Grandma Nancy says.

“She is Bruce Granger’s daughter, not his. ”

“Nancy,” Grandma Donna sighs, “she’s Stella’s daughter. How would you feel if a child of Everett’s showed up? You’d want to meet them, no matter what.”

“Well, there won’t be any children of Everett’s showing up,” Grandma Nancy huffs.

“That’s not the point and you know it.”

“She tried to set flames to our property! If that isn’t enough to prove she’s taken after her father, I don’t know what is!”

“Oh, fer cryin’ out loud! Maybe you better sit this one out, Nancy!” Grandma Donna says, sounding fed up.

“There’s no way I’m leaving my family to fend for themselves around that girl.”

“That girl is in her thirties.”

“Like you said, that’s not the point and you know it.”

Grandma Donna huffs and when she walks into the kitchen, I try to act like I wasn’t just eavesdropping.

I guess the Granger/Whitman feud isn’t so one-sided.

The doorbell rings, and Grandma Donna and I walk into the living room. Goldie looks anxious and I take her hand.

“You okay?” I whisper.

She bites her lip. “I’m crazy nervous.”

“It’s going to be okay,” I tell her.

She exhales and nods.

Everett walks to the door and opens it wide. “Hello, Ava. Come in!”

She walks in. She looks different. Softer. Hesitant. Dark circles around her eyes.

“Hi,” she says, looking around the room.

Grandma Donna steps forward and holds out her hand. Ava takes it and Grandma Donna smiles, encircling Ava’s hand with her other one.

“Hello, dear. I’m Donna, Stella’s mother.

Everyone around here calls me Grandma Donna and I hope you will too.

” She tilts her head back, getting a better look at Ava’s face.

“Beautiful. I believe I would’ve recognized you anywhere.

You look so much like my sister Darlene; it’s uncanny.

” She leans in closer and whispers, “She was the pretty one.”

Ava’s eyes are glassy, but she smiles at that. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Lovely to meet you, dear.” Grandma Donna takes a step back. “Can I get you anything to drink? Water? Pop? Whiskey?”

That pulls a laugh out of her. “Whiskey sounds about right, but no, thank you.”

Everett gestures to the chair across from Goldie and me. “Thank you for coming. Have a seat.”

Grandma Nancy stands by Everett’s chair and when he sits down, she crosses her arms and stares at Ava.

Everett glances back. “Have a seat, Ma.”

Grandma Nancy doesn’t look happy about it, but she sits down.

“I believe the only one you haven’t met yet is my mom, Nancy,” he says, waving his hand toward his mom.

“Hello,” Ava says.

Nancy says nothing.

“My sons wanted to be here today, but it’s probably a little less intimidating with just the six of us here,” Everett says.

Ava swallows hard and looks around, her gaze pausing on Goldie and then back to Everett. “I want to say again how sorry I am for…the fire. I wasn’t thinking clearly.” She clears her throat and her voice gets stronger. “I’m grateful you didn’t press charges. I deserve a lot worse.”

“Everyone deserves another chance,” Everett says.

“I’m not used to…this level of kindness,” she says, looking down. “My family is not so forgiving. The one I grew up in, not…” Her voice trails off.

“Are you close to your family?” Goldie asks.

Ava shakes her head. “It was just my parents and me, and we’re…nothing alike. I didn’t know I was adopted until I was twenty-five, and things sort of made more sense once I knew.”

Everett picks up the brown box sitting next to him and carries it to Ava. He places the small box on top. “Goldie found your letters this week—”

“I didn’t read them,” Goldie interjects.

“No,” Everett smiles, “no one has read them. I knew she was writing to you when she’d get that box out. The key is in the little box. She told me once that she had to lock away this part of her just to be able to withstand it. But she never stopped thinking about you, Ava. Never.”

“It’s true. She never stopped,” Grandma Donna says.

“I have a lot of regrets, that I kept it a secret, that I didn’t keep you myself.

My husband Otis was a good man, but he was old school.

He never would’ve forgiven Stella if he knew…

and he probably would’ve taken a shotgun to Bruce. ” She wipes her nose with a tissue.

“I was surprised when I found out how young she was,” Ava says.

Her hand trembles as she takes the key and unlocks the box. She gasps much the same way Goldie did when she saw the tiny items inside, next to the letters. A tear drips down her cheek.

“Thank you,” she says.

She touches the letters reverently.

“I’ve been so angry.” Her voice is barely a whisper.

“So bitter. We didn’t have much growing up, so this beautiful house and all the land…

it just felt so unfair. You all seem so close and I didn’t have that either.

My parents mean well. But they’ve never been affectionate.

They don’t understand me. When my mom told me I was adopted, she said their financial situation had changed after they got me, and… I think they regretted me.”

Goldie flinches and wipes the tears that have fallen down her face.

Ava notices and her cheeks flush. “I only say that to try to explain some of my behavior.” She holds back a sob. “I know it’s not a good excuse. I can never fully explain it, but…I don’t think I’m a bad person. At least I don’t want to be.”

She puts her hand over her face and Goldie gets up to give her a tissue.

She almost comes back to sit down, but then turns toward Ava and puts her hand on her shoulder.

Ava looks up, and the expression on her face is desolate.

I don’t think even the most hard-hearted person could look at her and not have compassion right now.

“I don’t know if you want a relationship with us,” Goldie says. “We’re a lot. Noisy. Trite...”

Ava cringes and looks surprised when Goldie laughs.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” Goldie says. “We also like to tease each other. And honestly, you weren’t wrong—I am trite.”

Ava’s mouth parts like she’s about to argue, but Goldie continues.

“What I’m trying to say is, we’re not perfect, but we love each other.

We’d like a chance to get to know you, if you’re willing.

We’ll all have some trust issues to work through, but…

” Goldie inhales and the only tell that she’s nervous is from how she’s twisting the hem of her shirt.

“I, for one, have really been trying to work through my trust issues, so…I’m not going to be hard on you.

We loved our mom so much. Meeting you and getting to know about another chapter of our mom’s life, despite how hard it was for both of you and what a shock it’s been, feels like a gift.

” She drops her hand and grabs a tissue for herself.

“You don’t have to decide today, obviously, but think about it. ”

She comes and sits down. I can tell she feels vulnerable and I reach out and take her hand, squeezing it. She looks at me gratefully.

“I’d like a chance to get to know you,” Ava says.

“If I spot you around here with a gasoline can, I’m throwing you off the property, no questions asked,” Grandma Nancy says.

Her tone is a lot less indignant than it was before this conversation.

Ava smiles. “Understood.” She holds up her hand. “Don’t worry. I won’t be going near any gasoline cans again.”

Goldie looks wrung out. And she’s not the only one. Everett sits down hard when Ava leaves, scrubbing both hands over his face.

“That went better than I thought it would,” he finally says.

“I thought so too,” Goldie says.

She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear, and her fingers tremble.

I nudge her gently. “You need food.”

“I’m not sure I could eat.”

“How about we try?” I stand and stretch. “Dinner’s on me. All of us. The Hungry Walleye. What do you say?”

“I wouldn’t mind some fried fish,” Grandma Nancy says.

“Excellent.”

We pile into my Range Rover, the mood somber. Once we’re at the restaurant, we perk up a little, and the noise in the place keeps us from being forced into conversation. I think everyone needs to mentally decompress and the distraction of the noisy restaurant seems to help.

“Thank you, Milo. That was delicious,” Grandma Nancy says.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

The air is cool when we step outside. It’s a beautiful night—until we hear raised voices.

Bruce and Ava stand under the streetlight.

“I’m not the bad guy here,” Bruce snaps. “I’m your father. Why would you believe them over me?”

“Why do I have to choose?” Ava argues, her voice shaky. “Why can’t everyone get along?”

Bruce scoffs. “You’re naive to think they want anything to do with you.”

“You haven’t even introduced me to the rest of your family! I’ve asked to meet Dahlia for months! Does she even know about me yet? And even Milo’s mom! I’d love to get to know the rest of my family.” Ava holds her hand up and takes a deep breath.

“I wanted to give Dahlia…and everyone…time to adjust.” He shakes his head. “But you just couldn’t wait to jump in the Whitmans’ camp. I’m so disappointed in you.”

Everett mutters something under his breath.

Goldie walks toward Bruce and Ava and I follow, not wanting her to do this alone. Bruce turns. His jaw clenches when he sees all of us.

“You should be ashamed of yourself.” Goldie’s voice is sharp, yet calm.

“Excuse me?” Bruce snaps.

“How dare you talk to her that way! You’re disappointed in her? Please. She’s your daughter and you’ve treated her like leverage in your ridiculous obsession with getting back at my family.”

Bruce straightens, huffing a bitter laugh. “Don’t you dare come over here and—”

I step between him and Goldie. “I’d watch the way you speak to my girlfriend if I were you.”

“Oh, this is rich,” Bruce says. “This is none of your business. It’s between Ava and me.”

Goldie moves next to me, fearless. “It became our business when you tried to turn her against us instead of taking the time to get to know her. You should want her to have all the love possible, not hide her away and pull her out like an accessory!”

Bruce shakes his head and looks at Ava. “One positive conversation with them and you’ve turned against me, is that it?”

“I’m not trying to turn against you,” Ava says firmly. “I’m trying to figure out who I am. I’m trying to get to know my whole family, not take sides. You made me believe they were horrible people and they’re not!”

“You know nothing!” Bruce yells.

Everett steps beside Goldie now, tall and steady. He looks healthier than he has in months. “Have some dignity, Bruce. Let this ridiculous battle go.”

Bruce’s gaze flickers between all of us, settling on Ava and then me. “I won’t forget this,” he says.

He turns and walks to his car, slamming the door hard. After he drives off, we stand in silence for a beat.

Goldie moves toward Ava and she jumps. Goldie pauses, holding her hands up.

“Sorry,” she says. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Ava takes a shaky breath. “No, it’s okay.”

“It’s been a good day,” Goldie says. “Please don’t let him ruin that. His words aren’t your truth.”

Ava’s face crumbles and Goldie holds her arms out. Ava walks into them and they hug for a long time.