Page 132 of The Promise Of Rain

I chuckled, though I was far from happy.There was a piece of the puzzle missing, and I suspected it was huge.“That explains a lot.She constantly pushed me to clear up the past with Jenny so I could move on one way or another.She even suggested there might be more to the story.”

He nodded.“Yes, your grandmother is a gem and a master chess player.”

I was reeling, my mind spinning.“Exactly how did you try to get a message to me?”

He met my gaze.“You need to know what’s blocking your path, Son.Jenny doesn’t know this, but I visited your parents and explained the situation,” he winced, “minus the baby.”

“They knew about the attack?”

“Yes.”He shrugged.“Whether they believed me is another story.”

“And?”I prodded impatiently.“What happened?”

“Your mother was upset; she started crying and left the room.Your dad promised he’d pass on the message but told me not to hold out much hope.Said you’d moved on.”

My knee began to bounce.

Reaching out, Ansel stilled the motion with his gnarled hand.“I’m not telling you to rattle you, I’m telling you because sometimes it’s the ones who are closest to us who hold the sharpest knives.Even when they think they’re doing what’s in our best interest.”

I blew out a furious breath.

“Show me what you were going to show me, Deacon.I’m tired and I need to lie down.”

I opened the pictures.

He scrolled through them one by one, then returned to the start and did it again.“That’s good, Son.You have my blessing.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

He waved a feeble hand.“Take me back to my girl.I want to spend some time with her before I sleep.”

Back in the family lounge, he made the appropriate admiring oos and aws over the necklace my grandma gave to Jenny.

Suspended on a long, sterling silver chain, the charm lay over her breasts.

“It’s a raindrop,” she said, touching it with her forefinger.

“We don’t always like the rain,” Ansel murmured.“But there’d be no flowers without it.And what good’s a life devoid of colour?”

“My husband gave me that before he went away to university,” Grandma explained.“Said it was to remind me of him.”

Jenny gasped then stilled.“You didn’t tell me that, Darlene.I can’t take this.”

“It’s yours,” Grandma murmured.“I think I’ve known for a long time it was meant to be yours.”

Jenny’s gaze locked on my grandmother’s.Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Grandma smiled.“Make an old woman happy and accept it, beautiful girl.”

Jenny swallowed.Voice quiet, she answered, “Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome.”

I looked at my grandmother, understanding the blessing, though Jenny might not.

Not yet.

I dipped my chin in thanks.