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“I’ll expect those reports first thing Monday morning. Be sure and check in with me.”
My eyes closed as I said, “Have a good weekend, Gramps.”
“Good luck with the brood. Talk to you Monday.”
And just like that, he hung up, leaving me staring at the floor. Tossing the phone onto the bed, I looked toward the sky. “Nothing is the same with you gone. I don’t even know what happiness is anymore, Mom…and I’m not sure I ever will again.”
Chapter Five
AVERY
I stared at the ceiling as I tried to fall asleep. My mind spun with everything that had happened today. I should have been exhausted from the long days of traveling, and I was tired. I just couldn’t fall asleep.
Rolling over, I grabbed my phone and pulled up my music app. After hitting the Taylor Swift playlist, I lay back down and closed my eyes.
Two minutes later, I opened my eyes again.
“Shit,” I sighed as I turned and punched my pillow a few times. Rolling to my side, I drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out.
After another ten minutes of failed breathing exercises, I gave up and got out of bed. Pulling on a sweatshirt, I made my way downstairs and to the kitchen.
“Dad?”
My father was sitting at the large kitchen island. He glanced up and smiled. “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?”
With a shake of my head, I opened the refrigerator and took out the milk. “I think I’m so tired—and jet-lagged—that I can’t fall asleep. Does that make sense?”
He nodded. “I’ve been there a time or two.”
I poured myself a glass and returned the carton to the refrigerator. Setting the glass down on the island, I reached over and took one of the cookies my dad was eating. “What’s keeping you up?”
“Beck.”
Letting out a long breath, I slid onto a stool. “I probably shouldn’t have brought him to the house like that. I’m sorry.”
“No, that doesn’t bother me. It was one hell of a shock, though.”
“Imagine how I felt on the plane when it dawned on me who he was. It was suddenly like I was looking at all my uncles, with those blue eyes of his.”
He slowly shook his head. “The second I looked at him, my breath caught in my throat. I can’t even begin to tell you how much he looks like Beck. It’s…eerie.”
“Do you think Stella and Ty will be okay?”
Reaching for my hand, he said, “Honey, you can keep calling them Grams and Grandpa.”
“I know; it just feels different. I don’t know how to explain it. I almost feel guilty for growing up with them and calling them that, when Beck didn’t get that chance.”
He nodded. “That’s not your fault, though.”
Turning the glass of milk in circles, I replied, “I know that.” Looking up at him, I asked, “Why do you think his mother never reached out? She knew who Uncle Beck’s parents were.”
“I’m not sure. Maybe she felt awkward because no one in the family knew about her. Imagine being in her shoes. Pregnant with a baby whose father just died. She probably didn’t want them to think she wanted anything from them. I can’t imagine it had been an easy decision for her to make.”
“That, and her father was against the relationship.”
“I wonder why.”
Chewing on my lower lip, I leaned in like I was telling a secret. “Don’t tell anyone else this, because I think Beck doesn’t want to make his grandfather seem like an asshole.”
The corner of my father’s mouth twitched with a hidden smile. “Avery, don’t call him that.”
“Well, he is one, from the little I’ve heard about him from Beck. He assumed Uncle Beck was after the family money. He didn’t care that his daughter was in love, he cared about his money and her maybe leaving Texas. I kind of wonder if him being in the Marines played a part as well.”
His brows rose. “I don’t guess that’s too far-fetched. He probably didn’t want her to be a military wife. I imagine that’s a pretty tough life.”
“But Uncle Beck was getting out of the Marines. I think he was getting out for her. I don’t know, it just bugs me for some reason. I googled Beck’s grandfather. Beck wasn’t kidding when he said he was wealthy.”
I neglected to tell my father that I’d googled Beck first. I hadn’t found a whole lot, but there were a few charity functions Beck had attended. I also noticed the same woman was on his arm in all the photos. The fact that I’d become irrationally jealous of this stranger hadn’t sat well with me. I wasn’t a jealous person by nature.
My father drew in a breath then said, “I think he was getting out for her as well. He always made it seem like he would be in for life, and then suddenly he told everyone he wasn’t re-enlisting. He wanted to come home and work the ranch. I’m sure Beck’s mother had something to do with that. And I also googled the family. Wealthy doesn’t even begin to describe them.”
