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Cupping my face in her hands, she looked directly at me. I saw a part of me in her kind face, and that did something strange to me.
“Don’t you ever say you’re sorry for feeling with your heart, Beck. There is nothing wrong with letting your emotions show. Your mother was your greatest gift, just like you were hers. Her loss won’t leave you…ever. And you don’t have to hide your sorrow, not around us. Not around your family.”
My eyes had drifted down to the album that was on the floor. When she said the words “your family,” I jerked them back up to her.
She smiled and let out a soft laugh. “Oh, you didn’t think you were going to just show up on my door and I was going to let you simply walk away? No, sir. You are my grandson. You’re part of us,” Stella said as she held her hand up. It was only then I noticed Ty had been standing there. “I may have only just met you a few hours ago, but you’ll be in my heart for all time.”
“Stella…” I whispered, not sure what to say after her name. This had been exactly what I wanted, hadn’t it? To be welcomed by my father’s family. To learn about him. Then why was I so overwhelmed? “Thank you.”
Ty crouched and put his hand on my shoulder. “Where are you staying?”
For a moment, I was confused. “Oh, um…a hotel in Hamilton.”
“Not anymore, son. You pack up your things, and you’ll come stay here with us for as long as you’d like. We have guest rooms you can stay in, and you can spend time in this room whenever you want. It’s as much yours as it is ours.”
“I…I…”
Stella grinned. “Good! It’s settled then. You’ll come stay with us. It’ll be easier this way. I’m sure once the boys meet you, they’re going to want to show you all around the ranch.”
Before I could utter a single word, a light knock caused all of us to turn toward the door. I was still sitting on the floor, Stella next to me, and Ty squatting down next to us both.
Avery looked as if she was blinking back tears. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but my dad was too afraid to come up here.”
Ty huffed and made a groan as he stood back up. “Christ, it sucks getting old.”
I quickly stood and helped Stella up.
“Goodness, the ol’ knees aren’t as strong as they once were,” she stated as she turned to Avery. “What was it your father was too cowardly to come say?”
Avery chewed on her lower lip for a moment before she said, “Brock is here to talk to Dad about something. I guess you told him we were coming over for dinner? He just arrived, he’s with Dad in Grandpa’s study.”
My heart started to pound in my chest so loudly, I hardly heard Stella’s reply.
“Okay.” Turning to me, she grinned. “Let’s go meet your uncle Brock.”
“Wait—right now?”
Ty started for the door. “No time like the present!”
Stella kissed me on the cheek, then followed her husband.
Avery walked over to me. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m as good as can be expected, I guess.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Glancing down to the records, she looked back at me. “I know it has to be hard, being around all these strangers, but if you ever need to talk… Well. I’m here for you.”
I took a step toward her and reached for her hand, bringing it up to my lips. I wanted to run my tongue along the inside of her wrist, but instead, I softly kissed the back of her hand. “Thank you, Avery. That means the world to me.”
Her nostrils flared slightly as her eyes focused on my mouth—then she jumped when Stella cried out, “Kids, come on!”
“We should…” She barely got the words out. “We should…”
“Go.”
Nodding, she replied, “Yes.”
Avery walked out of the bedroom first. I turned and took another look around. I wanted to spend more time in here, so I knew I would be taking Stella and Ty up on their offer to stay. But I wouldn’t give up my hotel room, just in case I needed an escape for a night or two.
Walking through the house, we eventually got back to the door that led into Ty’s office. The door was ajar, and I could hear Dirk and Brock speaking.
Ty pushed the door open and walked in. Stella followed. It was only then that I realized I’d been holding Avery’s hand. I let go and looked at her. Her cheeks were a delicate shade of pink.
“It’s okay,” she softly said as she motioned for me to walk in.
I wasn’t sure if Dirk had told Brock about me already, and there was only one way to find out. I stepped into the room, and Brock turned his head to see who else had entered.
