“No.Mygranddaughter. You are not part of our family.” She felt Felicity’s hand squeeze her shoulder. The gesture steadied her, reminded her that she wasn’t that vulnerable young woman anymore. “You still haven’t answered my question. Why are you here?”
He shifted his weight, looking exactly like the uncertain young man who’d promised her forever, then vanished before dawn. “I’ve been thinking about the past. About choices I made.” He glanced down at his shoes. “Bad choices.”
Her heart thundered in her chest, but she kept her voice level. “That’s quite an understatement.”
“I know.” He looked up, meeting her eyes. “I know it is. Anyway, we need to talk.”
“I don’tneedto do anything you say.”
“Darlene, don’t be like that.”
“And you don’t get to tell me how to act, how to feel, what to do.” She snapped at him as anger surged through her.
Dean climbed the stairs and turned to Felicity. “Felicity, can you talk some sense into your grandmother?”
Heat seared through Darlene at Dean’s presumption. How dare he try to manipulate Felicity against her? But before she could speak, Felicity stepped forward, her eyes flashing.
“Gran always does what she wants. She does what’s right, even if it’s hard.” Felicity’s voice rang with conviction. “She’s raised an amazing family and built a wonderful life here without any help from you.”
Pride swelled in her chest. Her granddaughter stood tall and strong, defending her with the same fierce determination that had gotten Darlene through those early years alone.
Dean blinked, taken aback by Felicity’s response. He shifted his weight uncertainly.
Felicity planted her hands on her hips. “Do you know what Gran did after you left? She worked two jobs while carrying my father. She saved every penny to buy this place. She turned it into something beautiful.”
She placed her hand on Felicity’s arm, touched by her fierce protectiveness. She’d never wanted her family to carry the weight of that old hurt, but here was her granddaughter, defending her with such passion.
“And you don’t get to waltz in here after all these years and act like you have any right to tell her what to do.” Felicity’s words carried the heat of long-simmering anger. “Gran taught us what real strength looks like. What real love looks like.”
“And you know what else?” Felicity continued. “She never once let your abandonment turn her bitter. She taught me to be kind, to be brave, to believe in myself.”
Tears filled the corner of her eyes. She’d spent so many years wondering if she’d done enough, been enough. Now, listening to her granddaughter, she realized just how much her choices had mattered.
Dean scuffed his shoe against the porch floorboards as a swatch of red swept over his face. He finally looked at Felicity. “I… I deserved that. And so much more.”
He turned to Darlene. “I know saying I’m sorry won’t help after all these years. But I am. I was young, scared, and foolish.”
“And you don’t think I was scared? And you left me all alone to deal with it.”
He nodded. “I did. And it’s my biggest regret in life.”
“Telling Gran you’re sorry doesn’t change anything. You never even wanted to meet my father. Or me.”
A wistful look came over Dean’s face. “I did come looking for you once. Saw you out on the beach with Darlene and your dad and mom. I spent an hour watching my son playing with you in the waves. You were just a little thing then.”
“Why didn’t you come over to us? Say something?”
“It just looked like things had turned out fine for everyone without me.” He shrugged. “And…” He turned to Darlene. “I couldn’t quite face your Gran.”
“So you left without saying a word.” Felicity’s tone was cold and accusing.
“I did. But I’d like to say a few things now. If… if Darlene will let me talk to her.” He shook his head. “But it’s your choice, Darlene. I don’t blame you if you don’t want to speak to me.”
She studied Dean’s face, searching for traces of the young man she’d loved, the one who’d promised her the world and then disappeared with only a scribbled note she found days later. The years had changed him—silver threaded through his dark hair, and there were lines etched around his mouth and eyes. But something in his expression reminded her of that young boy who’d made her heart flutter so many years ago.
“Fine.” She bobbed her head once, then turned to Felicity. “Would you mind giving us a few minutes?”
Felicity’s protectiveness flashed across her face. “Are you sure?”
