“Nothing,” I interrupt. “She betrayed me, and I loved her. I loved her more than I ever thought I could love someone. I let my guard down. I told her about the year I thought I was dying. And how I thought I’d never feel again. And she took my soul and turned it into a headline. I was nothing more than an article. Four or five hundred words.”
“But do you really believe that, Hunter?” my grandfather asks. “I saw the way she looked at you. I saw the way you looked at her.”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore,” I say. “Just because we see something doesn’t mean it’s real. Look at the two of you. I never would have guessed that your relationship had evolved out of absolute chaos. And I certainly never would have guessed Amethyst was the other woman.”
“Your grandmother is the only woman I’ve ever truly loved.” He sighs. “She’s accepted me for all my faults. And I’ve accepted her for all of hers. Sometimes love is messy. Sometimes it’s complicated. And sometimes other people get tangled in it.”
“That’s not cool,” I say.
“You’re right,” he replies quietly. “That was never my intention.”
I stare at him but say nothing. The truth is, this had gone on for decades.
He had to have seen that Amethyst was hurting.
But it’s not my place to judge him.
“I think I’m going to go to the garden,” I say. “And I’ve been thinking about it…. I’m going to head back to the city in the next couple of weeks.
“I feel better now. I’m ready to get back to work. I’m ready to be the face of the company again. And I’m ready to make some big changes.”
“Big changes?” my grandma asks. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, for centuries, the Waverlys have stood for something. But I don’t think it’s been the right something. I want to change that. I want history to look at our family kindly. I want us to be known as a family that cares about others. Not just ourselves.” My grandfather stares at me with surprise but says nothing. “I think each generation gets a little better, right, Granddad?”
He nods slowly.
“And I want to be the generation that turns things around. You two wanted to write a book to change the narrative. To make us look better. Well, I actually want to do better. I don’t want to write a book based on a false narrative. I want to write one based on truth. And I have to be that change.”
“But what about Gina?” my grandma asks softly. “What about your broken heart?”
I give her a wry smile. “I guess we don’t all get love. She’ll get her headline, and I’ll get my life back. And maybe that’s what I was put on this earth for.” My heart breaks at the thought. Because more than anything, I wish Gina were part of that future with me. I think of her smile. The way she listens. The way she laughs. I know I will never find someone like her again.
“Can I say one thing?” my grandfather asks as I head to the door.
“Sure.”
“If you love her, Hunter… truly love her… give her a chance to talk. Give her a chance to explain.”
I shake my head.
“I hoped that by having you come here today, by telling you our story, you would understand something. Love is not a straight path from A to B.”
“Why are you pushing this?” I ask. “I thought you, of all people, would be upset about deception.”
“I wasn’t deceived,” he says. “You don’t think I knew she was a reporter?” He laughs. “I met her through her grandfather.”
“You play golf with him.”
“He talks about her every single time we play. I know all about her. He even asked if I’d consider buying theWhisper Cove Guardian. She’s worried about losing her job. That’s how she got this job.”
“Wait… what? You knew?”
“Hunter, I may be retired, but I’m still sharp.”
“But why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it didn’t matter. She was never going to write that story about you. You met the girl. She’s as honest and sweet as they come.”
