“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like we were dating or anything, so it doesn’t matter. I have enough going on in my life—I don’t need a boyfriend on top of it.”
Her tone softens. “If it didn’t matter, you wouldn’t be moping around or working even more shifts to keep busy. I don’t know what went on between you two, but I’ve seen you together. While your life might not be perfect right now, when you’re with him, you’re happy.”
“Temporarily.Temporarilyhappy. He was always going to leave, and we’re from two different worlds.”
“So? Edward and I came from two different worlds. Are you saying we shouldn’t have been together?”
Gran and Gramps have a classic love story. It was a whirlwind Vietnam-era romance Gran’s father never approved of. She was a rich city girl, and he was a poor country boy.
“No,” I answer, “but that’s different. Trey and I . . . I’m just not for him. Okay?”
“It is no different. And I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. You’re an amazing young woman, hardworking, educated, kind, and loyal. That man would be lucky to call someone like you his, and the same goes for you. Trey is a good man, Jessie. Don’t you think he should be the one to decide who’s the right person for him?”
“I know he is,” I whisper. “But we’ll never work in the long run. And when it ends, it will hurt. It hurts now.”
“The end?” Gran scoffs. “According to you, it hasn’t even started. The end is none of your business.”
I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, yeah. It doesn’t even matter. He’s gone, and I’ll be fine.”
Gran doesn’t look convinced. She shuffles to the coffee pot and refills her cup.
“What will you do when he comes home?” she asks.
“I mean, my plan is to ignore his existence. Like a mature adult.”
She chuckles like I’m joking, but I’m dead serious. “No, I mean back toyou,” she repeats. “He’ll be back—he promised me.”
“He what?” I nearly choke on my coffee.
“He promised me he’d come back as soon as the season was over, and don’t you go thinking he made that promise about me. It was most definitely aboutyou, my dear. You might think you’re done, but don’t go acting shocked when October comes, and you find him on your doorstep.”
My jaw drops in shock as she sits back down, sipping her coffee like she didn’t just drop a bomb on me. What on earth have Trey and my Gran been discussing all summer? “Wha— How— W–when did this conversation take place?” I stammer.
“I can’t recall exactly. You know this old memory of mine. But the promise stands. He’ll be back.”
“Your memory is fine,” I grit out. The old coot smiles and goes back to her coffee.
Fine, don’t tell me.
She’s wrong anyway. She doesn’t know the things I said to him. I haven’t heard from him since he left, and I don’t blame him. He’ll never forgive me.
“Well, don’t get your hopes up. I didn’t give him a reason to come back.”
“Youare the reason. When will you realize you are so much more than your circumstances? And I don’t get the feeling Trey is the type of man to let go of something he loves.”
“He doesn’t love me.”
“Oh, sweet girl, he might not say the words aloud, but it’s written all over his face. And I want that for you, more than anything. You deserve that kind of love.”
I nod, eyes burning. I don’t know what to say.What can I say?Daryl will always be here, and I’ll never risk Trey’s safety.
She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “Now, tell me: What else has been going on in your life?”
“Have I told you about Hannah and the EMT in the supply closet?”
She gasps. “No. That sweet nurse?”
“Yes. So—”
