Page 266 of A Song for You

Sixty-Nine

Cat

Yellow by Vancouver Sleep Clinic

Hand in hand, Jay and I walk into my brother’s new office in Bristol. I dig my fingernails into his hand, willing him to stay with me. Jay didn’t yell or rage when I broke the news. It was almost like he wasn’t surprised. Like it made sense. And then he took me in his arms, kissed my forehead, and told me it’d be okay.

How, though?

The revelation led to a late-night phone call with his brothers and a vehement defense on my behalf. I can only imagine how much they must hate my family now. Will the feud ever end? Or are the Jameses and Hansons destined to hate one another for the rest of eternity? And if so, where does that leave me? And more importantly, where does it leave my daughter?

But the man sitting at the head of the conference table is not my brother. A small gasp escapes me at the sight, though I’m not sure why I’m surprised. For years, my grandfather has apparently been playing puppeteer with my life. I always believed he was the one person who saw me for who I really was and accepted me. That he was my protector. Somehow, he’s become the villain in my story.

“Theo,” my husband says, pulling me out of my stupor.

“Take a seat.” My grandfather nods at a chair to his right without greeting us.

Before we can sit, Cash strolls in wearing a smug smile. I don’t even recognize him anymore. “You can let go of my sister’s hand now.” Cash reaches for me but keeps his eyes on Jay. “She’s no longer your concern.”

Jay goes rigid beside me, as if he thinks I’ll abandon him at my brother’s behest.

I pull my hand back from Cash and press it to Jay’s heart. “Look at me,” I whisper, ignoring my brother and my grandfather. “It’s you and me. Only you and me. Got it?”

The surprise on his face breaks my heart. Does he not understand that no matter what, I’ll choose him? That there has never been an actual choice.

“Please tell me you didn’t actually fall for him.” My brother groans, rounding the table.

My blood heats in my veins. “You don’t even know him.”

“I know enough⁠—”

“Enough!” my grandfather growls, and for a moment, a flicker of hope that he’s on our side ignites inside me. “Sit down and keep your mouths shut.”

Jay pulls out my chair, and once I’m settled, he sits beside me and pulls me close so he can rest his palm on my thigh. He gives me a gentle squeeze, and then his attention returns to my grandfather. “I see you put our ideas into action.”

I bolt up in my chair in response, and across from me, Cash gapes.

My grandfather’s jaw tics. Despite being relegated to a wheelchair, he looks good. His color has come back, and the look in his eye is sharper than ever. “And you betrayed every one of them,” he says, his voice hard and his gaze locked on Jay.

Jay squeezes my thigh and narrows his eyes at Cash before turning his attention back to my grandfather. “I kept your secrets for as long as I could.”

“What secrets?” Cash scoffs.

I swallow over the lump in my throat as my grandfather and Jay stare one another down. The silence is excruciating, and hatred drips from them both, permeating the air with bitterness.

“I only did what you asked,” my grandfather replies, doubling down.

“You kept my daughter from me. For twelve years. I missed twelve years of her life.”

Cash’s eyes go wide and lock on me. My heart shatters as a look of betrayal mars his features. “She’s yours?” he whispers.

I nod.

“You had a baby and didn’t tell us?” he says louder, angrier, as if this is his fight.

My grandfather holds up his hand, and like magic, all attention returns to him. “You put my family in danger. You begged me to fix your mistakes. You told me to keep her safe. How could I have done that if you knew she had a baby?”

This time it’s my turn to break. “How could you? I begged you to tell me the truth. And my voice mails…if you heard them all, you knew. You knew how broken I was. How alone. And you let me believe he didn’t care. That he’d gotten Mia pregnant. That I was nothing to him.” A tear rolls down my cheek, and I swipe it away.