“I started this,” she confessed softly. “When we found out what your father had done, I was shattered. I was also determined to save our family’s legacy, the company that your grandfather and I built together from the ground up. But then, Cedric’s seedy connections put the family in danger.”
I studied her face, noted the tears standing in them. Which was jarring because I could count on one hand the number of times I’d seen her cry.
She peered up at the ceiling as a single tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it away with her finger, then glanced at me again. “I’d already lost him,” she whispered. “I’d lost your father,myson … I couldn’t lose anyone else. I panicked. Then, I sent you away. Told you not to tell anyone. Not Hendrix. Not Albany. And you suffered for it. I didn’t stop to think about how such a hurried departure would affect you. I kept telling myself I was protecting you, doing the right thing. But when I saw you again, after the move … I knew I’d fucked up.”
“It was my fault. I own my choices, Granny.”
“True, but sometimes circumstance can push you to a point where you feel like you have nothing to lose.”
“I wasn’t suicidal.”
“But you were reckless. What if you would’ve jumped behind the wheel, killed someone or yourself because you thought you could handle it? Your mother and your sister would’ve been devastated. It would’ve broken my heart.”
I lowered my head. “Why not just say something? Why go to all the trouble to create an online persona and blast me like that?”
“Believe it or not, I didn’t create Ms. Tea to air out your business. It started as a fun thing to do with my friends. A little mess. A little shade. Nothing too harmful.”
“What changed?”
“I felt like I did something wrong in life. My kids … they’re entitled assholes. And I could see that my grandchildren were following in their parents’ footsteps. Even you.”
Rage simmered in my gut. “I will never be like him.”
“I hope not. I loved my son, but he wasn’t a good person. It took me years to not blame myself for his transgressions.”
Granny was one of the strongest people I knew. I couldn’t even fathom her placing blame on herself for what my father did. “It’s not your fault,” I said unnecessarily. “He was just a fucked-up individual.”
“Thank God you had your mother.”
I smiled. “Yeah, she’s amazing.”
“Neither of my sons deserved her.”
Silence stretched between us for a moment. Finally, I glanced at her. “What was the end game? With Ms. Tea?”
“Good old-fashioned matchmaking. Ms. Tea was already operating when I found out Albany was divorcing her husband and moving back to Detroit.”
Realization dawned on me as I let her words settle in my heart. “You hired her—for me.”
“Sure did,” she admitted. “And I’m not going to apologize for it.”
“Don’t.”
“Albany gave me the flux, quitting every two minutes. But I’m not a quitter. I figured the best way to get you two to see each other, to hear each other, was forced proximity.”
“Giving her that apartment was genius,” I agreed. “We were already teetering on something, but that was a good move.”
“I knew it was only a matter of time before you made your declaration. I’m assuming that happened last night?”
Scratching the back of my neck, I grumbled, “Something like that.”
“Then it was worth it.” Granny gripped my chin in her hand, turned me to meet her gaze. “Youare worth it. You’re so worthy of love, Wes.”
“I don’t want to hurt her again.”
“Then don’t.”
“I’m not perfect,” I mumbled.
