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“Grammy’s not cool,” Trent snorted.
Ellie glared at her youngest grandson. “Who was it that went snowboarding with you during winter break last year?”
“You did,” Trent squeaked.
“And what did you say then?” She raised a brow, waiting for his response.
“That you were the coolest grandma ever,” he mumbled, looking down at the shiny wooden table.
Ellie smiled. “Now, that that’s settled, let’s all enjoy this lovely breakfast.”
???
“Okay,” I held up a finger, “so in the basement, there’s a movie theater, a game room, a basketball court, and a bowling alley. What else do you guys have?”
“Well,” Trace collapsed on the huge sectional couch in the family room, “in the backyard, there’s a pool with a diving board, slide, and waterfall. There’s a hot tub too. And if you don’t mind walking, we have a tennis court, because back in the day, Grammy played, and Gramps added that. We also have a couple of tree stands for hunting scattered around the property.”
I stood, looking around the gargantuan family room.
Trace grabbed my arm and pulled me on top of him. He smoothed my hair away from my eyes and cupped my cheek. “You look like a little kid in a candy store with your mouth hanging open like that. Should I find you a lollipop?”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s kinda unbelievable that you grew up here and your family is great. They’re not stuffy at all. I love your grandpa,” I thundered on, ignoring his statement about lollipops.
“I told you,” he grinned, “and they love you.”
I snuggled against his warm chest and closed my eyes. “I love them too,” I murmured, before the calming symphony of our breaths sang me to sleep.
c h a p t e r
Twenty One
I hugged Warren tightly. I had never met my grandparents and I found something in Warren that I connected with.
“Come back and see us,” he whispered in my ear. “Don’t worry about being with Trace. Come anytime, ya hear?”
I pulled away and nodded. “I will.”
He smiled and his eyes crinkled at the corners.
My eyes lit upon a picture behind Warren. “Is that-”
He turned and smiled sadly. “Trace’s dad?” He supplied.
I nodded.
“It is. The resemblance is uncanny. Trey marked both of those boys. There is no doubting they’re members of the Wentworth family. Trace looks the most like him though,” Warren explained. “That boy loved his daddy something fierce. He did some bad things after Trey died in the accident. He was like a different person. Somehow, he found his way back to the light, and I’m so thankful for it,” Warren breathed. “For a while there, it was like we lost two people. Did Trace tell you that he was with his dad when he died?”
“No,” I gasped, tears automatically welling in my eyes.
“He doesn’t like to talk about it but they were out goofing around on those bikes and a semi-truck slammed into Trey. Bastard didn’t even stop. Trey was in front of Trace, so poor Trace saw everything. There were body parts scattered everywhere.”
Sobs raked my body. “Th-that’s h-h-hor-ible,” I stuttered.
I couldn’t imagine the kind of pain that one would experience from an event like that. No wonder Trace had gone off the deep end. Anyone would.
“Don’t cry, sweetie,” Warren hugged me to his robust chest. His hand rubbed up and down my back soothingly. “I didn’t tell ya to make ya cry. I just wanted to help you understand my grandson better. He pushed everyone away after his dad died and I don’t want to see him do the same thing to you, because Olivia, you’re the best thing that’s happened to him in a long time,” he swallowed thickly. “If he grows distant, you’re going to have to push him, don’t let him retreat into that dark hole he disappears to inside himself.”
