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“My dearest! Have faith, Dakota! You’re not alone anymore, my child. I’m here for you. Oh, my…” She smiled, although tears still covered her eyes. “Good Lord forgave me for my faults and gave me time to mend my mistakes. Thank you, thank you Lord!” she closed her eyes for a while.
“Ladies, you’re breaking me!” Marge brought a tray with a teapot and three mugs. She was sniffing. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” she asked Peggy Sue, and the old lady nodded.
“Fiona’s hair and the eyes of my family. My son’s mouth and nose.”
“My mother never showed me a photo of my father,” she said, and her grandma stood and walked to get a portrait.
Dakota saw her father for the first time: a handsome man with shaggy brown hair, deep green eyes, and a killing smile.
“My son. A wild one. We raised him well, or so we thought. But he wanted too much, too soon. He hurt your mother, he hurt me, and he didn’t live enough to regret and change. He died young in a car accident.”
“I’m sorry,” Dakota said in an automat response.
“It was a long time ago. I was stubborn and acted when it was too late. I should have stopped Fiona and helped her. Help you.” There was so much sadness in her voice.
“You didn’t know Fiona was pregnant or that your son would be so cruel with her,” Marge said, but Peggy Sueshook her head.
“I should have known. But I was blind to my son’s faults. When he told me about Fiona, she had left the town and nobody knew a thing about her. I gave her mother a letter. I tried to reach her, but she never answered, or came back. That letter you found… Your mother’s mum must have sent it.”
“You mean I have more relatives?” The idea was exhilarating. She had thought of herself as alone in the world, and now…
“Well, I don’t know. Your mum’s family moved years ago. They sold the farm and moved to the East. Nobody has heard of them since then,” Peggy Sue said.
“So, Fiona never told you about them, either?” Marge asked with a frown. “Wow. That girl…”
“They bumped her, Marge. Don’t you remember how tight they were? How strict? Fiona had nothing, and she had to start a new life from zero, on her own.”
“Our world of two. She used to say that.We don’t need anyone. We have each other. Until we haven’t,” Dakota said, and it was as if something imploded in her insides.
She burst into tears and sobbed for a long time. She hadn’t mourned her mum entirely. She had had to go on, to be strong.
“Oh, dear, I hate knowing you were so sad and lonely! But this is the time to let those tears flow. Clean yourself from sorrow. Take your time. You’re safe here, with me.” Peggy Sue talked with fierce passion. “We will work to build the relationship we both deserve.”
Dakota had so many questions; so many emotions flew through her. But Peggy Sue was right, she had to mourn her past life.
She was in a good place, with the right person. The only one she needed right now.
“Yeah… I think I can do that.” She smiled, and relief went through her body. She was here to heal, to know about her past. To understand her mother’s path and decisions. “There’s so much I need to know. I have felt mad and disappointed. My mother…”
“She did what she could with what she had. Let’s not guilt her for her pain and decisions. It wasn’t easy to be in her shoes. I blamed myself for my blindness and my selfishness for so long. But that won’t bring her back, nor my son. We will help each other, Dakota.”
“I like that. Can I…? Can I stay here? I…
“That’s a must, my dear! I have plenty of room. I’d love to have you here for as long as you wish. This is your house, my dear child. I wrote my last will years ago. You will inherit this farm.”
“What? But…” Dakota stared at Peggy Sue with astonishment. “But you didn’t know me…”
“You’re my granddaughter. I knew you were somewhere.”
“It would have been a shock if…”
“Yes, I can imagine. But things were different, thank God. You’re here.”
“I am,” she nodded.
“Let’s accommodate you, dear. We can go on talking later. And tomorrow, and the day after…”
“Dakota took a job on her way here,” Marge smirked. “As Ted Sullivan’s help.”
“What?” She looked at her. “Why would you do that?”
“I resigned from my former job. I need to do something, and the poor man needs help. I felt compelled,” she said.
“Oh, boy. I see. Ted can be a real charmer, can’t he?” Peggy Sue giggled. “That’s okay, I think. I like you socializing and rooting here.”
Dakota thought that could be a little early for that. She was a city girl. She didn’t know if she would stay here after dealing with her past.
