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“It’s more than that. She won’t even give me a chance.”
“Then it’s her loss.”
She smiled because that was so her grandfather, and she missed his direct and to-the-point conclusions. He didn’t spend time worrying about other people’s opinions of him. He didn’t need to be liked. He simply said what he meant and went after what he wanted. Never in a mean way. Just with purpose.
And for her, he could be endearingly kind and soft. In his way.
“I just hoped...”
“The perfect family doesn’t exist, Ladybug. Everyone has problems and squabbles. Just because you’re family doesn’t mean you have to like someone. I don’t need to remind you of how you feel about your mother.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, you don’t.”
“You can’t make Natalie like you. Focus on your other relationships. Strengthen those bonds. Maybe she’ll come around given some time and space.”
“That was my thought, too.”
“Great minds...”
She loved the praise of being compared to him. “What are you doing today?”
“Golfing with a friend and avoiding your mother.”
She chuckled. “So your usual Saturday.”
“Except I won’t be having dinner with you,” he grumbled.
That made her smile. “So you miss me already?”
“I hoped things would go well there and you’d be home by now, keeping the machine running in top form.”
“I’m sure Sutherland Industries is doing just fine without me.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not. I turn around ten times a day to say something to you and you’re not there.” The sadness in his gruff voice warmed her heart, but there was something else that worried her.
“Pappy, are you okay?”
“I thought doing this would make you happy, but you’re not and that worries me.”
“Why?”
“Because you deserve to be happy, and I hoped this would give you a sense of belonging and joy that I’ve wanted for you for a long time.”
“For the most part, everything is fine. I have no doubt Natalie and I will come to some sort of understanding and peace between us.” She thought of what had brought her happiness. Actually who. “I had a really wonderful dinner with Cody last night on my private patio with strung lights and the stars overhead. We talked. I kissed him.” She didn’t know how to convey to her grandfather how something so normal felt so monumental.
“Youkissedhim. Well, now, that’s big. That’s initiative. Keep it up.”
“Kissing him, or going after what I want?”
“One will get you the other if you do it right,” her grandfather said with humor in his voice.
“I’m scared,” she admitted.
“That means it matters. But it can’t turn into what you want unless you put in the effort.”
“For the first time in a long time, I am.”
“That’s what I want to hear. Do the same with your sister and see where it takes you.”
