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‘I came inside to wash my hands while you were telling Mum about them. I’m sorry your babies died. I’m sorry we make you remember how sad it makes you. But it’s not Mum’s fault. You don’t have to love us. Mum says you can’t force people to love you. But you don’t have to be mean to them.’
Grace sat heavily. ‘Oh, Gabby, I’m sorry. I never meant you to feel unloved.’
Folding her arms over her thin chest, looking disdainfully down her long nose, Gabby bore a strong resemblance to her grandmother. ‘You meant to make Mum feel bad though, didn’t you?’
Becca reached out to pull the girl away. ‘Gabby, no.’
Grace shook her head. ‘Let her talk. It’s probably about time we cleared the air.’
‘It’s not the time.’
The older woman snorted. ‘Isn’t that my line?’ She glanced over at Ned, who sat quietly, a pained expression on his face. ‘Nothing to say?’
He shook his head. ‘When have you ever listened to me, Gracey?’
‘No. You’re right. It always had to be my way. You could have stopped me, Ned.’
‘Could I? It never looked that way. Not even when we first married.’
Something softened in her face. ‘Why?’
‘It seemed like marrying me was something you did against your will. I couldn’t ask for more.’
Gabby moved over to drape her arms around Ned’s shoulders. ‘I’m sure Grace loves you, Grandpa Ned.’
His silence spoke loudly in the small room.
Grace shifted in her seat. ‘You doubted my love for you?’
‘You were all wrapped up in your grief. You told me you couldn’t bear to love again, but you wanted children. I couldn’t give you what you wanted. Only Morgan and he was a frail baby. You were always fretting about him, even when he seemed stronger. I suppose I guessed you blamed me.’
Tears pricked Becca’s eyes, and for a moment, an echoing gleam sparked in Grace’s bleak gaze.
‘It seems Gabby was right. I’ve been trying so hard not to love people I’ve ended up being mean to them.’
‘You never treated the children badly.’Even if they didn’t feel loved. The unspoken words hung in the air.
‘I treated you badly and through that, I hurt them. I never thought about what they might think about my attitude to you. They love you; of course they resented my treating you like you were a thorn in my side.’
‘They aren’t stupid, Grace.’
‘No. I was proud of them. Thinking they took after Morgan. I didn’t want to see how much they took after you. Gabby has a fine sense of justice. I suspect that comes down to your upbringing.’ Grace swiped a tear from her cheek and Gabby popped up, holding out the box of tissues from the coffee table.
‘You’re a really good cook, Grace. I’m sure if you decided to be a good grandmother, you could be good at it. If you wanted.’
Mopping her suddenly damp cheeks, Grace shook her head. ‘It’s too late. How could you forgive me for what I’ve done? I kept your dad away from you.’
‘Well, Mum says even though it’s hard to forgive people who hurt us sometimes, we can pretend and then it comes easier. Eventually it can be true.’
Grace laughed, a raw sound choked with tears. ‘You know how to stick the knife in, don’t you, girl?’
Gabby sat on the chair beside her, her grin wicked. ‘We do take a bit after you too. Would you like to be our proper grandma?’
‘I would. Do I have to be called Grandma though?’ Her expression was eloquent. Grace was still Grace, after all.
Gabby slipped a slender arm around the older woman’s shoulders. ‘We’re used to calling you Grace.’
The two hugged and Becca found herself holding back tears. If nothing else, at least something was mended tonight.
