Grams sat slowly, easing herself into the chair. “Daisy,” she said, hesitant. I hated hearing that reserve in her voice. We'd always been so open with each other.
Chest aching, I took her hand in mine and squeezed gently. “Grams, it's okay.”
“It's not,” she retorted, a little of her usual fire sparking in her voice.
“Grams—”
“No, let me say my piece.”
“Okay,” I conceded, stomach twisting with sudden nerves. I wasn't ready to talk about my parents or what they'd done. What my father had done. Beside me, Royal took my other hand in his, anchoring me. I let out the breath I'd been holding, ready for whatever Grams had to say.
“I didn't do right by your father,” Grams started. I shoved back my instinct to disagree. Biting my lip, I forced myself to stay quiet and let her speak.
“I see you biting your lip, little girl. I know you want to stick up for me, but this time, you're wrong. I did a better job with you, but I didn't do right by your father. I was so young when I got pregnant with him. Young and foolish. I thought I could make it work, and I did, mostly. But I was more a playmate for him than a mother. I gave him everything he wanted that I could afford, and by the time I realized it hadn't done him any good, it was too late. I ruined that boy.”
I couldn't stay quiet any longer. “Grams, his choices are not your fault. Maybe you spoiled him, and maybe you weren't the best mom at sixteen, but he's a grown man. He has a wife and a child of his own. He is not your fault. None of this is your fault.”
A little voice in my head reminded me that she was going to cut me out of the bakery. Maybe that part was her fault, but it was her bakery. I wasn't going to throw out a lifetime of love over one bad decision.
Chapter Forty-One
Daisy
I knew too well how my father could talk a sensible woman into total idiocy. Hadn't I fallen for his act, too? All he had to do was put on a suit, show me a few spreadsheets, and I'd written him a check for money that wasn't really mine. So freaking stupid.
I'd be the biggest hypocrite in the world if I blamed Grams for falling for his crap when I'd done exactly the same thing.
Grams started to speak, but I cut her off. “Is he sorry for everything he did to you? Did he apologize? Leave a note? Express remorse in any way?”
Grams shook her head.
“Then I don't think you should be beating yourself up for any mistakes you made years ago. This isn't on you.”
Her head shook again, a tiny rueful smile on her lips. “Oh, Daisy girl. You'll understand when you have children of your own. Your father's made some bad choices, and he's not welcome in my home any longer, but he'll always be my boy.”
I sighed. “I know.”
“But if I see him, I'm calling West. He's my boy, but I'm not protecting him. Not anymore.” She leaned past me to look at Royal. “I didn't know, Royal. I swear to you, I had no clue what he was up to. I'm so sorry—”
“Eleanor, don't. You don't have anything to be sorry for,” he said, his eyes kind.
“I do. But we can talk about making that right later.”
“Later,” I agreed. “We need to get through tonight first.”
The doors at the far end of the hall slid open. We all leaned forward, hope and terror warring inside us. Not a doctor. A man, tall and broad, with messy blond hair and golden stubble on his cheeks. I instantly recognized him from the pic on J.T.'s phone.
Rising to my feet, I crossed the waiting room. “Clay? I'm Daisy.”
He looked down at me, his throat working, hands hanging loosely at his side. On impulse, I leaned in and hugged him. “No word yet. We're still waiting. Come sit with us.”
Clay returned my hug with a squeeze of one arm, clearing his throat. “I don't want to impose—”
I ignored his protest, taking his hand and leading him to a seat beside Grams. Pointing around the room, I made introductions. “This is Grams, Royal, Royal's brother Tenn, his other brother Griffen, and Griffen's wife Hope—who should be home in bed but refuses to leave.”
“You're all here for J.T.?” Clay asked, sounding a little dazed.
“He's Daisy's,” Royal said simply. “Makes him family.”
“Clay is J.T.'s,” I explained to the group, nudging Clay into the seat beside Grams.
As I expected, Grams' eyes lit. Giving Clay a brilliant smile, she raised an eyebrow at me. “Why didn't I know about this?”
“Because J.T.'s a dork.”
That was all the explanation Grams needed. Turning to Clay, she took his hand and squeezed. “I hate the circumstances, but I'm so glad to meet you. That boy and his secrets.”