Page 74 of Where the Heart Is

Gran’s eyes clouded. ‘I’m enjoying living in the moment, so I’ll face that when it happens.’

‘And when’s that going to be?’

Mila persisted because she’d hate to see her two favourite people hurt when the initial euphoria of their reunion wore off.

‘After the ball, I suppose …’ Gran stared out the window, a small smile playing about her mouth. ‘I’m looking forward to it. Your grandfather and I met at a B & S ball, you know.’

‘I know.’ Mila slid an arm around her gran’s waist and rested her head against hers. ‘Love at first sight, if I recall the story correctly.’

‘He swept me off my feet.’ She sighed. ‘Still does, if I’m being honest.’

Mila straightened and turned her grandmother to face her. ‘What are you saying? Is there a chance you two will reconcile?’

‘Uh … no … I don’t think so …’ Gran shrugged, her expression guarded. ‘Who knows?’

‘Wow, I’ll take that as a maybe.’

Gran pressed her palm to Mila’s cheek. ‘I don’t want you getting your hopes up about something that may not eventuate. But we’re on good terms now and I’m happy about it.’

‘That’s great,’ Mila said, wishing she could cross all her fingers and toes that her grandparents reconciled. That’s what helping with the ball had been about, but maybe they didn’t need a nudge. ‘And we don’t need to have all the answers, Gran, just go with the flow.’

Addy homed in on one word. ‘We?’

Mila winked. ‘Sawyer and I are getting pretty close too. He’s staying here for the remainder of time he’s in town.’

‘And how long will that be?’

Not long enough, Mila thought. ‘He’s doing a bit of work in the region, so whenever that ends, I guess.’

‘He hasn’t said?’

Mila shook her head, knowing she should ask him but unwilling to change the status quo. Logically, she knew Sawyer would be leaving sooner rather than later, but emotionally, he’d only just moved in and she liked having him around. Especially in her bed.

‘Like I said, Gran, we’re going with the flow.’

Gran snorted. ‘You young people and your casual relationships.

It’s all swiping left or right, or sexting, or playing hard to get.’

Mila arched a brow. ‘And what would you know about swiping and sexting, huh?’

As her grandmother reddened, Mila held up a hand. ‘On second thoughts, don’t answer that.’

Mila paused, knowing it wasn’t her business to probe into her grandparents’ relationship, but concerned about Gramps. He’d already appeared happy to have Addy back and now if they’d ramped up their relationship, it stood to reason he’d be more invested.

Which meant he could be devastated all over again when Addy left if they hadn’t clarified what they were doing.

‘Gran, I know this isn’t my place, but I was left to pick up the pieces with Gramps last time you left. If you two are starting up again and you eventually leave, I’m worried he’ll get hurt.’

Anger sparked in Addy’s eyes. ‘And what about me? Are you concerned I’ll get hurt, or am I the bad guy in all this because I was the one brave enough to call it quits when our marriage was a shambles?’

Yikes. Mila loved her grandmother, and she’d offended her when she hadn’t meant to. ‘Gran, I’m not prying into your relationship or what happened in the past, but I lived with you, and I tiptoed around you both because the tension in the house was so thick. Do I blame you for leaving? No. You made a decision for your own self-preservation at the time, but I’m just being honest when I say Gramps was gutted and I don’t want that to happen to him again.’

Addy’s shoulders slumped and she nodded. ‘I don’t want to hurt him again either. But I can’t give either of you any guarantees.’

‘Nobody’s after a guarantee, but growing closer with Gramps means he’ll have expectations. So I guess I’m hoping you two will talk things through this time.’

Mila half expected her grandmother to tell her to mind her own business, but to Gran’s credit, she merely nodded.

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