Page 29 of Hard Candy Christmas

“Betty Carmichael, why didn’t you ever say anything?” Martha chastised. “Your family to us and we would have helped you! Why, you raised my boys right alongside me and Susan. You didn’t need to send Belinda away.”

“It’s what I felt was best. I mean, I hated sending her away.” I looked at my grandma, giving her a small smile of encouragement. Last night, after I got back from the ride, I sat down and talked to both ladies.

If I wanted to move forward with Chase, I needed to be open. I mean, I wanted to believe him when he said he wanted this too. But even if he didn’t, and for some unknown reason he pulled back, this was air that was long overdue in being discussed.

Besides, just like I saw it back then, my grandma needed to be open with this family. Everyone here loved her, and she hadn’t been honest with them. They had a right to worry or be there.

“But I didn’t want to burden everyone either. This was my problem to worry about. I didn’t need to add onto your shoulders, Martha.”

“Betty, you wouldn’t have. Goodness, what do you think we are, heartless?”

“Never! You all are extended family. I mean that. I just, I probably should have listened to my granddaughter a bit more when she said that it would be better to explain everything.”

“That’s why you left. To help Grandma Betty.”

I looked over at Chase and nodded, even though it wasn’t a question. It was obvious he was still trying to process it because he was the one who saw the truth in my eyes.

“You know my grandma and how utterly stubborn she is, though I love her to pieces, in fact we all do. But it’s not something I had the right to share. She really needed to tell you all this, not me.

“Believe me, the day I told you goodbye Chase, it gutted me. I cried for days on end, but my grandma meant so much to me. And I hated seeing these two ladies struggle with bills and debt when I knew I could have helped. I just had to sacrifice my love and heart for a little bit.”

I watched as he swallowed hard before nodding. I mean, what was left to say? It sucked, sure. But I knew he needed time to process it, and I understood. It was a lot to take in. Believing something for so long only to have a whole other truth be slammed into you.

“Well, are you okay, Betty? Do you need anything else?”

“No, Martha, I’m good. Belinda really helped us out and even gave us enough to set aside. So between the three of us, we tookcare of it. And as far as my health, well, y’all aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”

“Nonsense. None of us want you gone.” With that, I watched as Martha stood up and gave Betty a long hug. I’m sure Martha would give the other woman an earful later on. After all, Martha saw Betty like her mom, so no doubt someone was going to speak up.

“I’ll be right back,” Chase said, squeezing my thigh beneath the table.

I frowned slightly, hoping that the truth didn’t put him off.

“He’ll be fine,” Martha whispered in my ear before she clapped her hands. “Okay, enough yappin’. We have a dinner we need to finish.”

I smiled at her as I stood up, then followed the other ladies into the kitchen while the men struck up the fire in the living room.

“The potatoes are done, right Belinda?”

“Yes ma’am,” I told Martha. “I can start on some apples for the pies to get that going while we eat?”

“Perfect! I’m glad you learned a thing or two while on your own.”

“Couldn’t live off fast food for the rest of my life,” I teased back, enjoying the camaraderie in the kitchen.

Years ago, when I would have wanted to belong and joke, the ladies pretty much said they had it handled. Which always surprised me given how many mouths they had to feed. But looking back, chances are I would have destroyed a lot more things than actually helping them.

I glanced down the hallway, waiting for Chase to come back and only frowning to myself as he didn’t seem to come.

I turned my attention to the ladies, ignoring the sound of the door closing. It felt just like the pain in my heart for the moment.

Chapter Sixteen

Chase

Iwasn’t sure what I thought, what I even felt, as I left the table. I mean, it was good to know there was a serious reason behind why she walked away. But she really couldn’t tell me.

I sat on the chair outside, looking at the snow that was falling, and huddled in my jacket.

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