Page 102 of Late Bloomer
Christmas gift for Pepper?new overalls
Find lawyer / get estate set up
My choked giggle morphs into a tremble vibrating through me, emotions building behind my eyes. Of course GrandmaLou would prioritize getting her affairs in order far after her dahlias’ well-being.
A few tears roll down my cheeks as I gently place the Post-it on the bedside table. With a deep breath, I unfold the sheets and read.
My dearest Pepper,
Watching you grow is the greatest gift life has given me. I love you now and I’ll love you always.
Love,
Grandma Lou
I read it over and over until I hear her soft, lovely voice saying the words to me. When I finally am able to set it down, I look at the second sheet, heart beating up to my throat as I realize what it is.
The will.
Chapter 36PEPPER
“Why aren’t we talking?”
I have Opal cornered. I stayed up all night, pacing around the house until I was dizzy with frustration at how quickly everything crumbled. I’ve been waiting for her to sneak into the kitchen, standing between her and the coffee machine knowing full well this is a low blow, but I can’t go one more day in this silent torture.
Opal’s head jerks back, and she blinks a few times, still groggy. I take pity on her, pouring a cup of coffee and heaping sugar in it as she likes, then handing it to her.
Eyes wide and fixed on me, she takes a timid sip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she whispers, gaze falling to the floor.
“Words. Us not using them. I want to know why.”
Opal waves her hand. “I could ask you the same thing. I think we both know it’s rather obvious.”
“Opal, my autistic ass hasn’t picked up on something ‘obvious’ once in my life. So, please, enlighten me.”
She frowns, chin lifting in defiance. “I mean,obviouslyI’m mortified about the competition and our… our fight after. But you haven’t been speaking to me either, Pepper. I’ve been following your lead.”
Now it’s my turn to look affronted. “Mylead? What lead? I didn’t lead us here.”
“Right, because you’ve initiated so many conversations since we’ve been back.”
“You’re the one who took off,” I say, voice rising in a tangled mix of frustration and desperation.
Opal blinks, then looks away, eyes fixed on the ground.
Dammit. This isn’t what I want. I don’t want more fighting, more confusion. I want to hug this emotional, complicated woman to my chest and hold her there until we figure this out. Maybe hold her there long after that.
“I don’t want us not to talk,” I finally manage, taking a step toward her. She takes one back. I pretend it doesn’t crush me to pieces. “In fact, weneedto talk.”
Her shoulders hunch around her mug, eyes still fixed on the ground. “I know what this is about, and all I can say is I’m sorry.”
It takes me a second to realize that she’s talking about the competition. “This isn’t about that,” I say, waving it away. “It’s about the farm.”
She finally glances at me, face weary and defeated. “Pepper, listen, I’m sorry about all that too. I’m sorry for barging inhere and forcing you to live with me and put up with all this bullshit. It was… Well, it’s been a mess from the start, huh?”
“Huh?” I echo, my chest hollowing out.
She blows out a breath between tight lips, tipping her head back. “And I want you to know that I’m cutting my losses on it. I can’t keep torturing you like this, disrupting your life. The farm is yours. We’ll call it even.”
