Page 18 of A Family Affair: The Ring
Of course, it did because she’s a salesperson!Melanie drew in a breath, asked the question she’d been wondering about for a few days.“Dad, why don’t you come back to Magdalena, help me go through Grandma’s things?”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?Is it Mom?Did she forbid it?”They’d left Magdalena and never talked about it, as though it hadn’t been a huge part of their world…as though they hadn’t left behind people they loved…
“No, of course not.”
“She’s not the one who’s pushing for this sale and keeping you from coming here?”She didn’t wait for his answer.“I think she’s trying to erase everything that happened before the move.But guess what?She can’t…none of us can.”
“Melanie, please, don’t say that.”
“Why?I have to live with the mistake I made eight years ago.That’s what kept me from seeing Grandma and I have to live with that, too.But I’m here now and I can’t tell you how much peace this gives me.I’m going through her belongings, remembering what she told me, and I’m healing, Dad.I need this.Please don’t put the house up for sale yet.Come back here and just breathe.Can you do that?”
“I wish I could.”His voice cracked, turned hoarse.“But I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.You don’t have to protect Mom any longer.She should have protected us, should have been honest, and she wasn’t.Grandma wrote me a letter.I’ll share it with you if you like.It’s full of her regrets and wishes; the biggest wish is for me to move on and forgive everyone who hurt me and kept the truth from me, especially Mom...and you.”
11
What’s going on between Will Callahan and Melanie Russell?
I thought he had a girlfriend.
I thought so too.
So, do you think something’s going on between Will and Melanie?
No way.That young man would never open his heart to her again.
But what if he can’t help it?What if seeing her again makes him think he’s twenty-one, on top of the world, and ready for his future?
You mean before Melanie Russell demolished his dreams?
What she did to him is unforgivable.
He’d never be interested in her again; besides, he has Delaney.Sweet.Loyal.Perfect for him.
Fingers crossed Will isn’t caught up in the past, because Melanie Russell will hurt him again.No doubt about it.
Agreed.
And then there were the two women in Lina’s Café who’d spotted Melanie sitting in a nearby booth enjoying blueberry pancakes and reading theMagdalena Press.They shot her how-dare-you-come-back-here looks and raised their voices to make sure she heard them.
I was certain Delaney would have a ring by Christmas.
Such a sweet girl.
She’d never hurt Will.She’d never walk away.
Absolutely not.
But more than one man has been played for a fool and I hope Will Callahan isn’t fooled twice by the likes of Melanie Russell.
I wish she’d just leave.
I wish she’d never come back.
Melanie heard these comments and others, some whispered loud enough for her to hear, others accompanied by a hard stare.Not everyone gave her the evil eye or snubbed her.There were some who seemed happy to see her back in Magdalena, honoring her grandmother, maybe even trying to find her way.She’d run into Ava Ventori Carlisle a short while ago and the woman had welcomed her back with a fierce hug, a smile, and one of the river rocks she’d created.Teal and silver with the wordBelievescrawled across the top.So glad to have you back,Ava had said.
