Page 117 of Take This Heart
Dad nods. “I bet that’s it. The letters are definitely not here. I’ve searched everywhere. You’re probably right—I bet they’re in that chest.”
“Do you know where the key is?” Noah asks.
Dad chuckles and shakes his head. “No clue.”
“Did Grandma Donna know about the baby?” Camden asks.
“Yes, but Grandpa Otis didn’t, and they went to great lengths to keep it that way. Grandma Donna thought he’d be too upset to forgive your mom.”
“That’s so sad,” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Does Grandma Donna know that Ava is her granddaughter?”
“Not yet. I was going to tell her after I told you. I’ll talk with her tonight.” He looks around at each of us. “I know Ava’s made it difficult for herself, but I hope you’ll give her a chance. I think she’s had a hard life and maybe started out wanting to know you, but then got resentful along the way about what great lives you’ve had.”
“Is this why Bruce hates you so much?” I ask. “Because you got Mom?”
“It didn’t help, let’s put it that way. He already hated me because of our family history, but hereallyhated me when I started dating your mom during our senior year. He tried to get her back and she wanted nothing to do with him.” He pauses. “I didn’t say all of this to Ava because I hope she can have a relationship with her father, but he was awful to yourmother. After he told her he wanted nothing to do with a baby or her, he bullied her at school. I saw him berate her multiple times in front of everyone. And then she left and was gone for six or seven months. I didn’t think she’d ever be back. I was so happy when I saw her at school again. And I finally convinced her to go out with me. Once she finally agreed to a date, we were inseparable.” He grins. “And then Bruce suddenly wanted her back.” He shakes his head. “She’d seen who he was by that time and there was no turning back. And I was glad about it because I’d always wanted her to be mine.”
“Look at you, Dad, swooping in to save the day,” Dylan says, grinning.
“She would’ve given anything to know Ava,” Dad says. “That’s why I hope you’ll give Ava a chance. For your mom.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
PINK BIRDS
MILO
It’s been a few days since I’ve seen Goldie.
I’ve tried to see her.
I’ve called, I’ve texted, I’ve knocked on her door.
She’s texted back a couple times, so she’s not completely avoiding me.
But, yes, she’s totally avoiding me because I haven’tseenher.
And then today, Everett lets me know that Goldie is in Minneapolis this week.
“She went to pick up what is left at MIA from her installation…and to get something for me. I told her to take her time getting back. She’s had a lot to deal with and I think she could use the time away.”
“Everett, I want you to know—I had no idea Ava was Stella’s daughter. I should’ve asked who her mother was when Bruce told me, but I wasn’t thinking about that. Shedidn’t offer the information, and I was just so surprised that I was meeting a cousin that I didn’t look any further.”
“Okay…good. I believe you,” he says. “And I appreciate you letting me know.”
“How long will Goldie be in Minneapolis?”
“Another few days, I think.”
I nod, deep in thought.
“I’m struggling to know what to do, Everett. She’s upset with me. Maybe she still believes that I didn’t know about Ava—I’m not sure. But regardless, she’s withdrawn and I’m not sure how to pull her out.”
He gives me a sympathetic look.
“She’s processing all of this about Ava. She’ll come around. But there was a boy who did a number on her,” he says. “Really made her question her judgment and affected the way she trusts people…ordoesn’ttrust people.”
“Wes, right?”
