Page 84 of Gwen's Delta
“Perfect.” Gwen smiled. “Do you want to sit here or in the kitchen?”
“Whatever you want, sweetheart,” Arthur said.
“Don’t, Dad. Not after everything. You’ve never even been to my home. And honestly, I’m surprised you knew the address. So don’t even try to pretend that anything about this is okay.”
Merlin winced. Okay, maybe not quite as gentle or kind as he thought. Not that the Dedmonds didn’t have it coming.
“I’m sorry,” Stacey said. ”We’re sorry. We ever intended—”
“No, I don’t want to hear how sorry you are. Do you have any idea what you put your parents through? They’re old, and this could have killed them. Did you ever think about anyone besides yourselves? You had a child who grew up without you. Thank God for Gramps and Grams.”
The open floor plan of the house enabled Merlin to hear everything, so he was surprised to see tears on Stacey Dedmond’s cheeks as he carried in the coffee and mugs.
Gwen’s parents were sitting next to each other on the couch, holding hands, whether to make Gwen feel bad or for emotional support, Merlin didn’t know. His princess was sitting in one of the two armchairs. His heart ached for her, and he’d give anything to save her from this pain. But she needed to face it and get through it, so she could move on with her life—whether or not it included her parents.
“You’re right. We were inconsiderate. But at first, it just added excitement to our normal buying trips. They approached us in Syria and recruited and trained us. Over the years, we recruited our own resources and helped to uncover plots to keep you safe,” Arthur explained.
“Why didn’t you stop after you had me?”
“We were in too deep by then. There were countless threats, and new terror groups popped up all the time. After nine eleven, it got worse.”
“So you dumped me on your parents and played James Bond?” Gwen’s hand shook as she reached for the coffee mug Merlin held out to her.
Arthur winced. He shook his head when Merlin offered him a mug.
“It wasn’t like that,” Stacey said. “We made sure you had a safe place to grow up.”
“Without parents? I’m not saying I had a crappy childhood, because I didn’t thanks to Grams and Gramps, but they weren’t you. Most of my childhood I thought you hated me. That you didn’t want to be around me, and that’s why you stayed away.” The pain in Gwen’s voice made Merlin want to cuddle her close.
“Gwenie, it was never that,” Arthur said as he reached for her.
“No, don’t. I don’t know what to think. I guess I should be happy you helped keep the world safe, but at what expense? Maybe that’s selfish of me. But I still remember the little girl who waited for her parents to be there even once for her birthday. Or high school graduation. By college, I’d given up on you. It hurt less.”
“We had no idea you felt that way,” Stacey said, her anguish visible.
They were all hurting, but the only one he cared about was Gwen.
“Do you think you can forgive us?” Arthur asked finally. All of his earlier bravado was gone, and he looked like he’d aged ten years.
“I don’t know. Probably, but it won’t be quick. But you’re my parents, the only ones I have.”
“We’ll be home now—no more traveling for us. Our cover is blown, and we’re no use to the CIA now.”
“You can help out at the store,” Gwen said. “I’m planning on some time off. Grams and Gramps know about you. I told them last night. So if you thought this was bad, wait until you show up there.”
They both winced that time.
Gwen stood. She looked at Merlin, then at her parents. “Luke is my boyfriend, and if you stay in Lancelot, you’ll be seeing a lot of him. If it weren’t for him and his team, I wouldn’t be alive, and a lot of people would be dead. He deserves your respect.”
Merlin couldn’t have been prouder of her. She was glorious like a Valkyrie but with a softer edge. Gwen was everything he could have hoped for in a partner, and he wasn’t going to let her go.
* * *
After her parents left, Luke poured fresh coffee and went into the kitchen to start breakfast. Gwen vibrated with almost thirty years of pent-up emotions. The hurt expressions on her parents’ faces were the only thing that stopped her from continuing her rant. She’d kept everything bottled up for so long, but at least she’d told them the important, most painful things. Hopefully—eventually—the pain would fade. But for now, she didn’t want to think of them.
“What do you want to do today?” she asked as she sat at the kitchen island and watched Luke scramble eggs.Damn.Her mouth watered as she stared at his jean-covered butt.
“I can feel you checking out my ass, you know.” Merlin looked over his shoulder and winked at her.
