Chapter 2
“You get Isabel settled for the night?”
As his grandfather spoke, Aaron Steele continued across the living room and sank into a chair across from him. “Depends how you define settled. She didn’t want me to leave.”
“I have the same issue on nights you get tapped for the second shift at the mill.” The older man closed the book he was reading. “Don’t you think the clinginess should be lessening by now? Olivia’s been gone almost a year.”
Aaron scrubbed at his forehead, where a slight ache had begun to throb. “Grief works differently for everyone. Dad’s death two years ago was hard enough on her, but losing her mom too?” He exhaled. “Back-to-back losses are tough.”
“On everyone. This hasn’t been an easy road for you, either.”
“Or you.” Gramp hadn’t been all that close to Olivia, but the loss of his housemate son had hit him hard.
“Isabel’s only nine, though. Having two of the four most significant people in your life disappear in the space of thirteen months can put a major dent in a kid’s sense of security.
I didn’t need the counselor I took her to a few months ago to tell me that. ”
“You think it would help to schedule another session? Maybe there’s more we should be doing for her.”
“Like what? I’m already following all the suggested guidelines.
Maintaining a predictable routine, being available, listening, drawing her out when she cracks a door, seeing that she gets regular exercise.
At our last session, the counselor said the best remedy was time—unless the situation deteriorated.
It hasn’t. Isabel is sleeping better, and she doesn’t have as many bad dreams.”
“But she still seems sad and too quiet. Not to mention the clinginess.”
Like he didn’t know that.
He sighed. “That’s why I touched base with the counselor last Friday.”
Gramp’s eyebrows rose. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“There wasn’t much to tell. She ran me through a whole checklist of questions. In the end, she said to carry on, and if there’s no further improvement in a month, to bring Isabel back. One thing I know. You being here helps. I’m glad you agreed to live with us after Olivia died.”
“It was a win-win as far as I was concerned. Moving in with your dad after I lost your grandmother saved me. There’s nothing sadder than being alone in a house that was once filled with love.
Felt the same way after your dad died. Being with people you care about, helping them out, is what makes life worth living. Coming here was just what I needed.”
“The arrangement has been a godsend for us too. Our diet has improved, thanks to your skills in the kitchen, and having you on hand to watch Isabel when I have to run to the mill for the occasional crisis takes a lot of stress off me.”
“Glad to be of service.” Gramp took off his glasses, pulled out his handkerchief, and began polishing the lenses. “Of course, you may not need me if you decide to get married again.”
Aaron blinked.
Where had that come from?
“Why would you bring up marriage?”
“It’s been on my mind.”
“Well, it’s not on mine.”
“Why not? You’re a young man, and Isabel could use a mother.”
“I don’t feel all that young anymore.” In truth, there were days he felt a decade or two older than his thirty-six years. “And Isabel has me and you.”
“A woman adds a different touch to a home. Mind you, I’m not saying a single parent can’t do an excellent job raising a child, as your dad demonstrated.
You turned out fine. Better than fine. But I’d hate for you to spend the rest of your life alone, even if a new woman in your life would put me out of a job. ”
“No worries on that score. Your job is secure. And I’m not alone. I have you and Isabel.”
“Not forever. One of these days, she’ll grow up and move on. And someday I’ll be joining my Elizabeth and your dad. Where will that leave you?”
“Working at the mill.”
“I’m serious, Aaron.”
Yeah, he was. That sober look he was wearing had always been reserved for the most solemn discussions.
And if the Steele patriarch wanted to talk, nothing was going to dissuade him.
Resigning himself to a discussion he didn’t want to have, Aaron leaned forward and linked his fingers. “I really don’t need anyone else in my life, Gramp. I’ve been married, and once was enough.”
More than enough.
If he’d had any idea how fast his rose-colored dreams of happily-ever-after would fade, he would never have walked down the aisle twelve years ago.
Not that Gramp or anyone else knew about his regrets. He’d honored the vows he’d taken with Olivia. And he had no regrets about the wonderful daughter who’d come from their ill-advised union.
But shameful as it might be, deep inside it was a relief not to have to put up a front to the world or pretend everything was fine so Isabel would feel secure that their family unit was solid.
“You sound a bit like a man who’s been burned.”
At Gramp’s astute comment, his neck warmed.
All these years, except for an occasional confidential session with Reverend Baker, he’d kept mum about the issues he and Olivia had faced. And now wasn’t the time to talk about them, beyond a generic acknowledgment that their relationship hadn’t always been smooth sailing.
“I expect every marriage has its ups and downs.”
A few beats passed before Gramp responded. “May I say something?”
It wasn’t a question. If Gramp had a comment to offer, he’d do so—with or without permission.
“I guess.”
“I’m no psychologist, but I lived with a wonderful woman for more than fifty years. Sure, we had occasional spats, but we learned to work through them and restore harmony. Our home was a calm, pleasant place 99 percent of the time. Not a lick of tension in the air. Your house wasn’t like that.”
Aaron frowned. “What do you mean?”
“It’s kind of hard to put into words. It was just a feeling I had around you and Olivia. Like you were both on edge. I can’t recall you two sharing any affectionate touches or warm smiles or friendly teasing in recent years. All I picked up was strain. There was always a chill in the air.”
Aaron took a long, slow breath.
So much for his efforts to keep up the pretense of a stable marriage.
And if Gramp had picked up on the strain in their home, had Isabel noticed it too?
“I’m not asking you to divulge any secrets, Aaron.
I’m just trying to make the point that it can be a mistake to let one bad experience stop you from trying again.
If I’d given up on singing after my voice started changing and the music teacher told me to mouth the words during a concert, I’d never have tried out for my high school musical four years later and gotten a lead. ”
“Marriage and musicals are two different things.”
“Principle’s the same.” Gramp slid his glasses back on. “A beautiful marriage is a joy. If the right woman comes along, don’t let the opportunity to find happiness pass you by. For your sake, as well as Isabel’s.”
“What if this woman isn’t keen about a grandfather-in-law living in the house?”
“If I couldn’t win her over with my charm, I’d give up my spot in a heartbeat to see you and Isabel happy.” Gramp’s tone was lighthearted, but his eyes were serious.
“For the record, on the remote chance that such a woman ever should come along, you’d be part of the package.”
“I wouldn’t want to be an obstacle to romance.”
“Gramp. You and me and Isabel are a unit. It’s all or nothing.” After everything the man sitting across from him had done to lend a hand through the years, no way would he ever show him the door. Not for any woman.
And no woman who asked him to would be worth having.
“Well, it’s immaterial at the moment. We can revisit the question if it ever becomes relevant. In the meantime, you and I should try to find a diversion for Isabel that will pep her up.”
“Any suggestions?”
“No. But I intend to keep my ear to the ground. You should do the same.” Gramp reopened his book. “What’s on your agenda for the rest of the evening?”
“Bill paying.”
Gramp shook his head. “You need to socialize more. Add some fun to your life.”
“No time.” He stood.
“Make time. For you and Isabel. This house could use more laughter.”
“I’ll be in that wedding next month. That qualifies as a social event.”
“Only if you go with the right attitude—and mingle.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Aaron shoved his hands into his pockets and wandered toward the kitchen.
Gramp’s insights were sound, as usual. There was a definite lack of fun in this household. And he wasn’t doing much to change that.
But it was hard to find much joy when your days were consumed with chores and work and concern about your daughter’s lackluster spirits.
And now he had another worry to fret about.
How much had Isabel discerned about the tension in her parents’ less-than-ideal marriage? Had it disturbed her peace of mind and sense of security? If so, was that also holding her back from moving on? And how could he subtly find out without creating an issue where there might not be one?
He opened the drawer in the kitchen where he kept unpaid bills and booted up his laptop.
Yet as he ticked the bills off his list, his mind was only half on the task, thanks to his discussion with Gramp.
The suggestion that he find a new wife was easy to dismiss. While having someone simpatico to share his life with held a certain appeal, what if he made another bad judgment call? Got involved once again with someone who ended up being a bad match?
A shiver rippled through him.
That risk wasn’t worth taking. It was far less stressful to live with loneliness than with rancor.
Gramp’s proposal that they find an enjoyable diversion to add joy to Isabel’s life, however, was spot-on.
It was also a challenge.
And as he toiled over the bills far later than he’d planned on this last-day-of-May evening, all he could do was pray that something would come along to brighten his daughter’s outlook.
“Ms. Lee? She’s starting to wake up.”