Chapter 1 #3
Susan smiled sadly. “It’s okay. You’re right. And I’m very grateful you brought her.”
“That isn’t your call to make.” Conrad’s low voice carried in the suddenly silent room.
“I’m her mother. It absolutely is my call.”
Thankfully, the children were so absorbed in their game that they didn’t notice the tension among the adults crackling through the room.
From the doorframe, Cole straightened, his voice carefully controlled. “Maybe we should all take a breath here.”
Conrad’s head snapped over to look at him. “Stay out of this. It’s none of your business.”
“You’re in our home, making my mother uncomfortable. That makes it my business.”
Conrad stood, his full height suddenly filling the small living room. “Your home? That’s kind of rich, coming from you. You had a home, remember? One that you walked away from.”
Cole fisted his hands at his sides. “Is that why you’re acting like you’re doing me some kind of favor by being here? Am I supposed to be grateful you graced us with your presence?”
“Boys, please.” Susan’s voice was barely above a whisper.
Jewel stood, instinctively moving toward the children, prepared to lead them out of the room if things escalated further.
But it was Sylvie who broke the tension. “That’s enough. Both of you.”
The brothers turned to her, surprise flickering across their faces.
Sylvie’s brown eyes were blazing. “Your mother was kind enough to invite us into her home. She’s dealing with kidney failure and facing major surgery, and you two want to stand here and hash out thirty years of grievances right now?
I don’t think so.” She turned to Susan. “I apologize. We should’ve waited to have this conversation in private. ”
“It’s all right.”
Sylvie shook her head. “No, it’s not. But it will be.
” When she looked back at her husband, a glance passed between them.
It was full of frustration, love, and understanding, all packed into a single look.
“Let’s get our bags settled, and then we’ll have some of that delicious-looking coffee cake.
And we’re going to be civil. All of us. Because that’s what family does. ”
Conrad’s jaw worked, but he nodded stiffly.
Then her gaze shifted to Cole. “Cole?”
After a long moment, he too nodded.
She picked up two of the smaller bags. “Good. Conrad, grab the rest. I want to get Della’s things set up before dinner.”
Conrad moved mechanically, picking up the remaining duffel bags. As he passed Cole, he stopped and said in a low voice, “This isn’t over.”
“Never thought it was,” Cole replied, equally quiet.
Sylvie and Conrad went upstairs, while Cole stepped outside, and the silence they left behind felt somehow louder than their argument.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let them go on like that.” Susan’s hands shook as she reached for her needlepoint.
Jewel moved to sit beside Susan, gently placing a hand on the older woman’s arm. “You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“They hate each other. My boys hate each other, and it’s my fault.”
“That’s not true.”
Tears welled up in the older woman’s eyes. “It is. If I had fought harder for them, been stronger, hadn’t let their father take them away, things would be different.”
“Grandma, why are you crying?” Beckett’s small voice broke the silence. He’d left his horses and peered up at Susan with worried eyes.
Wiping quickly at her cheeks, Susan forced a smile. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I’m just happy to have everyone here.”
Della had also approached, her expression uncertain, torn between the adult world of complex emotions she was just beginning to understand and the simpler world of play.
Jewel smiled at the children as she stood up. “Hey, how about we show Della some of our real horses now?”
Beckett’s face lit up. “Can we?”
“If it’s okay with Della’s parents, absolutely.”
“Can we please?” Della turned to her grandmother, then seemed to realize she should probably ask her mother.
Sylvie’s voice drifted down from upstairs. “Go ahead. Just stay where Jewel can see you.”
Beck grabbed Della’s hand and started pulling her toward the door. “Come on! Cookie Monster is the best pony ever. He’s black and white and…”
Their voices faded as they tumbled out the back door.
“Jewel?” Susan’s voice stopped her, and she turned back. “Thank you. For everything. For staying. For being here. For being the steady one when everyone else is falling apart.”
She suppressed a laugh. Her? Steady? Not likely. Inside, she felt like she was walking a tightrope over a chasm, trying not to think about all the ways she could fall.
But she smiled anyway because that’s what you did four days before someone had major surgery. You pretended. You stayed strong. You held the pieces together even when you weren’t sure they could be held.
“It’ll be okay. We’ll get through this.” She was glad her voice sounded more confident than she felt.
Four more days until surgery.
Four more days of this powder keg pretending to be a happy family.
As she stepped outside, she took a deep breath, grateful for the simplicity of watching two kids meet horses. At least that was something she could manage.