Page 89 of The Grump I Married
Plus, she’s the only woman in the world you really trust.
My eyes ran over those words again and again, my fingers crushing the edges of the letter.The only woman in the world…That had been true. So very, very true. But not any longer.
Right?
I kept reading.
If you have to marry in a hurry, I suspect she’s going to be the woman you choose. And maybe once you’re married, you’ll finally see a clear way to the happiness I’ve wanted for you all along. Of course, there’s always a chance that you’ll figure this all out for yourself before I pass on. If that should happen, I’ll tear up this letter and take the provision out of the will. But in a race between your stubbornness and my life, my money is on your stubbornness. So please forgive this old man for bringing some of his own stubbornness along to force the issue.
I love you, my boy.
Pressure welled behind my eyes, and I bit down on my cheek to stop my jaw from shaking.
And you’re welcome.
I gave a watery laugh.
PS:Of course I would never have left the estate to Jasper. But I knew that would light a fire under you, and I was right, wasn’t I?
I could almost hear Grandad chuckling as he wrote that last line. The old bugger.
As I folded the letter back into the envelope, I was surprised to realize my hands were shaking. His words had really knocked me for a loop. A moment later, I was crushing that envelope in my hand as a deep sob bubbled up from my gut. I couldn’t help it as another sob chased it, and the next thing I knew, the tears were streaming down my face. I couldn’t even remember the last time I cried.
Not when I’d gotten the horrible news of his passing.
Not at his funeral.
But now I was overwhelmed by the sense of loss. The letter was my final conversation with him in a way. Reading it had reminded me how loved and seen he’d always made me feel, and that hurt all the more when I had to grapple with the fact that he was gone. I’d never be able to turn to him for advice or support again. What was worse was I’d lost the woman he had been so certain was perfect for me—the one who was soon to be my ex-wife.
Lena had walked out of my life forever. And though that was what we both wanted, I couldn’t help feeling like I’d failed Grandad. I wasn’t the man he thought I was, and that burned a hollow, aching hole in my chest.
27
LENA
Inever thought I’d be the kind of person to run from my feelings, but when Tess had suggested I visit Montana and crash with her, I’d immediately taken her up on the offer. Getting away from Scotland and Houston, getting out of my own head—that’s exactly what I’d needed.
Now that I was here, though, I realized I’d run from the estate in Braeburn right to a ranch in Montana, and all being here did was remind me of everything I’d left behind in those heather-covered hills. The sun rising over the hilltops, the bellow of cattle on the wind, even the tinkling bell of some animal’s halter all reminded me of Lochbrae.
I sighed, cupping my mug where I sat on the porch, the coffee having long gone cold. I tried not to let my thoughts drift back to the Highlands, but I couldn’t help it. All I could do was think about how much I missed the castle and my demon pony.
And Weston.
Most of all, Weston.
I swallowed hard. He was the one I was trying hardestnotto think about, and as such, he was the hardest to forget.
“Okay,” Tess said, stepping out onto the porch behind me. She had a hand on her hip, looking at me like I was a math problem that needed solving. “We’re going out.”
“I don’t want to go out,” I said. I wanted to sit here on the porch until I turned to jelly. I wondered how long it would take. Days? Weeks, maybe?
“I know,” Tess said. “But if I leave you here, you’re going to start rotting, and that’s not why I invited you up here. I wanted you to recharge. Reset. And you can’t do that in the fetal position.”
“I’m not in the fetal position,” I argued.
“Not yet,” Tess said, “and I plan to keep it that way.” She waved her arms in a “get up” motion. “C’mon, let’s go. Just into town for good coffee. I can only handle so much of Cole’s burnt grounds.”
“Hey!” her fiancé called from inside. “I heard that!”
