Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“That’s Grant, all right.” Standing, I rest my hand on top of the little girl’s head with a smile.
“Oh, no.” She stares down into her milk miserably. “He’s gonna be so mad at me.”
“You think? I bet he’s going to be crazy happy to know you’re safe. Don’t worry, Nell.” I wink at her, tweaking one of her curls. “I’ve been wrangling that big old bear since we were kids. I won’t let him yell at you.”
“You knew Uncle Grant when he was little?”
“I did,” I say. “We used to be best friends.”
Well... that’s fudging the truth a little.
But I do remember those days fondly before Ethan’s disappearance tore our hearts out, back when we were the Three Musketeers.
I’d better let Grant in before he breaks down my door, though.
So I pull away from Nell and pad over to open it.
Grant looks more haggard than I’ve ever seen him.
He’s in his pajama pants with a plain grey t-shirt stretched across his broad chest, his feet bare, his wild waves of dark-brown hair disheveled. Even his silver-shot beard is a mess.
The last time I saw a hint of emotion on that cranky face was when we realized Ethan was missing and not coming back.
That night I’d seen him go through the wringer.
Despair. Grief.
Tonight, it’s too familiar, torn with darkness.
Fear. Worry. And finally, sweet relief.
I have enough sense to step out of the way so he can see Nell before he’s past me and rushing over to the table.
“Nelly-girl.” His normally steady rumbling voice cracks ever so slightly as he drops to his knees next to the chair and pulls that tiny girl into his massive arms.
“Uncle Grant!” she sobs, only this time it’s happier as she flings her arms around his neck and buries herself against him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I ran off. Ros wasn’t here and I got scared...”
“Yeah. You have to stop doing that, Nelly-girl,” he rasps out roughly. “When you’re mad at me, you talk to me first. You can yell at me all you want, but you can’t run off in the middle of the night. What if something happens to you before you get to Ros? What if someone steals you off the street?”
“So she does this a lot?” I ask softly, pushing the door shut and padding closer, folding my arms around myself as I watch them.
Grant starts like he just remembered I’m here, looking at me over the top of Nell’s head.
“Yeah. Precocious little scamp. She and Ros have this weird friendship because she’s obsessed with the way everything smells in your ma’s shop. When Nell gets mad at me, she runs away to the shop. Ros usually gives her candy and brings her right home. Can’t say she’s ever run off this late at night before or come here. I just left your ma’s shop when my pa called.”
I smile faintly. “I don’t know where Ros is tonight, so I guess Nell got stuck with me and warm milk. But I think she comes here more than you realize. There’s an entire playroom set up in our storage shed.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if she hadn’t. Thank you.” Breathing roughly, Grant buries his face in Nell’s hair, holding her tighter. “Tell Miss Ophelia thank you, Nell.”
“Thank you, Miss Ophelia.” Nell sniffles, muffled against Grant’s shoulder.
I don’t know what to say.
I’m at a total loss, seeing Grant like this with a little girl he obviously loves very much. Enough to rip so much raw emotion past his stoic wall.
It’s a side of him I’ve never seen.
A strange new facet to this man I thought I knew so well from forever ago. It cuts into me in completely new ways, reminding me how he used to be able to pull me to pieces with a single glance.
But I can’t.
Watching Grant with Nell is enough to tell me that I don’t know him at all anymore.
And I certainly don’t need my chest tightening and fluttering this way over a man who might as well be a complete stranger to me now.
He’d just break my heart again anyway, wouldn’t he?
I can’t leave myself open for that a second time.
Still, I can’t help murmuring, “Uncle, huh? But you’re an only child.”
“It’s a long story.” Grant curls his hand against the back of Nell’s head, cradling her against his shoulder and holding her against him as he stands, lifting her off the ground, tucked in his arms. He gives me a long look. “I need to take her home and put her to bed.”
I nod quietly.
He stops, faltering a moment as he adds, “If you want to come along, I can explain once she’s asleep.”
I understand without being told.
It’s a delicate story. Probably one best not retold in front of little ears.
It makes me wonder who she’s lost.