Forever After All - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,71
know that it’s not. It’s hard for me when there are so many worries racing through my mind. “I’ll think about it.”
He nods. “That’s all I ask.” Sliding his hand behind my neck, he pulls me closer and kisses me softly. “I’m still going with you. Maybe there are some things around the house I can take care of while you visit with them.”
“You sure you don’t have things to do here?”
“I’m sure. You come first, McKenna.”
“I need to finish getting ready.”
“Me too.” Another quick kiss and he releases me.
We finish getting ready for the day. I don’t bother with my hair. I went to bed with it wet after our shower last night, and it’s a mess. Instead, I tie it up in a knot on top of my head and call it good.
Once we’re in the truck driving the short distance to my grandparents’ place, I’m suddenly nervous. Are we moving too fast? Has he really had the time he needs to think about this? About us? Will he have regrets?
Shaking out of my thoughts when we pull into their driveway, I push it all to the back of my mind. Today, I just want to spend the day with my family.
“Agnes, dinner was delicious,” Rip says. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“It was good, dear, but your fried chicken is better than this grilled.” Gramps glares at his now-empty plate.
“Deal with it,” Grams tells him. “We have to keep that heart of yours healthy. Now, how about some dessert?”
“Yes!” Gramps says emphatically.
I stifle my laughter, knowing Grams as I do. She’s not about to put a slice of chocolate cake in front of him. Gramps, the poor guy, he knows it too. Maybe it’s wishful thinking.
“You need some help?” I ask her.
“Sure.”
I stand and help clear the table. Rip tries to as well, but Grams tells him to sit. We carry the empty dishes to the kitchen, and I begin to load the dishwasher while she serves up fresh fruit with fat-free Cool Whip. “He’s going to be so disappointed,” I tell her.
“I know.” She laughs. “But he’s had years of eating whatever he wants. I’m not ready to let him go, so he’s going to have to suck it up.”
“He might whine, but he’s not going to fight you on it.”
“I know. And he will get used to it. It’s been a week. Speaking of a week, how are things with you and Rip?”
“Good. We’re together now.” I shrug, placing the final plate into the dishwasher.
“Are you not happy about that?”
“No. I am. I mean, it’s Rip, and he’s wonderful. I just… I don’t want him to have any regrets. This is all kind of fast.”
“Is it, though? Maybe it’s easier for me to see because I’ve been watching the Rip and McKenna show for years. When you left for college, he spent more time here than at his place.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Always stopping by to see if we needed anything. How do you think he started helping me pack in my supplies? He missed you. I think being here around us, in this house, made him feel closer to you.” She gives me a minute to process. “He blew it off as being a good neighbor, and he is the best, but Harold and I both knew there was more. There wasn’t a single time he was here, or we would run into him in town, that he didn’t ask about you. He was starving for any little morsel of information we could give him.”
“I wish he would have told me.” I can’t believe he wanted me all that time. I mean, I know he told me, but to hear it from Gram somehow makes it more real. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Rip is lying to me, not at all. But this is my grandmother. She’s never held back punches when telling me what I need to hear, good or bad. She and my grandfather saved me from my parents, and we’ve had many hard conversations in my lifetime. So, yeah, coming from her, it’s definitely more real.
“Do you, though? Would you have been able to leave him?”
I think about how I’m dreading going to sleep tonight without him, and I know there’s a really good chance I would have stayed. “Probably not, but we’ll never know for sure.”
“He wanted you to follow your dream, McKenna. You’ve done that, and now you can think about what comes next. Marriage and a family.”
“Hey