A Turn in the Road (Blossom Street #8)(101)

“Okay, I agree. Not only that, I believe your grandmother might be moving to Florida.”

“Yeah, I got that feeling when I talked to her. She’s head over heels for this old boyfriend of hers, isn’t she?”

“Yes.” Bethanne smiled. “But getting back to your father…”

“Okay, Mom, I see what you mean. Dad’s out in the cold, but frankly he put himself there. It isn’t like we shoved him out the door and then turned the lock. He chose to leave.”

“It takes a big man to admit when he’s been wrong,” she said, consciously quoting Ruth. “Your father would give anything to undo the harm he did. I admire him for that. Look at it from his point of view.”

Andrew slowly shook his head. “I wish I could. You and Annie might be willing to forgive and forget, but I can’t. Dad was heart less and calculating. He couldn’t dump us fast enough when he left. I tried to talk to him, tried to get him to see reason. I begged him to reconsider, and you know what?” Her son’s voice rose with emotion. “He hung up on me. And you know what else? He doesn’t even remember doing it. My coming to him meant nothing. Nothing. Well, he can come to me now and I’ll give him the same treatment and we’ll see how much he likes being ignored.”

“Oh, Andrew…” Bethanne had no idea her son had ever tried to reason with Grant.

His jaw was clenched as she reached across the table and laid her hand over his wrist. “I wish I knew what to say.”

He grew even more intense. “Don’t ask me to forgive him, Mom, because I don’t think I can.”

Thirty-Four

“Where’s Dad?” Annie asked anxiously, turning to Bethanne as if she could supply the answer. Annie and the other bridesmaids were lined up at the back of the church. Everyone was there for the wedding rehearsal—everyone except Grant. Courtney carried a paper-plate bouquet comprising the ribbons from her two wedding showers; her grandmother, Vera Pulanski, had created it. Her father, along with her brother, his wife and their two children, were seated in a pew. Her sister, Juliana, was her matron of honor, so she, too, waited with Annie.

“Dad should be here,” Annie said. “Grandma and Royce were asking where he is.”

“I’m sure he’s on his way,” Bethanne whispered reassuringly. The rehearsal was about to start and he hadn’t shown up yet. This wasn’t like Grant, who was rarely late for anything. The last time they’d spoken he’d said he’d be at the church by five, but it was quarter past now. She glanced at her watch again, fighting down her concern.

“Ms. Hamlin,” Pastor Hudson said, smiling over at Bethanne. “I need you to sit here.”

“Okay.” She moved to the spot he indicated.

“Your husband isn’t here?” he asked.

“Apparently, my ex-husband has been delayed,” Bethanne said, and looked at her watch again.

“Your ex-husband,” Pastor Hudson repeated. “In that case we should make other arrangements.”

Bethanne was about to mention that Grant wanted the two of them to sit in the same pew. She couldn’t decide whether she should. Grant would be disappointed if they took separate pews, but she was afraid their family and friends would read too much into their sitting together.

In the end, she didn’t say anything to the pastor; she’d explain it to Grant later.

The rehearsal was almost over before he arrived—breathless and contrite. “I got held up in traffic. There was an accident and everything came to a standstill,” he said as he rushed through the church doors. “I tried to phone but everyone’s cell is turned off.”

“It’s all right, Dad,” Annie assured him.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, and looked at Andrew, who ignored him. “I would’ve been here if it was humanly possible.”

“We understand, Grant,” Bethanne murmured.

He seemed to appreciate that, but it was several minutes before he calmed down. Pastor Hudson reviewed the procedures a second time. When he pointed out that Grant wouldn’t be sitting with Bethanne, Grant’s eyes shot to hers.

His look of chagrin nearly undid her, but she was impressed by his quick recovery. He nodded and silently took his place. Bethanne felt bad about it, but she’d never agreed that they’d sit together as a married couple.

“What happened?” Ruth asked when the rehearsal was over. “Everyone was worried.”

“Traffic,” Bethanne explained, coming to stand beside Grant.

“It’s my own fault,” he said. “I left the office later than I intended.”

Royce joined them, slipping his arm around Ruth. The couple were charming together—a reminder to everyone that love is ageless.

“We’re heading out for the rehearsal dinner,” Annie said, approaching the group. “Grandma and Royce, do you want to ride with me?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll take them,” Grant offered. “I need to spend as much time with my mother as I can.”

“Why, Grandma?” Annie asked. “Are you going somewhere?” She exchanged a smile with Bethanne.

“Florida,” Royce answered. “And the sooner, the better.”

“Royce,” Ruth protested, but not too much. “We weren’t going to say anything until after Andrew’s wedding.”