Where she was going? She didn’t know. She just had to get out of there.
Before Beatrice could leave the room, the most amazing thing happened. Ava closed the distance between herself and the older woman. Hugging her, she simply said, “I forgive you.” Beatrice’s heartfelt apology had tears in all the women’s eyes. The men quietly left the room as each of the women one by one embraced Beatrice, who had been reduced to a trembling, shaking mess.
The next day Karen spent the entire day being a bag of lazy bones. The events of Christmas Eve and Christmas had finally caught up to her. Thank goodness for grandparents. Donna and Patrick had come by earlier to take Ashley and Kyle to the Franklin Institute. And after their trip to the museum, they were being dropped off at the Peretti’s to spend two nights with Zoe and then off to Starr and Kevin’s for the rest of the week. Basking in a sea of nothingness, Karen ate and watched Lifetime in peace and quiet. It felt so good not having the children seeking her out every five minutes. She certainly didn’t miss breaking up any bickering between the siblings. Later that night, she and Dom talked on the phone into the wee hours of the morning like teenagers. Before ending their call they’d made plans to go to dinner in Olde City.
And now here they were, snuggled up on a cold December night, enjoying a horse drawn carriage ride.
“Dom, do you think your parents are ever going to be okay with Ms. Beatrice?”
“After the other night I think so. When I talked to my dad this morning he told me my mom and Ms. Beatrice had gone out for lunch yesterday afternoon to talk in private. As for my dad he said as long as she meant everything she said Christmas night he’d be willing to give her a chance.”
“Oh.”
Dom didn’t like the way she had said, “Oh.” It was as if her mind was a million miles away. Like something or someone was troubling her. “What’s up babe?”
“Nothing.” Karen lied. She didn’t know if she should get him involved in her recent drama.
As the carriage came to the end of their ride, Dom stepped down onto the side walk. Instead of offering his hand to help her down, he lifted her out of the carriage as if she weighed nothing. Tipping the driver, Dom turned his attention back to Karen.
Intertwining their gloved fingers, the couple walked hand-in-hand to Dom’s vehicle. Karen breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t pushed her to tell him what was troubling her. Or so she thought.
“Babe, please don’t lie to me. I know you asked about what’s going on with my folks and Ms. Beatrice for a reason.”
Oh well, that sigh of relief was for naught. “I got a call this morning,” Karen confessed. She could see from her periphery Dom gazing at her with an arched brow.
“Oh yeah? Who called?”
“Gregory parents.”
The muscle in Dom’s left jaw began to twitch. “What the hell did they want?” He didn’t like the sound of her in-laws popping up seven years after their son’s death. It didn’t feel right to him.
Karen didn’t know if she was shivering from the sudden gush of cold air or Dom’s frigid tone. “They want to see Ashley and Kyle.”
Karen had been frantic after talking to them. The exchange had not been good. After all these years they were demanding to see their grandchildren. They had a nerve to say they had a right to see them. When Karen told them she didn’t think it was a good idea because the children didn’t know them, Gregory’s mother had the audacity to blame Karen. The crazy woman even went as far as to accuse her of keeping her son’s children from them. Karen nearly hit the ceiling, reminding them that they made the choice not to be a part of the children’s lives. Of course the dirty liars denied it.
“No. I don’t like it. I think they’re up to something.”
“So do I,” Karen agreed as she slid into the seat of Dom’s SUV as he held the door open for her.
Getting behind the wheel, Dom slammed the door shut.
Karen laughed. “I’m upset with those crazy people, too. But you don’t have to take your frustration out on the poor door.”
Putting the key into the ignition and turning it, Dom shot her an annoyed look. “Babe, this isn’t funny. I don’t trust those people. After all these years, all of a sudden they want to see Kyle and Ashley? What did they do, grow a conscience and decide they want to be grandparents to your kids?” Dom shook his head. “I don’t want the kids anywhere near those people.”
With all his ranting, Dom hadn’t noticed Karen staring at him. But once he did, he couldn’t quite read her expression. He hadn’t meant to get all up in her family business. But someone had to look out for those children’s best interests. You know, just in case she faltered and let those deadbeats into their lives. What if they were just trying to see the kids to get money out of Karen? She had shared with him that his parents were pretty upset at the reading of Gregory’s will. He had left all of his insurance policies and retirement funds to Karen. The sum of money was pretty hefty. It didn’t make Karen a wealthy woman, but it was enough to help her care for herself and the children while only working part-time. With the advice of her attorney, she had taken a portion of the money to invest for their education.