CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Gran and Gramps had been asleep when Hailey got home, so she’d gone back to her bedroom. After she changed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth, she went into the kitchen for a drink of water. She didn’t bother to turn on the light when she filled her glass at the refrigerator.

“How was your date?”

Hailey jumped back and grabbed at her chest. “Gran, you scared me to death.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, but I wanted to hear all about your night.” Gran flipped on the kitchen light.

Hailey took a few breaths to calm her heart rate, then sipped her water. “It was good.”

Gran studied her with a discriminating eye. “That seems vague.”

“Okay.” She leaned against the counter and swirled the water in her glass. “You win. I had a great time.”

“I knew it,” Gran said with a smug tone.

“You’re still not off the hook for pressuring him into asking me.” Hailey had to wonder how many unsuspecting people in Gran’s binder were tricked into going out.

“Who cares how it happened. The important thing is you went. When is your next date?” Gran’s eyes lit up.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.” She took a swig of water. “Remember, I’m eventually going back to Colorado.”

Gran peered at Hailey. “You might as well enjoy your time here with a good-looking man.”

“I could go out with Darren again. That is what you and Lila cooked up, right?” It was only fair to use Gran’s conniving against her.

“Pish, posh. Lila and I were hopeful, that’s all. And Darren’s nice.” Gran grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. “But no crackle and sizzle like between you and Peter.”

Hailey tried not to smile at her grandmother’s enthusiasm. “Crackle and sizzle? That’s ridiculous.”

Gran held up a finger. “Matters of the heart are never ridiculous.”

“You’re making way more of this than there is. We went on one date.” A fantastic, fun, memorable date, but still just one. Gran practically had them married off and living in a house with five kids.

“You need one date before you can have two, and then three and so on.” Gran walked into the living room and Hailey followed her.

“Let’s see what happens.” Hailey put her hand on Gran’s shoulder. “And for all that is good in this world, please, please do not say anything to him.”

“Me?” Gran shrugged with an innocent expression. “I would never do that.”

Hailey gave her grandmother the yeah-right-I’ve-already-seen-you-in-action look.

“You can’t blame me for wanting to see you happy.”

Someone rapped loudly on the door, making Hailey jump. She didn’t have to wonder who it was. Hailey opened the door, and Regina stumbled inside. The stench of cheap alcohol oozed out in a cloud that surrounded her. “Hey, what’re you two doing?”

“Oh, Regina,” Gran said, her tone dripping with disappointment. “Why?”

“What, Momma?” Regina hiccupped.

Gran clucked her tongue. “You’re drunk.”

“Yeah, yeah I am.” She cackled with a raspy voice.

“If you want to live here you can’t come home like this.” Gran put her hands on her hips.

“Why not? I ain’t hurtin’ no one. An’ I only had a couple drinks. After I had a few beers.” She laughed.

“Is this what you want do with your life?” Gran said softly, pain evident in her eyes.

“What I do with my life is none of your business,” Regina said in a cold tone. She stepped close to her mom, dwarfing Gran with her girth.

“Regina, maybe you should go to bed,” Hailey said. She couldn’t stand how her aunt treated Gran and Gramps.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Regina’s eyes were bloodshot, and her breath was lethal.

“Don’t talk to Hailey that way,” Gran said.

“Why? Because she’s Tommy’s daughter? He was always your favorite. Maybe if you’d been nicer to me I mighta turned out different. It’s your fault I’m like this.”

Hailey knew she should stay out of it, but she’d had enough. “You can’t blame Gran.”

Regina turned toward her and took a few shaky steps. “Why not?”

“You are a grown woman.” Hailey drew in a breath of courage. “You should be taking responsibility for your own actions. Your own choices. Stop blaming other people.”

Regina narrowed her eyes and took an imposing stance. “Listen to Miss Hoity Toity over here. Like you know anything.”

Hailey squared her shoulders. “I know that Gran and Gramps love you.”

“Oh, please.” Regina rolled her eyes. “They loved your daddy. Not me.”

Gran’s mouth dropped open. “What are you talking about?” Her voice shook. “That’s not true.”

Regina took a defiant stance. “Yeah, it is.”

“You know we never treated you differently than your brother.” Gran breathed heavily with emotion. “We loved you both. Equally.”

“Sure didn’t feel like it. You gave him all the good attention and were always on me about something or other.” Regina held up a finger. “I was never good enough or smart enough. And definitely never pretty enough.” Regina let out a burp.

“You aren’t being fair. We only wanted what was best for you,” Gran said.

“Nah.” Regina took an unsteady step. “All you wanted was for your perfect son to have a perfect life.”

“Regina!” Gran’s cheeks flushed red. “Where is this all coming from?”

“Guess I been holdin’ it in all this time. Who knew?” She chuckled. “Must be from watchin’ all them Dr. Phil shows.”

“How dare you hurt Gran like this,” Hailey said, her blood burning.

Regina’s face hardened, and she wagged her finger at Hailey. “How dare you talk to me.”

“Someone needs to.” It was time to stand up to her aunt’s bullying.

“Well, it ain’t you.” Regina smoothed her wild hair. “You got nothin’ to say to me.”

“You’re so busy feeling sorry for yourself, you can’t even see how much your parents love you. How much they’ve done for you. Woman up and take control of yourself. Your life is what you make it. You don’t have to live this way.” Hailey stood firm, her courage making her legs wobbly.

“Look, if I wanna go get drunk every night, that’s my business.” Regina pointed at herself with her thumb.

Hailey stepped closer to her aunt. “But you’re bringing it here, making it our business.”

Regina waved her hand. “I’m going to bed.” She stomped off.

Hailey wanted to slap some sense into her, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good. Hearing Regina say such cruel things to Gran broke Hailey’s heart.

Sure, Gran and Gramps weren’t perfect parents, but they loved Regina. And Regina was there because she didn’t have anywhere else to go, so Gran and Gramps took her in. They weren’t fools—they knew why she was there.

Hailey’s heartbeat thudded in her ears and her face burned. Regina made her so angry she could spit fire.

Gran was on the couch, sobbing. Hailey went to her and put her arms around her. “I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t know why she’s saying this. We were never mean to her.” Gran sniffed. “We tried to encourage her to be something. To be better. To do good things with her life.”

“Regina wants to blame you so she doesn’t have to take responsibility for herself.” Hailey caressed Gran’s back.

Wiping at her eyes, Gran said, “Instead of encouragement, all she saw was us being critical?” Gran glanced up at the ceiling. “Maybe we are to blame.”

“No, you’re not.” Hailey pulled Gran close. “She’s lashing out at you because she’s unhappy.”

“What am I going to do with her?” Gran slumped against Hailey.

“I don’t know.” Hailey wished she had some wisdom to share with her grandmother, but she was at a complete loss. Her insides twisted at the thought of going back to Colorado and leaving Gran and Gramps to deal with Regina. She wasn’t sure she could do that.