Chapter 329
Silence stretches between us, but this time it isn’t tense. It’s heavy with everything unsaid
For a moment, I consider brushing it off because that’s what I’ve always done: downplayed my feelings to make others comfortable… But I can’t do that anymore. I can’t keep choosing other people’s feelings over my own. It’s just not right.
“I won’t lie, Aunt Ava… I was hurt that you’d think so little of me,” I say quietly after a moment. “But I also understand that you found out a lot in a very short time. You were bound to react p>
Her brows pull together slightly, like she hadn’t expected that.
“You deserved to know, and I would have told you if Noah hadn’t demanded that I stay quiet.” I pause, letting that settle before adding, “But that still doesn’t excuse how you treated me. It wasn’t fair to put all the blame on me without first knowing the truth p>
Her lips tremble as she speaks. “I’m so sorry, Si… You’re one of the sweetest girls I know, and it breaks my heart that I let my anger cloud my judgment p>
“All is forgiven,” I say, taking her hand and gently rubbing my thumb over it. “Just… don’t ever do that again p>
She raises her hand like she’s taking an oath. “I promise. It will never happen again p>
“If it makes you feel any better,” Lilly chimes in, “Sierra was actually planning to tell you despite Noah warning her not to p>
Aunt Ava’s head snaps toward me. “You were p>
I nod. “After talking to Mom and Lilly, I knew you and Uncle Rowan deserved to know. I just… hadn’t figured out how to tell you without everything blowing up p>
Tears fill her eyes again, and she blinks rapidly, trying to hold them back. “Now I feel even worse for how I treated you p>
The wind brushes past us, carrying a quiet stillness with it, but I don’t say anything.
I love her; I really do, but I’m not going to carry the responsibility of making her feel better. That part of me? The one that excused people’s behavior? It died a long time ago.
“I’m really sorry, Sierra,” she says again after a moment. “I truly am p>
I sigh softly, already over it. It’s done; she’s apologized and I’ve said my piece… There’s no point in dragging it any further.
“Truly, Aunt Ava… it’s okay,” I tell her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
She nods, but I can tell she wants to say more. In the end, she decides against it.
“I, for one, would’ve loved to place bets on who would’ve won,” Lilly says, grinning.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“A full-on smackdown between Aunt Ava and Aunt Ivy would’ve been epic,” she says. “I would’ve paid good money to see who came out on top p>
“Seriously?” I ask while Aunt Ava just shakes her head. “Sometimes I wonder if you dropped on the head as a baby p>
Lilly nods unapologetically. “Come on, the tension between the two? That was prime entertainment p>
Aunt Ava sighs. “That reminds me… I need to apologize to Ivy too. I’ll stop by her place before I head home p>
After a moment, she leans forward slightly, her gaze dropping to my stomach as her expression softens.
“Can I…?” she asks hesitantly, her hand hovering.
I follow her gaze, then look back at her before slowly nodding.
Her hand comes to rest gently over my bump, careful and almost reverent.
“My grandchild…” she whispers, more to herself than to me.
Something shifts in my chest at the way she says it. It’s like she’s still trying to believe it. Like it’s only just now becoming real.
“Is it weird that I love him even more now?” she starts, her voice trembling slightly, “Don’t get me wrong; I loved him before. I would love any child of yours… but knowing he’s my grandchild…” She exhales shakily. “It just… it feels different p>
I smile softly. “That’s not weird at all… blood has a way of deepening things p>
She blinks back tears. “I can’t believe I’m going to have another grandbaby… I promise to take care of both of you… Rowan and I will be there for you every step of the way p>
“Thank you, Aunt Ava,” I say, smiling.
“By the way,” she adds, “do the twins know? I forgot to ask Noah p>
I frown slightly. “Honestly, I don’t know. We’ve never really talked about it but I have a feeling they suspect… They always refer to him as their baby brother p>
I never corrected them because, in truth, they’re not wrong.
“And Noah…” she says carefully, almost hesitantly. “Are you going to allow him to be part of the baby’s life p>
“It’s not about me allowing him or not; it’s the fact that he never wanted to be in the baby’s life,” I answer. “He already made his decision. He didn’t want anything to do with the baby p>
“What if he changes his mind?” Lilly asks.
The question hangs in the air, clouding the atmosphere.
I’ve never really thought about it because Noah had been so firm, so certain, about his stand and I respected that… but now things have changed, and with that, maybe his decision too has changed.
I stay silent, my thoughts turning over themselves because the truth is… I don’t have an answer.