My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1209

In the room next door, Kevin slid out of bed once he finished eating and found his slippers. His head still ached from everything that had happened lately, so he hadn’t wanted anyone staying in his room. He leaned against the wall for balance and took his time walking out into the hallway.

He knew he’d messed things up with Dennis. The boy’s anger was something Kevin had brought on himself, and he had to live with that.

He made his way to Dennis’s room and stopped at the door. Through the little window, he saw Dennis sitting on the bed, tearing into his breakfast with both hands. The kid’s cheeks were smeared with oil, and he was watching TV, laughing so hard his eyes almost disappeared. He looked completely at ease, totally happy.

Maybe things hadn’t hit him as hard as Kevin had worried.

A smile flickered across Kevin’s face as he raised his hand and knocked.

Dennis heard the sound and glanced up, but from where he sat, he couldn’t see who was at the door. He just looked for a second before diving back into his food.

Amelia, who was close by, turned around and answered the door. She was surprised to see Kevin standing there. “Grandpa, what are you doing here?” she asked, quickly reaching out to steady him.

Kevin gave her a tired smile. “I just wanted to check on Dennis.”

Amelia nodded, then called back into the room. “Dennis, Grandpa’s here to see you.”

With Amelia’s help, Kevin slowly made his way inside. There was a smile in his eyes, but he looked tired.

Dennis stopped chewing the second he saw who it was. The happy look on his face disappeared, replaced by a frozen, stunned expression. Kevin noticed the change right away.

So Dennis really was upset with him.

Kevin’s own face fell, and in that moment, Ethan came over to help Amelia guide Kevin to the sofa.

“Dennis, what are you staring at?” Amelia coaxed. “Come over and say hi to Grandpa.”

Dennis hesitated. Kevin’s expression was serious, as if he was about to start scolding again. Dennis didn’t even know what he’d done wrong this time.

Dennis hesitated, then lifted his eyes, just for a second. His gaze was wide and restless, almost like a startled little deer. He looked so tense, as if he’d been wronged.

Amelia was taken aback by how anxious he seemed.

Kevin felt a stab of regret, but he kept his tone soft. “Dennis, are you mad at Grandpa?”

Of course Dennis was mad.

He’d thought Grandpa loved his mom just as much as he did. That’s why he’d asked him, again and again, to help save her.

But Grandpa said no, every single time. He’d even hit Dennis’s hand with a ruler, hard enough that the pain kept him awake at night.

Even when Dennis tried to hurt himself, Grandpa didn’t give in. That was when Dennis realized his grandfather didn’t love his mom at all. He was cold, almost cruel, when it came to her.