My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1214

Dennis hung his head, shaking it. “No, Grandpa, I’m not mad at you.”

Dennis had been spoiled all his life. The worst thing he’d ever experienced was Kevin smacking his palm until it turned red and puffy. Of course he was upset.

Kevin’s voice was gentle. “If you’re not angry, let Grandpa see your hand.”

Dennis glanced up, hesitated, and then slowly offered his left palm.

Kevin took it, turning the small hand over in his own. It had been a couple of days, so the swelling had gone down a lot. The redness was mostly gone, but you could still see faint marks from the ruler.

“Does it still hurt?” Kevin asked.

Dennis shook his head, speaking so quietly it was almost a whisper. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Kevin looked right at him. “That’s not true. You always cry when you get the tiniest scrape. There’s no way this doesn’t hurt. Grandpa wants you to tell the truth, not fib.”

Dennis’s eyes darted nervously. “...It hurts. A little.”

Kevin nodded. “Dennis, I know you’re upset. And… Grandpa needs to apologize. I shouldn’t have acted like that the other day. I shouldn’t have hit you. I was wrong. Will you forgive me? Grandpa really hopes you will.”

Dennis’s eyes widened, pure shock on his face. “Grandpa…”

Growing up in the Lane family, respecting elders was pretty much the first rule he’d learned. He’d never even imagined his great-grandpa would ever say sorry to him.

Kevin gave him a soft smile. “Don’t worry. Take your time. Think about whether you want to forgive Grandpa. For now, let’s put some ointment on that hand, okay?”

Still a little stunned, Dennis let Kevin take off his backpack and guide him to the couch.

He watched as Kevin accepted a jar of ointment from a maid. Those old hands trembled a little as he scooped out a generous amount and gently rubbed it into Dennis’s palm.

Dennis watched in silence, his eyes gradually turning red, his right hand clutching the sofa cushion.

Kids have a hard time hiding their feelings, and their tears are even harder to hide.

Kevin heard the softest sniffling and looked up. He sighed. “Why are you crying now? Did I hurt you?”

Dennis shook his head, eyes watery. “Grandpa…”

“I’m right here.”

Dennis’s lips wobbled as he started to cry, wiping his face with the back of his hand.

Kevin finished rubbing in the ointment and cleaned his fingers with a tissue. He looked at Dennis, warm and gentle. “You felt wronged, didn’t you?”

Dennis nodded hard. “You were so mean that day, Grandpa. I was really scared.”

“I know I was wrong.”

Dennis sniffled. “You didn’t just yell at me. You hit me too. I felt so sad…”

Kevin nodded. “I’ll do better from now on.”

This boy was the only great-grandson in the Lane family’s main branch.

Dennis cried even harder. “And you… you wouldn’t… you wouldn’t help me…”

His voice got smaller and smaller.

Kevin’s voice was gentle. “I don’t want you to be disappointed. I don’t want you to feel distant from me, either. So…”

Dennis just looked at him, confused.

Kevin gave a little smile. “Grandpa’s decided to help your mom. How does that sound?”

It took Dennis a few seconds to process what he’d just heard.

Then, his eyes went huge. He jumped off the couch with a little yelp, his face full of disbelief. “Grandpa!”

Kevin chuckled softly. “I’m right here.”

“Grandpa!” Dennis cheered, throwing his arms around Kevin and squeezing him in a tight hug.

“Thank you, Grandpa!”

He was so happy, his whole face lit up, bouncing even as he stayed wrapped in Kevin’s arms.

Kevin couldn’t help but laugh too, his heart light. “You don’t need to thank me.”

Dennis was so excited he didn’t know what to do next. He wriggled out of the hug and started running and skipping around the living room.

Kevin watched him, amused. “Careful. Don’t trip.”

Dennis raced back, eyes shining. “Grandpa, does this mean I’ll get to see Mom soon?”

Kevin folded his hands behind his back, voice steady but honest. “Dennis, Grandpa can’t make any promises. I don’t know if I can make it happen, but I promise I’ll try my very best.”