“I’ll try. What are their names?” I didn’t know these people but something about them being here felt strangely eerie.

“Keiran and Keenan Masters.”

* * *

PRESENT

Keeping Keiran on ice for one day was like asking a pot of water not to boil. I had no idea what had him so high strung. For the rest of the day, he watched me as if I had killed his father all over again. Thankfully, he disappeared with Keenan the next morning and didn’t return until early afternoon, giving me some time to put a plan into action.

I’d told Willow and Sheldon about Wendy and Daniel the day they appeared, and they agreed it would be better to wait until the dust settled. Since Dash was out of the hospital, I figured now would be the best time to introduce them to their grandparents.

They arrived just before Keiran and Keenan got back, so when they walked in and were greeted by strangers, the tension noticeably grew.

“Shelly? Why are there strangers in our living room?” Keenan’s tone wasn’t playful or mildly curious, and Keiran was already studying the couple with suspicion.

Sheldon looked like she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar so I decided to answer him, but then Daniel spoke up.

“My name is Daniel and this is my wife, Wendy. We have been anxious to meet you two.”

“Why?” Keiran asked, ever the suspicious one.

“Because, young man, we’re your grandparents.” I could tell by Wendy’s tone that she didn’t appreciate his rudeness, but I warned them when they showed up a week ago it wouldn’t be so easy to walk into their lives.

“That doesn’t answer his question,” Keenan remarked.

“I can see the young lady didn’t exaggerate how intense you two could be. You’re just like your father when he was your age.”

Bad move.

Bad move.

Bad move.

“We’re nothing like him,” Keiran growled.

“We know all about what Mitch has done, and I can understand why you resent him—” Keenan snorted, interrupting her. “I’m not finished speaking,” she snapped and he had enough sense to look contrite. “As I was saying, I understand your resentment, but I wasn’t speaking of my youngest son. I was speaking of John. He may not have been either of your father’s biologically, but he took you in, provided for you, and loved you whether you choose to believe it or not.”

“Are you getting to a point?”

“You will show my wife some respect,” Daniel reprimanded this time. “I can see while my oldest son provided for you, he hasn’t taught you much in manners.”

“He was too busy staying away to care what we did. As I recall, you two were nowhere to be found, so I repeat—why are you here now?”

“Both of our sons are dead. Whether you want it or not, we’re here to offer closure. For you and for ourselves.”

“He’s right,” Wendy added. “We never wanted to stay away, but we believed it was safer this way. So did John. When you were old enough to take care of yourselves, he stayed away so if Mitch ever came looking for you, he could throw him off your trail and it worked. It took him ten years to find you because of what John sacrificed. He didn’t deserve your hatred.”

“He said he found us because the money ran out.”

“Mitch was never good with money, so we cut him off a long time ago. I don’t know what he told you but he’s always looked for you, and it was because of John that he didn’t find you sooner.”

“Why should we believe you?”

“We have no right to ask you to trust or accept us, but we will anyway. We’ve waited so long just to finally be in the same room with you. We started to think it would never be possible. But then Mitch died…”

“Are you happy about that?”

“Of course not. He may have had his issues, but I am still his mother.”

“Lady, he had more than issues. He sold his own son and kidnapped my daughter.”

“So there is a child.” Wendy looked so hopeful that I prayed he wouldn’t break her heart. I didn’t believe these people were evil or meant them harm, unlike their son.

Keenan scrutinized them, and then his body slowly lost its tension. “Her name is Kennedy and she’s four.”

“Are there anymore?” Daniel asked. His gaze was trained on Keiran, who visibly paled at the mention of having kids.

“No,” he brusquely replied.

He nodded. “Okay then… May we meet her?”