Chapter8

So that was the truth. So many secrets I’d never known. But what did it matter now? Grandmother was gone. The pain I’d endured was real. Then Chuck suddenly appeared behind me. With an unshaven stubble coarsening his jawline and sunken eye sockets shadowed by deep, purplish circles, he looked drastically gaunt and haggard, as though a decade’s worth of exhaustion had been abruptly etched into his features overnight. “Beth.” His voice was coarse, thick with exhaustion. We sat in silence for a long time, the crash of waves against rocks our only soundtrack. “I’m really sorry.” He finally spoke, his voice nasal. “If it weren’t for me, Grandmother wouldn’t have...” “It’s over.” I cut him off, my tone as calm as still water. “Chuck, it’s time we ended this.” “No!” He grabbed my hand, terror in his eyes. “Beth, give me another chance. Let me make it right, please? I know I was wrong. I really do...” “Make it right?” I couldn’t help laughing, tears spilling. “How? Give me back thos