Page 71 of Penny & Royce

She folded her arms, bracing for whatever he wanted to throw at her. Royce wasn’t going to like it if she had to tell her uncle the truth about them, but at this point, she might not have any other options. What could George do if he found out she was married already? He wasn’t her father.

Her heart ached with that mental acknowledgment.

The truth was, she couldn’t be sure what her father would have said about her rash decision making lately. Would he support her? Or would he back his brother-in-law because of some misguided duty?

Uncle George mirrored her stance. Thank goodness he didn’t have any backup. He was intimidating enough as it was. “I shouldn’t have to remind you that there are certain rules for members of our family.”

Penny scoffed, then immediately regretted it.

As much as she disagreed with her uncle, she’d always been respectful to her elders.

His eyes narrowed. Uncle George had always been intimidating. He knew how to judge a person just by looking at them. His skills fell short, however, when it came to any person with the last name Meyers.

Technically, she fell into that category.

Or she would as soon as she went to the courthouse to file a name change.

Uncle George took a step toward her, his body language telling her everything she needed to know. “Do you know the story? Do you know why we refuse to have anything to do with that family?”

She straightened. “It’s some kind of territory squabble, right?”

He huffed out a humorless laugh. His eyes flashed, and he looked out toward the horizon briefly. “My grandfather loved my grandmother very much. So much that he married her when she had nothing. Not a penny to her name. Her father was abusive, and her older brother wasn’t much better. For years, he cared for her. Protected her from those who weren’t worth calling family, even though they lived on the neighboring property. He gave her everything.”

George’s eyes found hers, and she shivered involuntarily.

“What happened?” she asked.

George chuckled again, scrubbing his jaw as he did. “Years went by. Their children grew up and moved out. I suppose their love faded—at least on her end. Because one day, she up and left. Demanded a divorce and married someone new.” His lip curled. “His last name was Meyers.”

She held her breath.

That explained the hatred for that bloodline, but how did they manage to own adjacent properties?

Thankfully, she didn’t have to ask.

“One day, there was a freak accident. Her father and brother both died, leaving the property to her. Then, they moved in next door.”

Penny’s eyes widened, but just as quickly, she schooled her features. “So this is all about your grandfather’s jealousy? What? He felt entitled to that property?”

“Haven’t you been listening?” he muttered, his voice low and hard. “She broke my grandfather’s heart. Then year after year, we’ve had to be a witness to their legacy.”

“They had children?”

“No, she had no other children.”

“Then is it really the kids’ fault…” Her voice trailed off, and she looked away. “Sorry. But seriously, people fall in and out of love. I’m sure your grandmother didn’t mean for it to happen. And your grandfather has long since passed. Why keep carrying something that happened so long ago?”

His hands clenched at his sides.

And that was when she made the connection.

This betrayal was years in the making. It had festered from one generation and spilled into the next. Much like other kinds of hatred, it was taught. She was all too aware of how angry Royce’s family was, though for all intents and purposes, her family was responsible for the original broken heart.

It made her wonder what her side of the family had done to cause the hatred the Meyers harbored.

Penny shook her head, grateful at least that Royce didn’t harbor the same anger toward her cousins. Nor did Morgan, for that matter. It seemed that her uncle, Royce’s father, and Lincoln were the main sources of contention.

Pressing her fingers to her temples, she sighed. “You want to know what I think? This whole thing between y’all needs to be forgotten. You’re neighbors, for heaven’s sake. And adults. Who cares what happened decades ago?”