Page 128 of Savage Heart

“I can’t believe how I’ve let such hatred into my heart. Brandon told me about when you told Manny the truth. It’s no wonder you were terrified to ever speak of it again.” Her face crumbles. “I’d understand if you want nothing to do with me, but . . . please forgive me. Please give me another chance. I would like to try to be the grandma you deserve,” she tells Linc. “And to make up for the horrible ways I’ve treated you,” she says, taking Iris’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”

Iris wraps her arms around Jennifer in a hug. “I forgave you a long time ago, and I would love another chance too,” she says. “I loved Lincoln so much and would’ve done anything for him.”

“I can see that now,” Jennifer says, looking shattered as she hugs Iris.

There’s not a dry eye in the room.

“Well, I just got a ton more family members in one night,” Linc says, and it’s just the levity we need.

“Should we order some pizzas? We didn’t feed our faces at the game,” I say.

Everyone starts talking at once, and my eyes meet Iris. We exchange a grin.

“I love you,” I tell her again. “So fucking much.”

“Maverick Harrington! Language!” Mom says, swatting my arm, which makes Linc laugh.

He comes over and suddenly looks shy. “Thanks for all the times you took care of me and my mom.”

I open my arms, and he steps into them, hugging me hard.

“I hope I can do a lot more of that in the future,” I tell him. “Thanks for being such a great kid.”

“I’ve got good genes,” he says.

“You’ve got that right.”

Chapter 33: Just Call Me Dumbo

Iris

The past two weeks have been surreal. It’s strange to have nothing hanging over my head. I didn’t know how freeing that would be.

News about the night Lincoln died circulated fast through Ironwood, for everyone who wasn’t at the game that night. News about Maverick and me is also fully out, and no one is shooting dirty looks our direction anymore.

No one is shooting dirty looks at me at all, and I have to say, it’s a little unsettling. I keep looking over my shoulder to see who someone is smiling at and then startle to realize it was me. People say hello in the grocery store, tilt their hat when I walk past, and my tips at Prairie Rose have grown considerably. Millie Claire and I are never going to be best friends or anything, but even she’s keeping a wide berth, which is all I could ever hope for.

And I have been welcomed back into the Harrington fold like no time has passed. Billie and Charlie asked how I’ve been able to forgive them so easily, and I told them it’s because I’ve understood their anger. I’ve blamed myself all these years along with everyone else. Every day, I live with the guilt of letting Lincoln get behind the wheel that night. If I hadn’t had Linc to help me face each day, I’m not sure I would’ve survived.

Things aren’t how they used to be with Jennifer, but that isn’t for lack of trying. She’s making an effort—she’s just not the same person she used to be. None of us are. So it’s just going to take time to adjust. She’s going to counseling, which makes me hopeful for her. I want nothing more than for her to find joy again.

I’ve set up an appointment with Dr. Lily, our local psychiatrist, too. I don’t know if it’ll be a regular thing or not, but I’ll see how it goes.

I pull into Harrington Ranch and stop in front of the barn, where Linc should be finishing up by now. Usually, he and Pickle are playing fetch or something by this time. But no one is outside. I get out of the car.

“Linc?” I call. “Maverick?”

No answer.

And then I hear them talking inside the barn.

I walk in, and their backs are to me. I’m about to say something again, but Maverick’s tone shifts, and it’s more vulnerable than I’m expecting.

“I’d like to talk to you about something important,” Maverick says.

I consider backing out of the room, but I stay put.

“Okay,” Linc says.