Chapter 290
At the mention of her eldest grandson, Nyla’s expression flickered, a trace of hesitation passing through her eyes. A small nod acknowledged his words. “Alright, alright. That was my mistake.”
Yet, her attention swiftly shifted back to Hadley. “Fine, then tell me—if Hadley’s not in Srixby, where exactly did she go?”
Eric leaned back slightly, an unmistakable hint of satisfaction in his expression. “She went to Tidebourne.”
Confusion flickered across Nyla’s face. “Tidebourne? What on earth is she doing there? She has no one outside the Flynn family. Could someone have lured her into something…?”
A quiet chuckle escaped Eric. “Grandma, calm down. She went with Ms. Nicolson.”
Without waiting for more speculation, he filled her in on Hadley’s involvement with the Lightning Dance Studio.
Nyla listened, eyes widening as realization sank in. “You actually… went to this much trouble for Hadley?”
“What else was I supposed to do?” Eric replied, his tone laced with a gentle helplessness, though the warmth simmering beneath it hinted at his quiet devotion. “Dancing is her passion. If she can’t twirl and sway, she is a bird with clipped wings. And if she must dance, doesn’t she deserve the cream of the crop—the finest stage to shine on?”
It was hard to argue with that logic.
Nyla let out a soft sigh, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?” She squinted at Eric, a playful suspicion flickering in her gaze. “So, you’re truly head over heels for Hadley this time, huh?”
“Grandma,” Eric said, his brow furrowing in genuine bewilderment. “Did you honestly think I was just playing a game?”
Nyla exhaled a slow, measured breath and gave a small nod. “Fair enough. As long as you don’t break Hadley’s heart, I’ll keep my nose out of it. How you sweep her off her feet is your dance to choreograph.”
“Thank you, Grandma.” A faint smile tugged at Eric’s lips, softening his features. “I’m planning to wait until Hadley’s back, and then whisk her off to meet my brother.” His eyes shadowed with a fleeting gloom before he pressed on. “When Linda isn’t around.”
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It was no secret that those two women mixed like oil and water.
“Smart move,” Nyla murmured, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush. “No matter how things unfold with Hadley, mind you keep your manners with Linda. She has weathered storms aplenty.”
Nyla sighed again, a wistful note threading through her words. “That child she lost… It has always been a pebble in Linda’s shoe. The rest of them might overlook Hadley’s missteps, but Linda—being the one who had borne the brunt—couldn’t quite let bygones be bygones. She swore she had moved on, but Eric could see the truth lurking in her eyes; resentment still smoldered beneath the surface.”
“I get it, Grandma,” Eric replied, his face shadowing briefly. His voice held steady, firm as an oak. “Rest easy—I’ll handle it with care. Now, please, sip your milk before it turns to ice.”
“Very well.”
Beyond the door, Linda froze, her breath catching in her throat as she tiptoed away. Her face drained of color, her thoughts swirling like leaves in a tempest.