Chapter 15

The knock on the hotel door makes me jump. Matt checked the peephole before turning to me with the biggest grin across his face. “Gramps is here with a few cavalry members.” He turns the lock and opens the door. I had no idea that my world would yet again become a little fuller. 

Bill is a tall, proud man with broad shoulders from years of working on the ranch. A pair of wranglers, a cowboy hat, and a crisp button-up. His vibrant emerald green eyes miss nothing as he scans the room. The wrinkles at his eyes tell of many days laughing; his tan shows he is out in the sun often. He may own the ranch, but I bet the money in my account that he gets into the weeds and won't ask you to do something he hasn't done or isn't doing himself. He steps in front of Matt, holds his face in his hand, gives a slight nod, and genuinely smiles at him; you can see the relief in his face seeing Matt is okay. Matt looks so much like him you would swear he was Matt's father. He nods in my direction, gaze on my left hand, smiling broadly and genuinely happy, and acknowledges me. “I think a few introductions are in order, son," he tells Matt after finishing the bear hug he gave Matt, stepping fully into the room now. I now knew why Matt had changed his last name to his mother's and refused to touch his father's name. After hearing how his father and stepmom spoke about him, I knew who truly loved him and who saw him as a tool to be used.

Matt is soon enveloped in another hug by a woman in her late 50s, I would guess, wearing jeans, a set of boots, and a white blouse. She looks familiar for some reason and beautiful, and even dressed down, she looks graceful and elegant. I’m assuming she may be his aunt Eleanor. She pulls away and puts her hands on his shoulders, holding him at arm's length. "You could have called sooner and let us know what that vile snake of a woman was planning, and your father, your mom should have buried that man in the ground." she tells him as her gaze turns to me. “It’s all good; I had a guardian angel watching over me.” “I see so,” she replies. A genuine smile reaches her eyes. I can see she is curious, wanting to ask, just as she walks in, standing beside Matt’s grandfather. 

I notice a third figure walking in the door then. Tall, well-built, rocking the same wranglers as Grandpa Hargrove. His smile is dazzling; brown hair and well-tanned skin stand out, and he has the biggest dimple showing as he looks at Matt. “Uncle Dan, glad you made it," Matt says as he hugs him too. ”Hey Matt, you said you needed all hands on deck. You know I couldn't leave my favorite nephew hanging, so here we all are." He smiles down at Matt. So this is the other important man in Matt's life. I can see the genuine affection between them. 

Matt told me how his uncle, along with his gramps, had made him the man he is today. He told me stories of learning to ride horses and take care of them and then the ins and outs of cattle farming that they both had taught him. Years spent outdoors, just the men camping under the night sky. Coming back a week later the smell almost causing poor Eleanor to pass out, making them shower in the out door showers before being allowed back in. I could see the love he had for Matt and the pride he had felt looking at him. Matt may have only been his nephew on paper, but in his heart Matt was his son. 

Matt’s uncle stepped in and reached for Eleanor's hand. Matt came and took me in his arms, giving me a quick peck on the cheek; his lips moved to my ear, making me blush at the room full of people witnessing this. They whispered a quick, "Please don't hate me. Remember I said there were some things I said I needed to tell you; it’s going to happen now, so just… don't hate me." He pulled back, and I could see genuine fear in his eyes, worried that what had to be said would break us. I was confused about it. 

Matt then stood beside me, held my hand, and I looked up once again at the strangers in the room. Matt’s uncle finally took a good look at me, and the words that left his lips shocked me to my core. “Carol” was the whisper that left his lips. We stood there in a silence so heavy it felt overwhelming, looking at each other. His eyes were mirror images of my eyes staring back at me. I could see him processing something; I was too in shock to think. 

Matt squeezed my hand gently as the silence stretched. Matt looked at me then and gave a small nod. “Kenna, I would like you to meet my family, my grandpa Bill Hargrove, my aunt Eleanor, and her husband Daniel Ulrich. Everyone, I would like you to meet my wife, Makenna Westman-Hargrove." The shock at hearing the name of my father and looking straight into his eyes made the room feel like it was spinning. My legs felt like jelly, and Matt, ever perceptive, helped me sit. “Easy deep breaths, love. I’m right here. I’m sorry, I didn’t know how to tell you after your mother's letter; he’s a great man; he deserves to know about you just as you deserve to know about him.” 

Daniel was also sitting down now. His eyes were glued to me, cataloging everything; he looked like he was too scared to blink. I was looking too; I now knew where my height came from and the, at times, annoying curly hair that tends to frizz when the humidity goes past 5 out of 10. His hands are shaking slightly, but then again, so are mine. We're still both processing. 

A knock on the door jolts us both. Matt’s grandpa goes to get that, with a polite “excuse me" and a small, caring smile reaching his eyes. At the door I hear voices, not loud, but greeting one another friendly. I look up and see another person staring at me; his eyes are teary as he looks at me. Matt's grandfather leads the man in to stand close by me. "Kenna, I hope you will forgive me for meddling. A few years ago I met this gentleman, and he has become one of my best friends; he told me the story of his granddaughter and the struggles she faced. A story of deception, betrayal, and so much pain. He never told me who the man was that had been drugged and put to bed with his granddaughter, also drugged, but I knew a bit about that as Daniel had told me about what had happened to him.” He takes a deep breath, looking at Daniel.

"You told me you tried to look for Carol after you had cooled down, and it was too late; you couldn’t find her. You were both hurt that night, you and Carol; she ran and hid and then protected the daughter you share… and you got angry and shut everyone out. I learned part of Carol’s story about a month ago when my dear friend asked me to find his granddaughter and great-granddaughter; he hoped that I had resources beyond his means and could pull a miracle out of the bag. I’m sorry to say my friend Carol lost her battle to cancer; her daughter Makenna survives her memory. My detectives did not get very far and hit dead ends at every turn. My grandson, though… called and told me about the woman he had fallen in love with. Told me how his gravity had shifted to her and he knew what I felt when I said it was love at first sight when I met my Alice. He had learned who her father was this morning after she had agreed to marry him, and I emphasize that part, after she agreed, and everything fell into place when he told me.” 

He looked down at me again and took my free hand. “I asked Matt not to say anything about Daniel just yet, or MaKenna to you, Daniel, because it’s a lot to process over a phone, and I do not believe that would be the right way for all of this to come to light. A bit of my own fear was that you would run, MaKenna. Matt really loves you; the selfish side of me didn’t want my grandson to get hurt over something he had no control over and did not know anything about until after you agreed, and believe you me, you leaving would have crushed him. We Hargroves love fiercely, and he would follow you to the ends of the earth, but I didn't want this to damage the roots that had just started taking hold. So please forgive me this. He told me I had 12 hours to tell you and Daniel, as he wasn’t going to keep a secret, but then he also sent the family SOS out. I called my good friend Anthony Westman this morning and told him everything and that his great-grandbaby needed him, that she wasn’t alone anymore, but she needed to know her family. So he flew out to join us immediately. When Matt called earlier, we had all already landed, but we wanted to let you two have your moment before…” he trailed off, looking around the room, and I could see even he was having a moment. He looked at his son-in-law and daughter. "Now you also know why I had Tony join us."

This was not something simple, with so many threads unraveling and so many connections in one room. I read no ill intent, only that he wanted to reunite a family that had been broken and hurt by so much deception and cruelty. The emotional weight was so heavy at the moment when Matt’s grandpa broke the silence again. "I'm going to suggest we all have a moment to process. We are going to give you a bit of time, and if you are ready, maybe we can all meet and talk over breakfast." With everything that has happened so far, I simply nod my head, the lump stuck in my throat as I feel my eyes water with barely held-back tears. I watch as Eleanor takes Daniel's hand and leads him out of the room. She gives me a soft smile and small wave as she leaves. Daniel looks back, and heaven, his eyes are watering too, and his throat looks just as choked up as mine does. “I want to get to know you," he says from the door. "If you will let me," he adds on. I send him a reassuring smile and answer as honestly as possible, "I would like that too." He nods once and leaves. 

Matt’s grandfather and I suppose my grandfather look towards me. "Sweetheart, if you are up to it, would you spare some time for this dear friend of mine too? He hasn't seen you from the time you were two months old, and I believe right now nothing would make him happier.” I walk up to him and take his hand in mine. "I would like that very much, Grampy.” His arms cuddle me close as I say the nickname my mom always referred to her grandfather by. He slowly releases me from the tight hug he currently has on me and nods, then turns towards the door. I don't think he could get a word out if he tried; the emotional roller coaster of today is just too much.   

I sit back down as the door clicks shut and the lock engages. I'm not sure how long I just sit there staring at my hands when Matt sits next to me, not saying anything, just letting me know I'm not alone. “He has been here the whole time, and he wants to know me. " I feel the words slip out, "He was part of who made you who you are, but he never knew I existed." I feel a fat, heavy tear break through finally, and as I sob, I desperately try to fight breaking through.

Matt pulls me into his arms and hold me tight, whispering into my hair “he knows now”