There’s silence for a second before Dad explains, “His heart is fragile. He insisted on meeting you, and we’re all glad you could come see him.”

We walk into the dining hall where Mom, Grandpop, and Grandma are waiting.

Once everyone is seated, a server pours coffee for us all, and as soon as he leaves, Grandma asks, “I’m sure you know about the promise that binds our families, Lukas?” Her words disrupt the calm at the table.

“Lukas is here to meet Grandpop. Let’s discuss the past some other day.” Dad presses his lips together in disapproval before giving me a tight smile.

“But that’s why we invited him here, Jasper,” Grandpop asserts, placing his cup on the table with a slight tremble. “To fix the mistakes of the past. You’ve seen what this promise does when left unfulfilled, Lukas. We don’t want Autumn’s fate to be like your mother’s.”

“Dad!” My mother’s gasp is lost over Grandma’s next words.

“Your grandfather is right, Autumn. We cannot close our eyes to the consequences. There’s only one way to fix everything. You and Lukas should get married.”

* * *

My belief that Grandpop’s health scare last month was the worst nightmare possible turned out to be dreadfully untrue. My grandparents’ ridiculous demand of my marriage to Lukas turned into a failed request. Dad was livid, Mom was upset, and Lukas was– I don’t know what he was, to be honest, because he stormed out of the inn five minutes later.

There’s a tension in our home I’ve never experienced before. My two favorite men, Dad and Grandpop, aren’t speaking to each other. My easygoing grandfather is more adamant than a four-year-old that Lukas and I are to be wed, but if only he were just asking for a toy.

“Hey, kiddo.” Grandma knocks on my bedroom door. “Do you have a minute?”

“Grandma! Is everything okay?” I get up from my desk in a rush, bumping my knee against the wood.

“Yeah. All’s okay.” She ambles inside and perches on the edge of my bed. When she pats on the mattress next to her, I join. “I know everyone thinks we’re crazy.”

“That’s not true. But...this is my life.”

“And you think your grandpop would ever want something less than grand for you, tums?”

Her words rattle my core, and I don’t need a minute to think before shaking my head.

“Your parents don’t believe in my mother’s promise, but I’ve seen what it can do when left unfulfilled.” She pats my hand with her trembling one, and my pulse rises a notch realizing the stress my grandparents are under. “You’re eighteen, Autumn, no longer a kid. Think and decide. Only you can give me a few more days with your grandpop.”

“Grandma!” Tears gather in my eyes at her words, which aren’t completely false.