Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 458

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Frieda sat in a daze, absentmindedly dunking her cookie into the mug of warm milk until it dissolved completely and sank to the bottom. The sudden heat against her fingertips finally snapped her out of it.

“Mom, Grandma never really liked me much. What about the rest of your family? I’ve only ever met Grandma. Do you think the others would like Gennifer?”

Gennifer, tentative and hopeful, wrapped her arms around Frieda’s and pressed her cheek against her mother’s arm, her voice soft and childlike.

Frieda glanced down at her daughter’s small, affectionate gesture. She remembered, with a pang, how she too used to cling to her own parents for comfort when she was little.

Her eyes drifted to the back of her own hand, the skin no longer as smooth as it once was. So many years had slipped by. She was growing older, too.

Her mother was gone. And as for her father—where was he now?

A sharp ache gripped her chest.

Sensing something was wrong, Gennifer looked up. “Mom? Are you okay?”

Frieda shook her head, then suddenly took Gennifer’s hand in hers. “Gennifer, would you like to meet your granddad?”

Gennifer’s face lit up as she sat up straight. “Really, Mom?”

But just as quickly, her excitement faded and she slumped back onto the couch. “But Mom, I’m only your adopted daughter. If anyone should go see Granddad, it should be Ruby.”

At the mention of Ruby, Frieda forced herself to ignore the complex knot of emotions that always surfaced at the thought of blood ties. She frowned. “After the way she’s treated us, she doesn’t deserve to see your granddad!”

Gennifer kept her sweet, obliging smile, but this time it was tinged with a hint of satisfaction she couldn’t quite hide. She threw her arms around Frieda again, her eyes sparkling. “So, Mom, when are we going to visit Granddad? Should I bring anything? Is there something I should prepare?”

Watching Gennifer’s excitement, Frieda’s resolve wavered.

Over twenty years ago, she’d insisted on marrying Hanley, and in doing so, she’d cut herself off from the Steele family entirely. Her family had provided them with generous financial support at first, but that was the last she’d heard from them. Now, after all this time, would the Steeles even want to see her again?

Frieda lowered her gaze, but the thought lingered stubbornly at the edge of her mind. She missed home—missed the peace and belonging of family. She longed to be surrounded by loved ones again, to feel nothing but happiness and safety instead of this endless, gnawing loneliness.

“There’s nothing you need to prepare. I’ll get in touch with them soon,” Frieda said gently.