Knight in Bloody Armor (Ghost Series Part 5)

Chapter 29

Faye

Grandma? How could I possibly be audacious enough to call Mrs Clarke 'grandma' when I barely know her? The same goes for Mr Clarke. He told me to call him 'grandpa' when I first met him, not even caring that I'm a stranger.

This whole family is strange. I thought the Knights were peculiar, but the Clarkes are just as weird.

It's nice though.

It feels like I'm part of their family when they treat me like this.

"G-grandma." I smile shyly at Mrs Clarke, getting a satisfied nod from her.

"Good girl." She pats my head tenderly, making my insides turn to mush at the loving gesture. It's one thing to be touched by Kaden, and another when it's someone as motherly as Mrs Clarke. She's like a grandmother I've always wanted. My real grandma is too sick and weak to even remember me most of the time, so she never treated me this way.

We all eat in peace, chatting happily and exchanging funny stories. Kaden's friends, Hayden and Robin, even share all the school gossip with us, feeling absolutely at easy with the Clarkes. I wonder how often they come here to spend time with grandma and grandpa.

It really feels like we're all one big happy family.

And it makes me miss my parents even more.

"Faye, what's wrong?" Grandma asks worriedly, wiping a stray tear off my cheek that somehow managed to escape my eye.

"I'm okay." I sniffle. I don't want to burden them with my childish whining.

"No, you're not. Now tell me what's wrong, darling?" Grandma pulls me to her, gently laying my head on her shoulder as she strokes my hair soothingly. "You don't have to hold back, pretty girl, we're all family here." Family...

"I miss my parents." I hiccup, no longer able to hold my tears back. I know I look weak, but I can't stop myself. This loving atmosphere reminded me of my family and how I lost them. They will never be able to experience this again. They're gone forever and I'm left all alone, forced to seek comfort among strangers because I have no one else to turn to.

"It's alright, baby, it's alright. You're not alone. You have a big, big family now who love you. We may not be the same as your parents, but we care for you just as much." Grandma whispers comfortingly into my ear, her warm voice and soothing touch doing wonders to my heart. I thought Kaden's embrace was comforting, but this is different. This feels... motherly.

"Thank you, grandma. - I say quietly, pulling away from her - And I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry, darling. It's alright. - Grandma strokes my cheek tenderly - Sometimes people need a good cry to feel better. It's nothing to be embarrassed or sorry about." She says softly, instantly putting me at ease. There's something about her that's so relaxing I can't help but melt in her embrace.

"Still, I didn't want to ruin the atmosphere." I mutter shamefully. I can't believe I cried again...

"You didn't. - grandpa assures with a smile - It's better to let it all out now than carry it around with you."

"Exactly." Kaden nods in agreement.

"True. You know, I also cried when I came here." Gio admits, blushing furiously. What? Why?

"Why? - I blurt out unthinkingly - Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's not a secret or anything. Though it is kinda embarrassing. - he chuckles - You know how I ended up with the Knights... I never had a good relationship with my dad, and because of that he never really told me about his parents. I didn't know my grandparents at all, so when Mr and Mrs Clarke told me to call them grandpa and grandma, something broke in me and I ended up bawling my eyes out like a child." I understand what he means. There's this... aura around the Clarkes that makes it incredibly easy to open up to them. Perhaps that's the reason I feel so comfortable around them. They're so... sweet and loving it's impossible to not like them.