LOVING DAHLIA ( ᴘᴀɪɢᴇ ʙᴜᴇᴄᴋᴇʀs) (ON HOLD)

Chapter 19: Bittersweet Reunion

It had been a few days since Paige's birthday, and Dahlia couldn't help but notice the silence between them. She knew Paige had been busy with practice, but the lack of communication made her feel uneasy. Meanwhile, Dahlia had her own distractions, preparing for the arrival of her grandparents from Iowa. Between juggling school, work, and taking care of Sadie, her life had been a whirlwind.

Now, she found herself at the airport with Carla and Sadie by her side. Carla had offered to drive them, her excitement infectious as she bounced on her heels, waiting for the plane to arrive.

"I can't wait to see them!" Carla said, her eyes sparkling. "It's been forever since I last saw your grandparents."

Dahlia smiled warmly. "Yeah, they're going to be thrilled to see you too."

Sadie tugged on Dahlia's hand, her little eyes scanning the crowd. "Mommy, when are they coming?"

"Soon, sweetie. Any minute now."

Moments later, Sadie's face lit up as she spotted her great-grandparents. "There they are!" she squealed, breaking into a run.

Mark and Jane, her grandparents, were walking toward them, both looking a little older but still full of life. Their eyes twinkled as they caught sight of Sadie, and they crouched down, arms wide open. Sadie rushed into their embrace, giggling with delight.

"My little Sadie girl!" Jane exclaimed, hugging her tightly.

Dahlia's heart swelled as she watched the reunion unfold. She and Carla followed, joining the hug with teary eyes and happy smiles. Mark gave Dahlia a bear hug, and Jane wiped away a tear as they greeted each other, holding on a little longer than usual.

"You look so grown-up, Dahlia," Mark said with a grin. "It's good to see you, kid."

"Good to see you too, Pops," Dahlia replied, her voice thick with emotion.

After a few more hugs and laughs, they all piled into Carla's car and made their way back to Dahlia's apartment. On the drive, Dahlia chatted with her grandparents, catching up on life back in Iowa.

"So, who's looking after the B&B while you're here?" Dahlia asked as she turned to look at them from the front seat.

"Your cousin Molly is helping out," Mark replied. "She offered to keep an eye on things until we're back."

Dahlia nodded, but she noticed a change in their expressions, a shift from light-hearted to something more serious. Her grandparents exchanged glances before turning back to her.

"How's life been, sweetheart?" Jane asked softly. "How are you and Sadie coping with everything? Connecticut is so far from home."

Dahlia smiled, though there was a hint of sadness behind it. "We're doing okay. College is going well, and Carla's been a huge help. She's been looking out for us."

Carla nodded confidently from the driver's seat. "Don't worry, Granny Jane, Grandad Mark. They're safe with me. I've got their backs."

Jane reached over and patted Carla's shoulder affectionately. "We know they're in good hands with you."

As they pulled up to Dahlia's apartment, Jane and Mark glanced at each other again before Jane spoke up. "Dahlia, we've been thinking. We know how hard this time of year is for you, with everything that happened. Maybe Sadie could stay with us in Iowa for a while, just until after Halloween. It'll give you some time to yourself, some space to heal."

Dahlia's heart clenched. Halloween always brought back painful memories for her family. The idea of Sadie spending time with her great-grandparents sounded comforting, and yet, it felt bittersweet. She looked at Jane's concerned face and then at Sadie, who was happily clutching the Bear Paige bought her.

"That sounds like a good idea," Dahlia said with a sad but grateful smile. "It's just...a tough time, you know?"

Jane nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "We know, honey. We're just thinking about what's best for you both."

The conversation hung heavy in the air as they entered the apartment, but Jane, sensing the mood, quickly decided to lighten it up. "Well, no more sad faces! I'm making family dinner tonight. How does beef stew sound?"

Sadie's face lit up, her eyes widening. "My favorite!"

Laughter filled the room as Jane got to work in the kitchen. The smell of beef stew cooking soon filled the apartment, wrapping them all in a comforting warmth. As they sat around the table for dinner, Carla began telling Jane and Mark about Paige.

"So, Dahlia's got a special friend," Carla teased with a grin, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Dahlia immediately blushed, waving her hand dismissively. "Carla, stop. It's not like that."

But Jane wasn't having it. "Oh, really?" she asked with a playful grin. "Tell us more, Carla."

Carla laughed and leaned in. "Well, her name's Paige, and she's on the UConn basketball team. Superstar, if you ask me. And from what I've seen, she's pretty smitten with our Dahlia here."

Dahlia's grandparents cooed, their eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Well, well, well," Mark said, leaning back in his chair. "Our little Dahlia caught herself a basketball star?"

Dahlia groaned, shaking her head. "It's not like that, guys. We're just friends."

But the moment Paige's name came up, Sadie perked up. "Paige! She's my friend too! She bought me Paigey Bear," she said, holding up the teddy bear proudly.

Jane and Mark exchanged amused glances, their teasing smiles widening. "Sounds like Paige is part of the family already," Jane said, nudging Dahlia playfully.

Dahlia blushed even deeper, but she couldn't help but smile as the conversation turned more lighthearted. The sad atmosphere from earlier seemed to melt away, replaced with warmth and laughter as they enjoyed their meal together.

By the end of the night, the air was filled with happy chatter, and Dahlia couldn't help but feel grateful for the loving support of her family.

Guys I'm so drained I'm sorry if this chapter is crappy it's just I wanted to give you guys a chapter even if I'm very tired because I love you guys sm, pls remind me if there's any errors I'll rewrite it later. This is the first look to my plot twist. I'm also obsessed with Josh Makazo songs his songs are chefs kiss 💋.

Love you readers sm ❤️❤️

XoXo V 💜💜💜