The CEO's Rose

Chapter 148: Visitor

Langston’s POV

Though it was not something that he had often let himself dwell on. Ever since the death of his youngest grandson, Langston Terrell had been convinced that no one would truly mourn him if he were to pass on.

With the way that his eldest grandson had been acting, mostly avoiding his calls and never ever visiting. The old man had truly believed that Ryan would not care if something were to happen to him. When he had woken up in hospital and had found his grandson there, the relief that Langston had felt had been astronomical.

But as happy as he had been with that development, when the time had come for him to leave the hospital, Langston would not lie, he had been very worried that things would return to the way that they had been before. That Ryan would go back to pretending that his grandfather did not exist. Ignoring his calls and never coming to visit.

He was glad to have been proven wrong. Not only did his grandson answer when he called. Now he was getting calls from Ryan as well, instead of always having to be the one to reach out.

Things were still a little bit stilted, still cold, but it was way more progress than they had made in four years and Langston was glad for it. On that particular day he was even happier with the way that his relationship with Ryan was progressing. The night before his grandson had called to inform him that he would be dropping by later that day. Saying it so easily, like it was something he did on a regular basis.

Not wanting to make a big deal of things, Langston had simply told his grandson that he was welcome at any time. But the moment that the call had ended, he had just sat there, gripping his cane tight and shaking, overwhelmed with emotion.

Had he still had it in him, he would have been jumping for joy. But instead Langston Terrell had settled for clapping his hands once as loud as he could, and then laughing until a coughing fit overtook him.

The coughing fit had lasted so long that his butler had started hovering after it had passed. The man refusing to leave his side until Langston had informed him of Ryan’s impending visit, forcing him to leave and go prepare...and prepare he had.

Not just him, but the entirety of the kitchen staff as well. freeweɓnovel.cøm

Now the table was overflowing with more food than two people could ever hope to finish. From the look that his grandson had given him as the maids had kept bringing in dish after dish. Langston was certain that Ryan was curious about that. Luckily though his grandson had not said anything. Saving Langston the embarrassment of having to admit that when the chef had presented a menu to him asking him to pick things that would be served. He had instructed the poor woman to make everything on the list. He had not wanted to risk there being something that Ryan wanted to eat, but the food not being available.

The result of that was the two of them staring down at a table with enough food to feed at least a dozen people.

But his grandson did not seem to be particularly hungry that evening. Instead he was just pushing food around on his plate. He had not even tasted most of it. ’Was he regretting coming for a visit already?’ The thought made the old man’s heart clench, he forced himself to push away the worry that he could feel building in his gut.

"Is the meal not to your liking?" Langston finally asked, fully prepared to have the staff take everything away and go prepare something that his grandson wanted. Before he could give that order though, Ryan shook his head.

"No grandfather, the food is absolutely fine. Send my regards to Margaret, please,"

Putting down his own fork and knife, Langston gave his grandson a long look. For the first time, he noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes and the way that his knuckles were slightly pink.

Knowing of his grandson’s love for boxing and his tendency to over indulge in the activity when under a lot of stress. Langston realized that Ryan had something that was troubling him a great deal.

"Whatever is troubling you, perhaps it would not weigh so heavily upon your shoulders if you shared it," frёewebnoѵēl.com

His grandson had not confided in him in years, so Langston was not really expecting his words to have any effect. But as he watched, the blue eyes that Ryan had inherited from Langston gleamed with unshed tears and his grandson’s shoulders slumped. Then he let out a breath as though he had just been offered a lifeline.

***

Oh.

His grandson was about to confide in him, to share a problem, and then listened to what Langston had to say on the matter.

Such a thing had not happened since before the loss of Brian. It was such a big deal that Langston almost did not know how to handle it. Forcing himself to stay still and just breathe.

He waited for Ryan to speak, and he was not disappointed.

"Grandfather, if I found myself unable to let go of somebody and that person was someone

I’d promised myself never to go back to. What do you think the right thing for me to do would be?" Ryan picked up his glass of wine, swirled it around, then put it back down and resumed speaking.

"Would it be best to just keep moving forward and ignore them? Or do you think I should risk my heart again?" Confusion whirled in Langston’s mind. Was his grandson talking about Gwendolyn? How strange, he had thought that the couple was already working to fix things.

Not quite sure why he was being asked such a question, but wanting to be helpful nonetheless, Langston cleared his throat as he bought himself some time to think. In the end he decided to give an answer that was based on feelings instead of on logic.

"Do you know how old I am, Ryan?"

"Eighty-three," His grandson answered easily, and the old man nodded.

"Exactly, I am eighty-three years old, and if there’s one thing that I have learned in all of my years, it is that love always deserves a second chance, especially if there is a chance that it is returned,"

His grandson stayed silent for a bit. Then he nodded, turning back to his meal and actually eating this time. Realizing that Ryan was probably mulling over what he had just said, Langston decided not to push.

Whatever decision Ryan took, he hoped that his grandson would do the right thing and pick the woman he loved.