Updated Mar 22, 2026 • ~3 min read
Chapter 26: Slow Reconciliation
MAREN
I listen to Conrad’s voicemail.
Five times.
Trying to hear what he’s really saying.
Is it an apology?
Or just checking in?
Jasper watches me.
“You going to call him back?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you want to?”
Yes.
God, yes.
“Yeah. I do.”
***
I call.
Week thirty-seven.
Three weeks until due date.
Conrad answers immediately.
“Maren.”
“Hi, Uncle Conrad.”
Silence.
Heavy.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better. Bed rest is helping. Contractions stopped.”
“Good. That’s… good.”
More silence.
Then:
“I’m sorry.”
Two words I never expected.
“What?”
“I’m sorry. For everything. For pushing you away. For choosing a grudge over you. For not being there when you needed me.”
Tears stream down my face.
“Uncle Conrad—”
“Your mother would be ashamed of me. And she’d be right. I let pride and anger cost me the most important person in my life. You.”
I’m sobbing now.
Jasper squeezes my hand.
“I miss you,” Conrad says. “And I want to meet my grandniece. If you’ll let me.”
“Of course. Yes. Always yes.”
Relief in his voice.
“Thank you. I don’t deserve it. But thank you.”
“I love you, Uncle Conrad.”
“I love you too, Maren. So much.”
***
He visits the next day.
Brings flowers. Baby gifts. An apology.
And he meets Jasper.
Properly.
“Mr. Ross.”
“Mr. King.”
They shake hands.
Awkward. Formal.
But it’s a start.
“I need to say something,” Conrad begins. “I was wrong. About you. About this relationship. I let forty years of history cloud my judgment.”
Jasper nods.
“I understand. Family legacies are complicated.”
“They are. But they’re not worth losing family over. So… I’m sorry. For the things I said. The way I acted. And I hope we can start over.”
Jasper extends his hand again.
“I’d like that.”
They shake.
And I see it.
The beginning of something new.
***
Conrad stays for lunch.
We talk about the baby.
Names. Nursery. Plans.
“Isla,” he says. “Beautiful name.”
“We wanted something new. Not connected to the feud.”
“Smart. Very smart.”
He looks at me.
Really looks.
“You’re glowing. Pregnancy suits you.”
“I’m huge and uncomfortable.”
“You’re beautiful. Just like your mother.”
That makes me cry.
Again.
(Everything makes me cry these days.)
“I wish she was here,” I say.
“Me too. But she’d be so proud of you. Of what you’ve built. Of the family you’re creating.”
I hope he’s right.
“Will you be there? When Isla is born?”
Conrad’s eyes shine.
“I’d be honored.”
END OF CHAPTER 26
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