Had it been up to Van she wouldn't be here–the last place she wanted to be–but she was doing it for her grandmother, the old woman was sweet and warm and very attentive to Van, she felt like she needed to make up for all those years she didn't know they existed.
There was nothing welcoming about the way her grandfather greeted them the next morning. Karl had wanted nothing to do with their new family so she had to convince him.
"Contrary to popular belief," her grandfather said, giving them all pointed looks. "I am not a heartless person, I love my family and I will do anything for them." his eyes rested on Karl "What school did you attend son?"
"I'm a bus driver." grandfather gave a sound of disgust. "You have to go back to school, you cannot hope to establish your life without a college degree these days." he turned his sharp gaze towards Van and after a moment's appraisal he said in what could only be a note of finality.
"You have grown into a beautiful young woman, it shouldn't be hard to find you a suitor."
Van felt like she'd been slapped in the face as she gaped at the stranger before her who calls himself her grandfather.
"You're kidding right?" if Van expected to get a reply she was soon disappointed and it angered her all the more to think that he had the nerve to start dictating her life after being absent for nearly her entire life. She realised then that it was the same high-handedness that had cost her mother's life. "Haven't you done enough damage already! Don't you think for a second that you can control my life like you did my mother's!"
"If you hope to stay in this house, I suggest you lose that insolent tone of yours because my word is the law around here and if you can't stand it you can leave."
"If my sister is leaving then i'm leaving too." said Karl in a fierce tone. "We were fine without you. We've survived so many hardships together it wouldn't make any difference."
Grandfather frowned. "Don't be naive, you think being a bus driver would get you anywhere?"
"At least we've got food on our table." Karl countered hotly. "As long as we have each other nothing else matters."
Van couldn't be more proud of her brother while their grandfather looked red with rage.
"And as tempting as I find the idea of leaving this house I won't because i'm only here for grandmother she's the only human being around here with a heart. Excuse me." Van said and made for the stairs leaving her speechless grandfather with Ash standing next to him like a shadow.
Once she got to the top she exhaled a shaky breath, her legs had gone weak now that the adrenaline had waned. She was halfway to her grandmother's room when Ash caught up to her.
"Hey, that was pretty intense." he commented jamming his hands in the pocket of his jeans.
She groaned. "He makes me so mad, I mean how do you put up with him?"
"Grandpa is a hard person to deal with. As for Putting up with him, I do because he saw the best in me. He believes in me."
"What was all the commotion about?" her grandmother asked as soon as Van stepped into the bedroom and shut the door behind her.
"It was nothing." Van told her as she grabbed the water jug on the night stand and poured herself a glass.
Her grandmother smiled mildly. "You argued with your grandfather again." it was a statement Van realised, one that was on point.
"He makes me so mad!" Van caved and her grandmother laughed unexpectedly, a good natured laugh actually but Van didn't find the matter funny at all.
"It's not funny grandma."
"The two of you are so alike, like two peas in a pod and you don't even see it."
All Van could think was that she was nothing like that heartless old man.
"Felix has found his match it would seem."