Her grandmother… Still hard to wrap her head around that one.Her grandmotherinvited her father and brothers inside.Lex’s friends were outside the door, curiosity on their faces, but one of them closed it, giving them privacy.
Her grandmother sat across from Lex and Jillian, and crossed her legs at the ankle.“I’ll start with our story, your grandfather’s and mine.Khosrov Petrosian—that’s your grandfather—and I came to America when we were newlyweds.He wanted to make his fortune and impress my family.You see, Khosrov was a valued employee on our family vineyard, but to my father, he was just a common laborer.It didn’t matter that Khosrov was the first in his family to go to college.My father considered him socially inferior to us because of our royal ancestry.”She smiled as though reliving the past.“He took a great deal of pride in his lineage even though most nobles at that time had changed their names to avoid prosecution.”
Jillian didn’t know anything about Armenians, but she was listening and trying hard not to be skeptical.A lot of the eastern Europeans her father employed in the Bay Area Circus claimed lineage to royalty, too.Most of them were Gypsies.
“He might not have approved of my love for Khosrov, but he loved me and wanted me to be happy, so he allowed us to marry.Soon afterwards, we moved to America.Your grandfather knew how to talk to immigrants, and they loved working for him.He treated them well.He was a good man.He was making his name in the garment industry when your father was born.”She smiled, but it was tinged with sadness.“Jivan was such a happy child.He made our life complete.The business was doing well, or so I thought.It turned out our competitor did not like an Armenian immigrant taking a slice of his business and was doing everything to undermine and destroy your grandfather.To cut costs and make deadlines, Khosrov started doing business with, uh, bad men.Criminals.”She muttered something in Armenian, and when she continued, her accent became stronger.“I had no idea how bad things were, until Jivan died.”
Jillian fidgeted.They’d fled New York right after he died.If her mother had stayed, would Jillian have met her grandparents?Moved to Armenia?Never met Lex?Funny how one incident could change everything.
“Your grandfather believed his competitor killed your father.He left his nephew to run the business, and we went home to bury Jivan.”Mrs.Petrosian became quiet.When she continued, she spoke slowly as though reliving the past.“Instead of coming back, we opened another clothing factory in Yerevan.I believed it was because we had no reason to come back to America.That changed six months ago when your grandfather had a stroke.”
She paused and cleared her throat.Jillian glanced at the others to see how they were reacting.Her brothers looked worried while her father didn’t bother to hide his dislike of Mrs.Petrosian.Lex stared at the woman without expression, which changed when he caught Jillian’s eyes.He released her hand and wrapped his arms around her.She sunk against his side, so grateful for his warmth and strength.
“Just before your grandfather died, he told me everything.How our Jivan had a child with an American girl, Mira Lipinski.Your mother.He’d known about their relationship and discouraged it because your mother was a local dancer.An orphan with no roots or background to speak of.”
Annoyance zipped through Jillian.What a snob.“He married you, but my mother was beneath his son?”
Mrs.Petrosian sighed, her eyes sad.“You misunderstand, my dear.It wasn’t easy for Khosrov to join my family.My father never missed a chance to make him feel less than what he was.That’s why we came to America.He didn’t want the same for your mother.My father was still alive, and he would have made your mother’s life miserable.”
No wonder her mother had collected her from school and run.Jillian back pedaled, but not her father.
“But he was willing to take Jillian from her mother instead,” Daniel Finnegan barked from across the coffee table.He leaned forward, his cheeks flushed.“No, Mrs.Petrosian.Your husband worked hard to leave his humble beginning and become accepted into your family.His son marrying a little Miss Nobody was going to ruin his plan.But his grandchild...”He wagged his finger.“She’s the last of the Zakarians with your royal blood flowing through her.She would have secured his position in your society and redeemed him in your father’s eyes.”
Fury flashed in Mrs.Petrosian’s eyes.“You insufferable man!My Khosrov had no prejudices.If he was guilty of anything, it was being heartbroken by the death of our son.He wanted what was best for Jillian.”
“By trying to take her away from her mother?What about that was best for Jillian, huh?”Finnegan snapped.
“Dad, please,” Jillian said.“Remember, your heart.”
“She”—he pointed at Mrs.Petrosian—“gave me the first attack.Now she wants to finish me off with her lies.”
What?Jillian blinked.She hadn’t expected that.Her father’s theatrical side was rearing its head, though.Once he started, there was no stopping him.
“And she calls me insufferable,” her father continued.“Bet you hung around to make sure I croaked.”
Jillian glared at her brothers and mouthed, “Do something.”But they just shrugged.The cowards.“Dad, please—”
“Control yourself, Finnegan,” Mrs.Petrosian snapped.“I called the paramedics and stayed with you until they arrived because it was the right thing to do.”
“You were snooping around.”
“Dad!”Jillian snapped, drawing his attention.“Enough.Let her finish.”
Mrs.Petrosian lifted her chin and harrumphed.“Thank you, dear.I’m trying to explain things to you the way I know them.I’m sorry your grandfather tried to take you from your mother.If I had known…” She pulled out a hanky from under her sleeve and dabbed the corners of her eyes, her hand shaking.
Jillian felt a little sorry for her.She tried to push aside the past two weeks and see things through her eyes.Her husband and son dead.She was about to face the future alone.Her family lineage about to end with her.Then she discovered a granddaughter she never knew she had.
“It’s taken me months to find you, Jillian,” Mrs.Petrosian continued.“I’ve shamelessly used my husband’s old connections and relatives to help me in my quest.I’m not proud of my methods.When he”—she pointed her finger at Jillian’s father—“told me he’d buried you alongside your mother, I knew he was lying.In my heart, I knew you were still alive.”
Jillian’s eyes widened as they flew to her father.“Why would you lie about me being dead or about me having other family?”
Her father shot her an apologetic look.“I promised your mother I would keep you safe.She was scared they’d take you away from her and made me swear to never let them know of your existence.”
“I can understand that when I was child or after she died, but I’m twenty-nine, Dad.Old enough to deal with how my father died and my grandfather’s attitude toward Mom.”Her voice trembled to a stop.She was so pissed.She lifted her chin and took a deep breath before adding, “You should have told me everything, especially when she came to see you.All of this could have been avoided.”
Her father looked down.“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it to me, Dad,” Jillian snapped.“Surely you can’t still be worriedtheywould take me away.I’m a grown woman.I can make my own decisions.”
