Nina’s heart raced as she listened in on their conversation. Every word they spoke felt like a piece of a puzzle, slowly coming together to reveal a picture she never expected.

Darla’s voice carried a hint of urgency as she leaned in closer to Gran. “Did she say anything?” she whispered, her eyes darting around the room.

Gran shook her head, her expression grave. “Nothing yet, but I can see it in her eyes. She knows something’s up.”

Nina’s mind raced, trying to piece together what they could be talking about. What was it that Gran didn’t want her to know?

With a deep breath, Nina mustered the courage to confront them. Standing up from her seat, she cleared her throat, drawing their attention. “I couldn’t help but overhear,” she began, her voice steady despite the nerves bubbling beneath the surface. “What exactly are you two talking about?”

Gran’s eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of unease crossing her features before she composed herself. “Oh, it’s nothing, dear,” she replied, her tone a touch too nonchalant to be convincing.

But Nina wasn’t about to let it slide. “It didn’t sound like nothing,” she pressed, her gaze unwavering. “And I think I deserve to know what’s going on.”

Darla exchanged a nervous glance with Gran before taking a deep breath. “It’s about your father,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “There’s something you need to know.”

Nina’s heart skipped a beat as she listened intently, her mind racing with a million questions. What could they possibly have to tell her about her father?