Eight Years Gone, page 25
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I was lost in my thoughts.”
“Don’t worry about it. Have a good rest of your day.”
“Thank you. You too.”
“Don’t forget your jacket.”
“Right.” She huffed out a laugh as she snagged it, then hurried outside, savoring the chilly air on her cheeks as she tried to make the last few minutes make sense.
“It can’t be right,” she assured herself as she walked the half block to Simplicity, letting herself into the store where Aunt Maggie and Jen chatted with Mrs. Tillis, one of their best customers.
Grace set the goodies on the counter, making herself smile again. “I come bearing gifts.”
Aunt Maggie frowned as she looked at her. “Are you okay, honey? You look a little pale.”
She nodded, turning up the wattage of her smile. “It’s been a long day. That’s all.”
“Why don’t you bring your tea to your office and take a break. Or better yet, head on home. Asa can pick me up when he finishes with the deliveries.”
Grace hesitated because Jen’s shift ended in thirty minutes. She didn’t like to leave Aunt Maggie at the shop alone. What if she fell and couldn’t get to the phone? “That’s all right. I have some paperwork—”
Aunt Maggie shook her head. “Didn’t you mention that Jagger has an early night because Todd’s handling the evening classes?”
“I did.”
“Good. Go see him. I’m perfectly capable of locking up, Grace.”
Recognizing that she had no choice, she nodded. “Okay. I guess I’ll see everyone tomorrow.”
She walked outside again, heading for her Sorento, slightly relieved that Aunt Maggie had bullied her out the door.
Jagger was more than likely home by now. She was eager to show him her mother’s last entry—to see if her words left him with the same ugly impression. Because she desperately needed Jagger to tell her she had it all wrong.
Ten minutes later, Grace pulled into the driveway, relieved to see the Stingray parked in its usual spot.
She quickly grabbed her purse and hurried inside, only to frown as she hung up her jacket and tugged off her loafers in the quiet house.
Typically, Jagger cranked up the music while he got a head start on dinner prep when he had a night off from the dojang.
She glanced toward the kitchen as she moved through the living room, noting that he’d taken the homemade pizza dough out of the fridge, so where was he?
She opened her mouth to call his name but closed it as she slowed outside the office, realizing he was on the phone.
“That’s not going to work,” Jagger said in a voice tight with tension.
She poked her head in to make sure he was okay, trailing her gaze over strong, naked shoulders and the black sweatpants he wore as he sat with his back to her in the office chair, sliding his fingers through his damp hair.
“Forget it. I’m not taking assignments right now. Grace still needs me.”
She stepped out of the room, pressing her lips together as she closed her eyes. This was exactly what she didn’t want—Jagger putting his life on hold for her. She didn’t want to hold him back with her endless issues and problems.
“You don’t want me to tell you what you can do with your retainer fee or this job for that matter. Grace comes first. That’s what I told you from the beginning. I’ll let you know when she’s ready for me to get back to work.”
Jagger hung up, muttering a curse.
Waiting a moment before she knocked on the doorframe, Grace slapped a smile on her face as she walked in to join him. “Hey, handsome.”
He swiveled in the chair, sending her a grin. “Hey, beautiful.” He reached out his hand to her, pulling her down in his lap, hugging her.
She hummed in her throat as she returned his embrace, breathing in soap and Jagger. “You smell good.”
“I was thinking the same thing about you.” He kissed her. “You’re home early.”
She nodded. “Aunt Maggie told me to go home.”
He frowned. “Is everything okay?”
She nodded again. “Everything’s good.”
He continued to hold her gaze, clearly not convinced.
“It was a super busy day, but everything’s good, Jagger.”
“Okay.”
She snuggled back against him. “It sounds like you were talking to Jason.”
He sighed. “Yeah.”
“You can take the job—”
He adamantly shook his head. “No.”
“Jagger—”
He shook his head again. “I’m not having this conversation.”
She sat up so their eyes met. “You’ve been my rock. Just like always. You’ve been everything I’ve needed over the last couple of weeks.”
“Good. You can count on more of the same.”
She studied the stubborn light in his eyes. “Jagger—”
“I love you.”
“I know you do. I love you, too. What’s going on?” Because he was rarely ever this agitated.
“Nothing’s more important than you—than us. I wasn’t there for you like I should have been after Logan. That’s never happening again.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that I let you down—that I made the worst mistake of my life.”
She stroked his tense jaw, holding his gaze, needing him to see that she was okay. She needed him to know she was strong. “I want you to stop punishing yourself for something that can’t be undone.”
He swallowed as he shook his head.
“We can’t go back,” she reminded him.
“I’m well aware.”
Her fingers continued to soothe with gentle slides against his skin. “Losing my dad was awful, but I’m doing much better. Our trip to Wakeview really helped.” She kissed him. “I want you to get back to your work.”
“But I would have to leave tomorrow. I would have to go to California.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“Probably two or three days—four at the max.”
“Jagger, I want you to take this job. I have so much catch-up work at the shop… I’ll blink, and you’ll be home again.”
“Are you sure?”
She was sure she would be keeping the bombshell she found in her mother’s journal to herself for the time being. He wouldn’t go if he had any idea that her life was a mess again. She nodded. “Definitely.”
“Will you have FaceTime dinners with me?”
She smiled. “Every night.”
He steamed out a breath.
“I’m good,” she whispered, touching her lips to his.
“I’ll let Jason know later.” He trailed kisses from her temple to her jaw. “I took the pizza dough out of the fridge when I got home.”
She trailed her hands along his arms. “I saw that.”
His lips found their way to her ear. “It’s probably still cold—not ready to be rolled out just yet.”
She smiled, understanding where this was going. “You’re probably right.”
“Can I take you to bed—get you all naked and crazy before we eat?”
Her lips curved again. “I’d like that.”
He stroked his fingers along her cheek, searching her gaze. “You’re sure you’re good?”
She nodded, aware that he knew her too well. He’d always been able to tell when things weren’t right in her world.
“We don’t have to have sex, Grace.”
“Yes, we do.” She nipped at his chin before she stood and grabbed his hand, determined to be in the moment. She only wanted to think about Jagger—not what she’d read in the journal.
He went after the buttons on her blouse as he walked her backward, stopping with her against the hallway wall. “We’ve got a lot of work to do—time to make up for. There are four potential days that I won’t be able to touch you.”
She rubbed her palm over his erection, eager to get lost in the heat they so easily brought to each other. “It seems like you’re ready.”
“Absolutely.” He devoured her mouth with a greedy kiss.
She tucked the latest round of shock and disillusionment away as she moaned, pulling him toward the bedroom.
Twenty-Nine
Grace hurried the last-minute arrangement out to the van, handing the pretty vase off to Asa as he finished securing the rest of the deliveries in place for travel. “Thanks for waiting.”
“A frantic call for a dozen red roses ten minutes before our last run of the day. Cooper must be in the doghouse for something.”
Grace laughed as Asa grinned. “I was thinking the same thing. Hopefully, you can help him smooth things over with Josey when you drop these off—use your Asa charm the way you have a knack for doing.”
He winked. “I’ll see what I can do. You’ve got the shop handled for the next little while?”
Grace nodded. Jen had left early to take the twins to the dentist, and Maggie was volunteering at a Rotary event for the rest of the afternoon. “I’ve got things covered.”
Asa headed for the driver’s seat. “Call if things change.”
“I will.” But instead of going inside, Grace followed him to the front of the van, seeing her chance to get some of the answers she desperately needed.
She’d lain awake for most of the night, unable to stop her mind from racing as the gravity of her mother’s last words truly sank in.
When Jagger had pressed his lips against hers for a goodbye kiss at four in the morning, she’d only been asleep for an hour.
“Asa, I’ve been reading my mom’s old journals. I found them when Jagger and I went back to the mansion last week.”
He opened the door. “Maggie mentioned something about that.”
She nodded as she licked her lips in the chilly air. “Do you remember Mom bringing someone with her to Preston Valley to help with some of the bigger weddings when I was younger? I would have been about ten or eleven.”
He frowned, clearly contemplating, as he slowly shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.”
Grace struggled with a wave of frustration because Mom had mentioned bringing Jessica with her several times in the journals. “Nobody named Jessica?”
Asa’s frown returned. “Actually, now that you mention her name, yeah. The blond girl. Or maybe she was a brunette. I think she changed it from time to time.”
Grace beamed as she nodded because she remembered the same thing. “Yes. She watched Logan and me the summer Bea had to go to Washington to help her mother. She watched us a couple of times that fall too.”
Asa smiled. “I definitely remember her now. She was a nice kid—a hard worker.”
“I think she was nineteen or twenty,” Grace added, hoping to jog loose more memories.
Asa nodded with more certainty. “In college, if I remember right.”
Now they were getting somewhere. Because Mom had also mentioned that Jessica had been entering her sophomore year at Pittsburg State. “Do you happen to remember her last name?”
Asa immediately shook his head. “I have no idea. That would be a question for Maggie, especially since she undoubtedly paid her for her time.”
Grace smiled again, but she didn’t want to ask Aunt Maggie about any of this. She didn’t want to have to explain why she was sniffing around until she knew exactly what was what. The last thing Aunt Maggie needed was another stress-induced setback, especially if none of this turned out to be anything at all. “Yeah. Thanks, Asa.”
“Anytime.” He tossed her a wave as he got behind the wheel.
Hurrying up the ramp, Grace locked the back door behind her, then made her way to the front of the shop, more than a little relieved that no one was waiting to be helped.
The day had been busy, giving her little time to think, which had been perfect. Mostly, she wanted to forget about what she’d read and pretend that the life she remembered with her family had been as happy as she’d always thought it to be.
But her father had most likely cheated. Her dad had more than likely fathered another child.
If that was true, she had another brother. The idea made her as sick as it did hopeful. If she had a sibling out there, she was going to find him.
Eager for more answers, she pulled her phone from her pocket, scrolling through her contacts, looking for Bea’s number. She hesitated before she dialed, reaching out to the only woman who had known Rose Evans as well as Aunt Maggie had.
“Hello?”
“Bea, it’s Grace.”
“Sweetie, what a wonderful surprise. It’s always a good day when I hear from you.”
Grace’s shoulders relaxed by degrees, treasuring the voice she’d known her entire life.
Bea had been hired to help at the house the year after her mom and dad had married and moved to the suburbs—when they’d both had thriving careers, but her mom had been eager to give hers up and start a family.
“Am I catching you at a bad time?”
“Not at all. I’m just making a pie. Apple, of course. I’m heading over to Jeremy’s for dinner tonight.”
Bea had always doted on her son. Jeremy had just graduated from college the year Bea had moved in to help full-time at the mansion. “Aren’t they lucky?”
Bea laughed. “Emily has a choir performance at seven. She’s a freshman this year if you can believe it. We’ll eat first, then go over to the high school.”
“That sounds lovely. Tell Emily I told her to break a leg.”
“You know I will.” Bea sighed. “When are you coming to visit? When do I get to see my girl?”
“Do you have any plans tomorrow?”
Bea laughed. “It sounds like I just might.”
Grace smiled as she moved to lean against the front counter, staring out the window as people walked by. “We could go out for lunch. Anywhere you want.”
“How about you drive on over this way? We’ll eat in. I’ll make that French onion soup you love so much.”
“I don’t want you going to any trouble.”
“I like playing in the kitchen—fussing over my girl. You know that. Bring Jagger, too, now that he’s back. I’ll make up a batch of his favorite brownies.”
“I wish I could, but he’s out of town for the next couple of days. He’s doing some work in California.”
“Well, I guess there will be more for you and me.”
Grace smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Should I expect you around twelve thirty?”
“I’ll be there. What can I bring?”
“Only yourself.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“I won’t. Bye, honey.”
“Bye.” Ending the call, she glanced around the shop, struggling to click back to work mode.
“There’s plenty to do,” she reminded herself as her phone alerted her to a text.
I finally made it back to my room. How are things in PA?
Grace stared at Jagger’s message before she replied. He had no idea how loaded his question was. Things are good here. What about you?
Other than being too many miles away from you, I can’t complain. Are we still on for FaceTime at 6? Your kitchen/my hotel room?
It’s a date. I’m looking forward to hearing about your day. Because she desperately wanted a break from thinking about her own.
Gotta go for now. I love you.
I love you, too.
Sliding her phone back into her pocket, she left it at that—and planned to for the next little while. Jagger had a job to do.
She’d handled her problems on her own for a long time. If and when she had something real to share about her father’s affair and a potential long-lost brother, she would let him know then.
Thirty
Grace pulled up behind Bea’s compact car in the driveway, hating that she was running almost fifteen minutes late. Typically, she arrived places early, but nothing was going right today.
The morning had been fraught with issues, starting with Brandon limping his way through his shift, telling her on more than one occasion that he was fine with the mildest of sprains. Aunt Maggie had been sniffling and sneezing, refusing to go home. And they’d had several extra arrangements to create after the computer temporarily crashed an hour before she left.
Hurrying out of the Sorento with a bouquet, Grace quickly headed up the stone path to the cute one-story house twenty minutes outside of Philly.
Bea opened the door before she could knock. “Grace.” She wrapped her up in a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
Grace returned her embrace, savoring the familiar vanilla scent on Bea’s sweater. “It’s good to see you too. I’m so sorry I’m late.”
Bea was easily in her midseventies with more than a few wrinkles lining her pretty face. Barely five foot two and plump with friendly brown eyes, her once black hair was now silver and tied back in a bun.
“Don’t worry, honey. You’ve had a long drive. Come on in and sit down at the table. Let’s get you warmed up with some tea.”
Grace followed Bea into the entryway, handing over the fall flowers she’d brought. “These are from me and Aunt Maggie.”
Bea took them with a smile. “Aren’t they just lovely? I see you added lilies. You know they’re my favorite.” She brought one of the white blooms to her nose, breathing deeply. “I’ll put these in some water if you’ll pour us both a nice hot cup.”
Grace took off her coat, hanging it in the closet, struggling with a shiver, even when she wore a sweater and jeans. The day had turned out to be overcast and raw when the meteorologist had called for partly sunny skies. “Sure thing.”
Bea headed to the kitchen in the cozy open-concept space, adding water and then the flowers to a crystal vase. “I’m just so happy we could do this today. What a nice surprise.”
Grace moved to the table, pouring them tea from the pretty china pot where a gorgeous fall salad already waited. “I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to you at Dad’s funeral.”
Bea nodded with sorrow in her eyes as she brought two bowls of soup covered in croutons and melty cheese to set in front of them. “It was a tough day. Sit down, sweetie. Be comfortable.”
