I turned my head to make sure her so-called “friends” had moved on. The catty women had stopped next to the refreshment table and were engrossed in their cell phones. Not even a minute later, they slipped out the front door.
“Yes, they just left,” I whispered softly, not really knowing how to proceed.
It seemed that Julia was another one of her triggers.
My head was spinning as I tried to keep up with all these potential bombs. Grace needed to tell me something. Anything. I was really getting worried. I loved her.
Sure, it was too soon, and I couldn’t offer her the life she was used to. Not to mention, I had Noelle to consider. She’d really started to like Grace, and I worried how she’d take it if things didn’t work out with us. I’d never introduced her to anyone I was dating before because heartbreak isn’t something I’d ever wish on anyone else. But this didn’t change how I felt about Grace, how just the sight of her brought a smile to my face and being in her presence made my day feel complete.
“Okay.” Grace’s small voice broke me out of my thoughts. She inhaled a deep breath and opened her eyes. They were glassy from unshed tears, probably matching my own.
This girl’s agony was breaking me. I just hoped she didn’t break my heart on top of it.
She cast her eyes downward with a somber look on her face.
“Baby, look at me, please,” I pleaded, squeezing her arm a little.
She shook her head back and forth like a stubborn child.
I looked around the room, not wanting her to be ambushed any further. I made eye contact with my mother who was speaking to an art dealer she worked with from time to time.
Her eyes widened when she saw Grace and me.Is she okay?she mouthed subtly, likely not wanting to cause a scene.
I shook my head because the truth of the matter was none of this was okay. I gestured with my thumb to the door, signaling to her that we were going to leave. She nodded once and went back to her conversation.
With a small nudge, I shuffled Grace to the door, grabbing our coats from the rack, and then made our way outside.
“Where are we going, Caleb?” Grace gasped, breaking out of her trance as we were greeted by the crisp air.
My hand was on the small of her back, while I led her around the corner to where I’d parked the truck earlier. As soon as I opened the truck door for Grace, her body collapsed into the seat. I ran to the driver’s side door and climbed into the truck.
“Can you take me to The Grand, please?” she asked meekly.
I looked over at the girl who stole my heart and could hardly recognize her. She seemed defeated. Grace was too vibrant and young to look as though life had been sucked out of her. People from the high society world clearly made her feel like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.
I guess I would take her to the bed-and-breakfast first, then pick up Noelle from Jena’s.
I did have to get something off my chest first. It was only fair. “Grace, I really love … I love spending time with you. You’ve become someone so important in my life, far quicker than I anticipated. Only second to my daughter.”Fuck it,I mentally scolded myself. “And I respect that you’ve been through some bad shit. But one day you’re going to have to open up to somebody. Finally face whatever it is you’re running from.” I huffed out a breath.
I looked over at Grace and she was gazing out the window, her eyes brimming with tears that threatened to fall at any moment. Her chest rose and fell quickly as if she was trying to calm herself down. I reached for her hand for support.
“I’d like to be that person, Grace. To be your person. All you have to do is let me in.” I shook my head and focused back on the traffic ahead.
As we started to move again, I slammed on my brakes. Some asshole decided to cut me off as I merged onto the main roadway. “Sorry,” I muttered, apologizing to Grace for the sudden jolt.
“She’s dead.”
Grace spoke so low I barely heard her at first, but the words echoed clear as day throughout the small space. I looked over at her, and tears were rolling down her cheeks.
Fuck. I signaled to merge into the right lane so I could pull over. All I wanted to do was hold her. Comfort her. I wouldn’t doubt Grace planned it this way. The walls I thought I was breaking down were up again.
Before I could even respond, she spoke again, this time louder as though she was trying to convince herself. “My sister is dead. Julia’s dead.” She let out a shaky breath. The hand I was holding was shaking. “And it’s all my fault.”
Fuck. I wasn’t expecting that.
Her fault?
I hated that she was blaming herself when clearly it couldn’t have been her fault because she was not in jail. The guilt that Grace was carrying was clearly eating at her.
