After another long pause and more drumming: Fine. SYL.
Grace had no idea what SYL meant and wasn't sure if she'd won the skirmish or not. She'd have to wait until she saw Johnny to be sure.
* * *
The line of cars in the pick-up lane stretched twice as far as usual, so Grace pulled into the closest handicapped spot. Even though it was sprinkling, it would be much quicker to park and meet Johnny at the school's front entrance. She had a few minutes until the bell rang, so she turned off the engine and sat back to decompress.
She squinted through the trails of rainwater on the windshield at the brilliant fall foliage blazing along the tree-lined street. The dreary, gray sky beyond made the colors even more striking. Autumn was Grace's favorite time of year in Richmond despite all the leaf-raking they had waiting in the front yard. She loved the bonfires in the chilly air, apple-picking, and visits to the pumpkin patch with warm apple-cider donuts.
Johnny had enjoyed all of it right along with her until that year. Having to twist his arm to go for donuts had dampened her spirits, but seeing the beautiful trees buoyed her. Maybe he'd enjoy himself once he bit into the warm, gooey pastry.
* * *
"Ditch your mom," Darnell told Johnny as they left their last class. "It's what she gets for treating you like a baby. What do you owe her anyway?"
Everything, Johnny thought. His mom constantly got on his nerves, and he wasn't excited about having to go with her, but she didn't deserve for him to bail. They'd taken their yearly trip for apple-cider donuts for as long as he could remember. He'd always looked forward to it, but it didn't seem like such a big deal that year. He was too old for that stuff. He was going to tell her it would be the last time. She had to start seeing him as fourteen instead of ten.
Darnell and his mom argued all the time, so he never had a problem ditching her. Johnny thought most of it was Darnell's fault. Johnny liked her, but Darnell was a total jerk to her sometimes. As irritated as Johnny got with his mom, things weren't that bad between them. Darnell wouldn't understand why Johnny didn't want to hurt her feelings.
Not wanting to look like a chicken in front of Darnell, he said, "If I bail, she won't let me go to your house after dinner, and I wouldn’t be able to stay long anyway because I have PT. My parents have to pay even if I don't show up. She'd be super pissed if I missed it. She’d probably ground me."
"You wimping out on me?"
They walked out the school's main door, and Darnell turned toward the pickup lane. Johnny was about to follow but stopped when he saw his mom coming up the front steps.
"Too late. There's my mom." For once he was glad to have her as an excuse with Darnell.
Darnell dropped his backpack and crossed his arms. "Tell her you don't want to go with her. She won't say no in front of me."
"I would if I didn't have PT. She'll make a deal out of it. I'll get to your house as fast as I can tonight."
Darnell shook his head at Johnny and picked up his pack. "Whatever."
"Hello, Darnell," his mom said and smiled when she walked up to them.
Darnell glared at her and walked away with a word. She raised her eyebrows but took Johnny's backpack without saying anything. Johnny followed her to the car, glad that she'd shown up in time to stop him from doing something stupid.
* * *
Grace found a table by the window with a clear view of the trees. She arranged their donuts, coffee, and hot apple-cider and nodded in satisfaction.
Johnny picked up a donut and said, "When is everyone coming for dinner?"
"Around six."
"Six!" Johnny groaned. "That late? Can't they come earlier?"
"Auntie Alec and Uncle Adam don't get home from work until at least five. They need time to change and get their kids ready. I'm sure you'll survive."
"Might not," he said, just loud enough for her to hear. "I’ll have to wait longer to go to Darnell's." Johnny took a bite of his donut and rolled his eyes in pleasure. "I forgot how good these are."
Grace took a bite, too. "They are. I wish they sold these all year instead of just in the fall."
"You might get sick of them if they did."
"Good point," she said and wiped her hands. "Why did Darnell give me the evil eye when I picked you up?"
Johnny kept his eyes on his donuts. "You know how he is. Moody."
"Felt like more than that."
Johnny shoved half a donut in his mouth and took forever to chew it. He sipped some hot cider and put his mug down slowly. "He's mad cause you wouldn't let me go home with him and you’re making me wait until after dinner. One time he called you Hitler.”
"That's harsh and more than a little unfair. Is that what you think?"
Johnny looked up from his donut. "Course not."
"This wasn't about being strict. I love our traditions and spending time with you, and we had our dinner planned long before Darnell invited you. We should honor our commitments."
"You sound like Dad. I didn't make the dinner commitment."
"Sometimes I wish you wouldn't spend so much time with Darnell. I like him, but he can be mouthy, and you're mouthier after you've been with him."
The look Johnny gave her made her wish she could suck the words back into her mouth. The last thing she wanted was to alienate him more after he'd agreed to come with her.
Johnny lowered his eyes. "He knows you don't like him. He doesn't like you, either."
"I didn't say I don't like him. I just said he can be mouthy. His mom is one of my best friends, and I don't like the way he treats her. Why don't you hang out with Kyle and Damien anymore? You've been friends since you were three."
"We still hang out at school. Can’t I like Darnell and Ty, too?"
Grace rubbed her forehead. Their conversation had taken a nosedive and it was her fault. "I'm sorry, Johnny. Of course, you can. I'm just taking my frustrations out on you. Should I talk to Darnell's mom? I don't want them thinking I don't like him."
"No, don't do that. It'll only make things worse. I'll say something tonight."
"I appreciate that." Grace slowly chewed her donut to give her time to think of a way to get back on track. She patted his hand and smiled. "Thanks for coming today. I know you'd rather be with your friends. You have no idea how much spending time with you means to me. Will you forgive me?"
Johnny gave a weak smile. "It's fine, Mom. I'm not mad. I'm glad we did this. The donuts were worth missing going to Darnell's."
Grace let out her breath and leaned back. He seemed sincere, and she hoped the goodwill would last for a few more days.
Chapter Two
Grace flinched when the deadbolt on the front door turned as she carried plates and silverware into the dining room to set the table. She relaxed when Alec’s head peeked through the door. Grace and Ryan had caved to Alec’s begging for a house key since it was safer than leaving their doors unlocked to allow Alec to barge in whenever she wanted. Alec had always refused to knock because according to her, she was "family, and family doesn't knock.”
Alec breezed in and set a covered casserole dish on the sideboard with a flourish. Grace marveled at how her friend never aged. Her thick auburn hair was still dark without a strand of gray, and she didn't have a single wrinkle. Giving birth to three kids, two of them twins, hadn't altered her perfect figure a bit.
Her husband, Adam, who also had a knack for staying young and ruggedly handsome, followed Alec in carrying five-year-old Graham. Their nine-year-old twins, Rosie and Camilla, danced in behind Adam like miniatures of their mother and waved at Grace before running to find Johnny.
Grace's heart always lightened at the sight of Alec. Grace wouldn't have survived those traumatic years when Johnny was a baby without her. It was an added bonus that Ryan and Adam got on so well, too.
Adam put Graham down and said, "Where's Ryan?"
"Changing," Grace said. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you started the bonfire."
Adam gave Grace a peck on the cheek
on his way into the backyard. Grace gathered Graham into a hug, but he squirmed free and headed for the plate of cupcakes on the sideboard.
"Not until after dinner," Alec said and turned to Grace. "It's impossible to keep up with him. He's more of a handful than the twins put together."
Graham snatched a cupcake and ran after Adam.
"Scamp," Grace said and laughed. "I only have one to worry about, not three, and Johnny's pretty self-sufficient these days. If only I could figure out what to do about his attitude." Grace shook her head and went back to setting the table.
Alec picked up the silverware and joined her. "What do you expect, that because he's disabled, he'll be perfect? I’ve told you before, he's a typical teenage boy. I think he does great considering."
Grace set the last plate in its place and leaned on the back of the chair. "I forget that sometimes. We've been getting into it over the smallest things. It's exhausting. He's mad at me tonight because he wanted to go to Darnell's before the game instead of staying for dinner."
It was Alec's turn to laugh. "And miss seeing me? I'm wounded. Naturally, he wants to be with his friends instead of a bunch of kids and old people. Let him go to Darnell's."
"I gave him permission to go after we eat."
Grace stared at her hands resting on the back of the chair and felt like they’d started to wrinkle overnight. Time had passed in a blur since Johnny was a baby, but the memories were as powerful as if it had been months instead of years.
"What's up with you tonight? You seem off," Alec asked.
Grace told her what had happened between her and Johnny the past few days. She lowered her voice, and said, "I put a tracker app on his phone this morning. Ryan was against it. Do you think it's too over the top?"
"Hell yes. Johnny's never anywhere by himself, so what do you think is going to happen?"
"Lots of parents use them, and their teenagers weren’t kidnap victims when they were babies like Johnny. Mara is still running free out there. You never know."
Alec rested her hands on Grace's shoulders. "Let this go. It's been twelve years. Johnny's safe. Mara would have come back long before now if she wanted to get to Johnny."
Johnny came down the hallway and Alec dropped her hands.
"Hey, Auntie Alec," he said, and gave her a one-armed hug. "What were you two in such a serious convo about?"
"Grown-up stuff. What's this I hear about you wanting to bail on us?" Alec asked.
He turned and glared at Grace. "Mom, do you have to tell her everything?"
"Everything. You should know that by now," Grace said, and winked.
Johnny turned back to face Alec and smiled. "Nothing personal. I just wanted to hang out with my friends. When's dinner? I'm starving."
Ryan came out of the kitchen and said, "Just what I was wondering." He kissed Alec's cheek. "Where's Adam?"
"Outback, lighting the fire," Alec said.
Ryan rubbed his hands in excitement and headed to the backyard with Johnny close behind.
Grace said, "I'm glad Johnny has you and Steph. He hates me most of the time lately."
"He doesn’t hate you. Like I said, typical teenager. But speaking of Steph, are Ryan's kids coming tonight?"
"Doubtful. Mark and Valerie are chained to that restaurant these days. They're supposed to come for dinner Monday, and we're keeping Fisher and Sophi next weekend. We haven’t seen much of them since the restaurant opened. They live thirty minutes away, but it might as well be two-hundred for as much as we see them.”
“I’m guessing Jen and Jason won’t be here?”
“Jen’s too close to her due date to travel, especially since she’s carrying twins.”
Alec instinctively pressed her hands to her stomach. “I remember what that was like.”
“We’re heading to DC in a few weeks to visit them.”
“And Steph. Is she back in the country?”
“She called to tell us she got in last night. She’ll stop by if she’s not too jetlagged."
Alec followed Grace into the kitchen to check the potatoes. "How's she doing after the big breakup?"
"She sounded good on the phone. Those months in Africa were what she needed to get her head straight. She got a photo spread in a nature magazine. It's a big deal apparently."
"That's perfect. Steph needs a boost after what she's been through."
"What's Steph been through?" Johnny asked as he came into the kitchen. Grace gave him a glance but didn't answer. Johnny switched to Alec. "What's wrong with Steph?"
Alec raised her eyebrows at Grace in question. Grace lowered her shoulders and gave a slight nod.
"She and Graydon broke up. The truth is, he abandoned her in some third-world backwater while she was on a shoot, that slimy snake," Alec said.
"When?" Johnny asked. "She never told me."
Grace hesitated before saying, "Three months ago."
"Three months? Why didn't you tell me?"
A new reason for Johnny to detest me, Grace thought. "She's been in South Africa and didn't want the entire world to know. She was heartbroken and embarrassed."
"I'm not the whole world. I'm her brother." Johnny looked at Alec. "Mom hides everything from me."
"Not true," Grace said. “Steph asked me to keep it quiet. I was respecting her wishes.”
“Whatever,” Johnny said. "Poor Steph, though. I always hated that Graydon."
"Don't say hate," Grace said. "Please don't mention the breakup if Steph comes over tonight. She's still sensitive."
"Steph's back? See, never tells me anything," Johnny said to Alec.
"She got in late last night, and it slipped my mind. I wasn't keeping it a secret."
Johnny turned and grunted on his way back outside.
"Take that tracker off his phone," Alec said, but the doorbell rang, saving Grace from having to defend herself. She had no intention of removing the tracker.
She went to the door expecting to find the Nichols, but it was Stephanie. Grace gave her stepdaughter a hug before stepping back to get a look at her. She'd always been stockier than her twin sister, Jennifer, but she'd lost weight since Grace last saw her which accentuated how wiry and fit she was. Her usually short dark hair was long and fell in highlighted waves on her shoulders.
"You look amazing," Grace said. "I love your hair that way."
"You're sweet but there’s no need to flatter me. I'm not fragile," Steph said and laughed.
"She's not lying," Alec said and hugged her. "You're gorgeous." Alec took her hand and dragged her inside. "Tell us everything about what happened with Graydon."
"There's time for that at dinner. Where's my Johnny?"
* * *
Dinner didn't turn out so bad, especially since Steph had come. Johnny always missed his sister when she was out of the country, but this time she'd been gone for almost a year.
He rushed to the living room as fast as he could on his crutches and hugged her. "Why didn't you tell me about Graydon?"
Steph backed away and laughed. "Hi, Johnny. Great to see you. I've missed you. How have you been?"
Johnny smiled. "Sorry. Mom just told me about Graydon. She keeps everything secret from me because she thinks I'm still a little kid."
"I heard that," his mom said. "And good job not bringing up a sensitive subject the minute Steph walks in the door."
"I asked her not to tell anyone," Steph told Johnny. "I was crushed and embarrassed. Everyone warned me about Graydon, but I didn't listen. Learn from my mistake. If everyone tells you your significant other is bad news, pay attention."
Johnny blushed and glanced at Jessie, who was looking super cute that night. "Will do."
Steph followed him to the table. "You're a speedster on those crutches now. You should enter the Paralympics."
"That would only work if video-gaming was a sport. He'd win the gold for sure," his dad said and kissed Steph's cheek. "Welcome back. Congrats on the magazine spread."
"Thanks, Dad," Steph said.
"I'm on the fast-track to National Geographic."
Steph kept them entertained with stories of her adventures during dinner. Johnny had planned to race through the meal so he could get to Darnell’s quicker, but he was so absorbed in Steph’s stories that he forgot. Her vivid descriptions of exotic locations made him wish he could go along on her next assignment, but he knew the last thing she’d want was her gimpy little stepbrother tagging along.
As soon as they finished eating, Johnny went to his room and threw some game controllers and clothes into his backpack before going to find his dad. Auntie Alec was alone in the living room flipping through a magazine when he got there.
"Where is everyone?" he asked.
"Out by the bonfire, except your mom. She kicked me out of the kitchen because I dared critique her pie crust."
"Big mistake. She's touchy about her cooking because she'll never be as good as you."
"Don't ever let her hear you say that. She'll never cook again." Alec patted the couch cushion next to her. "I have something for you." She reached down by her feet and picked up a wrapped package.
Johnny's eyes brightened. "Is this your new book?"
"It's your signed, advanced copy."
Johnny tore the paper off and ran his hand over the smooth, shiny cover. "Your illustrator did a great job with this one."
"Yes, I'm pleased with it."
Johnny beamed at her. "I'll read it tonight."
"You're taking a children's book to Darnell's?"
Johnny slid the book into his backpack. "My friends think it's cool I have a famous aunt."
"I’ll sleep better at night knowing I have their approval.” She winked, making Johnny laugh. “I’d hoped to do storytime with you and my kids tonight, but you got a better offer."
Adam came in from the backyard and joined them. "He's too old for children's stories, Alec. He’s graduated to YA."
Little Lost Things Page 2