State of Grace: A Moonflower Cove Romance

by Addison Clarke

  “Sometimes, we don’t get apologies from the people that hurt us.”

  The silence filled the air between them, but nothing felt awkward or uncomfortable.

  Alexis knew better than anyone that relationships with parents weren’t always easy. Her relationship with her mother had been strained since before Alexis was born. Morning sickness, bed rest, and a preterm delivery had all led to Moira Holland’s postpartum depression. Coupled with the fact Jenna thought her child-rearing days were over thanks to the large age gap between her and her siblings. There was a wedge between them before Alexis was ever born, and Moira blamed Alexis for her depression. Moira had almost seemed relieved when she kicked Alexis out of the house when she found out she was pregnant.

  Of course, there was more water under that bridge than Alexis was ever prepared to tread. Instead, they’d both accepted the way their relationship was and never worked to change it. Harper barely knew her biological grandparent, but she had more than enough surrogate grandmothers to love on her, which was more than enough for them.

  On the car’s touchscreen, a text message notification popped up from Sophia. Alexis picked up the phone and unlocked it to read the message.

  The stalker app shows you’re sitting in the car in Isla’s driveway. Hope the windows don’t get foggy…

  Alexis rolled her eyes and tossed the phone back onto the console.

  “I should go so you can get home.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and put her hand on the handle. “I’m sure you want to be home after a long day of work and not stuck here awkwardly with me.”

  “It’s ok,” the words left her mouth quicker than Alexis had intended, and Blake raised an eyebrow at her. “I mean, I’m here if you need to talk or anything. I know all of this,” she motioned toward the farmhouse where the porch light had recently come on, “can be a lot, and I’m not sure you have anyone you can talk to about it.”

  “Gee, thanks for assuming I have no friends,” Blake teased.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “I do, and thank you.” She smiled sincerely at Alexis. “Thank you for the drinks and the ride and the talk.” Blake pushed open the car door. With one foot out the door, she turned back around to Alexis. “Maybe we can do this again sometime? Just, you know, hang out and talk?”

  “I’d love that.”

  “Great. Me too.” The smile grew on Blake’s lips. She leaned over the console in a quick motion and placed a gentle kiss on Alexis’s cheek. Her lips were warm and soft on her skin, and she curled her lips inward to keep the smile from spreading on her face. Blake pulled back with a wink as Alexis felt the warmth rising in her cheeks. “Now you can tell Sophia there was kissing. I’ll see you around, Alexis.”

  “Bye.” Alexis waved as Blake closed the door and headed up the walkway to the front door. Her lime green yoga pants were in stark contrast to the dark sky, her black top, and the dark gray baseball cap. Before heading inside, she turned and waved at Alexis once more.

  The massive smile didn’t leave Alexis’s lips for the entire drive back to her apartment. Her whole body was warm and fuzzy, and she wasn’t sure what to think of the unfamiliar emotions starting to course through her body. Was she crazy for thinking that Blake Calloway was interested in her? She had to be crazy. Blake could have anyone in the world she wanted. There was no way she’d ever choose the single mom bartender with more baggage than a booked American Airlines flight.

  Then again, Blake had kissed her. It was only a kiss on the cheek, but still. It was a kiss.

  As she parked her car behind the apartment building, a notification pinged on her phone as Alexis picked it up. The message was from Blake, which was confusing on many levels as Alexis only knew one Blake and didn’t have her number, and yet it was already saved in her phone’s contact list.

  Thank you for tonight. It was great to laugh with you. :)

  How did you get my number?

  I have my ways. ;)

  Rolling her lips in to stop the smile from exploding over her face, Alexis held the phone up to her chest and sighed happily. She was smitten, and there was no denying it.

  If only Alexis could figure out what to do about that new feeling.

  Chapter 11

  “We missed you last night after dinner.” Vera’s statement wasn’t condescending or scolding, but Blake could sense a hint of sadness in her voice. Blake should have at least told someone she was leaving the house, but the rules were blurry. Sure, Blake was staying under their roof, but she didn’t live there. She was a grown-ass woman who didn’t need permission to go for a run, yet Blake felt guilty about it.

  “Oh, I went for a run.” Turning off the faucet, Blake put her clean coffee mug onto the dryer rack and turned to Vera. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask.”

  “Hey, you’re an adult.” Vera waved her off dismissively. “I’m glad you’re getting out and making friends.” The twinkle in Vera’s eyes didn’t go unnoticed. Taking a clean mug out of the cabinet, Vera filled it to the brim with coffee.

  When Blake had gotten home the night before, she had noticed that the porch light was off. By the time she walked up the sidewalk, however, the light was on. Someone – most likely Vera by the way she was smiling – knew that Alexis had dropped her off. That knowledge made Blake slightly uncomfortable, and she walked around the kitchen island toward the bedroom. She could hear Vera’s footsteps close behind her and knew that, despite her best efforts, the conversation was not dropped.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insinuate anything.”

  “You didn’t.” Blake plopped down on the edge of the bed as she crossed her legs to put her shoes on. Leaning on the door, Vera peered over her steaming cup of coffee at Blake.

  “Alexis is a great girl.”

  “I can tell.”

  “She’s hilarious and sweet, but she’s shy until you get to know her.”

  “Uh-huh.” Finishing lacing up her tennis shoes, Blake braced her arms behind her as she leaned back. Vera firmly nodded as she took another sip of her coffee. Her blue eyes held a playfulness that made Blake roll her eyes.

  “It’s great that you two are becoming friends.”

  “Who’s becoming friends?” Isla appeared in the doorway beside Vera, taking the coffee mug from her wife’s hand and taking a sip before snarling her nose at the black coffee. She handed the mug back to Vera with a shudder of her shoulders and kissed her on the cheek. She looked over at Blake and smiled. “We missed you last night.”

  “She was out with Alexis.” The way Vera said her name wasn’t lost on Blake.

  “Oh?” Isla tilted her head at her and narrowed her eyes.

  “I went for a run, stopped by the bar, had a drink, and it was getting late, so Alexis offered to drive me home, so I didn’t have to run back home in the dark.” Blake held her hands up in surrender. “That’s it.”

  “Oh, sweetie, I didn’t mean to…”

  “It’s ok,” Blake cut Vera off.

  “Baby, why don’t you give Blake and me a minute to discuss that thing we talked about last night, hmm?” Isla’s raised eyebrows were clearly her way of letting people know she meant business. Nodding, Vera turned on her heels and disappeared down the hall as Isla came into the room. She shut the door behind her, and Blake felt like she was a teenager in trouble. Were they going to kick her out? Tell her that she had a curfew and needed to let them know when she was going out?

  “Am I in trouble for not telling you I was leaving last night?”

  “Gosh, no.” Taking a seat on the wobbly desk chair, Isla crossed her legs and leaned forward slightly. “I wanted to talk to you about the garage apartment. It’s not much; it needs to be cleaned out, I’m sure, but it would give you more privacy if you want. It would mean that you could avoid Vera’s morning hovering, which, I know, can be a lot.”

  “She’s fine,” Blake waved Isla’s comment off.

  “You don’t have to lie to me.” She laughed. “I married the woman, and I love her m
ore than life itself, but she’s a huge mama bear. She loves fiercely and is protective, and wants everyone to get along. That’s who she is; she wants to make everyone comfortable, but she doesn’t realize that some people don’t like her hovering around all the time.”

  Blake couldn’t help but smile as Isla rambled. It was more apparent than anything that the two of them were madly in love with each other, and it made Blake long for the day she would have that. She wanted it; she truly did. She was also sure she’d never find it, thanks to her career. Every woman she’d been in a relationship with had wanted her for either the status of being linked to her or her money. Or both.

  Her brain wanted to focus on the fact that Alexis seemed uninterested in either of those things, but her heart blocked it out. Blake reminisced on the feel of Alexis’s soft skin on her lips the night before as she ran her tongue over her bottom lip. The last thing Blake had expected when she’d decided to go to the Cove was to meet someone like Alexis. Someone who completely rocked her world in a way that no one else ever had before.

  Blake loved their easy conversations, the way she made Alexis nervous in the sweetest ways, and how Alexis seemed interested in her as well. But Blake didn’t even know if Alexis was gay. She had her suspicions, yes. There was the WLW fanfic she wrote and the fact that Alexis lived in a town where most of the people Blake had met were gay. Then again, Alexis had Harper, so clearly, a man was involved at some point. Shaking her head, Blake cleared the gorgeous woman from her brain as she focused back on Isla.

  “So, you said something about a garage apartment.”

  “I did.” Isla nodded as she leaned her elbow onto the small desk behind her. The chair slightly wobbled as Isla steadied herself. “It’s over the detached garage. It has a bathroom and kitchen, and, actually, why don’t I take you over there and show you?”

  Standing up, Isla motioned for her to follow her. She followed Isla out the back door, across the paved driveway, and to the two-car, two-story detached garage. It had its own entrance on the side that led up a set of stairs. At the top of the stairs, it opened up into a deceptively large studio apartment.

  “Mason stayed here growing up, and we used it for Vera’s family when they came in, but they moved to Portland a few years ago, so now, they stay at their own house.” Blake smirked at the relief in her voice. “It needs an extensive dusting and mopping, and we may need to fix up some of the appliances but, if you want to stay here, you can.”

  “I…I don’t know how long I’m going to be here. I don’t want you to go through all that trouble for me.” Blake walked into the apartment as she looked around. There was a bed in one corner near what Blake assumed to be the bathroom, and an oversized couch and recliner sat on the opposite wall positioned around a small television. The kitchen had older appliances, but they would do. Scratching the back of her neck, Blake looked over her shoulder to Isla.

  “I know your future is uncertain right now, but I want you to know you always have a place here. I want this,” Isla motioned around the room, “to be your home-away-from-home if you want it. It can be your little place to come to when you need a break, or you’re on summer hiatus from a show or something.”

  Blake swallowed the lump in her throat as she turned away from Isla. She’d never had a home before, not really. Growing up, they had floated in and out of apartments and condos and houses with more rooms than Blake could count, but none were ever home. But the garage apartment already felt more like a home than any place she’d ever been before. Pressing her tongue into her cheek, she took a deep breath.

  “I would love that.”

  “Me too.” Isla’s voice was quiet. It was so soft that Blake barely heard it.

  As Blake walked around the apartment, she noticed various posters from the Moonflower Cove Theatrical Company. She recognized Isla in several of the cast photos, from Guys and Dolls to Spamalot to Cabaret. Blake’s heart soared as her acting ability finally made sense. It was a family thing.

  “You know, if you’re interested,” Isla walked up beside her and admired the posters as well, “I could introduce you to Bryce; she runs the theatrical company. I’m sure she’d love some help with the summer play. They’re doing Legally Blonde: The Musical, and last I heard, Elle Woods’s singing voice was great, but her acting needed some work.”

  “I wouldn’t be much of an acting coach.”

  “Oh, please.” Isla waved her off with a huff of air. “You’re amazing, and although Bryce is great at being a musical coach, she’s been lost since her acting coach left her high and dry to go to Broadway a few months ago. She hasn’t been able to find anyone to fill in, and the show is performed in early August, so she’s crunched for time. I’m sure she’d appreciate any help you could give her.”

  “I don’t know, Mom.” The idea of working with the community theatre was intriguing; Blake could admit. She’d never taught before, but she often had thoughts on the way scenes should be done. Blake didn’t doubt that she could do it. But did she want it to be publicly known that Blake Calloway was in her mother’s hometown working for a community theatrical company? She didn’t know. Maybe there was a way to keep that out of the headlines.

  “If it helps sway your thoughts,” Isla’s voice held more playfulness than Blake had heard, “Alexis Holland is Elle Woods.”

  Blake whirled around so quickly she was sure her head would keep spinning around her neck. Alexis was in a musical? As the lead? She would have never pictured that. Not that she thought Alexis couldn’t do it. It simply wasn’t something she’d ever imagined for Alexis. Not that she knew Alexis well enough to make that judgment.

  “I thought that might get your attention.” Isla laughed.

  “And what does that mean?” Blake let out a huff of air she’d meant to be a laugh, but it fell short. She dramatically put her hands on her hips as she raised an eyebrow at Isla and realized it was another habit she’d gotten from her mother.

  “It means that Vera may have mentioned that you and Alexis sat and talked in the driveway for a while last night, and I can only hope that means you’re making friends.” Isla smiled as she shrugged. “I want you to feel at home here. Not only here in this apartment but here in Moonflower Cove. This town is one big family, and I’m happy to see that you’re making friends. That’s all.”

  “So, because I’m making friends with Alexis, I should go coach her in a play? That seems like a surefire way to ruin a friendship. Me waltzing in there and coaching her like I have any right to do so.”

  “You would if you were Bryce’s assistant.” Reaching into her back pocket, Isla busied herself on her phone. “I’m going to send Bryce a message and ask her if she’s at the office today. Maybe you can stop by and talk to her and see what you think. We can go from there.”

  “Ugh.” Blake dramatically flopped onto the couch.

  “Hey, I’m trying to help you feel at home here. What if this becomes something you enjoy? I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before now.” Nodding a few times, Isla looked down at her phone and smiled. “Oh, good. She’s going to be there today, and there’s a rehearsal tonight. Why don’t you go over there, talk to Bryce, and maybe watch a rehearsal? The worst that will happen is you’ll lose a few hours of your life, but at least you’ll get to see Alexis.”

  Isla winked as Blake rolled her eyes. Maybe it was because she’d didn’t grow up with a mother, but Blake wondered if this was what it was like having one. Someone to annoy the shit out of you because they love you and want you to be happy. Blake had to admit that even before she’d found out Alexis was in the play, she was intrigued by the idea of helping if she could. Of course, she didn’t want her name on the programs or posters, but she could be there in the shadows if needed.

  “Fine.” Blake sat up on the edge of the couch. “Send me Bryce’s contact info and the address to the theatre, and I’ll stop by there this afternoon.”

  “Already sent both of those,” Isla held up her phone. “If you hate it
or aren’t into it, there would be no hard feelings. Promise.”

  “Well, that’s good.” Smirking, Blake shook her head. “This was a very mother-daughter thing we just did, wasn’t it?”

  “It was indeed.” Isla laughed. “I’ve had years of practice on the kids to have perfected the art of convincing my offspring to do something they don’t know they want to do until I push them in that direction. And I can take you over to the theatre later if you want and introduce you to Bryce.”

  “Um, yeah. That’d be great.”

  “Ok.” Isla clapped her hands together. “It’s a plan.”

  “Hey, Mom?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Can you maybe mention to Bryce that I don’t want it to be a big deal that I’m there?” Nervously, Blake popped her knuckles before wiping her hands on her thighs. Isla tilted her head toward her as Blake hurried to explain. “I love meeting your friends, and I’m fine with people knowing who I am, but I want to lay low right now. As far as I know, only Salem knows that I’m here, and I’d like to keep off the radar and not draw attention to my current location. I want the Cove to be my place away from everything. Does that make sense?”

  “It does.” Nodding, Isla sent another message. “I’ll tell Bryce not to make a big deal about it to the cast and not to post anything about it on social media. Believe it or not,” she paused for a moment, waiting until Blake looked up at her to continue, “Bryce was a voice coach in Hollywood for a bit.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep, but the whole thing overwhelmed her, and she found her way back to the Cove.” Isla shrugged nonchalantly. “The Cove has a way of doing that.”

  “Of doing what?”

  “Of making people come back.” Isla headed down the stairs with another wink as Blake followed after her with a smile on her face. She loved the budding relationship with her mother, and the prospect of helping at a theatre company was more intriguing than Blake had anticipated. But it was the prospect of seeing Alexis that was the icing on the cake. Suddenly, Blake couldn’t wait to get to the theatre.