The Stand

by Lila Kane

  Shocked rolled over him at her words. Words he never thought he’d hear from her. But he couldn’t focus. “I can’t do this now, Amanda. Please, I need to go.”

  To his astonishment, she only linked her hands together and nodded. “I understand. I was thinking about hanging around a few days. Maybe when you’ve dealt with this, we can talk.”

  “I don’t know,” he murmured, already turning for the kitchen to get his phone. “Sorry, I can’t talk now.”

  “Okay,” she called after him. “Goodbye.”

  He didn’t answer her, only jerked his phone off the charger and scrolled down all the names to find Riley’s number. He lowered his thumb to hit SEND, then paused.

  What if he could catch up to Grace? What if she was just going home? Maybe he could talk to her, explain things. Or at the very least, make sure she got home okay. It didn’t make sense to worry anyone else yet.

  Nathan stuffed the phone in his pocket and ran to the front door. He grabbed his jacket and tossed it on before dashing outside and hopping into his truck. He shoved the keys in the ignition. His hand slipped the first time he twisted and he tried again. This time the truck rumbled to life, and he had to swing wide to get around Amanda’s car still sitting in his drive.

  He told himself to be careful driving down the hill, but he found himself fishtailing in his hurry to catch up to Grace.

  Water ran like a river at the bottom of the hill and he slowed. The rain was so thick he couldn’t see the stop sign even though he knew it was there.

  No sight of Grace yet. He reached into his pocket, ready to call her. To see if she’d answer. There was no point in following her home if that wasn’t where she was going. He tapped the breaks and, to his surprise, saw another car through the rain. Up ahead, off the road.

  Two cars.

  One was a large Oldsmobile and a man stood in front of it, waving his arms in Nathan’s direction.

  The other sat against a tree. Grace’s car.

  He whipped the truck to the side of the road, jumping out in a river of mud. Rain hit him instantly and he held his hand over his eyes as he ran to her car.

  The other man stepped forward and Nathan paused when he saw who it was. Lewis.

  “What happened?” he asked, reaching for Grace’s door.

  “I just turned, and she came out of nowhere. She swerved and hit the tree.”

  Nathan yanked her door open, crouching down to see her. Grace looked right back at him with wide blue eyes.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. My car won’t start.”

  She turned the keys in the ignition and he heard the engine sputter.

  “Grace, get out, please. Let me make sure you’re okay.”

  Her teeth chattered. “I told you, I’m fine. My car isn’t fine, though. I almost hit someone.”

  Her eyes moved past him, and Nathan looked back to find Lewis hovering behind them.

  Grace got out of the car and leaned against it, rubbing her hand across her face. She looked so lost, so completely exhausted, he only wanted to get her to his truck and get her home. Get her dried off and by a warm fire where she could close her eyes and he could listen to her breathing, knowing she was safe with him.

  “Are you hurt?” Grace asked Lewis. “Is your car okay?”

  “I’m fine. I’m sorry, I didn’t see you coming.”

  “I was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention, I was distracted.”

  “Grace,” Nathan began, but she pushed away from the car. Her limp was pronounced but she didn’t look hurt. He held his hands out and appealed to her again. “Please hold on.”

  She shook her head. “I have to get home. I’m confused. I can’t–I can’t talk right now.”

  “I’ll take you home.”

  She didn’t listen. Instead she looked to Lewis. “My car won’t start. Do you think you could take me to my house?”

  Lewis’ eyes widened in surprise. He looked to Nathan and back again. Finally, he nodded. “Of course. Sure.” He gestured to his car. “Get in.”

  “Let me grab my purse.”

  Nathan followed her back to her car and stood beside her as she leaned in. “Grace, I can take you home.”

  “I know you have stuff to do,” she said, pulling out her purse. Her voice broke and it felt like a knife in his heart. “It’s okay, I’ll go home. We can talk later.”

  Lewis looked as bewildered as Nathan did, but he just followed Grace to his car and got in. Nathan rubbed his hand across his face.

  After he heard Lewis’ car start, he went back to his truck. Inside, he lowered his forehead to the steering wheel and closed his eyes. Now what?

  He lifted his head with a sigh. Follow them. That’s what he’d do. Make sure she got home safely and call Riley on the way so someone could be there for Grace the rest of the day since she clearly didn’t want him around.

  ~ ~ ~

  Grace kept silent the entire way back to her house. Lewis drove carefully, keeping both hands on the wheel and only glancing over when he paused for a stop sign or a light.

  “Turn left here,” she told him after they’d driven to the other side of town.

  He nodded and followed her instructions. “Are you all right? Did you get hurt?”

  “No. I didn’t hit the tree very hard. It just surprised me.”

  “Surprised me, too,” he murmured.

  She looked over. “Sorry.”

  He shrugged. “Just heading home from work.”

  “You got a job?”

  “At the garage. You know, just something simple for now.” He paused and shrugged again. “I like it.”

  “Nathan said you talked to him about my mom.”

  He grimaced, then looked guilty. “I did.”

  “You don’t think she’s here for the right reasons.”

  Several seconds passed in silence. Finally, he said, “No, I don’t.”

  “Turn at this sign here.” The rain had slowed some and she could easily see the marker at the end of the road to the youth center. She turned the conversation back to her mother. “I think she’s trying.”

  He didn’t respond.

  “Is he still following us?” Grace asked, looking back.

  “Yes.”

  She sighed. Nathan had been behind them the entire way, maybe because he didn’t trust Lewis. Maybe he just wanted to make sure she made it home safe. She directed Lewis around the youth center and to the guesthouse. She reached for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride.”

  He gave a nod. “I hope you’re right.”

  “About what?”

  “About your mother.”

  Grace took a deep breath, but found she had nothing to say in return. She got out, but he said her name again. “Yes?”

  “I can head over and take a look at your car, have it brought to the garage if it needs it.”

  She looked into his eyes, saw the sincerity there, and nodded. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”

  He looked relieved, waiting for her as she hurried to the front door. She let herself in and dropped her purse on the table. After a few minutes, she peeked out the window and saw Nathan’s truck parked close to the youth center. Waiting.

  She let the curtains fall shut and went to her room.

  Inside, with all her wet clothes on, she dropped onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow. She lay in that position for a long time. Then she heard noises and voices in the house.

  Nathan must have called the rest of the group. She braced herself for questions when she heard a knock at the door.

  “Grace, can we come in?”

  It was Maddy, probably standing there with Kara, worry on their faces. And she had no idea what to tell them.

  “Come in,” she mumbled. She kept her face turned in the opposite direction but felt Maddy and Kara surround her on the bed.

  “Are you okay?” Kara asked.

  “Yes.”

  “What happened?”

  “Didn’t
Nathan already tell you?”

  “He’s worried,” Maddy said. “He wants to make sure you’re okay.”

  “I already told him I’m fine. He’s not here, is he?”

  “Yes, but so is Riley. They said they can take a look at your car.”

  “Lewis is going to,” she mumbled. “It’s fine.”

  “Lewis?” Kara’s voice sounded doubtful. “Grace, can you look at us? We want to make sure you’re not hurt. Nathan said you ran into a tree.” Her voice lowered. “We want to help you.”

  “I don’t need any help.” Her voice came out rough, and a tear escaped, betraying her.

  She felt a hand on her back. “We’ll go away.” It was Maddy. “But everyone is worried. Just tell us for sure that you’re not hurt and then we’ll make sure everyone else leaves, too.”

  “I’m not hurt, I promise.”

  “We’re not leaving you alone,” Kara said. “We’ll be in the living room.”

  Grace swallowed hard as they walked out, fighting back tears. She was supposed to be the strong one. The focused one. And here she was breaking down over a man, heart aching because she’d let herself be vulnerable.

  She kept her eyes shut and let the exhaustion wash over her. She remembered little before she fell asleep.

  When she woke, the room was dimmer than before. She still heard the patter of rain on the roof and windows. Grace lifted herself off the bed slowly. Her clothes were still damp, and she grimaced when her muscles protested.

  She peeled off her wet clothes and found a robe. It sounded quiet in the rest of the house.

  When she cracked the door open, she heard voices talking faintly at the other end of the house. She snuck out quietly and went to the bathroom.

  She lingered in the shower, soothed by the hot spray of water. It comforted her as well as she could be comforted right now. It helped to calm some of the thoughts that festered in her mind. When she finally got out, the mirrors were fogged up and she’d grown sleepy again.

  Grace listened quietly at the door, still heard nothing, and walked back to her bedroom. She paused inside the door and saw the covers had been straightened on her bed. Maddy.

  She also found a tray with hot tea and a sandwich sitting on it. She leaned against the door and gave a small smile.

  Grace got in bed and put her tea and sandwich on the nightstand next to her. She pulled over her laptop and pulled up the budget sheet for the youth center. Since she planned on staying in for the rest of the night, she figured she’d better work on her own plans. Even without Nathan’s help, she could figure this out.

  She could do this.

  She pulled over the tea and sipped it, letting it warm the rest of her. She gave in and ate some of the sandwich as well.

  She worked late into the night and heard Maddy finally leave shortly before Kara went to bed. She’d talk to them tomorrow. She’d tell them everything that had happened. And Riley, she’d talk to him, too. She’d get herself together and make progress with the star. She had no choice.

  Grace leaned back against the headboard and closed her eyes. She’d talk to everyone and fix everything. Even Nathan…

  She curled to her side and shoved that name out of her mind. She couldn’t think about him without opening a flood of emotions in her heart. She couldn’t think…

  She drifted into a dreamless sleep.

  When Grace woke again, morning sun flooded through the window. She sat up and grimaced at the kink in her neck. The tea was cold on her nightstand and she’d only taken two bites of the sandwich. The computer still lay open on her bedspread. She tapped the touchpad to bring up the screen.

  She started to shut it down when she noticed the email. With another tap, she pulled up the message from Nathan.

  Grace drew a sharp breath and clicked the button to open it.

  Grace,

  I’m sorry about what happened last night. I should have told you I called Amanda, but I had no idea she’d come back. I decided to talk with her, to give her the chance to say what she felt she needed to say.

  We have a long history together and I’m considering moving back to give our marriage another try. I’m so sorry Grace. I really care about you. But I need to see where this goes.

  Nathan

  A lump formed in her throat. She sat staring at the screen so long the screen saver came on. It moved her out of her trance and she reached up to feel tears staining her face.

  She swallowed hard and hurried to her closet, putting on the first thing she found. She wound her hair into a short ponytail and shoved her feet in sneakers.

  Tiptoeing out of the room, she listened for Kara. She heard nothing and hurried through the rest of the house, snagging her purse off the table on the way. She peeked out the window, surprised to find her car outside waiting for her. Lewis must have been able to get it running.

  A small scratch remained where she’d run into the tree. But otherwise, there was little evidence of what had happened the night before.

  She drove to the bed and breakfast she knew her mother was staying at. She hesitated at the door, then raised her hand to knock. Her mother answered almost immediately, hair ruffled as though she’d run her hands through it dozens of times.

  “Grace? What’s wrong, sweetie?” Grace let out a quiet sob, and then she was in her mother’s arms. “Oh, Gracie, what happened?”

  She muttered something unintelligible and her mother hugged her tighter.

  “Is it that man?”

  Grace could only nod.

  “Why don’t you sit down and tell me about it?”

  She pulled back and Grace followed her to the closest chair. She looked around the tiny room and noticed a suitcase, clothes stacked together as though she were packing.

  “Are you going somewhere?”

  Marlene gave her a solemn look. “I can’t afford it here anymore, hon. And I haven’t been able to get a job yet. I have to get out today.”

  Grace choked on a laugh, suddenly relieved. “I can help you, Mom.”

  Marlene’s eyes softened at the name. “Really?”

  “Sure, you can come stay with me or–”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose.”

  Grace shook her head. “Or I could give you some money.”

  Marlene paused. Then she reached out and tapped Grace on the knee. “You’re too sweet. Come on, tell me what’s bothering you and we’ll figure out all the rest later.”

  Chapter 31

  “Where is she?” Riley asked, pacing across the room with long strides. He tucked his hands in his pockets, shoulders tense.

  Nathan looked to Kara, who wrung her hands. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d hear her if she got up. I thought she’d stay here and we could talk.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Nathan said. “She probably just needed time to herself.”

  “I hope that’s all it is.” Riley’s jaw clenched as he looked over. “After what happened yesterday…

  “I know,” Nathan said. He felt guilty himself. He couldn’t help that Amanda had shown up at his door, but the timing was terrible.

  The timing was terrible. And yet…perfect.

  “Dammit!” He shook his head. “Of course.”

  Riley looked up. “What?”

  “Of course,” Nathan repeated, rubbing his hand across his jaw and pacing like Riley had. “I should have seen this.”

  “Nathan,” Kara said. “Tell us what you’re thinking.”

  “Grace came over yesterday so we could figure out what to do about the youth center. And what to do about the star. And we were making a breakthrough. Then Amanda showed up.”

  “So…” Kara frowned.

  “So you were on the right track,” Riley summed up. He nodded, stopped pacing and took a seat at the table as well.

  “We were on the right track. And I think…even before yesterday, there were still things working against us. Against Grace especially. With Maddy and you, Kara”–he looked at her–“the attacks were mor
e obvious. But with Grace…it’s been more subtle. It’s been through her own doubts and worries. Through her friends and her family. Then Amanda showed up yesterday and that was just enough to make her doubt some more.”

  “But you were on the right track. In fact, you were probably close,” Kara said. “That’s good. She needs to know this.”

  “We can’t tell her if we can’t find her.”

  Kara looked to Riley. “If she shows up at Serendipity, Elliot and Maddy will be there. In the meantime, I think I might know where she is.”

  “Where?”

  Kara sighed and leaned back in her chair. “With your mom.”

  Riley frowned. “She’s been visiting with her, hasn’t she?”

  Kara nodded, looking guilty again.

  “I don’t want her to stop seeing our mom, but things have gotten worse since she showed up. That’s not good.”

  “Maybe it is.” Nathan folded his hands on the table. “I’m not saying that for sure, I’m just saying usually when things get worse it means something else is going right. It means Grace is getting closer to finding the star.”

  “That’s how it was with me,” Kara said with a nod. “The more convinced I became that I didn’t want to leave Serenity Falls, the harder things got.”

  Riley stood. “I’m worried. I don’t want Grace out there by herself. If something happens…”

  “I’ll help you look.” Nathan stood as well. “She might not want to see me but I need to know she’s okay.”

  Kara nodded. “I can stay here and wait in case she comes home.”

  “No, that’s not a good idea. You shouldn’t be alone either. Go to Serendipity. If none of us have found anything in an hour, then someone will check back here to see if she’s come home.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Grace said goodbye to her mother one more time and reached for the door. When she opened it, she revealed a man, hand poised as if to knock. Tattoos stretched up his arm and over his shoulder. He had shaggy brown hair and a wide smile.

  Marlene stood automatically when she saw him. “Grace, this is the friend I was telling you about. Dan. He…decided to visit for a little longer.”