by VK Powell
Dani relaxed a bit. Nobody questioned her about her absence, a little weird, but welcome. Grace seemed happy to see her, and neither Clay nor Trip had jumped her yet. River Hemsworth, obviously now with Clay, gave her an encouraging smile. Dani tried to play it cool, but curiosity won out. “So, what do we need to talk about?”
Trip looked at Grace and waited for a nod before saying, “A friend of Grace’s in Savannah has been tracking the guy who drugged her, and she’s come up with some possible suspects. If you’re willing, she’d like you to look at a photo lineup.” Trip took a sip of her beer and moved closer to Dani. “Hey, I’m sorry Clay and I gave you a hard time the other day. You did Grace a real service, and I’m grateful. No hard feelings?” She stuck out her hand. “Anybody who risks her neck for a friend is all right with me.”
Dani felt something shift between them. She’d developed great respect for Trip’s professional abilities, but always felt like an outsider, until now. Trip had been a loyal friend to Grace and was now woman enough to admit she might’ve been wrong about Dani. Would she feel the same way when Dani told her news? She took Trip’s hand. “No hard feelings at all. I’d have done the same thing you and Clay did to protect a friend.”
Clay slapped her on the back, and then Grace nudged between them. “Okay, give the woman some room.” She tucked her arm in Dani’s and handed her a cold beer from the cooler. “How do you like your burgers? Wait. Let me guess. Medium rare?”
“Exactly. So, did you decide to report what happened?” Dani asked.
Grace shook her head. “I just asked a few questions. My friend was already working a couple of similar cases. I used the confidential informant angle on my end.”
“You being the informant?”
“Right. So, you don’t mind looking at the photos?”
“Of course not.” She wasn’t sure if this development would interfere with her new plans, but she owed Grace this much. Dani joined Clay, River, and Trip at the picnic table sipping drinks while she watched Grace flip burgers and something wrapped in foil.
Grace said, “Don’t feel like you have to do this. You’ve already literally given your pound of flesh for the creep.”
“I’ve got this.” Grace continued to surprise her. She’d forgo finding the man who drugged her for Dani’s comfort. Where she came from people, not even family, sacrificed for others, but somehow she’d done it for Grace the night she was drugged and felt more herself because of it. And now Grace was willing to do the same for her. The give and take of relationships? Not so bad.
“Okay, burgers up,” Grace said. “Help yourselves.”
Dani spread Duke’s mayonnaise, which she’d developed an affinity for, on both sides of her bun, added lettuce, tomato, and a burger, then filled the other side of her plate with grilled onions and potatoes. Everything looked delicious and she was suddenly starving. The last two days had been frantic and she’d eaten and rested poorly. She bit into her burger and moaned with appreciation. “Thanks. I needed this.”
The others fixed their plates, and everyone ate quietly. Dani’s comfort with the group waned as the silence stretched, and the unspoken hung awkwardly between them. She had to clear the air.
“Sorry I haven’t been around the last couple of days. Hope I didn’t leave you in trouble at the clinic, Trip.” Everybody looked at her, but Grace’s stare, full of happiness and hope, squeezed Dani’s heart like a fist. “I had business back in Baltimore.”
Grace glanced down at her food, but not before Dani saw the spark fade from her eyes. She should’ve discussed this privately with Grace, not blurted it in front of everyone. She’d hoped by being open, she might gain more of their confidence and trust, but her instincts had been off, again. Would she ever learn the nuances and subtle cues of relationships?
“Job offer?” For all her bravado, Trip was also refreshingly straightforward.
Dani nodded, her throat suddenly too tight for speech. For the past six months, she’d waited for her dream job offer and the chance to return to the familiarity of city life with lots of options and diversions. Now her news had shattered the only real, true thing she’d ever known—Grace.
“I apologize for my delivery.” She reached for Grace’s hand, but she pulled away.
“Your delivery?” Grace’s tone was incredulous. “Not for vanishing without mentioning why? Not for leaving your employer in a lurch? To say nothing of practically jumping from my bed and into your car without a word. That was the phone call you got while we were—” Grace rose from the table but stopped beside Dani. “You really are something, Dani Wingate.”
Grace’s eyes shone with tears and a deep, unbearable agony Dani had seen often in her parents. And she’d caused it. “Grace, can we talk about this privately, please?” She glanced toward the others hoping Grace would understand.
Grace studied her for several long seconds as if trying to divine her motivation before finally answering. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I heard you perfectly the first time. Congratulations on getting what you wanted. I’m sorry for my outburst.”
Dani listened for any parting comments as Grace brushed by, but all she heard was a clipped exchange between her and Harry as Grace passed through the sunroom.
Trip eyed Dani hard, grabbed her plate, still heaping with food, and tossed it in the garbage. “I took a chance on you, Wingate, and you pull this crap.”
“I can work a notice, if you need me.”
“Probably best for Grace if you leave right now, but I need your ass at the clinic to handle treatments this afternoon. We’ll be busy taking care of our friend.” Without another word, Trip followed Grace into the house.
Clay rose slowly from the table, River at her side. “I’m sorry, Dani, for all of us, but mostly for you. You could’ve had something special.” She picked up her half-eaten hamburger in a napkin, disposed of the rest, and fell in behind Trip.
Dani forked a mouthful of potatoes and onions, but her stomach wretched. Some friends. They should be happy for her. She’d been honest about her intentions when she landed in Pine Cone. Why were they surprised? The job offer was a good one with potential for advancement. So why did she feel so awful?
Chapter Eighteen
Grace’s pulse raced, but everything around her moved in slow motion as she ran from Dani’s news. She’d held back the tears until out of Dani’s presence, but now they fell freely.
“Hey, Grace. Pretty girl.” In Grace’s peripheral vision, Dirty Harry danced on his perch like an old reel-to-reel movie about to break.
“Shut up, Harry.” He’d said the nicest words to her ever, but she couldn’t stop so close to Dani and acknowledge him. She ducked into Mary Jane’s room. No one would follow.
She dropped into the upholstered recliner in the corner that was so old dust motes perpetually hovered likes bees around honey. The sides enveloped her the way Mary Jane’s arms had when she was a child but offered none of the comfort. And the tears continued.
A light tap on the door preceded Clay’s concerned voice. “Gracie, are you okay?”
“We’re here, if you need us,” Trip added.
“Need…to be…alone.”
She’d been wrong about Dani and risked her heart again. Neither their intimate conversations, sharing stories about their lives, satisfying sex, nor deep feelings could hold Dani if she didn’t want to stay. No amount of preparation could’ve eased the ache in Grace’s chest or the feeling she might drown in grief. She curled into the chair, pulled a blanket around her to hide from her feelings and the rest of the world, and sobbed.
She woke later to Mary Jane’s soft voice laced with worry. “Grace, honey? Are you all right?” Mary Jane shook her gently.
Grace hugged the blanket tighter, refusing to wake up or face anything outside of her fabric cocoon. “Sorry.” Her throat was scratchy, and her stuffy nose made her voice sound muffled. Mary Jane didn’t need to see her this way again. They’d been here before, and Grace apparently ha
dn’t learned her lesson. “Sorry I invaded your space.”
“It’s perfectly all right. You know that.” She rubbed Grace’s shoulder, and then Grace heard her move toward the small kitchenette in the back part of the room. “I’ll make us a cup of green tea while you unravel yourself from that blanket. It must be over a hundred degrees under there.”
“Thanks.” She lifted a corner of her cover, and a blast of cooler air rushed in. She inhaled and wiped her eyes on her T-shirt, the salt of tears making her face feel rough.
Mary Jane took her time puttering with the tea, and when she returned, Grace was sitting up, the blanket once again covering the back of the chair. “I’m sorry again for crashing your place. I know you don’t like people in here.”
Mary Jane placed the tea on a small side table between the recliner and a cushioned chair she’d scooted closer. “And you’re not just anybody, Gracie.”
She stared straight ahead not really focusing on anything while Mary Jane patiently sipped her tea. She always seemed to know what Grace needed but gave her time to come to her own conclusions. She reached for her teacup, drew back her shaking hand, tried again with two, and brought the cup slowly to her lips. “Good, MJ. Thank you.” She took a couple more sips.
“Well, choir practice sucked tonight. The ladies were more interested in talking about the new mechanic over at the garage than playing cards. You’d think at some point the hormones would level out. I tried to explain that the concept of cougar required mobility.”
Grace loved Mary Jane for trying to distract her, even make her laugh, but nothing was going to help her mood right now. “Dani’s going back to Baltimore.” Her statement hung in the air, making the room feel darker and burying her under its weight.
“Oh, Gracie, I’m sorry.” Mary Jane cupped her hand and squeezed. “So very sorry.”
“I knew it was going to happen.” Grace brushed another round of tears from her cheeks.
“The knowing doesn’t make the happening any easier, honey. When did you find out?”
“She announced it at dinner. That’s where she’s been for two days.”
“Any idea when she’s leaving?” Mary Jane asked softly.
“No.” Grace finished her tea and stood slowly. “I need to get out for a bit, breathe some fresh air.” She looked down at Mary Jane and her eyes looked as sad as Grace felt. “And don’t worry, I won’t do anything stupid, like run after her. Those days are over.”
“You want some company?”
Grace shook her head.
A few minutes later, she pulled up to Mosquito Alley, cut the Corolla engine, and waited as it sputtered into silence across the water. She walked to the river’s edge and sat on her favorite flat rock overlooking a small waterfall. The last rays of sunlight streaked the surface of the water and brought it to life with color. Clay had painted several beautiful landscapes sitting on the bank while Grace and Trip chatted nearby. Tonight, the muted hues produced only melancholy.
Things with Dani were always going to end badly. But why so soon? She’d hoped for a few weeks, possibly months, of something resembling happiness, but had only gotten a taste. Dani made her feel more deeply than she ever had, and she’d finally opened her heart again. She couldn’t regret being with her no matter how painful the outcome.
Grace inhaled the familiar scents of rich river mud, brackish water, and remnants of sweet muscadines and melons decaying and returning to the soil for another season. She listened to the wheezy call of finches, the clicking rattle of scrub jays, and the unique chirping of cicadas as night closed in. The sights and sounds of this place gave her peace, but she’d leave it today to be with Dani anywhere in the world. She couldn’t deny it any longer or claim contentment with the temporary. She was in love with Dani. Now what? She bent her legs and rested her head on her knees letting the revelation sink in.
“Hey, Grace.” Trip sounded nervous. “Thought we might find you here.” She settled on one side of Grace and Clay on the other.
“If you want to be alone, we’ll leave,” Clay said, her voice thick with concern. We’re just worried about you is all.” Clay wrapped a light jacket around her shoulders. “The mosquitoes are about to carry you away.”
“Hadn’t noticed.” Grace pulled the jacket tighter, suddenly feeling the bite stings and the crisper night air.
“It’s her type O blood. Those females love her,” Trip said. When Grace eyeballed her, Trip added, “Sorry. Do you want us to go?”
Grace shook her head. “I’ve been thinking and I need to tell you something.” Clay and Trip scooted closer but didn’t speak, letting Grace take her time. “I’m in love with Dani.” No one responded. “Well…”
“That’s not exactly news, Gracie,” Clay said. “But Trip owing me ten dollars is.”
Grace laughed out loud and her mood lifted. “It’s about time. What was the bet?”
Trip grunted. “That you’d fall for Dani. It’s easy to see when you guys are together.”
“Hard to imagine you betting against such a sure thing, Trip.”
“Yeah, I was hoping I’d lose, but now I’m not so sure. Anything we can do?”
Grace slid one arm around Trip’s shoulder and the other over Clay’s so they were all connected. “Nothing to be done. I gave it my best shot, and she’s still leaving. End of story. I just needed to admit the truth. When will she finish at the clinic?”
“Not sure.” Trip looked out over the river and swatted mosquitoes. “I told her she could go now for all I care. Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, you won’t have to see her again.” Trip frowned and tucked her head when Grace squeezed her neck. “Sorry, but I’m pissed. She hurt you. Do you want me to ask her to work out a long notice?”
“Don’t really see the point. Just be nice and don’t make matters worse. And you will give her a good, no, make that a great, reference.” When Trip didn’t answer, Grace added, “Understand me, Tripoli Olivia Beaumont?”
Trip covered her ears. “Keep it down. I don’t want the whole town knowing that moniker. I’ll give Dani a glowing recommendation. She’s an awesome vet. I’d even thought about expanding the business and asking her to become a partner, but she blew that too.”
“Pine Cone would never be enough for her.” Grace’s voice quivered as she watched insects dance above the water’s surface. “And neither am I.”
Clay patted Grace’s arm. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Gracie. I was lucky enough to entice River away from New York City.”
Grace smiled, grateful for Clay’s kind words, but Dani was nothing like River.
Trip nodded toward the car. “Come on. My eyeballs are floating. Too many beers at dinner.”
“Well, your favorite bush is right over there. Don’t let us stop you,” Clay said.
“I’m not dropping my drawers out here at night. Those bloodsuckers would latch onto my lady parts and ruin me for life. Let’s go.”
Grace stood and started toward her car. “Nothing like best friends to put life back into perspective.”
Chapter Nineteen
For the next five days, Dani tied up the loose ends of her stay in Pine Cone. She looked at the police lineup and picked out the guy who’d drugged Grace, and he was charged in several cases. She’d just finished her final week at work and intended to leave for Baltimore early the next morning. She cleared out her small locker in the back of the clinic, stuffed everything into her duffel bag and left the door key on the shelf. Trip had been the consummate professional at work, for which Dani was grateful, but had given her a wide berth personally. The separation made Dani feel wretched. So, this was what it felt like to lose friends she cared about.
And Grace was never far from Dani’s mind, always arousing feelings she couldn’t control. Grace had been purposely absent at the B and B, and Mary Jane’s kindness bordered on overkill—cooking her favorite meals, changing her sheets and towels every other day instead of every three, and even offering her a long-stay
discount on her bill. They were both probably giving Dani what they thought she needed for a clean break. Grace and Mary Jane were totally that considerate, and their thoughtfulness only made Dani feel worse.
When she pulled into the driveway in front of Grace’s cottage for the last time, it was nearly dark. She’d felt more at home in this place than anywhere she’d ever been, all because of Grace. Dani wanted to see her one last time, to say good-bye privately, but she was being selfish. The least she could do was leave without causing more pain.
She got out of the car, closed the door softly, and started toward the B and B, tugging her emotional baggage and regret like a lead ball behind her.
“Dani?”
She stopped but didn’t turn around, afraid she’d imagined Grace calling to her.
“Dani, would you come in for a minute, please?”
She turned slowly and froze again. Light from inside framed Grace in the doorway, penetrating her sundress, outlining her curvy body, and shadowing her expression. Dani licked her lips and struggled for the right words, but everything she considered saying sounded wrong. She walked toward Grace, unsure what to do when she reached her.
Grace offered her hand and led Dani inside to the sofa. “Something to drink?”
Dani shook her head.
“Dani, I—”
“You don’t have to say anything, Grace.”
“But I want to. You need to know that I’m not angry or upset with you anymore. I was shocked at first, not sure why. You’ve been honest about what you wanted.”
Grace’s eyes grew larger as she blinked back tears, and Dani’s heart ached. She couldn’t outlive this pain. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Grace.”
“I knew what I was getting into. I chose to open my heart again and risk being hurt. Don’t blame yourself because I fell in love with you.”
Grace’s words split Dani equally between desire and fear. She wanted to wrap herself in Grace’s love, share hers, but she also wanted to run because she’d eventually fail her in some essential way she’d never understand until it was too late. “You what?”