The Falling of Grace (The Falling Series Book 2)

by Marisa Oldham

  Walking, still arm and arm, they turn a corner of lush bushes and tall trees, and Grace gasps. “Oh my! That’s so beautiful,” she says, as she picks up her pace and heads toward the tall Pagoda. Petals from a Cherry Blossom tree float down from almost bare branches, dancing in the air as if they are snowflakes falling from the sky.

  “This is the Japanese Tea Garden. I think you will really enjoy its beauty. They close soon though, so we may have to come back another time to explore more in depth.”

  “Another time, huh?” She smiles.

  “Come on, before they close.”

  Ben pays admission and hurries back to Grace, who is standing, in awe, gazing up at the Pagoda.

  “It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?” he asks, placing his hand on her lower back.

  Grace turns and when her eyes catch Ben’s, she thinks, and so are you. When Ben takes her hand, it affirms his feelings for her and her heart swells with feelings of fright and elation, all at once.

  Once through the entrance, Grace’s senses go wild. Lurid colors surround her. Directly in front of them is a still pond, the reflections of the surrounding greeneries glistening on the water. Ben pauses and remains silent while Grace takes it all in. Perched up on a hill covered in shrubberies of green, yellow, and red, is a more intricate Pagoda, painted scarlet with gold trim. Birds sing and the babbling of distant waterfalls mixes with the serene quiet of hushed voices. Grace whispers, “This is absolutely amazing.” Ben’s grin reaches his eyes when Grace runs her hand over the wrinkle on his face. “Thank you so much for bringing me here.”

  “It is my pleasure, Ms. Hathaway.”

  He tugs on her hand and leads her through winding paths and over wooden bridges. They stay in the tranquil garden until an employee tells them it is time to close. Something about spending time with Ben in this enchanted place brings serenity to Grace. Each moment she spends with him draws her heart nearer to falling in love.

  The sun fades into the horizon and dusk sets upon them as they walk back to the parked rental car. With the widest smile, she has seen from him, Ben opens the door for her. Grace scoots into the passenger seat and he closes the door behind her. She puts her hand over her rapidly beating heart and whispers a thank you for Ben being in her life.

  They arrive at the restaurant that overlooks Fisherman’s Warf, Ben dressed in a nice pair of slacks and a button down dress shirt, which he leaves open just at the top. Dressed in a sleek, skin-tight, fashionable black cocktail dress, Grace stares down at the sea lions decorating the wooden planks of the wharf below. Though captivated by their activity, she catches Ben’s stare out of the corner of her eye.

  “Grace,” he says.

  The sound of her name breaks her fascination with the lazy creatures. She turns to him and the sight of his face brings a glorious smile to hers.

  Ben reaches across the table for her hand and wraps his around hers, squeezing it tightly. When he does not speak, Grace notices that he seems to be having some sort of internal struggle. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be okay if you don’t go home tomorrow.”

  Grace shakes her head. “What?” Her smile widens.

  “I want to be with you, Grace. I want to commit to you and you to me. I want us to be a couple and I don’t want you to leave for Paris tomorrow.”

  She cannot hide her joy. “Okay!” she says, with a giggle.

  “I want you to meet my parents.”

  “What? Really?” Grace shakes her head again, disbelief consuming her.

  “I know you have to go home, but can you give me just a couple more days so that I can show you my cabin and you can meet my parents?”

  “Yes!” she gasps, without giving too much thought to his question.

  Ben squeezes her hand tighter.

  “So,” Grace says, her smile spreading across her entire face and reaching her eyes. “You’re my boyfriend?”

  “And you,” he says, bringing her hand to his lips, “are my girlfriend.”

  Sun paints the tall mountains surrounding Napa Valley with a beautiful orange hue as Ben turns the car onto a dirt road. Off in the distance, Grace spots a rainbow painted, hot air balloon gliding through the sunset filled sky. Napa Valley captures Grace’s heart the moment she sees it. The car comes to a black, steel gate with a family crest surrounded by grapevines, placed skillfully at the top of the gate. Behind the gates, doused in the rich warm colors of the sun, rolling hills covered with green grapevines, red leaves enhance the perfect scene. The sun seems to mist the vineyard with its warm glow.

  Ben pulls the visor above his head down and hits a button on a box clipped to it. The gates of the winery open and Grace can swear that she hears the angels singing. “My gosh, Ben,” she says, her mouth open in wonderment.

  “It’s the most beautiful place on this earth,” he says, as he glides the car through the gates.

  Bathed in luscious sunlight, rows of grapevines entwined around wooden posts flank each side of the road, greeting them like loyal servants standing at attention. Grace spots a beautiful pristine brick structure ahead. “It looks like a castle.”

  “That’s the winery. We can tour it tomorrow and I’ll show you how all of this works. That’s where we offer wine tasting.” Ben leans down to get a better view of the winery and smiles when his eyes meet hers.

  Grace almost cannot believe how attractive he is and admires the fine lines on either side of his face. He’s the perfect package.

  Rounding the car to the left, he cruises up an impressive hill taller than any of the ones she has seen so far. Her neck turns slowly as the car continues its ascension upward to follow the picturesque landscape of sun-painted vineyards.

  The car creeps over the top of the hill and in the valley below, Grace spots a large white house with three cars parked in the gravel covered circular driveway. A large fountain sits in the middle of the driveway and elegantly spurts out water that catches the sun’s rays, making the streams of water shine like gold glitter. The closer they get to it, the more beautiful the home becomes. Grace can see that there are three, four-paned windows on each of the two upper peaks of the home. The porch, wide and expansive, wraps around the country style house. Two large doors act as the main entryway to the home. Vibrant, green bushes line the entire driveway and lead up to the stairs that lead to the enormous front doors. The massive house takes up a large part of the valley it sits in. Even the gravel of the driveway sparkles in the early evening sunset.

  “Holy shit!” Grace’s heartbeat speeds up.

  “Welcome to the McKay’s,” Ben says, slowing the car to a stop and then shifting it into park.

  She cannot stop staring at the house, the lush bushes all around it, flowers, and the surrounding vineyards that cover the valley around the home.

  Ben slips out of the car and around to the passenger side, and then opens the door for Grace. “Are you ready?” he asks, taking her by the hand and helping her out of the car.

  Overcome with nerves Grace walks up the colossal stairs, Ben tightly gripping her hand.

  Before they reach the doors, they fly open and a slender, beautiful woman with shoulder length, sleek, gray hair, steps out of the doors with her arms outstretched. “Benjamin, darlin’,” she says, in a thick southern accent.

  Ben releases Grace’s hand and rushes toward the woman. “Mother,” he says, wrapping his arms around her. They hug for an extended period of time before Ben releases his mother and turns waving his arm toward Grace. “I’d like to introduce you to Grace.”

  Grace, with her hands clasped together resting in front of her, smiles, a jumble of nerves twisting inside. She knows Ben comes from a wealthy family, but the enormity of it all is overwhelming.

  “I’m Lydia,” Ben’s mother says, as she sashays towards Grace with open arms.

  Before she can react, Lydia has her arms wrapped around her. As Lydia squeezes her, a burly man emerges from the massive doors that lead into the house.

  “Bennie boy,”
grumbles the large man. “Come and give your old dad a hug.”

  Ben rushes to his father and hugs him.

  “Who is this beautiful creature on my front porch?” The deep tone of his father’s voice welcomes Grace. Ben’s father walks to Grace, with his belly leading him and his arms wide open ready to bear hug her.

  “This is Grace,” Lydia says, excitement radiating from her tone.

  Ben’s father smothers her with his embrace. “I’m Charles, but you can call me Charlie.”

  “Hey, Dad, I don’t think she can breathe.” Ben laughs.

  “Let’s go inside,” Lydia says, in an elegant tone.

  Lydia ushers them into her home. The first thing Grace notices is the Persian rug that lines the entryway. Wooden stairs, white posts, and a wooden rail lead to the upper portion of the structure. A tall grandfather clock ticks away the seconds in the hallway. Everywhere Grace looks, the McKay house shines with luxury.

  “Come have a seat,” Charlie says, as he directs them to a sitting room off to their left.

  An elegant, tasteful, country chic theme decorates the home. Grace takes a seat on a floral printed love seat with Ben taking the seat next to her. Charlie and Lydia sit close together on a matching couch that faces the one that Grace and Ben sit on.

  “I’m just so happy to meet you, Grace,” Ben’s mother says, in a silky, sophisticated tone.

  “I’m very happy to meet both of you,” Grace says, feeling shy.

  “Although Ben’s home is here on the vineyard, we do not get to see much of him,” Lydia says, her head cocked to the side and a frown crossing her lips.

  “He’s a busy boy,” Charlie chimes in. “It’s even rarer that Ben brings home a beautiful young lady like you.”

  “Oh, stop that, Charlie,” Lydia says, swatting at him. “He’s flirting with you, Grace.” She smiles.

  “It’s true! The boy never comes to see us and he’s only now brought Grace to meet us,” Charlie says. He catches Lydia’s hand midair before she can swat him again and kisses it.

  “I’ve opened three new galleries this year. There is not much time to be home,” Ben says. Ben takes Grace’s hand into his and smiles at his parents.

  The four of them sit chatting for hours in the sitting room. The McKays welcome Grace into the home as if another family member. The conversation with Charlie and Lydia is a pleasant and fun one. Grace can tell that Ben has a remarkably close relationship with both of his parents. Charlie relishes in telling stories of Ben as a young boy and Lydia beams with such pride for her son. The pride Ben’s parents exude for him makes her fall for him even more.

  After a formal dinner in an immaculate dining room, Ben gives Grace a more formal tour of the home where he grew up. He ends the tour of the home by showing her his childhood bedroom, which his parents have never redecorated.

  “Mom says she’s keeping it this way till I have a son.” Ben smiles before motioning Grace to join him on the twin bed covered with a plaid comforter.

  “It’s so cute,” Grace says, as her head searches around the room.

  “Adorable.”

  “What are all your trophies for?” she asks, walking toward a shelf filled with nothing but trophies and medals.

  “Equitation.”

  “Do you have horses still?” Grace’s eyes light up.

  “Yes, a few. We can go riding before you go home.”

  They say their goodbyes to Ben’s family and crawl back into his rental car. Grace cannot make out any of the landscape in the dark as they sit in the car. He turns on the engine and drives around the circular driveway. She can only see the vineyard in cut off glimpses illuminated only by the headlights. They drive for about five minutes before they pull in front of a grand log cabin, but smaller than Ben’s parents’ home.

  “Stay here. I’ll go put the porch light on.” Ben hops out of the car and runs up the stairs to his cabin.

  The light comes on and she can see the trees that sit in front of the home, and more lush bushes that seem similar to the ones at his parent’s house. On the porch sits a bench, also made out of log, with large red throw pillows and comfortable looking cushions.

  Ben runs back to the car at a slow pace and opens the door reaching his hand out to Grace. They enter the cabin and Grace’s head peers up at the high vaulted ceilings. She wrinkles her nose as she takes in Ben’s décor. Modern, she thinks, something she normally does not appreciate.

  The outside of the cabin resembles a log cabin tucked away in a vast country wilderness, but the inside resembles Ben’s art galleries. Contemporary furnishings, sculptures, and artwork decorate the wide-open living space. With the open floor plan, Grace can see right into Ben’s ultra-modern, high-tech kitchen, with chrome appliances and marble counters.

  “This is it. Downstairs is the living room, my office is behind those doors, the kitchen, and a bathroom. That deck leads to my backyard,” he says, pointing to a sliding glass door. “And upstairs I have my room, a spare room, another bathroom, and the best part of this house…my home theater.”

  Grace tries to muster up a smile, but she finds Ben’s contemporary styling atrocious. “It’s very…you,” is all she can say.

  Ben laughs. “And it’s certainly not you. Come on I’ll show you the rest.”

  He takes her hand and jogs up the stairs with her trailing behind him. The upstairs is not very different from the down, more progressive furniture, but in his room, the furnishings are of a dark color scheme rather than a light one like the downstairs. His home, like his parent’s, reeks of money. She is almost overawed with everything her eyes have seen today and she feels the weight of all of it coming over her.

  “Tired, honey?” Ben asks, placing his hands on her hips.

  “Yeah. Very,” she says, then smiles, becoming lost in his light eyes.

  “I’ll get your bags. Make yourself at home. Would you like a soda?”

  “Please.”

  Grace sits on the soft, dark, down comforter on his bed and her bottom sinks into the fabric. She runs her hands over the supple quilt and looks around at Ben’s room, not believing she is here. Ben’s home comforts her despite never being there before. She takes some time to look around his room, learning more about him from the art on his walls. Statues of couples making love in different positions line a shelf above a dresser, which causes Grace to smirk. Ben’s room, like him, suggests a sexual aura unlike anyone else she knows. Running her finger over the wood on his nightstand, she notices that the room is spotless and Grace wonders if he has a maid, which she finds extravagant since he is rarely home.

  A few moments later, Ben is in the bedroom with her, stripping himself bare. “I am completely and utterly exhausted. Ready for bed?”

  Grace stands and walks to her suitcase.

  “No.” Ben places his hand on her arm and then grabs it. Spinning her to face him, he takes her hand in his and draws it up to his mouth. “Naked.”

  A flush comes over her cheeks and she nods. “As you wish, sir.”

  “I find it extremely sexy when you call me ‘sir.’”

  “Thank you…sir.”

  Grace strips and then Ben leads her to the bed. She crawls in between the cool sheets and waits for him to palm her, but all he does is wrap an arm around her. This is the first time they have been in bed together and not had sex. Even though there is a pounding ache for him between her legs, she cuddles up against his bare body and closes her eyes.

  Chapter 22

  Two months later…

  Ben walks into the loft, his hands full with coffees, and a bag of French pastries dangling from his clenched teeth. Grace leaps off the couch and rushes to help him the moment she hears him come through the door.

  “You’re a lifesaver,” Michelle says, taking her coffee from his hand.

  He nods, the pastry bag still hanging from his teeth. Grace gently takes the bag from his mouth and places her lips where the bag was. “Thank you for going,” she says, smiling.

&nb
sp; “Hungry, Michelle?” he asks, pointing to the array of carbohydrates Grace lays on the table.

  “Starving!” Michelle says, as her hand dives in to grab the biggest tartlet on the table.

  They sit together and drink coffee, Grace picking at her pastry and Michelle stuffing hers in her mouth at record speed.

  “I pick up the rest of the canvases for the show today,” Michelle says, her mouth filled with pieces of a chocolate covered croissant.

  “That is fantastic. It’s just a matter of days till your first showing at McKay-Paris, Michelle,” Ben says, his eyes not leaving Grace’s.

  “I’m so proud of both of you. I don’t know how you do it, Ben. You opened that gallery in no time,” Grace says.

  “A gallery is just an empty space until you cover the walls with art. It doesn’t really take much to set one up, besides finding a space to rent or buy. I am already established, too, so that makes it a piece of cake.”

  “Or a chocolate covered croissant,” Michelle says, laughing.

  After laughing at Michelle, Grace says to Ben, “I’m still proud of you. I mean we just found that building a couple of weeks ago.”

  “Well, I better get to the post office so I can get that art to fill your walls,” Michelle stands.

  “Would you mind dropping me off at the airport?” Ben asks Michelle.

  Grace frowns at him.

  “It is just a couple of days, dear. Stop fretting,” Ben says, taking Grace’s chin between his fingers.

  “I hate this.”

  “Good Lord! I gotta go. Can you two make out already so we can leave?” Michelle says, swinging her purse onto her shoulder. “Meet you downstairs, Ben. I’ll see you when I get home.” She pokes her head between Ben and Grace and kisses Grace on the cheek.

  “I will be back by Friday,” Ben says, once Michelle has left the loft. His eyes penetrate Grace’s soul while he stares into her eyes, his thumb gently rubbing her cheek.