I talked to Wyatt about it once, and he understood. Back then, he never saw himself ever getting married. He was happy sleeping around and being free. Zach was the complete opposite. He met Presley when they were kids and swore he’d marry her. Hell, I don’t think he ever loved another woman. Not even when he dated the skank, Felicia. It was always Presley.
I am stuck somewhere between the two of them. I don’t want to get married, but I also don’t want anyone other than Grace.
“What are you thinkin’?” Zach asks.
“About a hundred different things and none of them make sense.”
My brother stands and runs his hand down his face. “I hate it for you, man. I really do. I think in all your layers of bullshit you love her.”
“I know what I feel.”
“Do you?” he says, pushing back. “Have you ever told her?”
“Mind your own business, Zach. I wasn’t sitting at your house running my mouth when you were making stupid decisions.”
“So, you admit it’s stupid?” Zach grins.
I could kill him. “Don’t you have something important to be doin’?”
Zach walks around, places his bottle down, and smirks. “I’m helping my brother out. What could be more important than that?”
“Could you let me know when you’re actually going to start helping?”
Zach has always been my best friend. Wyatt is great, but he was a clown when we were kids, plus there’s more of an age gap with us, but Zach and I are alike in a lot of ways. All of us are similar in how we view family. Mama and Pa didn’t love one of us more than the other. They were always fair—for the most part. They also gave us what we needed and taught us to work hard for what we wanted. I wish I had listened when Mama told me to stop letting my fears rule my life.
“What are you going to do?” Zach asks.
“What choice do I have?”
He shakes his head. “This has always been your issue, Trent. You feel like the world owes you something, but let me tell you, it doesn’t. You want Grace? You love her? You lay your bullshit aside and go get her. Man the fuck up. Stop actin’ like you’re the only man that’s ever lost a woman. Hell, you’re the only one left who hasn’t learned that lesson. You seem to be the only idiot left standing.”
“And that doesn’t make me a dick for preventing her happiness? Because I swear you said something like that a few minutes ago.” I throw his words back at him.
There’s no winning in this. If I fight my way back into Grace’s world, who’s to say I won’t hurt her again? Because that’s what I do to her. It isn’t fair, but God, I can’t stop myself. I know I love her, but I won’t allow myself to give in to it.
Zach rubs the back of his neck as he leans against the wall. “Maybe. I don’t know. I thought you should know they’re going out so you’re not blindsided.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ve gotta get back to Presley and the boys, but let me know if you want Wyatt and me to come over for cards this weekend.”
I nod. “I appreciate it. I’m on duty.”
Zach’s eyes narrow in suspicion, but he recovers quickly. “Be safe and don’t do anything reckless.”
I grin. “I don’t have the slightest idea what you could mean.”
“Right.”
“Have a great weekend, Zach. Give my love to Pres.” I hurry my brother out the door. I have something I need to do, and it can’t wait.
“I will, and I’ll see you in a few days for our fishing competition!”
“Thanks for the reminder,” I say as I close the door. “Another thing I wish I could forget about.”
Chapter 5
Grace
“G race , are you out of that chocolate peanut butter ice cream?” Wyatt asks, seeming frustrated.
Mama said she needed to help Mrs. Kannan with something, which is code for she wants to play bridge with the girls, so here I am at the store. I don’t mind. It’s better than sitting at home and thinking of all the reasons I need to run away.
“I think we had a pint left!” I call out as I come around the counter. “I know Angie has been practically buying it in bulk.”
He laughs. “I don’t remember this when she was pregnant last time.” His dark brown hair is longer than normal, and the circles under his eyes are dark. “She’s awake all night, puking all day. This is the only thing she can keep down.”
He must be going crazy. That man is a fixer if I’ve ever met one. He can’t handle not being able to do something to make things better. There’s no way he’s taking this well.
“I clearly can’t talk, but I assume each pregnancy is different.”
Wyatt searches through the small freezer and groans. “If I don’t come back with this, I worry she’ll find my shotgun and use it. Besides the tiredness, I think she’s become inhabited by Satan.”
Angie has been a little hostile, but I chalked it up to her adjusting to this new life. Marriage, another pregnancy, living in Bell Buckle again . . . I can’t imagine it’s been easy for her. Plus, knowing her, she’s most likely still making Wyatt pay for being an asshole not too long ago.
“Let me check the back, orange definitely isn’t her color.”
“Glad to see you’re worried about me, Grace!” he calls out as I walk back.
I lift my hand and keep moving. “I’m on her side.”
As I open the door to the storage room, I almost fall over. What the hell? I organized this a week ago. Boxes are piled high, things thrown around, and nothing is where it should be. In all the years we’ve owned this store, I’ve never seen it like this. My mother is methodical about knowing where her inventory is.
I’ll never find anything in here.
I climb over the boxes and make it to the deep freeze. Thankfully, there are a few pints of the ice cream Wyatt is looking for on a shelf so I don’t have to dig through boxes.
“You okay?” he asks as I stumble out of the storage area and shove my hair back.
“I apparently have a lot of work to do back there.”
He peaks his head around and nods. “You could always call Trent.”
“I know you didn’t just say that.”
“I heard you have a pretty interesting night comin’ up.” Wyatt smiles, egging me on.
This town is frustrating as all hell. I’ve always loved it here—until now. “Wyatt Hennington, you better get back to your wife or you’re going to be full of holes.”
He laughs and hands me a ten dollar bill. “I’m just sayin’ is all. My brother can’t be too happy if he knows you’re goin’ out with Cooper.”
“You can just say yourself right out that door.” My accent thickens as I say it. “Your brother had plenty of time to stake his claim. He chose not to.”
Wyatt, Presley, and I were all in the same grade. The three of us were partners in crime, always into some kind of trouble. Before he met Angie, Wyatt had a thing for Presley, which was awkward at times, but it was always the three of us. Then Presley fell in love with Zach, and my heart became attached to Trent. Poor Wyatt was suddenly the odd man out. Plus, his heart’s desire was tied to his brother.
I always felt bad for him, but he never once felt bad for himself. Too many nights he would listen to one of us cryin’ over what one of his brothers did. He’d listen, tell us we were nuts, and make us laugh.
There’s no one in the world who deserves happiness as much as he does, but if he brings up his brother again, I may have to beat his ass.
“I know you’ve finally had enough, not like I didn’t tell you to put your foot down a million times, but you know he loves you.”
“I think he does, which is the issue.”
Wyatt leans against the counter. “Well, whatever you decide, it’s going to be fun to watch.”
“You’re such a jerk.” I toss a piece of paper at him.
“Is there any way you could stop by when you’re done workin’? Angie hasn’t really left the house much, and I think she’s
ready to kill me.”
“Can you blame her?” I joke.
He shrugs. “I need to help Cooper on the farm, and I don’t like the idea of her home all day by herself.”
Wyatt isn’t an alarmist, but after all they went through last year, I can’t blame him. I would probably be cautious as well. “I was going to close early . . .” I offer. I wasn’t planning that, especially after the mess I found in the back, but Wyatt doesn’t usually ask for help.
“I really appreciate it.”
He leaves, and I decide to lock the door and focus solely on my task. If people come in and out, it’ll slow my progress.
After an hour, I feel a little better. I got a lot of the boxes sorted so when I come in tomorrow, I can really get it done. I worry, though, how it got this bad. This isn’t the first thing that she’s had problems keeping straight recently, and as much as I don’t want to, I think I’m going to have to suggest she hire some help.
Instead of driving, which would be much faster, I leave my car parked and walk to Angie and Wyatt’s. Summer time in Tennessee is my favorite. I walk down the street with the sun shining and a warm breeze blowing through the sky. There is something about the freedom I feel this time of year. Plus, I don’t have to go to work.
“Well, hey there stranger,” a voice I would know anywhere says.
I turn with excitement as Mrs. Hennington pulls up alongside me. “Hi, Mrs. Hennington!”
“Need a lift?”
“Oh, no thank you. I’m just walking over to see Angie,” I explain. “Wyatt said she isn’t feeling well.”
Mrs. H. shakes her head, a warm smile tilting her lips. “I don’t know what my grandbaby is tryin’ to do to her, but she’s havin’ a heck of a time. I was headin’ over to check on Zach since he’s watchin’ Cayden and Logan today.”
Oh, dear God. Presley is a brave woman for leaving Zach home with teenage boys. I’d put money on him being hogtied somewhere while they dance around him.
“I think that’s probably a good idea.” I giggle.
“It amazes me sometimes that my sons manage to get themselves dressed.”
Macie asks me how I’m doing, and if I’ve been to the store. We chat a little about what she and the girls have been up to. They’ve apparently decided to start planning another trip. As we talk more about my mother, I debate telling her my concerns, but I decide not to. If I tell her, she’ll worry or tell Mama. It’s probably something I should keep to myself.
We start talking about her trip, and I pray when I’m as old as those women that I have half as much fun.
“Well, honey, I’m going to get my behind over there and make sure my boys are all alive.”
“It was great seein’ you.” I smile.
“Grace, honey, don’t you stop comin’ by. I know you and Trent couldn’t work things out, but you’re always welcome in my home. Hell,” she lets out a soft laugh, “I’ll throw him out so you can visit with me, okay?”
And this is why she’s my favorite person in this town. Her and Rhett. No one says a mean word about them because they’re simply the best. Rhett didn’t start out with money, he worked hard and provided for his family, but he was always charitable. My parents couldn’t afford the horses we had, but Rhett provided them free of charge. He made sure everyone in this town had what he could give.
They’re good people.
“Thanks, Mrs. Hennington.”
“I’m sure I shouldn’t say this, but I’m an old woman, and keepin’ my mouth shut has never been my strong suit,” she warns. “I’m not askin’ you to give him anything. Not a damn thing, but I know my boy, and he’s missin’ you, sugar. Just know that.”
I squeeze my hands together and close my eyes. Each time I manage to get him out of my head, something happens, and he’s right back.
Stupid boy.
“I’d be lyin’ if I told you I didn’t miss him. But I want what you and Mr. Hennington have. I want a marriage, family, and commitment. I know Trent has some weird issue about all of it, but I would’ve settled for the appearance of a life. I can’t keep holding out hope for something I clearly won’t get.”
She nods. “I think you did exactly what you needed to do, honey. I wanted you to know that he’s payin’ his price. He’s got a lot of debt to repay. Remember that.”
“I will.”
“Oh, and you make sure you enjoy your big date with Cooper, now.”
She’s amazing. Who tells the girl their son used to date how to make it hurt him more? Macie Hennington, that’s who. Seriously, she’s my idol.
We say goodbye and she heads off. It takes me ten minutes to walk to Angie’s, and when I get there, Wyatt’s truck isn’t in the driveway.
“Hello?” I knock tentatively. Last thing I want to do is wake her.
“Grace?”
“Hey!” I stand outside as I see her head pop off the couch.
“The door is open! Please! Come in!”
I step inside and head toward her. Her face is pale, the circles under her eyes are dark, and I can tell she’s miserable. Still, I put on a reassuring smile and crouch in front of her. “Are you okay, honey?”
She grumbles. “I swear this baby hates me. Being pregnant in your late thirties sucks ass. This baby is determined to make my life hell.”
“Is there somethin’ I can do to help?”
Her eyes close as she rests her head. “I wish there was. Wyatt is a wreck. He refuses to leave me for long periods, but there’s nothing anyone can do. The doctor said the baby is growing and healthy, I just need to hang in there.”
“Wyatt came by the store, he said you weren’t able to keep much down?”
Angie shakes her head a little and then covers her mouth.
Poor thing.
“I should’ve been comin’ by more. I’m sorry, Angie.”
She rolls her eyes and scoots a little. “Stop. Between Wyatt and Mama, I’m never alone. Presley’s been over a lot when Wyatt has to work late. It’s really fine. I wish everyone would stop worrying so much. It’s only seven more months.”
Her brave front isn’t fooling me. I can see how worn out she is. Angie has always been the life of the party. I hate seeing her like this. “But who’s counting?” I pat her leg.
“Oh, I am so counting.” We both laugh before her face turns serious. “So, did you decide to go out with Cooper?”
“Don’t even act like you don’t know.” I grin as I gently slap her arm. “There’s no way it hasn’t been around town and back.”
She gives an impish smile. “I wanted to hear your version, though.”
I fill her in on all the details about how we’re going out tomorrow and how it happened. Her lips turn up when I tell her about how Mrs. Townsend and my mother concocted some package to get us talking. I express my feelings about how I’m not sure if it’s a good idea and how my heart is torn. Angie doesn’t say a word. She lets me spill all the thoughts I’ve been struggling with.
“I love Trent. I’ll always love him, but I can’t be hurt anymore. If he were different . . .” I wipe a tear I didn’t realize fell. “I can’t be disappointed time and time again. I know that walkin’ away and endin’ things was what we needed to do. And then there’s Cooper, and he’s so sweet, but I don’t dream about him. I don’t spend my days talkin’ myself out of callin’ him.”
“Grace,” she grips my hand, stopping me from talking. “You’ve spent your whole life waiting for Trent. You’ve given him so much more time than he deserves. Remember when he forgot your birthday? Not just forgot it was that day, but forgot the whole thing? Seriously, you can’t tell me after the years you were together he didn’t know that it was your damn birthday. He doesn’t deserve you if he can’t remember something like that.”
Angie’s right. It broke my heart a little to think the man I loved didn’t remember my birthday. I sat there all day waiting for him to say something, but then he remembered the Tennessee game was on and told me he’d call me later.
>
I spent the rest of the day alone and angry.
It took three days for him to finally remember, and I’m pretty sure it was his mama who finally told him.
“Could you walk away from Wyatt?” I ask. “With as much as you love him, could you cast him off and then date another man?”
“I don’t know,” she says with honesty. “I walked away from Wyatt, but after we lost Faith, Wyatt changed. He wasn’t the man I fell in love with, almost as if a piece of him died with her. We’d both been through hell, but no, there was no chance that I could have been with another man. Don’t get me wrong, Trent is great. He was there for me after we lost Faith, but he hasn’t been there for you.”
My heart hurts as she says the final words. I’d never seen Wyatt like that. He was lost, but Trent hasn’t lost a child, he’s scared of commitment. He’s been selfish and thought he could do what he wanted because I’d take it, and he was right. I did take it. I was so worried if I pushed him that he’d walk away.
I was weak.
I was stupid.
I’m done being both.
Angie shifts and immediately I can see the discomfort painted on her face.
“Do you have any saltines?”
Angie shrugs. “I have no idea. I’m not really on my feet much.”
My eyes squint a little as I try to figure out why she would say that.
“I find that being vertical means I’m puking,” she explains. “I’m basically bedridden until my pregnancy isn’t high risk anymore. Which means when this tiny nugget finally decides to come into the world.”
“Well, you have a lot of support,” I remind her, making a note to stop by here more often. “I’m going to look for some crackers. Do you want to try it?”
“I’ve tried almost everything, but sure, we can try. Lord knows I need some food.”
I head into the kitchen and start searching. There’s very little of anything in the cupboards, but I luck out on the third try and find a sleeve of saltines hidden behind a box of instant oatmeal. While in here, I fill a glass of ice water.
“Found some!” I holler to her as I walk back to the living room, but I stop short. “Cooper? What are you doin’ here?”
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