Foundation (A Golden Beach Novella)

by Loraine, Kim

  Drew cleared his throat and stood, arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face.

  “Drews, love. I heard Grace has chucked you. I wanted to check on you, see if you needed a shoulder to cry on.” Her voice was velvet smooth and once again, it sent a wave of hatred through him.

  “Sarah. I think you’ve done quite enough.”

  She turned her body away from Henry and stalked toward Drew, hips swaying and a smirk on her lips.

  “The way I see it, I didn’t do anything besides help things along. It was only a matter of time before that little mouse of yours realized you’d never be able to forget me. I was sitting across from you when she opened your messenger account. It was too easy once I realized it was her. All I needed to do was ask a simple question. She just needed a little push. The fact that you opened up to me, shared your secrets, that was the moment I knew you were done with her.”

  “I’m never going to be done with her. She is my wife.”

  Rage had him clenching his fists and breathing heavily as she pouted at him.

  “I don’t think she’ll be that much longer, Drews. Besides, have you seen her lately?” She paused, a small smile turning up the corners of her mouth. “Oh, that’s right. You haven’t. From what I hear, she’s packing it in. Taking those babies of yours and her enormous arse back to America. You’ll be divorced for the second time, shortly.”

  “Fuck off, Sarah. Grace would never do that to me.”

  “Just like you’d never cheat on her?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Emotional affairs are tricky, love. In a way, they’re almost worse. You trusted me more than you did her. You chose to spend time with me instead of facing what was waiting for you at home.” She snickered. “Really, who could blame you?”

  The few customers who’d been finishing their morning shopping had stopped to watch the exchange between the two and Drew’s ears burned with embarrassment.

  “You need to leave. Don’t call, don’t come round. I don’t want you in my life at all. Ever.”

  “I don’t think you really mean that.”

  “I fucking mean it!” She jumped when he shouted. Her eyes finally registered the truth in his words.

  Henry’s large hand gripped his shoulder. “Oi, mate. Calm down. You’re scaring the customers.”

  Drew ground his teeth together and raked a hand through his hair again. “Get out of my life, Sarah. You’re not welcome here.”

  “Miss, I think you need to leave. I don’t want to have to call the police.” Henry pointed to the door and delivered a determined look.

  The hushed whispers of the handful of shoppers were the only sounds as Sarah left. A few patrons patted him on the back and murmured words of encouragement. Of course, everyone in the town was aware of the gossip that swirled around his situation.

  “Thank you, Henry. Well done.”

  Henry grinned and took his place behind the register. “You as well.”

  Drew shoved his hands into his pockets and headed back to his office, hoping to find a message from Grace inviting him back into her life.

  Chapter 15

  Grace shifted as a baby dug into her side. Her breath came in a surprised gasp as the child moved and tickled along the inside of her ribs. She picked up her phone to call Drew, but set it back on the table for the third time that day. It was closing in on midnight and she couldn’t sleep. Drew had shot the ball back into her court, offering her the choice of the right time to talk, but she couldn’t bring herself to decide when. She wasn’t ready quite yet.

  Her eyes focused on their wedding picture, her favorite, which was displayed on the mantle. She was laughing as they danced and he dipped her. Her hair flowed down her back and the crystal beadwork on her dress sparkled in the warm light of the reception hall. A swell of love tightened her chest, and she had to fight back tears at the memory of that wonderful day.

  Her favorite aspect of that particular photo wasn’t how she looked, or how happy she’d been. The look on Drew’s face made her breath catch in a swoon every time she caught sight of the picture. He stared down at her, a smile covering the intense burning in his eyes. In the moments before the camera shutter had clicked, she’d whispered how much she wanted him. His eyes told the true story. They said he wanted her, too. Wanted to take her and make her his, right then and there.

  She picked up her phone again and wrote a message to him. Needing to see him now.

  Are you awake?

  The moment she sent the message, worry crept in. What if he was asleep? He’d been working so many long hours, trying so hard to get everything ready for new stores to open. Her phone buzzed only moments after she sent the text.

  Just getting home. Why are you awake, you daft woman?

  She grinned.

  Can’t sleep. Being bullied by your babies.

  She laughed to herself. It felt good to be playful with him. She hadn’t realized how hard the distance had been on her.

  Maybe they need a bedtime story.

  Anticipation sent a tingle racing along her skin. She could almost hear his voice. Her fingers trembled as she typed a response.

  I’m ready to talk.

  Her phone stayed silent and she worried he might not have gotten the message. Only a short while later she heard a key in the door.

  “Grace?” Drew’s voice rang out from the entry.

  She listened to his footfalls as he came down the hall. Her heart sped up as he opened the door to the bedroom they’d once shared and she caught sight of his face. She fought off a gasp. His expression reminded her so much of the man she’d seen when she’d returned to him almost two years ago. He was broken, his eyes haunted behind the dark rimmed glasses he wore.

  “You look . . .” She trailed off, unsure of what to say. Sad, tragic, wonderful.

  He slipped his feet free of his Converse tennis shoes and crawled up the bed toward her. His eyes were guarded, and she tensed, anticipating his touch.

  “I just want to hold you before we talk.” He brought his body against hers, pulling her back to his front and caressing her belly while trailing soft kisses along her shoulder.

  The babies shifted and pressed against her under his hand and he sucked in a breath.

  “They’re so strong.”

  She nodded. “Maybe they’ll be better footballers than you.”

  He chuckled. “That’s not a very tall order. I’m crap.”

  They lay together in silence, feeling each other.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered after a few minutes. A tear slid down her cheek and soaked into the pillowcase.

  “I never slept with her. I never would.”

  She shuddered as a sob took her. Hearing him say the words opened the floodgates. How could she have thought he’d leave her for Sarah? Had they really come this far only to take a monumental leap backward?

  “Shh, none of that, love.” He stroked her hair and pulled her tighter to him.

  “I just . . . you hurt me. You forgot about us. You lied.” She bit her lip before she allowed her last statement free. “You told her you couldn’t talk to me. You said I was making you miserable.”

  “There’s no excuse. Things were spiraling so far out of control and I let tension get the better of me. I didn’t really mean it. Not even as I typed the bloody words. I’m a git. I love you. No one else.”

  She held her breath, letting the words sink in, trying to convince herself she should believe him. “I want you home.”

  He let out a sigh and pulled her tighter to him. “Thank the Lord. I can’t stand not being able to feel you next to me in bed. I need to hear you breathing and know you’re safe. I don’t sleep when you’re not with me.”

  “Me neither,” she admitted. “But don’t expect
things to just go back to normal. I still don’t know if I can trust you. Sarah shouldn’t have been able to get between us so easily. We have deeper problems.”

  He kissed the nape of her neck, sending shivers down her spine as his stubble scratched her skin. “We’re still learning each other, love. I let the stress of work and worry get in the way of being your husband, and I’m so sorry.”

  She shook her head. “I stopped being there for you. Once the distance started getting between us, I just let it grow.”

  “That doesn’t give me reason to act like a petulant child.” He stroked her hair, making her tense shoulders relax, and she laid there, listening to him breathe. She wanted to say more, to talk about his plan for Sarah, but waited, not wanting to break the spell between them. Finally, she couldn’t keep it back any longer.

  “Sam told me what happened today at the shop.”

  He stilled beside her.

  “You shouted at her, at Sarah. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you shout at anyone.”

  “I thought she’d changed. That she’d remembered the girl she used to be when we were young.”

  “The girl you fell in love with.”

  She felt him shake his head. “No. The girl who was my friend.”

  “You miss her?”

  “I missed . . . feeling close to someone.”

  She tensed against him. “I missed that, too. But Sarah? That was the lowest blow you could’ve dealt me.”

  “I can’t change it. But I can promise you I’ll never be so shortsighted again. I’ll never treat you that way again.”

  Drew stretched and yawned, reaching out for Grace in their bed. He’d been back home for a solid month and things were slowly warming between them. His hand hit an empty pillow and he sighed. The thing he loved most was the feel of her warm skin under his hands before the day started. She grounded him and during the days she hadn’t been there, he’d been lost. Now, finding her side of the bed cold caused a knot of fear to form in his stomach.

  Throwing the duvet off his legs, he grabbed his glasses from the nightstand and wandered to the living room. The gray haze of an early winter morning bled in through the windows and he switched on a light to brighten the room. She was curled up on the couch as much as her third trimester belly allowed, and snored softly, head resting on her hand. Why was she sleeping out here instead of with him?

  He ached for the closeness they’d once shared, before they’d been married, before he’d broken the threads of trust they’d started to weave together. She shivered in the chill of morning and he instinctively pulled the quilt back in place over her sleeping form. It was early yet, the sun just beginning to rise, and she needed her sleep. Not wanting to wake her, he stroked her hair and pressed a soft kiss to her temple.

  After dressing for his run, he tiptoed around the kitchen, setting out the things she’d need for her coffee, her medication and vitamins, and a small meal to take it all with. Hopefully he’d be back within an hour and she’d only just be starting her day. Scribbling a short note which simply read, Morning, love, he slipped outside and pulled on his trainers, gloves, and hat.

  The air was crisp and hinted at the bone deep cold of true winter. He thought about a lot of things as his feet connected with the pavement. His father’s disappointment, the distrust in Grace’s eyes every time he got a text or phone call, the scant six weeks until the babies were scheduled to be born. How could he make it up to her before then? He knew first-hand trust was something not easily mended.

  His mind wandered down the path of irreconcilable differences, divorce, and custody battles. If they couldn’t fix their marriage, he knew this was where his actions might take them. It all depended on her willingness to trust him again and his ability to earn that trust.

  He’d just finished his fourth mile and veered off his usual route in order to jog through the neighborhood he’d secretly been researching. Grace wanted a larger house, and he couldn’t blame her. One baby would’ve been manageable, but two? That presented a whole new set of logistics problems. The neighborhood was filled with large homes, all with gardens, large yards, space for children to run and play. Just the sort of homes a family of four might need.

  As he ran, he saw a For Sale sign posted across the street and craned his neck to get a better look. Anticipation propelled him closer to the house. He could almost hear the sound of his children laughing as they played in the front lawn.

  The disorienting squeal of tires caught his attention and shattered the illusion. Turning, he saw the bright beams of headlights bearing down on him. His last thoughts were of Grace and the babies he would never know as the car collided with his body, sending the air whooshing out of his chest.

  Chapter 16

  Grace’s bladder woke her as a baby pressed against it. She sighed and dragged her heavy limbs to the toilet in her quiet house. When she padded out of the bathroom, she poked her head into the master bedroom, hoping to see Drew, sleeping soundly. Instead, she was greeted with a neatly made bed.

  He must’ve already headed off to work. Longing curled through her chest at the thought of seeing him. Having him home made her feel so much better, but they had a difficult road to go before she could open herself to him again. She knew he was trying and she appreciated it more than she could express, but she couldn’t help the pain in her heart.

  She found his note and the breakfast he’d left her and smiled. She stretched and took advantage of the few minutes on her feet while she waited for the kettle to boil. Scrolling through the music on her phone, she selected a singer she loved and puttered around the kitchen, scrubbing the few dishes left over in the sink from the night before until the singing on her phone was replaced with a harsh ringing.

  “Hello?”

  “I’m calling to speak with Mrs. Grace Tensley.” An unfamiliar voice in her ear had her curious. Was this an appointment reminder?

  “This is she.”

  “Mrs. Tensley, I’m calling from Chesterton Memorial Hospital. I’m afraid your husband was struck by a car this morning.”

  Hit by a car?

  Her heart stopped beating. All of the breath left her body in that one moment.

  “Is he . . .” She couldn’t bring the word to her lips.

  “He’s been admitted. I’m afraid I don’t have more information.”

  Her phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the granite countertop. Before she could stop herself, her mind flashed back to the moment she’d gotten the same call for John. It was a moment she never wished to relive.

  “He’s not going to die,” she said to the empty room.

  Her pulse fluttered erratically, and she had to pause for a beat, gather her bearings, and calm herself. With adrenaline fueling her, she pulled on a sweater and leggings, shoved her feet into her running shoes, and got behind the wheel of their car. She’d call David once she had more news.

  Her nerves had her clenching her teeth and gripping the steering wheel with a white knuckled ferocity. By the time she arrived and parked the car she was shaking. Her head ached and her shoulders felt stiff as she barreled through the door to the emergency room.

  “Can I help you, miss?” The desk attendant looked her over and motioned for a nurse.

  “Do you need a wheelchair? Are you in labor, ma’am?” the nurse asked.

  Grace shook her head. “No. I . . . I’m . . . my husband was hit by a car.” Her voice wavered and tears filled her eyes as she spoke the words.

  Their faces betrayed their concern at her statement.

  “All right, love. What’s his name?”

  “Andrew Tensley. He . . . he’s thirty-four, he’ll be thirty-five in a week. Um, he’s got brown—”

  “That’s fine, love. I’ve got him here in the records. He’s in surgery now. Why don’t you have a sit do
wn over there? I’ll make sure the doctor knows you’re here, and he can come talk to you as soon as he knows something.”

  As she waited, she expected her heart rate to slow, her fear to lessen, but they only worsened. Her fingers shook as she called David, and she had to take slow, measured breaths to calm herself.

  “Hello there, Grace.” His voice was cheerful and pleasant.

  Her chest tightened at the thought of how his mood was about to change.

  “David, um, I’ve got some—”

  “Good lord, what’s happened?”

  She closed her eyes and let it all out in a rush. “Drew’s been hit by a car. He’s in surgery. I don’t . . . I’m not sure if he’s okay.”

  “Right, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Stay off your feet. He’ll be fine. He’s resilient, my boy is.”

  She nodded, working to control the trembling of her lower lip. A man who was obviously a doctor came through the double doors and spoke to the desk clerk who motioned toward Grace.

  Her heart caught in her throat as he walked across the room. She felt like everything was moving in slow motion. Her ears were filled with a high pitched ringing as the magnitude of his coming statement washed over her. She gritted her teeth and forced away the words she’d heard years ago when John had died.

  “Mrs. Tensley. I’m Doctor Joseph.” He shook her hand and it took all of her restraint to stop herself from snapping at him.

  “Is Drew okay?”

  He smiled and nodded. “He’s going to be fine. Your husband suffered multiple abrasions, two broken ribs, and a slight concussion.”

  The tight coil of anxiety in her chest loosened at his statement. Fine. He was fine.

  “Why did he need surgery?”