by Elsie Davis
And Grace and Holly were tied up in answer, whether he wanted them to be or not. He loved it when Holly smiled at him, her antics making him laugh often. Ryan had even grown used to having her around and would miss her sweet face when Grace found childcare. At that point, he’d be relegated to office parties and pictures to watch Holly grow up. The idea did not sit well.
Neither did the idea of tamping down any growing feelings toward Grace that kept cropping up, demanding attention. She’d been appropriately named, for sure. The woman was full of grace, giving credit to her name, and it radiated to all those around her every day.
Only the knowledge of what happened when you got close to someone kept him at bay. The last thing he wanted was to open himself up to a repeat of the pain he’d experienced as a child. It had the power to destroy him, his financial future, and that of those who’d entrusted him to make this venture successful.
He thought he wasn’t into family and children, but he was wrong. He thought he wasn’t into relationships, but he was wrong. The question then came to mind, what else could he be wrong about? But the truth was, it didn’t matter. Too much was riding on the outcome to be sidetracked for fleeting feelings for a woman and her daughter.
Determined to stay the course, Ryan renewed his vow to stay away from Grace and the temptation she presented for a normal, happy life. Maybe it was time to close the chapter of his past with Bella, proving Grace wrong, and providing him with a solid reason why family life wasn’t for him.
Chapter Ten
Sunlight streamed through the slightly tilted blinds, letting Grace know morning had come, and with it, an entire day with Holly to have fun. She glanced at the sleeping baby next to her, the result of Grace giving into her fussy cries last night. How could she resist those big blue eyes or the fact she liked being able to snuggle with Holly? The fresh scent of a baby after a bath was one that would never grow old.
Lucky was perched at the end of the bed, her new normal spot. After getting over her initial fit of jealousy, it would appear the dog had designated herself protector of the household. The end of the bed strategically placed her between Grace and the portable crib.
Grace edged out of bed, careful not to wake the baby. She pushed the blankets up and around Holly, stacking pillows like fortress walls to barricade around her. With a few extra pillows strategically placed on the floor, Grace grabbed the monitor and headed to the kitchen for a much-needed cup of coffee. Lucky, on the other hand, laid her head back down, choosing to play guard over the baby.
The past week had gone by incredibly fast, and with so many ups and downs, that Grace barely had a chance to experience the joy of parenthood. Just because it was temporary, didn’t mean she couldn’t savor it. She tightened her robe and settled in at the table, savoring the warm chicory flavor.
Church services started at nine-thirty, giving Grace plenty of time to get ready. The baby wasn’t registered for childcare at the church, but Grace didn’t mind, much preferring to keep Holly with her. Plenty of parents brought their children to church successfully, and so could she.
And after church, Grace couldn’t wait to take Holly to the park. She glanced at the phone, her mother’s words coming back to her. “Talk to your sister.”
Might as well get it over with. Grace picked up the phone and pressed the speed dial for Faith.
“Do you know what time it is?” Her sister’s sleepy voice reminded her it was early.
“Sorry. I just wanted to tell you I was sorry for cutting you off the other day. I was hasty in my judgment.” It hadn’t been a good day for Grace. Her motto of quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger had gone out the proverbial window, and in its place, she’d been left with regret. More proof the motto was a good one to live by.
“Mom told you, right?”
“Yes. I am sorry. I’ve been super stressed with the new job and trying to manage taking care of Holly. I know it’s not a good excuse, but I want to make it up to you.” Grace needed to go the extra mile to make amends.
“I’m listening.” Faith wasn’t going to give in easily, but it was understandable.
“Why don’t you meet me at church today in Hallbrook? Then afterward, we can lunch at O’Malley’s, my treat, of course, and then we can go to the park. It’ll be a fun day and give us a chance to hang. Have some sister time.” Getting Faith to church would be a good move. She knew her sister probably hadn’t gone in years.
“I’m not much of a church fan, and you’re forgetting, I don’t have a car.” She wasn’t going to let Grace off the hook that easy.
“Get Mom to come. I’d love to see you both. It’ll be fun. Please, Faith. Give me the chance to make it up to you. You know how much I love you and hate it when we can’t even talk. We’ve never been close, but I think we should change that, don’t you?” The words rang true, even if they had been spontaneous. Maybe it was time to get to know Faith better, after all, they were both adults.
“Fine. I’ve got nothing else to do today,” Faith’s answer came out reluctantly, but at least she’d agreed. It was a big step in the right direction.
“What’s going on with your car?” Grace asked, showing interest as a gesture of goodwill.
“It’s the starter or something like that. It’s a couple hundred bucks to repair, and I don’t have anywhere close to that much money. How I’m supposed to earn an income when I don’t have wheels is beyond me.” She could sense Faith’s frustration. What made it worse was that her sister was right. It was a double-edged sword.
“Come stay with me. I offered before, but now it makes perfect sense and is a great solution to both our problems.”
“What do you mean?”
“You babysit Holly until Karen comes back to take her home, and I’ll make sure you have enough money to fix your car and have a few dollars extra in your pocket.” By then, she would have her first paycheck, and it would solve her childcare issue once and for all. It was the perfect plan.
Her sister’s silence was a good sign. Grace waited, letting her come to the right decision on her own.
“Promise?” Faith asked, letting out a deep enough sigh that Grace could hear it over the phone.
Good choice, sis. “Yes. Bring whatever you need when we meet, and then you can ride home with me.”
“It’s a deal. And, Grace, I really did feel bad calling out on you after I promised.”
“I know, kiddo. Let’s just forget it. Look on the bright side, I still have my job.” Grace wanted to start over, and that meant putting things behind them, not rehashing the past.
“You must be amazing to be able to do your job and take care of the baby. Either that or your boss is super into you,’ Faith added, her voice tinged with laughter.
Attracted to her, maybe. But into her? Absolutely not. The two were completely different things. One was based on physical awareness, while the other was based on emotional and personal connections. “I must be good at my job because Ryan has no interest. Trust me.”
He’d made his stance perfectly clear, especially when she’d butted into his personal relationship with his sister. She’d obviously crossed a line. Holly was another matter altogether. Ryan was clearly growing more attached. The man was made to be a father, if only he could see it.
“Hmmm. Interesting,” Faith said, her tone making Grace curious.
“What?” Grace asked, unsure what her sister meant.
“You didn’t say anything about your interest in him.” Faith had it all wrong.
“Because there’s nothing to mention.” It was true. Physical awareness counted for nothing in Grace’s books. Okay, well, something. But there was more to it than that, and relationships were overrated anyway.
“You’re telling me there’s nothing at all between you?” Faith persisted.
“Nothing.”
“The man must be a saint. Or there’s something wrong with him.”
Grace shook her head and smiled. “Saint Ryan. I’ll tell him you
said that when he’s having one of his super-tense moments. At least that nickname is better than Vomit Man.”
“Do I even want to know?” Faith asked, the curiosity in her voice obvious. This was the first real conversation Grace could remember having with her sister in a very long time. It was nice.
“Probably not, but I’ll tell you the story after church. It’ll make a great conversation for the park. I hear the baby stirring, and I need to get a move on. I’ll meet you at nine-twenty outside the front of the church. Ciao, sister.”
“Ciao.”
An hour later, Grace arrived at the church and spotted her mother and Faith right where they agreed to meet. And on time, wonder of wonders. Of course, Grace, on the other hand, was a little late, but she was getting better and better at the timing thing with each day that passed.
“Good morning,” she said, addressing her mother and sister as she approached them. Grace leaned in to kiss her mother’s cheek. She’d have to remember to check her own cheek for lipstick marks. Her mother was one of those women who laid the waxy color on dark and thick. Dressed to the nines, her mother’s matching jacket and skirt were more formal than the modern mode of comfortable and casual.
Faith, on the other hand, had no such qualms about how she dressed. Her blue jeans and T-shirt were the exact opposite of their mother. Grace had learned to land somewhere in the middle.
“Good morning, Grace. This is a first. I don’t recall you ever being late for anything.” Her mother grinned, reaching for Holly.
“Morning,” Faith said, moving to stand next to their mother, intent on talking baby talk to Holly.
“I’ve never had to take care of a baby before. Oh, my goodness. How did you manage to do it and work a full-time job? And single parents. Wow. They deserve a medal for figuring out how to manage a crazy life.” Grace readjusted the diaper bag and her sweater, everything askew from carrying the baby.
“Single parent’s need to rely more on a great support team and be very organized. With two parents, it wasn’t easy, but your father and I managed. We juggled the schedules the best we could, and some of the time, things didn’t work out so well. Of course, when Faith came along, we had you.”
“Except you didn’t trust me with your porcelain-doll baby until I was like fifteen. I remember begging you to let me babysit.” Grace started up the stairs to the church.
“It was a problem pregnancy, not to mention a late one. I never meant to upset you, but I became more protective than necessary.”
That was an understatement. “I know. I just like to give you grief. But hey, it gave me more free time to study, and my efforts all paid off.” Grace had resented her mother’s lack of trust, but in hindsight, it had been a blessing. Her grades and acceptance into college on a scholarship had all come as a result of applying herself.
They entered the small white church and took seats toward the back, just in case Holly started to fuss. Taking turns holding the baby and keeping her entertained, the three of them listened to the message.
Today was about forgiveness, appropriate considering her and Faith’s situation. Too bad Ryan wasn’t here to listen to the sermon. He could use more wisdom in the area of forgiveness, at least when it came to his sister.
The hour of sermon and song passed quickly, and soon they were talking with everyone who stopped to find out about the baby. Grace flushed with pleasure as she introduced Holly, loving the attention a baby brought to the mix.
The sun was shining, and it was a beautiful day for a walk, and they all decided to head for the park first. Karen had left her a stroller, and after strapping Holly in, they followed the sidewalk that wound through the park passed some of the flowering bushes. Pink and red azaleas predominately decorated the place, like a breath of fresh air, welcoming summer just around the corner. The place was overrun with families, everyone having the same idea and wanting to enjoy the warmer weather.
“So, what’s going on with you and your boss? What’s with the subterfuge?” her mother asked when they stopped in front of the playground.
“Thanks for not outing me, by the way. It’s just, one thing led to another, and he assumed she was my daughter. It was easier to let him believe she was mine. I worried he’d be a lot less understanding if he knew I was watching someone else’s baby and bringing the baby to work.” Grace unstrapped Holly and carried her to the plastic swing designed for toddlers.
“I see what you mean, but you should tell him. You’ve been there a week now, and if he hasn’t fired you yet, he’s not going to.”
Faith pushed the swing as Holly clapped and giggled, enjoying the attention.
“I know. I’m sure things will quiet down this coming week since Faith’s watching the baby, and I’ll find a way to tell him.” After Holly left was preferable, but probably not the best option.
“He seemed like a nice man.” Her mother’s gaze landed on Grace, watching for her reaction.
“He is. And although he’d never admit it, I think he enjoys Holly’s attention. She seems taken with him.”
“Single?” her mother asked.
“What is it with you and Faith? One-track minds. He’s single and plans to remain that way if you must know.” Everyone wanted to marry her off, but it wasn’t that easy. It’s not that she didn’t want to get married, it was finding the right guy that was the problem. And she wasn’t willing to risk her heart over and over to have it pounced on. There was only so much a person could take before the heartbreak did permanent damage.
“Don’t get so defensive. It’s just been a while since you dated. Maybe Ryan planned to remain single because he hadn’t met you yet, sweetheart. You have to think positively.” Her mother always assumed the best. Anything less wasn’t acceptable.
“Wishful thinking.” Grace laughed. “You know it won’t work for me, and you know why. I’ve been through it before. Twice. I won’t do it again.” She wanted to have a good day, not talk about her shortcomings.
“The right guy won’t care,” her mother pressed the issue.
“I’m not dating anyone and putting my heart on the line again, hoping to find a needle in the haystack. Most men want a kid to carry on their name.” Grace started to walk away, intent on ending the conversation.
“So why is he against relationships?” her mother asked, following her.
Grace shrugged. “He’s a workaholic with a family grudge, the way I see it.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“I don’t follow you.” Grace frowned.
“Maybe he’s not into having a family, but what if he’s into you? Maybe there’s room for compromise. Two people who work hard during the day and enjoy each other’s company at night.”
“You are living in some fairy tale romance because you and Dad found what most people want. It’s not that easy, and it doesn’t always happen that way.”
“It can. Never say never. Just keep your heart open to the possibilities. I saw the way he looked at you when you weren’t watching. The man was interested.”
He was? Her mother must be mistaken. Grace was interested all right, but being interested and brave enough to put her heart and soul on the line again? Not a chance.
The three of them laughed and joked, each one trying to outdo the other in vying for the baby’s attention. Holly’s short little legs didn’t seem to slow down her fast crawl across the grass. Her bubbly sounds and baby giggles, along with the antics of her discovering new things, kept them all highly entertained. It was nice to see her sister joining in the fun, and her mother captured several great snapshots. It was a day to remember for sure.
Grace picked up Holly and twirled her like a helicopter, much to the baby’s delight. She hugged her tightly.
“Mama,” Holly said, yanking at the chain around Grace’s neck.
Grace beamed, looking up at the others to see if they were paying attention. “Did you hear that? Did you?”
“I heard baba. She must be hungry.” Faith’s smirk meant she�
��d heard precisely what Holly said.
“No. I heard her right. She just called me mama.” The truth suddenly dawned on Grace—sucking the air out of her chest. She wasn’t Holly’s mother. That honor belonged to Karen. Her cousin would be heart-broken to have missed her first word. “You’re probably right, it was just baba,” she said, trying to downplay the situation.
Faith looked at her mother and shrugged.
“Honey, you’re her mama for the next two weeks. Enjoy it. If anyone deserves it, it’s you.”
Her mother’s words caused her to tear up and Grace brushed them away, just as her mother pulled her into a hug, something she desperately needed. After one week, she was madly in love with Holly. What would happen after three?
For the first time, Grace wasn’t so sure she’d made the right decision. Having Holly for three weeks and then having to let her go would break Grace’s heart far more than any man she’d ever met and lost.
Chapter Eleven
Ryan stayed busy during the grand opening. Between overseeing the orders, helping the employees to keep things running smoothly, and ensuring that every order was pulled correctly and shipped out in a timely fashion, it had required long hours in the warehouse.
The whole process was designed to be easy. Still, this early in the game, it was critical the company upheld their promises to customers. It was all about building a reputation and getting the word out at this point. The team had embraced the concept he’d founded the company upon, each one dedicated to make World Sport, Inc. a massive success.
And as to getting noticed, well, that was Grace’s responsibility. Something she’d done with flying colors all week. The ads she’d sent him for approval were both dynamic and eye-catching. Without Holly in the office, it was a whole lot less chaotic, but also a lot quieter. He missed the little tyke, much as he was loath to admit it.
The biggest advantage of working in the warehouse, however, had been that it kept him out of the office, and therefore, he’d managed to keep Grace off his radar. The attractive blonde had occupied far too many of his thoughts lately, thoughts that should be focused solely on the company. The bigger problem, however, was a far stronger reason to stay away. She was his employee, and not one he was willing to risk losing. It didn’t stop him from looking forward to seeing her fresh face and smile each morning, but that’s as far as he would let it go.