Both her eyebrows rose as she said, “So why aren’t you doing that now?”
Bennett shrugged. “I don’t have to impress you anymore.”
Grace’s eyebrows rose even further at that comment. “And why not?”
“Well, first of all, you asked me out on this date, so I figure the ball is in your court when it comes to needing to impress,” he said, keeping his tone light and teasing. “Second, you know pretty much everything about me. I don’t think letting you win at bowling would give you any more insight into me.”
“You could still be a gentleman and let me win,” Grace pointed out.
Bennett laughed then. “Sweetheart, you make it pretty hard for a guy to let you win. I’d have to aim straight for the gutter every turn in order for that to happen. You’ve never been the best bowler in the family.”
Grace gave him a rueful look. “I had hoped to have a nice fun evening together.”
“I am having fun,” Bennett assured her. “This is the best date I’ve ever been on.”
She gave him a dubious look. Bennett walked to her side and put his arm around her shoulders, planning to give her a quick reassuring hug. But then her arm slid around his waist and held him tight. He looked down at her and let out a quick breath when he found her gazing up at him.
“Your best date? Really?” she asked. “Even though it included hotdogs, greasy fries, and smelly shoes?”
“Those things didn’t make it the best date ever.” Bennett hesitated but then decided it was time to go all in. He’d done it in her apartment, and the result had been anything but what he’d wanted. This time, however, it was his hope that she’d be more receptive to his letting her know how he felt. “This is the best date because I’m here with you. When you’re with the person you love, it really doesn’t matter where you are.”
Grace smiled at him. “I agree.”
For a moment, Bennett wondered if his heart was going to ever start beating again. Was she just agreeing on principle, or was she saying something else? Before Bennett could ask her for clarification, her arm slipped from his waist as she moved to stand in front of him. She put her hands on his waist, clutching at the material of his shirt as she stood barely an arm’s length away, her face lifted to his. He rested his hands over hers and waited.
Her brows drew together slightly before she took a quick breath. “You have always been there for me, Ben. I think I’ve always felt a sense of security knowing that regardless of our relationship, you would be there for me. Whether it was just in the background like these past couple of months or front and center like when I had Olivia, you’ve been there. And I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” Bennett frowned. “For what?”
“For letting fear dictate so much of my life and how that has impacted you.” As she hesitated, the sounds of the bowling alley filtered into their little bubble. The clack of balls as they hit the pins. The mechanical whirl of the pins being reset. “I don’t want to do that anymore. Olivia deserves a better life than one filled with fear. And so do I.”
“Love should overcome fear. Always.” Bennett reached a hand up to run his fingertips across Grace’s cheek. “I just want you to be happy and live your life to the fullest.”
“I thought that love had finally overcome fear when things changed with Franklin, but my fear hadn’t gone away. I hadn’t made a conscious decision to choose to love over fear since things had developed so slowly with him. However, I am glad that for whatever reason, the fear faded long enough for us to have something special together.”
Bennett nodded. “Franklin loved you, and he was happy—I know he was. And I was glad to see that you were too. You both deserved that.”
“I can’t wish away these past years,” Grace said, her hands tightening even further on his waist. “Because that would mean losing Olivia. But now I want to focus on the future, and I want to do that without allowing the fear of losing the people I love to cripple me.” She paused, her gaze leaving his for a moment. When she looked back at him, there was a sheen to her eyes. “I don’t want to think of losing you, but I’ve found that the fear of not having you in my life is greater than my fear of losing you.”
Bennett felt his chest tighten as he listened to what Grace was saying. “I’ll always be in your life, Grace. I’m not that easy to get rid of.”
Grace tilted her head. “No, but you’ve kind of disappeared from my life the past couple of months, and I didn’t like how it felt. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, but you needed to focus on Olivia.”
“Yes, I did. But Olivia is doing great now, and I want to focus on you. On us.” Her brow furrowed as she looked up at him. “If that’s what you want.”
Bennett took her face in both his hands. “Of course, it’s what I want. I love you, Grace.” Tears spilled over her cheeks, and he used his thumbs to wipe them away. “I know that it hasn’t been that long since Franklin passed away, and I’m willing to wait however long you need to grieve for him.”
“I think I’ll always grieve for Franklin, but he respected you, and I think he’d be okay with this. With us.” She reached up to touch his face. “I do love you, Bennett. For the first time, I’m able to say that without fear clouding it.”
Bennett wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He hadn’t anticipated having the most important conversation of his life in a bowling alley. And yet it was perfect. The relief he felt at knowing that she loved him and that, for the first time, they were on the same page was intense.
“I love you, Grace.” He tipped her chin up with his fingers, and as Grace slid her hand behind his neck, Bennett bent to press his lips to hers.
“Strike!”
The yell and the cheers that followed ended their kiss as they pulled apart to glance over at the noisy lane. Then they looked back at each other and laughed.
“So are we gonna finish this game?” Grace asked. “I still need to lose.”
“We’ll find something you excel at for future dates,” Bennett said and gave her a quick kiss on the lips before letting her go.
As Grace took up her position to throw the ball, Bennett found himself looking forward to loving Grace and watching her throw gutter balls for the rest of his life.
EPILOGUE
Bennett looked at the family that was gathered around the large table in his parents’ home. Thanksgiving had brought most the family home, though there were some noticeable absences. Hockey season was underway which meant Kenton couldn’t make it. He was playing a game later on that day so they would have the television on for that. Though it wasn’t a holiday weekend in the States, Ryan had taken a couple of vacation days to join the family for their Thanksgiving dinner.
There was a fire in the large fireplace because it was a chilly October day. There was no snow yet, for which Bennett was grateful for. Something else he was grateful for was the family present. It had been several months of ups and downs in the family since that night in the bowling alley with Grace.
He glanced down to his left and the beautiful little girl sitting in a high chair between him and Grace. Now ten months old, she was a lively little girl who loved to pull herself up on any piece of furniture she could crawl to. To date, Olivia had hit all her milestones and didn’t seem to be suffering any ill effects from having been born prematurely.
“Da!” she proclaimed loudly as she hit the tray of her high chair with her sippy cup. When she looked up at Bennett, she gave him a broad grin, showing off the two teeth she had already. With her light blue eyes framed by long dark lashes and a head full of dark brown curls, she was a stunning child, and Bennett wasn’t just biased. People constantly commented on her appearance when they took her out.
As the meal drew to a close, his dad got to his feet. It was hard to see how the past eight months had taken a toll on his dad.
“When we were together for last Thanksgiving, I never would have imagined the journey some of us would be embarking on. Maybe it
’s a good thing we didn’t know, but I have taken comfort in the knowledge that God did know and has walked with each of us through the darkest times as well as the times of rejoicing.” His dad paused, his gaze going to each person seated at the table. “I would love it if each of us could share what we’re thankful for. Makayla, sweetie, would you start.”
Bennett swallowed hard when his sister nodded. He knew that there would be tears amidst the thankfulness. That proved to be true for more than just Makayla as people continued to share in turn. As it neared him, Bennett felt a flutter of nerves.
“Bennett?” his dad said after Ryan finished.
He glanced over at Grace and met her gaze with a smile before running a hand over Olivia’s silky curls. “This time last year, I didn’t have any idea of the journey that lay ahead for me. Or that in the midst of sorrow, there would be the hope of love. It feels like I’ve loved Grace forever, but the love I had for her all those years ago is nothing compared to what I feel for her now. Though it hurts to know that it took Franklin’s death to open this door, I’m so grateful that Grace took a chance on our love.”
He turned once more to look at Grace and reach across Olivia’s tray to take Grace’s hand. “Grace, thank you for loving me and for accepting the love I have for you and Olivia. I know it wasn’t easy to make that decision so I’m beyond grateful. And now I’d like to ask you to consider taking one more risk with me.” Bennett paused and tried to swallow past the sudden tightness in his throat. “Grace, will you marry me?”
Olivia’s fingers grabbed at his and Grace’s clasped hands. “Da!”
“Well, I think you have Olivia’s answer,” Grace said with a smile, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “And mine is the same. Yes, I will marry you, Bennett.”
Keeping their hands clasped, Bennett drew Grace to her feet. He reached into his pocket and drew out the ring box he’d placed there earlier. He let go of her hand long enough to free the ring from the box and then he slid it onto her finger. She still wore the band Franklin had given her on their wedding day but it was on her right hand, and some day it would be Olivia’s.
Once the ring was in place, Bennett pulled Grace into his arms and lowered her head to kiss her. As she returned his kiss, her hands came up to cup his face. There were cheers and clapping around them, and when the kiss ended, and they moved back from each other, Grace smiled up at him.
“I love you, Bennett, and you and Olivia are who I’m most thankful for today. I can’t wait to spend all the time God gives us together.”
Bennett hoped that God would give them many more years together, but he planned to try to live each day with Grace as it if was his last, and cherish every moment.
Coming late June 2017
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For the Love of Grace: A Christian Romance (The Callaghans & McFaddens Book 2) Page 26