She started to sob. Then clamped her lips tight. When she was sure no one could see her anymore, Jess succumbed to her instincts. And fled.
*
The next morning Grace felt emotionally flat as she contemplated the day ahead. Last night had been disappointing on many levels. Reminding her that she was an outsider in this town. And cementing the fact that she and Levi were simply not meant to be. Erin had used the co-chair role to manipulate Levi into spending most of the evening by her side. But Levi had allowed it to happen. So, even though he claimed not to be interested in the mayor, maybe secretly he was.
Which was fine. Their lives dovetailed perfectly. Much better than Grace and Levi’s ever could.
There was a knock on the door. Then Alicia called out, “Are you decent?”
“Still in bed. But come on in.”
Alicia entered with a tray containing a thermos and a plate of muffins. “Emergency caffeine intervention. You are aware the festival opens in an hour?”
Grace scrambled out of bed to help her friend with the tray. “You’re so sweet. And I’m the worst guest. I should be helping you with the boys, not causing you more work.”
“No sweat. Sean and the boys are watching cartoons and later his parents are coming to take the boys fishing.” Alicia uncapped the thermos and poured out two cups of coffee.
“That smells heavenly.” Grace accepted a mug, then joined Alicia on the slipcovered sofa beside the small table where she’d put the tray.
“I didn’t hear you come in last night,” Alicia said. “Did you stay late?”
“Not really. I made the rounds and then decided to call it a night.”
“Did you spend much time with Levi?”
“I couldn’t. Your mayor was clinging to Levi like they were co-joined as well as co-chairs.”
“Are you terribly disappointed? I know you thought maybe you and Levi…”
Grace shook her head. “We wanted different things when we were young, and we still want different things.” She shrugged. It all sounded so logical. So cut and dried. “If only I didn’t still want him so much.”
“It must be hard. But you’re going to be so busy you won’t have a chance to miss him or anyone else. And I’ll be there to help you.”
“Are you sure? You’ve been such a help already. And Sean is probably hoping to get some alone time with you.”
“Honestly? He’d love to have a day free to work on his next project—a tree house for the kids. When they’re around they insist on helping and it ends up taking him three times as long.”
“Well then, I accept your kind offer. At least we’ll be able to visit during all the slow times.”
*
But it turned out Alicia was right. There were no slow times. From the moment Grace opened her tent for business, she was swamped with people coming to admire her work. Most bought a little something, a bookmark or a few postcards. She sold a respectable number of her books and prints as well.
True to her word, Alicia was a great help. She handled payments and wrote out receipts for cash purchases and when it became clear that Grace wouldn’t have time for lunch, grabbed her a smoothie.
While Alicia was gone, a familiar-looking teenager stopped by the tent to say hello.
“So you came,” Rae Stedwell said.
“Thanks to you putting the idea in my head. It’s been…an experience. How did you do on your school project?”
Rae glanced over her shoulder before answering. “Oh, I, um, I got an A plus. Thanks again for helping me.”
“It was a pleasure.”
“Okay. Well. I just wanted to say hi. I can see you’re really busy.”
Grace would have tried to engage her for longer, but it was true there were others in the tent trying to get her attention.
As the day wore on Grace was touched by the number of older people who wanted to say hi because they had known her parents. She made a list of the names so she could remember them to her mom and dad next time she called.
A lot of old classmates came by, too, as well as friends from her neighborhood. At four o’clock—scheduled closing time—the crowds began clearing. Grace realized there was one person she’d been hoping would stop by but hadn’t.
Levi. Every now and then she caught sight of him in the crowd. If he wasn’t talking to someone, he was moving purposefully as if on the way to solve one problem or another. She got that he was busy. But she’d thought he would have found time to at least stop in and say hi.
*
Jess had avoided her father at breakfast and spent most of Saturday morning in her room. Around noon she went to the festival, driven by guilt, to say hello to Grace Hamilton. She cut her visit short, afraid someone she knew would come by and call her by name. Back in her room she felt more miserable than ever. Around two o’clock she heard a small stone hit the side of the house, close to her window. She pulled up the blind and opened the window.
Max was on the lawn, his hands on his hips. “Ready to head to the festival?”
“I’ve already been.”
“So come again.”
“Nah.”
“Hang on. I’m coming inside.” Max disappeared from view and a second later Jess heard their front door open. She let out a heavy sigh then left her room.
Jess met him in the hallway. She hung back, keeping several feet between them. “I mean it Max. I’m not going.”
He pulled at his thick hair, agitated. “What happened to you last night? Did you get stuck at your dad’s event until late?”
She took a deep breath. “I showed up at the bonfire around eight thirty. Tried to find you guys, then I heard you’d already gone swimming.”
She firmed her jaw and glared at him. Challenging him to admit he’d stood her up.
But he refused to admit he’d done anything wrong.
“You should have waited for us by the fire. Didn’t you figure we’d need to warm up?”
“I did wait by the fire. And I did see you. But you were with some girl.”
“That doesn’t sound…” His eyes widened. “Oh, you must mean Lexi. We did talk for a bit.”
Jealousy and suspicion swirled in Jess. She’d never felt this way before and she hated it. She wanted to turn and run, just like she’d done last night.
But then her grandmother’s advice came back to her. Just ask.
Jess swallowed. Then took a deep breath. “Are you going out with her?”
“What?”
She’d been hoping for an answer of “no” not “what.” The anger in his voice threw her off-balance. “You never come over in the evenings anymore.”
“So…what…you think I’ve been going out with some girl?”
Suddenly she felt utterly miserable. She’d never known Max to be so angry and confrontational. If only she hadn’t said anything. But it was too late for that. Since he was already mad she might as well find out the worst. “Is it Lexi…?”
“Damn it, Jess.”
He looked at her like she’d just betrayed him, when in fact it was probably the other way around. Not that she had any romantic claim to him. But as friends—best friends—he ought to have told her.
“Sure. I’m dating another girl. In fact, I’m dating more than one girl. Is that okay with you?”
She would not let him see she was upset. “Whatever.”
He glared at her, then stormed off. For several minutes she stared at the door he had slammed, practically in her face.
She and Max had had fights before. But never, never like this.
October 12, 1999
New York University
Dear Levi,
I get what you’re saying about the college experience being about more than studying. But when I’m making pictures it never feels like work. Everything else—especially the parties and social events you think I should be taking part in—all seem so lame. And I have made some friends, a couple kids from my Visual Thinking class. We’re planning to go gallery hopping
in the city again next weekend. By the way, it’s been a while since you sent me any of your sketches. What (or who) is keeping you so busy over there?
Chapter Nine
Festival day went by in a blur for Levi and then suddenly it was tear-down time. When he was younger Levi had been one of the guys bringing down the tents, doing the heavy lifting. Now he got to supervise, troubleshoot and lend a hand when necessary. He and his team had two hours before the barbecue began and he intended they would leave the park as pristine as they had found it.
After checking on the team dismantling the sound equipment at the gazebo, he headed to Grace’s tent. All her framed prints had sold and she was trying to fold up the easels.
“Let me help you with that.”
She stepped back to give him space. “Thanks.” A few strands of her blond hair had worked loose from the knot at the nape of her neck and there were wrinkles in her sand-colored linen pants, but other than that she seemed unfazed by her busy day.
“Looks like you were a big success. I came by a few times to see how you were doing, but there was always a lineup.”
“Really? I never saw you.”
She seemed a bit cool. Was it about today? Or last night? “Sorry again about last night. I shouldn’t have let Erin drag me around like that.”
“No need to apologize. I didn’t need a babysitter.”
“That wasn’t what I meant. I was just sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk more. Erin’s been making way too much of this co-chair business.”
“Maybe because she likes you?”
Levi’s ears were suddenly too warm. He looked away for a moment, then shook his head. “Maybe she does. I’m not sure why. We don’t have much in common.”
“You have Woodland in common,” Grace pointed out.
Something he and Grace did not. “Touché.” He picked the last of her boxes from the ground and added it to the trolley. “Can I make last night up to you and escort you to the barbecue?”
“No need. I have my own car.”
“I do realize you are capable of getting to the barbecue on your own. I just thought it would be nice to go together.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
He took a deep breath. “Are you upset because I turned down Costa Rica? Look, I’m sorry but it’s just not possible for me.”
“No need to apologize. We haven’t seen each other in twenty years and suddenly I’m asking you to come to Costa Rica with me. Crazy, right? I was just pumped after our great day together—”
“It was a great day,” Levi agreed. “It’s been nice having you back in Woodland. You’ll be leaving soon and I figure the barbecue will be like my last chance to spend some time with you.”
“I guess we would save gas if we carpooled.”
He laughed. “We’ll be driving one mile so we ought to save at least a quarter.”
“Totally worth it.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
*
“You sure you don’t want to come with us?” Alicia was at the door to the guesthouse, looking elegant in the black silk pantsuit she’d bought in New York. And mildly worried.
Grace shook her head. “Thanks but Levi just texted me. He’s almost here. I’ll catch up with you and Sean and the boys once we get there.”
Alicia narrowed her eyes. She started to say something. Stopped. And then smiled. “That’s a pretty dress.”
“Thank you.” Grace executed a pirouette. Her soft cotton dress had a small floral print and a flowing skirt. For warmth she was teaming it with boots, a denim jacket, and a soft, scrunchy scarf. “For the record, you look absolutely stunning.”
“The family’s in the truck waiting for me. So…you’re sure you’re okay?”
Grace nodded. Despite her better judgment she felt an almost giddy sense of anticipation. Tonight she would not think about her inevitable departure from Woodland or Levi’s refusal of her offer to travel to Costa Rica. She would just enjoy his company.
“Okay then,” Alicia said. “I’ll see you there.” She had almost closed the door when she opened it again. “Levi just drove up.”
“Thanks. Tell him I’ll be right there.” Grace slipped her cell phone into her camera case, then slung the strap over her shoulder. Levi was already out of his truck when she made it to the street. She waved to Alicia and her family as they drove off, then turned to Levi.
In dark jeans and a nicely tailored blue shirt he looked amazing. The way he was smiling at her told her he had the same opinion of her. For a moment she felt eighteen again, desperate for the boy she loved to kiss her.
Then she flashed forward twenty years. And there was no kiss. All Levi did was open the passenger door.
As she settled into her seat, her younger self re-emerged. When you were a teenager, a vehicle equaled freedom and she and Levi had sought the open road at every opportunity. She felt that same sense of heady opportunity now. Secretly she prayed for him to head for the open highway. But of course he didn’t. In just ten minutes they were at the barbecue.
She unfastened her seat belt, then looked over at Levi. “I hope I’m finally going to be able to meet Jessica tonight.”
Levi’s smile faltered. “Afraid not. She’s going to hang out with her grandfather tonight.”
“Your parents aren’t going to the barbecue either?” Grace couldn’t help feeling relieved. She’d gotten along fine with Levi’s father when she was dating Levi, but his mother had always been a touch cool. Levi claimed she was imagining things. He told her his mother liked her just fine. But Grace’s instincts said otherwise.
“Mom will be there but Dad hasn’t been very social since he was diagnosed with atherosclerosis.”
“Is that when your arteries have plaque buildup?” When Levi nodded, she asked, “Is he going to require surgery?”
“Maybe in the future. For now he’s being asked to watch his diet and avoid strenuous activities.”
“Well it’s nice of your daughter to keep him company. Not many teenagers would give up a Saturday night like that.”
“Jess wouldn’t normally either.” Levi sounded worried. “Something’s been off with her the last little while. I feel guilty—I’ve been so busy I haven’t been around much.”
“She’ll talk to you when she’s ready.”
“I hope so.”
The sun had set a short while ago and it was dusk as they left the truck, walking side by side, their arms occasionally jostling against each other.
When they rounded the curve to the clearing by the river, Grace paused to take it all in. The picnic shelter was outlined in lights and a big tent had been erected for the five-piece band, currently playing “Sweet Home Alabama.” Already a group was gathered, dancing, while yet more people were lined up for pulled pork sandwiches and salads.
“Wow, impressive. I remembered the barbecue being more casual.”
“It was more like a potluck picnic when we were young,” Levi said. “Now we hire a caterer with a big commercial barbecue. About ten years ago we added the band and the dancing. In about an hour, when it’s fully dark, there’ll be fireworks.”
As she automatically reached for her camera, Grace missed a small rock on the path and stumbled.
“Careful,” Levi said.
There were fireworks already, Grace thought, when Levi put his arm around her waist to steady her.
Levi waited patiently as she lined up a few shots. Then, as they moved into the crowd, she heard someone call out his name. Not ready to share him with the rest of the town just yet, she reached for his hand. “How about we start things off with a dance?”
Last time she’d danced with Levi had been at an outdoor party with friends, the night before she left for college. He’d held her close while Toni Braxton sang “Unbreak my heart,” and neither one of them had realized that in just a few months, they would be the ones with the hearts needing to be unbroken.
“Excellent idea.” Levi’s hand aro
und her waist tightened as he led her toward the dance area. Most couples were dancing separately but as the band transitioned to “Where The Sidewalk Ends,” Levi swung her into a two-step.
She couldn’t believe how naturally they moved together, even after all this time.
The song ended and another began, but Grace was oblivious to the words and the tune. All she noticed was Levi pulling her in closer for a waltz. She let her head rest against his shoulder and inhaled the warm, male scent of him.
How could it be that after all these years she still felt like she belonged in his arms? She closed her eyes, hoping for the moment to go on and on, but all too soon someone shouted out Levi’s name, too loudly, this time, to be ignored. Levi stopped moving and Grace peered over her shoulder.
Oliver was waving at them from the edge of the dance area. “Hey, Levi, isn’t your phone working? Erin wants all the committee members to meet by the picnic tables for a few minutes.
“Damn,” Levi said softly. He took one of Grace’s hands. “Come with me? I don’t want to lose you in the crowd.”
“You won’t. I’ll join the drinks lineup. Come find me when you’re ready.”
“I won’t be long.”
Within a few seconds he had disappeared into the crowd while Grace headed in the opposite direction, to the lineup for beverage tickets. Just her luck, Mary Shanahan was in the lineup ahead of her. She greeted Grace with a glacial smile.
Grace’s answering smile felt far from natural. “Hi, Mrs. Shanahan, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Hi, Grace. Pat and I sure were surprised when we heard you were coming to the festival this year.”
Good surprised or bad surprised, Grace wanted to ask, even though she thought she knew the answer. “The timing happened to work for me this year.”
“How fortunate.” Mary paused then added, “I meant to drop by your booth today, but every time I tried you had a big crowd.”
“Everyone’s been very supportive. I didn’t expect so many people to remember me and my parents.”
Letters From Grace Page 10