by Lila Kane
“Lay down the rules again,” Elliot said.
Kara smacked his arm and he smirked.
“Very funny,” Maddy told Riley, sidestepping him and angling for the kitchen. “I’m going to find something for dinner and you guys can discuss how you’re going to ‘lay down the rules’.”
Kara vacated her seat and shook her head. “Don’t worry,” she said to Riley as she passed, “if I had known she saw that guy again I would’ve made sure she told you or Elliot.”
Grace stood and frowned, following Kara. She bumped Riley’s elbow. “I wouldn’t.”
Riley raised his brows but didn’t say anything. He waited until all three were out of the room before sitting on the couch. “I don’t think they’re taking this as seriously as we are.”
“No,” Nathan countered with a small smile, “I think they’re just approaching it from a different perspective.”
“A stubborn one?” Riley asked, making Elliot chuckle.
“An independent one.” Nathan stretched his arm along the back of the couch, letting his eyes stray to the window and the wave of the trees beyond. “Ultimately this is their battle. Whether we stand in for parts of it or not, they’re still going to have to end it themselves.”
These words brought a somber silence to the room. Nathan could hear the clinking of dishes from the kitchen and the low murmur of the women’s voices.
“Where to start then?” Elliot asked.
“We need to deal with Lewis first,” Riley said. “I don’t know if he is who he says he is but if he has something to do with Grace finding the star, then I guess it’s time we found out.”
“Seems to me like she’s going to insist on talking to him,” Nathan said.
Riley gave a slow nod. “I think it would be better if at least one of us was there.”
“She can come into Serendipity,” Elliot said. “He’ll probably see her right away and come in. Then we can all be there if that’s what it takes.”
“That’s probably what it’s going to take,” Riley answered.
~
Grace let Maddy and Kara work together at the stove while she perched on the opposite counter, her feet swaying gently back and forth. Her ankle felt better than it had in days, which meant it was back to work soon. Even if the others had something to say about it.
“Grace.”
Her head jerked up. “Sorry, what?”
“Are you okay?” Kara asked.
“I’m fine.”
Maddy set a hand on her knee. “You don’t have to figure out everything right now, you know.”
“I know.” But Grace wanted to. Even Nathan. She wanted to figure that out. Why she couldn’t seem to get him out of her mind, why she felt guilty every time she avoided him. When she closed her eyes, she could feel him close, his warm hands on her body, his lips on her–
“I wouldn’t bother with that,” Maddy said, jerking her out of her reverie with a laugh. Maddy shook noodles into a large pot filled with water and already had creamy sauce warming on another burner. “You know, figuring it all out. The guys are out there figuring it all out for you.”
Kara shook her head. “You shouldn’t give them such a hard time about it. They’re just worried about us.”
“Ah…” Maddy’s eyes twinkled, making Grace laugh. “I see how it is.”
“What?”
Grace joined in with a nod in Kara’s direction. “You like having the big guys around to protect you, make you feel safe.”
“Fiction comes to life,” Kara said with a grin. “Of course I like it. I love it.”
“Would one of your characters sit back and let the guys do all the planning?” Maddy asked her, lifting a wooden spoon.
“First of all, that’s not what’s happening and secondly…no, she wouldn’t. But still, that’s not what’s happening.”
“What do you think they’re talking about out there?”
Kara shrugged. “Grace, probably. And the whole safety thing, of course.”
Maddy stirred the sauce slowly and gestured to the refrigerator with her elbow. “Butter, Kara, please.”
“I know they’re talking about me. And Lewis,” Grace said, swinging her feet. “And probably the fact that even though it’s my turn with the star, apparently you two are not immune to its effects.”
“What do you think about that?” Maddy asked.
“Honestly…” Grace blew out a heavy breath, watching her bangs lift and fall with the motion. She shook her head. “I don’t know. I hate that this is happening to either of you after you already had to deal with it.”
“Well,” Maddy said slowly, drawing the word out. She used the back of her hand to brush aside a stray hair on her cheek. “I might have some interesting news to…distract us.”
“What interesting news?”
“I don’t really know for sure yet.” Her gaze traveled to Kara’s briefly and then returned to the pot of sauce. “I might be pregnant.”
“What?”
Grace slid swiftly off the counter, then winced when her injured foot hit the floor. “Ow.”
Maddy looked alarmed. “Grace–”
“Seriously?”
“I don’t know for sure.”
“Maddy,” Kara chimed in, knocking a piece of bread off the counter and stepping over it in her exuberance. “Oh!”
“Shh, shh,” Maddy chided, looking out toward the living room with wide eyes. “I told you I don’t know for sure yet.”
“You have to be pretty sure to have said something.” Grace smiled, excitement bubbling in her chest. “Did you take a test?”
Maddy shook her head, dipping the spoon into the sauce.
“Take one.” Kara gestured toward the front of the house. “I’ll go get one right now.”
“Kara.”
“What? I want to know.”
Maddy released the spoon and turned to fully face them. “Listen, I’m going to wait until the end of the week and then I’ll find out for sure. But please don’t say anything yet.”
“Riley is going to be so excited,” Grace said.
“Do you think so?” Maddy’s brows drew together. “It’s so soon.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Kara touched Maddy’s arm. “Sooner than you guys wanted?”
“No. Well yes, I mean we weren’t planning on kids so fast but it’s not a bad thing. I just–Riley’s been so worried lately…”
Grace leaned against the cabinet, unable to swallow the guilt from those words. Riley was worried about her. And now, with what had happened to Kara, he was going to be worried about all of them. And if Maddy was pregnant, it was something new to worry about.
She leaned forward and pulled Maddy close for a tight hug. “If you’re pregnant, Riley is going to be the happiest daddy any of us has ever seen. Please try not to worry.”
“Don’t worry,” Kara echoed, wrapping her arms around both women. “This is such a wonderful thing, Maddy.”
Grace felt Maddy release a sharp breath. “Okay,” she said, confidence entering her tone. “You’re right. Don’t worry. This is a good thing.”
“A great thing,” Grace told her. She squeezed tighter and only let her mind focus on the joy of possibly being an aunt.
Chapter 18
Nathan left his window open a few inches before exiting the truck, stepping out into bright sunshine that seemed to have drawn shoppers out early for the weekend. His eyes searched a small crowd of people walking over to the flower shop. Then further down the street toward Ruby’s. He didn’t see Lewis hovering in any of his usual spots.
Maybe Lewis wouldn’t show up. Maybe he had finally decided to leave Serenity Falls and Grace’s life forever.
If that were the case, how would Grace feel? Did she want a father figure in her life or had she had grown content with her situation and wanted to keep it that way?
Grace and Kara pulled up behind him. He checked his watch. It was still early yet. Nathan removed his sunglasses and took a long loo
k at Grace when she stepped out of the car.
He noticed immediately she’d removed the brace she was supposed to be wearing and replaced it with a simpler bandage, a smaller one.
She caught his gaze and pressed her lips together. “Don’t say anything,” she warned.
He put his glasses back on, concealing his eyes. “Is that a suggestion or a threat?”
“I already yelled at her.” Kara walked up the steps in front of Serendipity and reached for the handle on the door. “Not that she listens to me.”
She disappeared inside, and he looked back at Grace. She leaned against the car.
“It feels better,” she explained. He propped his hand on the car next to her, felt the heat of it on his palm. “It’s easier to walk this way. Because I can wear my shoe.”
He only nodded. The last thing they needed right now was an argument.
“A matching shoe,” she pointed out when he didn’t respond.
He looked down at her, appealed to her. “Be careful, then. Don’t hurt yourself worse.”
To his surprise, she only nodded. “I will. I promise.”
He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “This isn’t working very well for me.”
“What’s that?”
“Avoiding each other.” Which wasn’t really the case. She’d been avoiding him. But again, the last thing they needed right now was an argument.
Her mouth opened, closed, then opened again. “It’s not really working for me either.”
His fingers twitched, aching to pull her close, to kiss her. It cost him, but he kept his distance. “I think I’m ready for my piano lesson.”
“Oh yeah?”
He gave in and clasped her fingers in his. “It’ll make me feel better staying here for now. In case he shows up.”
“What if he doesn’t come? What if…”
“What?” Nathan followed her gaze and caught sight of Lewis walking up the street.
Nathan stayed close to Grace, keeping an eye on Lewis as he passed the gift shop next door. When he saw them waiting for him, he stopped on the sidewalk, stuffing his hands in his pockets in a non-threatening gesture.
“Grace.”
Nathan watched Grace push away from the car and face Lewis with her chin up. “Lewis.”
“Can we talk?”
She nodded.
“Inside,” Nathan suggested, gesturing to the café.
Lewis glanced to the coffee shop, giving a nod.
Nathan kept hold of Grace and she didn’t protest. Riley pulled up just as they reached the door. Nathan nodded his head inside and saw Riley park quickly to join them.
Inside, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon tinged the air. He caught Elliot’s attention as they passed.
Grace paused at the edge of the coffee shop while Lewis lingered next to the table closest to the French doors. She turned to Nathan, tilting her head to meet his eyes. “It’s okay. We’ll just sit over here and talk.”
“But–”
“Really.” She gave him a confident smile. She looked to the door when Riley came in. “We’ll just sit over here, talk and you’ll know if something is wrong. Besides, Riley’s here.”
Nathan exhaled. Seeing Riley there did help. And it made sense to give Grace some privacy with this man who could very well be her father. He nodded and turned back to the bookstore, trying but failing to quell the need to go back in and be there for Grace.
~
Grace sat at the same time Riley did, choosing the chair closest to him and letting him begin the conversation.
“I’m Riley,” he offered.
Lewis fidgeted with the sleeve of his shirt. “Grace probably already told you why I’m here.”
“I’d rather hear it coming from you.”
“I spoke with your mother. She called to ask for money. She’s done that a lot in the past.” Lewis shrugged, keeping his eyes averted. “I told her I didn’t have anything to give her and she got upset. I think…maybe she owes someone money. I don’t know. Anyway, she got angry with me and said I owed her for all those years I never helped take care of our child.”
He raised anxious eyes. When neither she nor Riley said anything, he lowered his gaze once more and continued. “I’ve never heard her so upset. I thought maybe she was joking, but she told me your name and how old you are. And well, it sounded about right, considering the time your mother and I were together. And I—I remember you, Riley, because you and your mother stayed with me for about three months when I lived here.”
Riley’s expression didn’t change.
“I didn’t know before I talked to Marlene,” Lewis appealed to Grace. “I swear. We got in a fight one night and she stole all the money in my sock drawer…” His voice trailed off and he cleared his throat, eyes wandering to the bookstore. “She never told me we had a little girl or else I would have come back sooner.”
“If this is what you needed to tell Grace,” Riley said, keeping his voice cool, “why didn’t you wait for a better time? Why did you come in here and harass people and follow Grace around town?”
“Because I was supposed to get back to my job two days ago and I wanted to talk to her–you”–he switched his gaze to Grace again–“before I left.”
“So you lost your job so you could talk to me?”
He shrugged and ran his fingers through his light-colored hair. “I guess so. But I also had to stay to tell you about your mother. She said she might be coming to pay you a visit. And she said it when she was really angry. I don’t know the kind of relationship you have with her but she sort of used to have a gambling problem. Being that she called me for money, I’d say she still does. And if she owes money and figured she’d come pay you a visit…” He lifted a shoulder in another shrug. “I thought maybe I’d give you a heads up.”
“I appreciate that.” She looked to Riley and gave a slow nod. Simple. And probably nothing to do with the star. That relieved her at the same time it worried her. If he had nothing to do with the star, what did? What would help her find it?
“I think that’s it,” Lewis said. “But I needed to tell you.”
“Are you heading home now?” Riley asked.
“Uh…well, I lived here until about ten years ago. And since I don’t have a job anymore, I thought I might stick around here for a while…” He held up a reassuring hand when his words were met by silence. “I won’t bother you or anything. I mean, I understand if you don’t want anything to do with me. I’ll try to stay out of your way. But I used to fix cars at the shop down the road. I thought I’d see if they’d take me back.”
Anxiety swirled in her stomach. Did she want to get to know her father if Lewis truly was who he said he was? Would it be better if he left?
He pushed back in his chair and stood. “I’m just…” He gestured to the door. “I’ll head on out now.” He paused and then reached into his pocket to retrieve a small piece of paper. He set it on the table. “This is my number. I’m staying at a friend’s house. Just in case. You know…if you need anything or…you know, whatever.” He bobbed his head in a nod. “Okay. Goodbye.”
Grace stared down at the scrap of paper. She reached for it and slowly slid it to the edge. “What do you think?” she asked Riley, keeping her eyes on the scribbled numbers.
“I don’t know.”
She looked up and saw troubled eyes once again. “What’s wrong?”
“Mom.”
“Yeah…” Grace sighed. She stuffed the paper into her pocket. “Do you really think she’d come back?”
“I don’t know,” he said again.
“Do you feel better?”
He smiled. “Same answer. Are you okay?”
“Shit.” She sighed. “I don’t know either. This is—should be—a good thing, right? I mean, he seemed sincere.”
Riley didn’t answer.
“I don’t think I want Mom to come back,” she told him honestly.
Riley immediately scooted
out of his seat and pulled her tight against him in a hug. “I don’t know if she will, Grace.”
“But what if she does?”
He brushed a hand down her hair. “Then we’ll all be here, too.” She heard a smile in his voice. “I’ll protect you.”
Grace chuckled. “Seems like you might have some competition.”
Riley glanced toward the bookstore and saw the rest of their group hovering on the fringe. “You’re right about that.” He let her go and grinned. “Do you need some protection from Nathan, too?”
“That’s not funny.”
His expression went serious. “Do you?”
Grace folded her hands in her lap. “Riley.”
“You can talk to me, Grace.”
“Not here,” she said.
He set both hands on either side of her chair. “Anywhere.”
“I don’t–uh…” Her words caught in her throat. The conflicted part of her wanted his reassurance. For him to tell her that Nathan was one of the good guys, that she should go for it. Problem was, she already knew that. “Riley…
He stood straighter and gave a decisive nod. “We’ll talk. Later.”
She slid off the chair. “You should get back to work.”
“I know. Don’t go home alone, okay?”
“Nathan wants a piano lesson. I’ll go to his house.”
“Good.”
Riley made for the bookstore, so Grace followed. Maddy and Kara came for her first and she gave a reluctant smile.
“Is everything okay?” Maddy asked.
Kara spoke at the same time. “Is he really your father?”
“I don’t know.”
“He said our mom might come back to Serenity Falls.” Riley slid an arm around Maddy and brushed his lips across her forehead before continuing. “He seemed worried about it, too.”
“Why would that worry him?” Nathan asked.
“She’s not exactly the most even-tempered person. And it seems like she might owe money to someone and doesn’t know how to come up with it.”
“So why would she come back to Serenity Falls?” Kara asked, shooting Grace a confused glance before looking back to Riley.
“Maybe she won’t. Maybe she was just tossing things out there. She didn’t always follow through with most of what she said she was going to do. And if she does come here…”