A Fine Line

by Emma Leigh Reed

  “I need to know you are okay.” She nodded briefly, tears shimmering on her eyelashes as she fought to hold on to what little control she seemed to have.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Gracie…it’s me. I can see you’re not fine. I never wanted to hurt you. I only…I was just trying to express how you make me feel.”

  She looked up and stared into his eyes. “I know. I’m not hurt. I just don’t know…what I’m feeling right now.” She reached up and laid the palm of her hand against his cheek. “Just let me sort it out.”

  He pulled her closer, his lips claiming hers. She sighed softly and gave into the moment. He allowed himself the pleasure of her surrender, kissing him back, as a good sign. The doorbell ringing pulled them apart and Grace glanced up to meet his eyes.

  “What now?”

  Xander squeezed her hand gently as he started for the door. Grace followed him to the living room entrance and waited. Xander swung up the door and took a step back.

  “Hello, Sebastian…Xander.”

  Fury flooded through Grace as she heard John’s voice. She blocked out Xander’s response and took two steps into the foyer just as John closed the door behind him.

  “You! Impeccable timing you have.” Grace stood, hands on her hips, anger coming off her in waves. “Did you come to tie up loose ends with your son?”

  Xander turned and stared at Grace. “What are you talking about?”

  John placed a hand on his son’s arm. “I’m here to try and mend fences with my son, if that is what you mean.”

  “Oh, please. You two have been scheming behind my back. How long have you been planning to drive me out of my home?” Grace took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “Newsflash, Xander doesn’t get anything without me being here. What do you get if we don’t get Mom’s property? You think you can swoop in and buy it up for yourself? It will go to charity first.”

  Grace felt the blood rush to her face. Her heart pounded and its beating filled her ears until she thought she was going to explode.

  “Grace, you don’t believe that.” Xander’s voice was full of despair. He couldn’t lose her, not like this.

  “Are you insane?” Xander clamped his mouth shut, a look of panic crossing his face.

  “Yes, Sebastian, I’m insane…a raving lunatic. You better watch out because God knows what I am capable of.” Xander stepped back involuntarily as if he had been slapped.

  Grace heard the shrillness of her words and saw Xander’s face pale with the use of his given name. She knew deep down she was being unreasonable, but she couldn’t stop it. She feared the madness from the stress was returning and running rampart. She had to get out of here.

  She pushed past Xander and John, storming out of the house with a slam of the door behind her. She ran to her car and as soon as the door shut, she laid her forehead against the steering wheel. Tears overflowed her eyes. She struggled with trying to hold them back, and finally gave in to the sobs that wracked her body. She couldn’t hold on to this anymore. She didn’t want to lose her home, but she couldn’t be in the same house one more minute with Xander if he was determined to destroy her.

  She was too fragile for this. She longed to get back to the moment he walked into her life and she felt that she could be someone else. The moment when he spurred a freedom in her that she couldn’t resist after fighting for it all her life.

  Pulling herself up and glancing around, Grace started her car and turned towards town. This was going to have to stop, and the only way to do it was to admit defeat herself. She wiped her tears away as she drove and mentally gave herself a pep talk. She could convince herself that her old life was what she wanted and that she could go back to it with no problems, forgetting Xander and everything he had given her. If nothing else, she would have the poem he had written her. With a sigh, she realized she had become her mother. Giving in and keeping mementos of memories of good moments, and yet letting go of the man who had changed her life.

  She parked in front of Bob’s office. She entered it and took a deep breath.

  “Ms. McAllister, did you have an appointment?”

  Grace shook her head. “No, but is Bob available? This will only take a moment.”

  Grace slipped into a chair as the secretary picked up the phone to talk to her boss. Bob must have agreed as within minutes his door opened.

  “Grace, what a pleasant surprise. Come on in.”

  Grace entered and sat down on the edge of a chair. She waited while Bob settled back into his chair behind the desk. She met his eyes. She hesitated, trying to form the words that needed to be said. The longer Bob sat in silence waiting for her to start, the more irritated she became. She stood abruptly and paced the office.

  “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” Bob finally broke the silence.

  “I can’t do this.” Defeat ran through Grace, bringing her shoulders down. She was shrouded in sadness.

  “Can’t do what?” Bob gestured to the chair. “Please, Grace, sit down.”

  Grace stumbled back to the chair and sank into it, her posture spent and fatigue setting in. “This business with Xander, trying to hold on to Mom’s home…all of it.”

  “It’s your home, Grace, not Abigail’s.” Bob sat back with a small smile on his face.

  “Of course it’s not. Not unless we manage to pull off all her stipulations.”

  “Right.” Bob leaned forward and stared at Grace. “Is it the business you are having a hard time getting started, or is it the realization that you are in love with Xander that is bothering you?”

  Grace lifted her head and stared at him. “Love with Xander? Of course I’m not in love with him.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  Grace closed her eyes. “I can’t be in love with him. He’s, he’s trying to sabotage everything.” Grace filled Bob in on the jacket that had been found and how John had out of the blue arrived to talk with his son. “It’s all just too coincidental to be by accident.”

  “Hmmm, well, have you talked to Xander about it?”

  “What’s to talk about?” Grace sighed. “He’s an enigma. One minute he is supportive and wants to do anything to keep the house, and the next he is doing things to ruin any chance I have.”

  “Yes, love is messy that way.”

  “What are you talking about? He says he loves me, but…”

  Bob stood and walked around to sit in the chair next to Grace. “But what? Grace, I can see that he loves you. Can’t you?”

  “He says it, and sometimes I feel it, but I don’t know…it scares me.” Grace turned to face Bob. “What if I’m having blackouts again and I am going insane?”

  Bob chuckled. “Not happening. You got past that and yes, you are under some stress, but you have got to trust your heart. You love him or you wouldn’t be this upset by all of this.”

  “I don’t know how to love him. I can’t give him what he needs.”

  “What is that? A man in love just needs the love returned to him. There is no hidden agenda.” Bob patted her hand. “Think about it. Love has been around since the beginning of time. There is no instruction manual, but you can’t run from it. Not if you ever want to be truly happy.”

  Grace lowered her chin. “I don’t know what to think, or feel. It’s all so new, the thought of actually falling in love with someone.”

  “Thought of falling in love, or the fact that you have fallen and you never saw it coming?” Bob pulled Grace to her feet. “Don’t overthink it, Grace. Just allow yourself to feel and things will fall into place as they should be.”

  Grace nodded. She turned to leave and stopped at the door. “Thanks Bob. Please keep this conversation between us. I’m not ready for Xander to know.”

  After leaving Bob’s office, Grace turned towards the coast and drove. Time passed quickly as she let her thoughts wander as she traveled along the coastal route. Pulling into the small restaurant where Xander had taken her the first time they had gone for a motorcycle ride, she star
ed out the windshield at the waves crashing on the rocks. She allowed herself to feel the emotions that she had been fighting for the past few days, weeks, since Xander walked into her life. A peace settled around her as she granted herself permission to admit she loved him.

  Chapter 32

  Xander flinched with the slam of the door behind Grace. He turned on his father, hands in fists at his side.

  “What the hell have you done?”

  “I haven’t done anything.” John stood his ground. “Maybe I should ask you the same question. Grace seems to think you are involved in this.”

  Xander ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “I know she thinks I’m involved and things are pointing that way, but it’s not me. Who wants to frame me for this? The estate will go to charity, like she said, if we don’t fulfill our obligations as set by Abigail.”

  Xander turned towards the living room. He placed his hands on the mantel of the fireplace and closed his eyes. “I don’t know how I can fix this.”

  He heard his father move about the room and finally sat down. Xander turned to look at him. “Why are you here, Father?”

  “I’m here because after talking with Grace the other day, I realized how much I have messed up our relationship and I want to make amends.”

  Xander snorted. “Make amends? You threw me away like an old rag.”

  John shook his head. “It wasn’t like that. I kept tabs on you through Abigail all these years. I have been so proud of you and yet my own pride got in the way of my telling you that.”

  “Why all of a sudden do you feel the need to ‘mend bridges?’ What’s in it for you?” Xander paced. “We both know you never do anything without an ulterior motive.”

  John sighed. “Yes, it’s true in the past every move I made was based on what I could get from it. It’s not like that this time, Sebas….Xander. I’m trying and I really want to make things right. There are things you just don’t know about your mother’s and my marriage, about things that happened that forced me to send you away.”

  “Forced you to send me away? Really?” Xander scoffed.

  “I was a coward back then, to a point I still am. You are the strongest person I know and I’m amazed by the integrity you show now and have shown over the years.”

  Xander sat down. “Words are cheap, so forgive me for not believing a thing you are trying to sell right now. I really think you should go.”

  John stood. “I’m sorry. I’m not going to stop trying and maybe one day I will earn a chance to make those amends with you.”

  Xander stayed in the chair, hearing the door shut behind his father. Emotions flooded him. Words he had wanted to hear all his life had just been said to him and yet he couldn’t forgive him – not yet. There was an unfamiliar sharpness in his heart that threatened to bring forth those insecurities from his childhood, threatened to crack his wall he had built up around him when it came to his father. He vowed a long time ago that the man would never hurt him again, yet hearing those words from him had hurt.

  Xander had no idea how much time had passed when he heard the door open. Without turning around, he sensed Grace standing in the doorway, watching him. He wanted to go to her and hold her close, to give both of them some comfort. He needed comfort from her and yet he didn’t want to feel that weak to need so much from someone else. He had hardened himself to those needs years ago.

  “I’m back.” Grace’s words were no more than a whisper and he heard her footsteps head towards the stairs. He said nothing and just continued to sit there. Fear gripped his heart. Would she walk away from him forever? He didn’t care about the inheritance, but he didn’t want to live without her in his life.

  Time continued until the shadows deepened in the living room. He glanced around and realized that he had missed dinner – Grace obviously had not come back downstairs to eat either. He sighed and stood to head to bed. The loneliness overwhelmed him.

  Xander tossed and turned as the clock continued to tick by minute by minute, hour by hour. At three-thirty his stomach began to protest the fact that he had skipped dinner. With a growl, he threw back the covers and started for the stairs.

  He paused at the top of the staircase, hearing sounds coming from the kitchen. Grace must have gotten hungry too. He hesitated, wanting to give her space, but his stomach rumbled again and he knew there was no choice but to go get some food.

  He crept to the kitchen and hesitated by the door before pushing it open. Seeing her back to him, it took a second to register this was not Grace. Just as it clicked, the man turned to face Xander.

  Xander on instinct ran to block the back door and got there just before the other man did. “Who are you?”

  The man smiled and leaned against the counter. “Don’t recognize me, bro?”

  Dale. He hadn’t seen his brother in years and now here he was standing in front of him. “What are you doing here?”

  “Came for a visit…well, not really, but I heard you were doing quite well for yourself. Wanted to see with my own eyes.”

  Xander clenched his fists at his side. “So you broke into my house?”

  “Well, breaking in is such a strong term. Why don’t we call it visiting you?”

  Xander shook his head. “You’re not visiting in the middle of the night when everyone else is asleep.” Xander slipped his hand into his pocket. His fingers closed around his cell phone. “Are you missing a jacket?”

  Dale’s laughter filled the kitchen. “I must have dropped it in the hurry to get away. You and your girlfriend found the fire a little too quickly. Must have been up already?”

  Xander pulled out the cell phone and punched in 9-1-1.

  “Come on, bro, no need to call the police.” Dale stood straight and took a step towards Xander.

  When the line picked up, Xander said, “I’d like to report a break in. Yes, that’s the address. He’s still here.” Xander quickly answered a few more questions.

  “I’ll be leaving now.” Dale tried to push past Xander to the door. Xander dropped the phone, and instincts kicked in. He immediately laid Dale flat out on his back with a right hook under the chin. Dale struggled for a second before slipping into unconsciousness.

  Xander reached for the phone again. “Yes, I’m still here. He’s unconscious at the moment, but he did confirm starting the fire in the barn also.”

  Xander grabbed some rope from a drawer in the kitchen and tied Dale’s hands together. He went and unlocked the front door. After checking on Dale one more time and seeing he was still unconscious, he ran up the stairs and knocked on Grace’s door.

  “Grace, get up.” He pushed the door open and called to her again.

  “What is it?” Grace sat up, clenching the sheet to her chest.

  “We’ve got company. Police are on the way. Get dressed and come downstairs.” Xander turned and left before she replied.

  Xander had ushered the police into the kitchen before Grace put in an appearance. He kept his eyes on her as she glanced around the bustling kitchen, bewildered. Dale had awakened and was now in handcuffs, glaring at Xander.

  Xander walked over to Grace. “Glad you could join us.”

  “What is going on?” Grace turned to face Xander. “And who is that?”

  Xander sighed. His family certainly had a way of barging into his life and he knew there would be more accusations forthcoming. “That’s my brother, Dale. I came to the kitchen for something to eat and caught him in the house.”

  “In the house!” Grace turned towards the group of officers and Dale over by the door. “What does he want?”

  “Miss, can I ask you a few questions?” A police officer approached.

  Grace nodded, not taking her eyes of Dale.

  “Why don’t we step out of the kitchen here?” The officer gestured her into the foyer and Grace walked ahead of him.

  “What is going on?” She turned abruptly, causing the police officer to stop short.

  “Miss, do you know that man?”
<
br />   Grace tapped her foot against the floor. “I was just told it was Xander’s brother. I don’t remember him.”

  “Okay. Do you have any idea why he would be in your kitchen?”

  Grace scoffed. “How should I know? Maybe you should do your job and ask him why he is here.”

  The man snapped shut his notebook. “I’m just trying to get all the information I can, miss.”

  “Look, there has been an abundance of stuff going on around here and it all seems to be centered around the Stevens’ family. Start there and figure it out.” Grace stormed past the police officer and entered the kitchen, searching for Xander.

  She met his eyes and blinked quickly to stop the tears that threatened. When she was able to clear her vision, Xander stood in front of her.

  “You okay?”

  Grace glanced up into his eyes. “No, I’m not okay. What is going on? Why is your family screwing with my life?”

  “I swear to you, I have no idea what is going on.” Xander glanced over his shoulder at his brother. “I didn’t even know where Dale was. I haven’t seen him in years.”

  “Okay. But why is he here and what is he doing? Did he start the fire?” Realization hit Grace hard. “He did, didn’t he?”

  Xander nodded. He didn’t have a choice but to tell her the truth. A truth that somehow he felt was implicating him just by association.

  “Why?” Tears overflowed her lashes, spilling down her cheeks. She cried unchecked, allowing all the stress of the past few weeks to flow from her.

  Xander pulled her into his arms and held her close. No words were needed. He willed his strength to her and hoped and prayed she would accept it.

  Chapter 33

  Grace stood watching the coffee maker brew the magical juice she was counting on to wake her up. She had been up since early morning and still had more questions than answers. Dale had been hauled away and now Xander and she were alone in the house once again.