by Codi Gary
She stepped up onto the front porch and knocked lightly on the door, a festive bag in her other hand and a box in brightly wrapped paper on her hip. She’d picked something up for Margaret the day after meeting her and hoped she wouldn’t be uncomfortable with it.
The door opened, and Gracie smiled at Margaret, who stepped back to let her pass. “Come on in. She’s—”
A high-pitched squeal echoed in the small living room, and Gracie set down the Christmas presents just in time to scoop Pip up in her arms. The child buried her face in Gracie’s neck, and Gracie inhaled sharply, her eyes burning with tears of joy.
“I missed you, Pip. So very much.”
She couldn’t pry Pip’s clasped hands away from the back of her neck to look at her, so she just carried her over to the couch and sat. Margaret’s home was filled with shelves featuring dusty knickknacks and worn furniture sparsely displayed around the room. On the floor were old wooden blocks Pip must have been playing with.
Gracie met Margaret’s gaze, noting the sadness in the other woman’s eyes, and reached out a hand. Margaret took it and sat beside her.
“I brought you each a Christmas present,” Gracie said.
The word present didn’t faze Pip, but Margaret immediately started to protest. “Now, you didn’t have to bring me anything.”
“I know, but I wanted to. Yours is the bag, and the box is for Jocelyn.”
Margaret went to pick up the dropped parcels, and Pip turned on Gracie’s lap to accept her box. As Margaret pulled out a beautiful barn-wood picture frame, Gracie said, “I thought we could get your picture taken with Jocelyn so she would always remember you.”
Tears rolled down Margaret’s weathered face. “Thank you, honey. It’s beautiful.”
Pip was pulling at the bow on the top of the package, and Gracie spoke softly over her head. “I was wondering if your family had contested your decision?”
Margaret’s lips thinned. “No. I’ve already had my will drafted and signed by my lawyer. The only thing they want from me is what they can sell.”
Gracie couldn’t understand what this woman had done to raise children who didn’t care that their mother was dying. She was so warm and loving.
“If you want, you can join my parents and me for Christmas.”
Margaret shook her head. “I appreciate it, but despite their faults, I love my family.”
“Of course.” Gracie helped Pip finish unwrapping, worried she’d overstepped with Margaret. When they opened the box together, Pip immediately went for the toy Gracie had bought her while Gracie pulled out the dress, coat, tights, and shoes for Margaret to see. The red-green-and-white plaid dress had a poofy skirt and puffed sleeves was going to be adorable on Pip.
“How cute,” Margaret said.
“Just let me know when you want your pictures done. My friend Ryan is a photographer and is going to do your session free of charge.”
“Oh, I couldn’t—”
“Yes, you can. It’s already handled,” Gracie said firmly.
Pip got off her lap to play with her toy on the floor. As she pushed the animal train around, Gracie reached out her hand and took Margaret’s once more.
“I know we don’t know each other, but anything you need, just ask.”
Margaret was watching Pip with tear-filled eyes. “Just take care of my great-granddaughter when I’m gone. That’s what I really need.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“When people talk about being “love sick,” it makes the emotional upheaval sound terrible. Who wants to be sick with anything?” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.
On Monday, Gracie covered her face with her forearm just as a loud sneeze exploded. She sniffled and took Mrs. Andrews’s money while the older woman stared at her with narrowed eyes.
When she tried to give her the change, Mrs. Andrews shook her head. “You keep it, and while you’re at it, go home! No one wants your diseased hands touching their food and drink.”
Gracie glared at her through bleary eyes and tried to form coherent sentences past the fog in her brain. “I appreciate your concern, Mrs. Andrews. And I’m not touching food or drink, just money.”
“Which is almost worse,” the older woman snapped.
Gracie put the money in the tip jar. “Come again.”
Mrs. Andrews got out of line, and Gracie greeted Caroline, Valerie, and Ellis Willis.
“Gracie, you look terrible,” Val said.
“Thanks, I feel terrible.”
“Girl, you need to go home,” Caroline added.
“I will, as soon as Jennifer gets here. Until then, I’m here, and I’m taking your order.”
The women exchanged glances, and yes, she knew she was being a cranky bitch, but she just wanted to go home and sleep, but everyone she’d called had either let it go to voice mail or made up an excuse for why they couldn’t come in.
Once she finished with the Willis sisters, she leaned over and put her head on the counter. The cool ceramic counter felt good against her burning forehead, and she sighed in relief.
The bell dinged over the door, signaling another customer had come inside, and she groaned without lifting her head. “Can I help you?”
“What’s the matter with you?”
Gracie gritted her teeth. No, she did not want to see Eric right now, not in her current oozing state.
“Go away.”
“Wow, fantastic customer service.”
“Don’t want your money or your nosy ass in here asking questions.”
“Sweetheart, is that any way to speak to your boyfriend?”
Gracie jerked her head up from the counter, catching herself when the room spun. “Stop that!”
Before she could react, Eric came around the counter, stalking her with a determined gleam in his eye.
“What in the hell are you—hey!”
Eric lifted her up into his arms and strode out the door before she could blink. Either that or her fever was starting to make her delusional, and everything around her was moving faster.
“Will you put me down? I have a business to run.”
“Not today. Today, you’re going home and you’re going to sleep, watch a little TV…anything but going around town spreading your disease.”
She grabbed him by one of his ears and yanked. “You are not the boss of me!”
Eric sat her on the hood of his car while he unlocked the door, and she realized she couldn’t stop shivering. God, why was she so cold?
Eric’s hands were suddenly on her forehead, and he cursed. “You’re burning up, you little idiot. You’ve probably got the flu, and now you’ve infected half the town!”
“I go…got my flu shot,” she said through chattering teeth.
“Well, whatever you have, you need to be home.”
The strength suddenly drained out of Gracie, and she let Eric put her in the car. Before he’d even started the engine, she was dozing.
“I don’t feel good,” she mumbled.
She couldn’t be sure, but she thought he said, “I know, baby, but I’m going to take care of you.”
Then she was out.
* * *
Eric had taken Gracie back to his place and tucked her into his bed. Fuzz, as he’d named his new dog, sat next to the bed, staring at her with excitement, his poofy black tail thumping the floor. Eric decided it was probably better to bring the dog with him so Gracie didn’t wake up and in her delirium, think a monster was after her. She’d been so out of her head in the car, slurring all kinds of off-the wall things. He’d stopped by her place and told her parents she was recovering at his home, which they seemed to be relieved about. Apparently, getting sick on their vacation wasn’t part of the plan.
A little over an hour later, he walked through his front door with four bags of groceries in his hands, Fuzz on his heels, and two movies he’d thought Gracie might like. Both looked extra girly and romantic, exactly something to brighten the spirits of a sick woman with a propensity
to squeal at kissing scenes. He only knew that because one afternoon when she’d been at his place, she’d stopped on one of the movie channels, and some Tom Hanks film was on. She’d made him watch the whole thing, and he’d grumbled a bit on principle, but it hadn’t been that bad.
Of course, when good old Tom got the girl in the end, he’d given her a big speech and kissed her, making Gracie’s mouth utter the most horrendous, ear-splitting squeals that would have made piglets jealous. When he’d mentioned the comparison, she’d whacked him with a pillow, and he’d retaliated by pinning her down and tickling her into submission.
Fuzz gave a little woof, and Eric turned from unloading the groceries to find Gracie standing in his sweatshirt and sweats. Her nose was red, her face was a little green, and she just looked so miserable, he wanted to hug her. “I’ve got stuff to make you feel all better.”
Gracie wrapped her arms around her body, visibly shaking. “You don’t have to take care of me.”
“Yeah, I kind of do. Pretty sure your parents put up a blockade at the front door the minute they heard you were infected.”
Her smile was weak and pitiful. “Yeah, my mom’s become a bit of a germaphobe in her old age.”
“For your health, I don’t think I would ever refer to your mom as old,” Eric teased.
Gracie’s laugh turned into a rough cough and then a groan. He grabbed a bottle of cold water and handed it to her.
“Thank you. It was sweet of you to do all this, and I will pay you back.”
He frowned at her, irritated she’d even suggest it. “No, you won’t. I can get you a couple of groceries without asking for a payback.”
“But you made a special trip and risked your health.”
Eric walked over to her, maneuvering around Fuzz, who was sniffing and nuzzling her hand. He bent over and kissed her forehead. “Just shut up and go lie down. Are you hungry?”
“Not really.” To his surprise, she leaned against him. The fever must have wiped away the fact that she was mad at him.
“How about some juice? Or I could make you my mother’s multivitamin shake. It’s got spinach, mushrooms, garlic, vinegar… It’s nasty, but full of things that knock colds and the flu in the ass.”
“It sounds disgusting,” she mumbled against his chest. “Why would she give you something like that?”
“I think she started giving it to us to make sure we weren’t faking it. There was no way she could get that horrendous concoction down Grant or me unless we were too ill to fight.”
She gave a weak laugh, and he wrapped his arms around her, enjoying the feel of her closeness, sick or not. After several moments, she pulled back and croaked, “I think I’ll just take some orange juice. If I’m not better in a few days, I’ll let you pour your mother’s green gunk shake down my gullet.”
“Whatever you say. Now go lie down, I’ll be in there in a bit. And I got these for you. They looked up your alley.” He handed her the movies, and her whole face brightened.
“Oh, I’ve wanted to see these.” She kissed his chest, her lips burning through his flannel shirt. “You’re the best.” As if she realized what she’d just done, her cheeks turned scarlet. “I really shouldn’t let you do this. I’ve been terrible to you, and you shouldn’t—”
“If you don’t get out of here and go lie down, I’m going to carry you back in there and tie you to the bed.”
A little spark of Gracie’s sassiness peeked through her tired eyes when she rasped, “You shouldn’t say those kinds of things when I’m too weak to enjoy them.”
Even though she looked like she’d been through the wringer and haggard as hell, her reply sent a message to his johnson to stand at attention. Man, he had it bad for this woman.
“When you’re at full strength again, I promise to follow through.” Once she was out of sight, with Fuzz hot on her heels, he finished with the groceries and then poured her some juice. He opened a pack of cold pills and had to admit that he liked taking care of Gracie.
He walked into the room and saw her curled up on her side on top of the blankets. He figured she’d fallen back asleep and started to leave the juice by the bed, but she rolled over.
“Hey, I brought you some cold meds that should make you feel a bit better.”
She sat up and took the pills, downing half the glass. “Thanks.”
“All right, I’ll let you rest. If you need anything, I’ll be in the living room. Just tell Fuzz, and he’ll come get me,” Eric joked, noting his new dog seemed quite taken with Gracie.
“Actually, do you mind just hanging in here? I hate being alone when I’m sick.”
There was no way he could say no to her when she sounded so pitiful, not that he really wanted to. “Sure. Why don’t I put in one of these chick movies before I change my mind and make a run for it.”
Gracie nodded, and he helped her get under the blankets. After he put the movie in, he crawled in the other side. When she snuggled up to his side, he pulled her against him.
“I don’t want to get you sick.”
He took the hand she’d rested on his chest, running his thumb over her palm. “I guess you’ll have to come over and take care of me, then.”
“Deal. I’ll even rent all the Die Hard movies, and we’ll marathon it up.”
“Gracie Lou, you are the perfect woman.” Eric wasn’t even surprised that he meant every word. Everything about her drove him crazy, but when it came down to imagining his future, Gracie was in it.
But he didn’t say any of this to Gracie as they lay in his bed and watched Emma Stone come onto the TV screen. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off again.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Jealousy is an ugly emotion, but all too human.” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.
Eric didn’t get sick, but Gracie stayed at his place through Friday, when her fever finally broke. She’d been heartbroken to miss Christmas with her parents and delivering Santa gifts to Margaret for Pip, so Eric had done it for her. He’d even wrapped them in the special parchment paper and ribbons she’d bought. She’d been half-asleep when he’d told her he was leaving to deliver them, but he’d taken pictures as proof.
Eric knew she’d gotten up this morning to check on The Local Bean and see her parents, but he was hoping she was coming back to his place after. He couldn’t help checking his phone between drink orders, hoping he’d find a text from her.
It was almost last call, and still nothing. He shouldn’t be disappointed; just because he’d taken care of her this week didn’t mean that she wanted to pick up where they’d left off.
“Hey, Eric, can I get a lemon drop?”
Eric turned to Kirsten’s feline smile. “Yeah, coming up.” He mixed it quickly and when he handed it to her, she asked, “So did you and Gracie break up? I thought I read something in Small Town Scandals about the two of you—”
“No, we didn’t.”
“Huh. My mistake. I saw her car parked outside Mike Stevens’s house tonight. Figured maybe those two had finally connected after all these years. But good for you for sticking it out.” She did a little finger wave and walked back to her table.
Eric gritted his teeth, cursing himself for letting her get to him. Gracie and Mike had both told him they didn’t feel anything more than friendship. He had no reason to be jealous. Kirsten was just being a bitch.
Then why hasn’t she texted you all day if things are better between you?
Little needles of doubt wiggled through his brain the rest of the night, and he tried not to think about it, tried not to let his imagination go crazy. He texted her as he was walking out the door.
On my way home. You staying at your place tonight?
He got into his car and drove, waiting for the notification ding that never came. He was getting agitated, especially when he drove by her place and didn’t see her car. The crazy part of his brain told him to drive by Mike’s house, but the not-a-jealous-bastard side went straight home instead.
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When he pulled into the drive, Gracie’s car was parked in front, and his heart thumped in relief. He got out and moved quickly into the house, feeling like the world’s biggest asshole for checking up on her.
She was curled up on his couch asleep, the TV on one of the movie channels. Fuzz was sleeping across her legs, his chin resting on her butt. Eric peeked over at her, wrapped up in a blanket and his T-shirt. She was the best thing in the world he could possibly come home to. He reached down and rubbed Fuzz’s head until the dog jumped down.
Eric came around the front of the couch and lifted her slowly into his arms. He was always amazed at how small she was, how light and delicate. She was such a pistol that most of the time, she seemed larger than life.
She snuggled into his chest and whispered drowsily, “You’re home.”
Damn, but he liked the way she said that. “Yeah, baby, I’m home.”
A soft snore was his answer, and he carried her back to his bedroom, slipping her gently under the covers. He undressed quietly and reached out for her. She snuggled against him, and he was so tempted to say the words he’d been holding back all week, but he resisted. He needed to learn how to be patient.
* * *
Gracie woke up the next morning in Eric’s bed, wrapped up in a tangle of long arms and legs. She smiled at the familiar smell of his cologne and wiggled closer to him. She’d stayed late at Michael’s, talking about everything that had been going on with them, and when she’d left, all she could think of was being with Eric. She hadn’t realized she’d left her phone at The Local Bean until she’d reached into her purse to call Eric and let him know she was heading to his house. She hadn’t felt like going to the shop to get it and had continued out to his house to wait for him.
This week had flipped something inside her. When Eric had taken care of her without expecting anything in return, and after the way she’d behaved with him, she’d realized she needed to be better. To stop letting fear of being hurt determine the direction of her romantic life.