Now and Forever

by April King

  Chapter 10

  Not ready to confront the brilliant sunlight spilling through the living room window, Grace’s eyes opened slowly. She mashed a fist into them, wiping away sleep. It had been a long night. Ava and she had stayed up way past midnight. Shedding tears over the movie, drinking more wine than necessary, and gossiping had been their primary forms of entertainment. They had fallen asleep on opposite ends of the scruffy couch.

  An inconsolable ache crept into her body and clawed at her heart. She missed Tanner. A profound longing ate at her senses. She had come this close to fulfilling her dreams of waking up in Tanner’s arms as the sun rose in the sky and morning dew settled on the leaves after a vigorous night of love making, until Sheila interrupted everything. Instead of her shabby couch, she should have been basking in the afterglow of their long awaited union. Mulling over what could have been was pure torture. Her empty arms and throbbing center felt even worse.

  She sighed with anguish. Perhaps she should have ignored the messages Tanner had left on her cell phone. When Ava had fallen asleep, she tiptoed to her bedroom, intending to place it on the charger. Against her better judgment, she succumbed to her desire have his voice caress her ears with its silky smooth timbre like a kid in a candy store, catering to her sweet tooth with a lemon drop. Listening to his messages, she hadn’t been disappointed. His words were feathers that floated softly through her. Lightly, they’d soothed the sore spot in her heart, which longed to connect with him and feed off his love. He said it wasn’t over between them. He wanted her, needed her and loved her deeply. Couldn’t be true, she’d thought. How would she fit into his new life, which seemed overflowing with miracles—big and small? He was fooling himself. The same thing she’d been doing since the first night he claimed her lips in front of The Pigeonhole. One of them had to make the first move in closing the door on a hopeless situation. She recalled Tanner telling her they couldn’t let Sheila or Kevin win. Obviously, he hadn’t known Sheila fought dirty. She won. End of story. Grace decided to pack memories of Tanner and their cherished moments away in her mind’s treasure chest, revisiting those special times whenever she chose to without anyone’s knowledge.

  She looked around the room and grimaced. An empty bottle of wine and wine glasses were strewn about the floor, as well as pillows and blankets and shoes. She peered at the end tables carefully. A fine layer of dust covered them. Tiny pieces of paper and other stuff were scattered around her carpet like bits of confetti. In the kitchen, she remembered the dishes piled in the sink. Her untidy living condition was unacceptable. And somewhat disturbing. When had she begun to live in a pigsty? Cleaning was definitely at the top of her to-do list. She just hoped Ava was ready to lend a hand.

  She sat up on the couch and stretched. The enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted through her nose. She perked up. That’s more like it. Inhaling deeply, she also caught a whiff of Southern goodness: biscuits, grits and eggs. Bless Ava for whipping up breakfast. Her stomach growled like it angry. Shoving her feet into the dingy slippers, she maneuvered around the pile of mess and shuffled into the kitchen.

  “Smells good,” she started to say before she tripped over her words and her own two feet when she saw her mother in her kitchen, taking freshly baked biscuits out the oven. This was a crazy dream and she needed to wake up fast. Deidre Frye, the bane of her existence, had entered her home while she slept. Impossible. Lightning should have ripped through the sky, signaling her presence. Grace relied upon months of preparation to deal with her mother, who she could only take in small doses. She hadn’t seen the unbearable woman in almost two years. Two years she wouldn’t give up for anything, except for Tanner’s kiss. First Sheila had popped up out the clear blue and now her mother. Oh, the private hell called her life.

  “About time you got up,” Deidre said. “It’s almost eleven o’clock.” She wore a loud orange jumpsuit that was bedazzled to death and a matching cap. What a sight to behold. The glare from her outfit stung Grace’s eyes.

  Hello to you, too.

  Deidre leaned her cheek forward expectantly. Grace swallowed the bile building in her throat and pecked her mother’s cheek dutifully. She tucked her trembling hands into her robe’s pockets. “Mama, what are you doing here?”

  “Excuse me?” Deidre said, snapping her eyebrows together in disapproval. “You’re my daughter. That’s all the reason I need. However, it just so happens that my new guy and I were on our way to the casino. Since we were passing through, he wanted to visit some of his family members. So I decided to see about you.”

  “Oh.”

  She put a plate of eggs and grits on Grace’s small kitchen table and motioned with her hand for her to sit. Wordlessly, Grace obeyed. While she was in the process of taking a seat, her mother caught a glimpse of her backside. “Your butt has gotten bigger.”

  Grace cringed. Quickly, she plopped into the chair. To keep from tossing her mother head first into the street, she reminded herself how children were supposed to honor their parents even when they grated your nerves like cheese. That big butt comment cost Deidre a Mother’s Day card. Possibly, a call. Although, her mother probably wouldn’t miss either, it sure would make Grace feel good to stick it to The Man. Or, in this case, an old battle ax.

  Woefully, her eyes flitted around the kitchen and through the door into the living room. She needed a comrade to deal with her mother. “Where’s Ava?”

  Pouring a cup of coffee, Deidre said, “Gone to pick up a few things for me from the store.” She set a piping cup of the morning brew in front of Grace’s plate. “She said she’d return shortly.”

  Yeah, right. Her friend probably ran for safety when she answered the door and found Deidre standing on the other side. Grace made a mental note to wring Ava’s neck. Didn’t she know friends don’t leave friends alone with fire-breathing dragon ladies?

  Her mother wrinkled her nose. “If this the way you normally keep your house, I can understand why Kevin left you.”

  Grace nearly choked on her eggs. She patted her chest. Was the woman trying to kill her? Her mother threw insensitive remarks at her like hand grenades. Without warning, they landed in her ears and blew her spirits to bits and pieces. After all these years, Grace hadn’t devised a way to deflect that weapon of mass destruction. However, she wasn’t about to allow her mother get away with insinuating her marriage failed over something as trivial as dirty dishes. “Kevin cheated on me. Remember?”

  Of course she remembered. And Grace thought her mother had gotten pleasure from telling her that she couldn’t keep a man to save her life. Insulting her one and only child seemed to make Deidre’s day. Well, enough was enough. Grace didn’t intend to take her abuse anymore. She straightened her back and poked her chest out, which was inflated with air. Her mother would learn she was a grown woman who no longer wanted to be the welcome mat she walked all over. Grace opened her mouth to lay down the law.

  Nothing came out.

  “Honey, close your mouth,” Deidre said. She looked at Grace critically. “And what’s up with your hair? Your best friend does hair for a living and your head resembles a bird’s nest.”

  Ouch.

  Grace’s chest deflated. She shriveled in her shabby robe and sweatpants. The woman was relentless. She hurled insults so fast Grace couldn’t dodge them. They always hit their mark, which was usually her pride, spirit, or esteem. She touched her hair self-consciously. Obviously, her mood matched her appearance—crappy.

  “You look like a bag lady,” Deidre said, curling her burgundy-colored lips distastefully. “How do you expect to get a man?”

  Maybe I should borrow a page from your fashion savvy book by wearing clothes so bright people think I’m a human neon sign. I could only imagine all the winners I’d snag.

  “For your information, Grace has the most amazing man head-over-heels in love with her,” Ava said, breezing into the kitchen toting a grocery bag in each hand. She appeared calm and nonplussed by Deidre’s presence. Her j
aw was set with determination. Her feathers wouldn’t be ruffled easily.

  Grace was another story.

  Deidre grabbed the bags from Ava ungraciously. Not missing a beat, she said, “If he’s so in love with her, why did she spend the night with you, instead of him?”

  Darn it.

  Grace and Ava swapped glances, knowing Deidre had made a valid point. However, Grace didn’t intend to provide her mother with the sordid details about what had taken place last night. It was the kind of perfect ammunition the woman would use in the future to shoot her down.

  Ava shattered the uncomfortable silence that had fallen over the room. “Because of circumstances beyond their control, they’re going through a trying time. But they’ll get back on track very soon.

  Deidre snorted. “Well, Grace isn’t getting any younger. I’ve almost given up hope on having grandbabies to spoil.” She put food away in the fridge. “Grace needs to stop pining away for some man who seems to have baggage. There’s plenty of fish in the sea and she should get off her big fanny and catch one.”

  I’m still in the room, Grace wanted to say. But she remained silent and absorbed her mother’s words. Though she hated to admit it, Deidre was right. Tanner wasn’t the only man in the world. So what if he made her weak in the knees? And had those killer bedroom eyes that pierced her to the core and melted her resolve weren’t the only ones around. Certainly, if she looked hard enough and long enough, Mr. Right would land in her lap, or she would land in his.

  From this moment on, she’d get a new lease on life and a new attitude. Tanner was just a dream—too good to be true.

  For once, she would take her mother’s advice. However, her “big fanny” comment just caused her to lose out on a Mother’s Day call.

  *

  “Are you ready to order?” the pretty waitress asked, radiating youth and cheer.

  Grace smiled. “No. I prefer to wait until my date arrives.”

  “Okay,” the waitress said. With a spring in her step, she bounced over to another table.

  Date.

  The mere idea set off the tiniest of butterflies fluttering in her stomach. A sweet anticipation swept through her. She was meeting Roger McCoy, a corporate attorney, for dinner. She saw his profile on a local dating website and decided to contact him after her mother left. Of course, Ava thought it was a bad idea. Unlike Grace, she was steadfast in her belief that Tanner was the only man for her. She expected Grace to sit around, twiddling her thumbs, hoping he could fix his baby mama drama.

  She wasn’t getting any younger.

  There was no guarantee Tanner would be a part of her future. Sheila was proof he had options. He didn’t have to fear getting over the hill, withering away into a bleak and lonely existence. Someone would always want him. As she aged, her options dwindled, which was the main reason she bought the little red dress she had seen at Lorilee’s fashion show and strappy shoes to match. She intended to put her best face forward. Roger needed to see her as a desirable woman. Not for his sake, but hers.

  Earlier, when they had spoken on the phone for thirty minutes, she gathered they would really hit it off. He’s a single man, who enjoys jazz, black and white movies, reading, long walks in the park and seafood. His voice was pleasant. While he hadn’t sent her pulse racing wildly, the brother absolutely ranked high on her likeability scale. Like her, Roger was a newbie to the whole online dating scene. Not being able to find a compatible mate elsewhere had pushed him onto the internet. He had been really thrilled about meeting her in person.

  Grace blushed.

  A date might turn out to be a rewarding experience for them both. Who knew?

  Snatching a glance at her watch, she noted Roger would appear at any minute. He struck her as the punctual type. In order to get her nerves in check and get a feel for the restaurant, Grace had arrived fifteen minutes early. Mallory’s was the perfect place for a date. The fireplace and dim lights created an intimate atmosphere. It seemed to encourage tender touches on the hand, soft gazes and whispered words.

  Killing a few seconds, she applied more gloss to her lips. As soon as she returned the beauty product to a compartment in her purse, a distinct scent filled her nose. Lifting her head, she was greeted with a dozen long-stemmed red roses, which were inches away from her face.

  She took the flowers and sniffed. The intoxicating fragrance exhilarated her. “These are beautiful.”

  “Not as beautiful as you.”

  Her body stiffened. Tight knots formed in her stomach. A tidal wave of emotions washed over her. Pleasure and pain battled for control. Slowly, her eyes travelled to the delectable mouth of the handsome man with the deep, sexy voice that drove her crazy. In her mind, he was nothing but trouble. To her heart, he was heaven and beyond. Dressed in a deep brown shirt and matching slacks, he sent balls of fire rolling under her skin.

  What was the captain of her fantasies doing here?

  “Tanner.”

  *

  At the sight of her, his heart swelled. She took his breath away. A thousand doors of desire unlocked within him. He had no idea it was possible for her to grow more beautiful with each passing day. Her ebony eyes reflected the incandescent lights of the room. He gazed at her latest hair style appreciatively. Silky waves were swept away from her face and pulled to one side. Embracing her body in a manner that accentuated her assets, the red dress she wore complimented her skin tone. Thunderbolts of lightning flashed in his mind. Grace looked too damned appetizing for her own good. How could his thoughts not linger on matters of a sexual nature? She was more mouth-watering than any dish Mallory’s served.

  Mega-watts of envy charged through him, remembering she had gotten all dolled up in a sexy outfit for another man’s benefit. She was trying to move forward with her life and forget about him and the pain he had caused her. Hurt fractured him.

  When Ava had called to give him the grim news, he had been playing a rousing game of peek-a-boo with Ariel. “Fight for the woman you love,” she’d advised. Her voice had dripped with urgency, “This may be your last chance.”

  Comprehension had hit like a fist to his gut. That hard blow had rocked his senses. His mind had staggered. He’d clenched his fists, muttering an oath under his breath so Ariel’s delicate ears wouldn’t hear. Being brutally honest with himself, he realized he had not considered Grace’s feelings. She was a vivacious and passionate and fascinating woman. One of a kind to be exact. She had so much love to give. Although he’d only had a taste, he knew making love to her would be an unforgettable experience. Selfishly, he’d wanted to have that pleasure for himself. But why would save her love for him when she could easily find a man with less… drama?

  As he had berated himself mercilessly, Ariel wrapped her tiny hands around his index finger. His heart gave a little twitch. The bundle of energy had sat subdued in his arms, feeding off of his somber mood. For the past few days, she’d kept him company. Not one moment of trouble had she been. She’d opened his eyes to the joys of fatherhood and had even shared her favorite stuffed animal with him. Her worth surpassed many levels.

  He felt safe seeking her advice. “What do you think Chipmunk? Should I go after Grace?”

  Ariel’s cheeks had inflated with air. She had flashed Tanner a toothy grin that swelled his heart, bobbing her head.

  “That settles it, then.” He had tickled her stomach and she squealed gleefully. Before he had left for the restaurant, Zelda had arrived to baby-sit.

  “Hello, Grace,” he said, taking a seat at the table.

  Grace fidgeted with the petals of a rose. She forced herself to make eye contact with him. Their gazes clashed. Her unease floated across the table. The confidence she’d had before he approached her was gone. Clearly, she had been excited to meet that Roger guy.

  “How did you know I’d be here?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.

  Oh, boy. Ava had told him Grace’s plans in confidence. He didn’t want to snitch. However, he didn’t want to lie to
Grace. So he made the lamest comment of his life. “A little bird told me.”

  Grace’s brows snapped together. “Ava. That traitor.”

  Tanner choked back a smile, neither confirming, nor denying her suspicions. He didn’t dare show any sign of amusement, especially given Grace was on edge. Knee deep in the brown stuff for imposing on her dinner date, he handled the situation like a porcelain teacup. In her fragile condition, one wrong move could splinter the moment and send her sprinting out the door…and his life.

  Straightening her back, Grace grew taller before his eyes. Undeniably, his sudden presence rattled her. Knowledge of Ava’s “betrayal” added fuel to the fire. Whacking him with an iron gaze, “You know I’m supposed to meet a great guy for dinner.”

  Of course. Ava had been very thorough with the details of the engagement. Right down to the man’s identity. Without flinching, he said, “Yes. In fact, Roger and I had cordial conversation in the parking lot. Basically, I let him know you are the woman I intend to marry.”

  Grace’s jaw dropped.

  Tanner remained nonchalant, coming across as a man who hadn’t stepped over any boundaries. Partly due to Roger’s cooperation in his quest to win Grace back. The man stood a few inches shorter than him and sported a low hair cut. He was polished from head to toe. A conservative personality matched his attire. It had been plain to see, he had his stuff together. Easy-going and level-headed, Roger had not hindered Tanner from keeping their conversation brief and civil. Under different circumstances, the two of them could have been friends. “You were right on the money. Roger is a great guy.”

  “Unbelievable,” she huffed, tossing the flowers on the table. Ridged lines creased her forehead. Flames blazed in her ebony pools. “Did you also mention Sheila and your baby?”

  He shrugged. “Too much information,” he said. “And I haven’t the faintest idea where Sheila is now.”