Grace Restored

by Toni Shiloh

  The security guard’s face lit up with a smile. “Hey, Ms. Thomas. I haven’t seen you around. I almost thought you’d quit or something.” The sound of his booming voice echoed.

  “I moved to Freedom Lake and started my own firm.”

  “Good for you. I pray God keeps you prosperous.”

  She stopped, stunned. “Thank you, Craig. I really appreciate that.”

  “No problem.” He tipped his hat. “You have a good session.”

  With a nod, Michelle walked forward. She’d never thought of someone praying for her, but it warmed her heart. It made her feel special somehow. Tanya stood up and met her in the middle of the wide hall.

  “I’m nervous,” she whispered.

  “Understood, but it’s just a preliminary hearing. You’ll be fine.” She rubbed Tanya’s shoulder.

  In the short time she’d worked for her, Tanya had proven herself invaluable. Thankfully, the young woman received glowing references from her previous employer despite the OWI charge. He hadn’t wanted to fire her, but it was company policy no one could be employed with criminal charges pending.

  Got to love morality clauses.

  They walked through the heavy oak doors and entered courtroom seven. There was something about the judicial process that made her want to dance in excitement. She could only hope this case went well for her client. Maybe I should pray instead of hope.

  “All rise for the Honorable Judge Matthew Stephens.”

  The bailiff read through the court docket numbers. She could feel Tanya shaking next to her. Lord, please help her calm down and trust in You. She paused. What was Tanya’s religious affiliation? And why did she care?

  “How does the defendant plea.”

  Michelle snapped to the present. “Your honor, the defendant is willing to plead guilty to the OWI charge and accept the punishment the court sets, but she is not willing to plead guilty for the involuntary manslaughter or vehicular manslaughter charges.”

  Judge Stephens peered at her over his wire-rimmed glasses. “Curious, Ms. Thomas. Did you advise her to do so?”

  “Yes, Your Honor. The defendant admits to the OWI despite the mishandling of the field sobriety test the Kodiak City Police Department performed.”

  “Don’t push it, Ms. Thomas.” He looked toward the prosecutor’s table. “Do you accept this plea?”

  “No, Your Honor. The OWI and involuntary manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter go hand in hand. We intend to prove so during trial.”

  Judge Stephens took off his glasses and grabbed a cloth to clean them. He glanced at the prosecuting attorney. “Mr. Spicket, how often do we have someone admit to an OWI charge?”

  “Not often, Your Honor.”

  “Exactly, Mr. Spicket. Why would Ms. Bledsoe plead guilty to the OWI but not the manslaughter charges.”

  “Your Honor, she’s trying to escape the punishment that comes from the Class B and C felonies.”

  “And rightly so, if she is found innocent. Since you are unwilling to accept the plea without a guilty for all charges, the court will set a date for the trial.” He banged the gravel. “Court’s adjourned.”

  He stood and headed for his chambers.

  Tanya turned to her. “So what does that mean?” Her gray eyes darted back and forth as she tried to make sense of the proceedings.

  “It means we have to go to court. The prosecutor wants you to be found guilty of all charges to get the severest punishment. I’ve used the same tactic.”

  “What are my chances of them succeeding?”

  “With me as your lawyer slim to none, and slim just left the building.”

  A small smile appeared on Tanya’s face. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

  “Anytime. Let’s go.”

  She walked down the aisle, nodding to the prosecuting attorney. He nodded in greeting. Most likely he’d call her soon to go over the case. For now, they would do the respectable head nod and go their separate ways.

  The rest of her day passed swiftly and soon Michelle found herself in her sanctuary: the backyard. She took deep breaths, inhaling the spring air and exhaling the stress of the day. She so desperately needed the solitude and peace offered out here. Her stomach had been twisted more than a pretzel. First, the normal nerves of court plagued her, then as the time passed, thoughts of her impending date filled the crevices of her mind.

  Why had she said yes to Guy? Was it because he had asked her the exact same way he did in high school? Or was it because she never got over him? She had to admit, all the guys she dated after him had been lacking something. Was it simply because they weren’t Guy? They had been judged as too tall, too short, too buff, not buff enough. She sighed. None of those superficial thoughts came to mind when she thought about Guy Pierre.

  The quiet strength he exuded whenever he walked into a room was captivating. She loved his attentiveness to his girls. And most of all, she loved how willing he was to step in when someone was in need.

  She squeezed her eyes tight, remembering Chloe’s words of advice. Truth. She had never thought of herself as a liar, but lately it was all she could think about. She needed to tell him what she did thirteen years ago. Didn’t she? Was she lying if she didn’t share that information? Would it really make a difference if it remained absent from any future conversations?

  The questions circled in her mind, more piling on at every thought. In the grand scheme of things, did he deserve to know they could have had a child? One who would have been twelve by now?

  Yes.

  She gulped. No one was in the backyard beside her, so Michelle knew the voice wasn’t an audible one. Instead, the word seemed to resonate in her mind. Perhaps even...her spirit?

  Chloe’s words echoed in her mind. I have no idea, but I heard the words as clear as day in my head and spoke them. Had Chloe been imagining things? Am I?

  Michelle shook her head slowly. Jo wasn’t home, so it had to be the still, small voice. Or Jiminy Cricket.

  “Lord, am I going crazy? You don’t talk to people do You? Well not, talk talk, although I suppose anything is possible for you. I mean I’m nobody. I’m not even sure what I believe right now. You couldn’t possibly be talking to me.”

  She sat still but the only sound she heard were the birds chirping in the trees. She let out a huff and sat back into the Adirondack chair. It was official. She had lost her mind. Yet, even though she felt like she stood on a pirate’s plank, Michelle couldn’t ignore the niggling feeling that she needed to come clean with Guy.

  Nerves skittering up her spine, she headed inside. Her clothes were already picked out for her date. Guy didn’t mention where they were going, so she would just dress in her usual fashion. Class from head to toe.

  She had just finished putting her red bangle bracelet on when Jo stepped into the room.

  “No fair,” she exclaimed. “How come you get to wear pants on a date and you made me wear a dress?”

  A snort escaped. “My dear Jo Ellen, these aren’t pants. This is a jumpsuit.” She did a slow turn showing off her bright red outfit. She had paired it with a cream blazer and garnet drop earrings that matched her bracelet. “Besides, he’s seen me in a dress millions of times. Now it’s time to show him I can make pants look good.”

  Jo laughed. “Nothing wrong with your self-confidence.”

  I wish.

  She was about to go out on a date with a guy who had seen her at the height of her teenage beauty. Thirties looked different on her. Not that she was ugly, but maturity had softened her features. Plus, Guy was a widower. No telling what kind of hang-ups he carried because of that. How could she compete with a dead wife?

  No one could.

  “Well, I made sure I got home so I could answer the door and make him wait for you.”

  She air kissed Jo. “Thanks, JoJo. You’re so good to me.”

  “Don’t I know it.” The attitude and sass was complete with an eye roll.

  “Don’t let it go to your head now.”
/>
  The doorbell pealed through the house and Jo walked out of the room.

  Michelle stared off into space. Was it too late to back out? What if she got sick on the way to the city? Would he see it as an inconvenience to take her back home? Why did she say yes?

  “Michelle!”

  She chuckled at Jo’s loud call. It was now or never. She looked into her mirror. “You can do this Michelle.”

  Nerves assaulted her. It was worse than the first time they went out. Oh, to have youthful ignorance again.

  She faltered as she cleared the hallway and stepped into the living room. Guy stood there, hands tucked into his dark wash jeans. The black vest over the white dress shirt made him incredibly handsome. How could this man be the father of twins?

  His grin widened as he took in her appearance. She slowed down her pace, barely noting that Jo left the room.

  “You look beautiful, Chelle Belle.”

  Her face heated at the sound of his husky voice. Ridiculous, you’re a grown woman. She tilted her head and gave him her best smile before turning in a circle. When she met his gaze again, his dark eyes were simmering.

  “My mistake, stunning is more apt.”

  She let out a breathless chuckle. Who was she fooling, he had her simpering like a school girl. And at the moment, she didn’t care. “I had to try and keep up with you.”

  His grin widened, and his teeth flashed at her. He could be in a toothpaste commercial. It seemed a crime for him not to have any flaws.

  “You ready?” He gestured toward the door.

  Was she? She nodded and he guided her out the door with a touch of his hand at the small of her back. Here we go.

  GUY PULLED AWAY FROM the curb and headed for the highway that led to the city. His palms were slightly damped and he prayed his hands wouldn’t slip from the steering wheel. He couldn’t believe how breathtakingly beautiful Michelle looked tonight. Red looked good on her and she knew it. Her skin seemed to have deepened to a warm honey color. Her hazel sparkled, rivaling the jewels dangling from her earlobes.

  His heart pounded.

  He didn’t know how the evening would go, but if he based it off of looks, it was already a success. Guy glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

  She looked in the back seat.

  “What are you looking for?”

  “Oh, I just noticed the booster seats were gone. Did you leave them with Evan?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Wait a minute, I thought Jo was helping him out? She didn’t say anything to me about it.”

  “Yeah, Ev said she was coming over after you left. I guessed she wanted to see your outfit or something.”

  She chuckled and then murmured under her breath. He thought it sounded like “or something,” but didn’t want to make the awkwardness last. “You nervous?”

  “Totally.”

  He laughed as her shoulders sagged. “I thought so. You’re never this quiet.”

  “Excuse me. I beg to differ. Who was it who talked all the way through the movie the first time we went out?”

  A bark of laughter burst from his chest. He had been so nervous he had kept whispering to her in between scenes. Never again would he take a girl to the movies as a first date. There was too much riding on it. “You’re right. I did all the talking, but I think you ate the whole tub of popcorn due to nerves.”

  She folded her arms and turned her head away. He saw her shoulders shake as she tried to hold in her laughter. “I’m hypoglycemic. I needed to snack.”

  He snorted. “That’s what you call snacking? Yeah, if an elephant considers two hundred pounds a snack...sure, you were snacking.”

  She playfully slapped at his arm. “How would you know how much elephants eat?”

  “You’d be surprised at the useless knowledge you acquire when you’re a parent.”

  “You’re a good father.”

  He quirked an eyebrow. “You say that like you’re surprised.”

  “Not surprised as in I think you’d be horrible. Surprise as in, I would have never even pictured you having kids. You forget I knew you in high school. You seemed to like the limelight. Now you’re the town sheriff and a dad to two beautiful girls. I’m proud of you.”

  He squeezed her hand. “That means more than you know.”

  The rest of the ride passed with easy conversation. The easy flow of dialogue that had been present the first go around of dating returned with an added maturity. It wasn’t until he parked his SUV in front of the restaurant that he realized Charlene hadn’t entered his mind once. Maybe God was healing him.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The candlelight created a warm glow in the restaurant. It was nice to go out with Guy as an adult but bittersweet as well. They had been kids the first go around of dating. Now, he was wining and dining her with the sophistication that time brought.

  And Michelle loved every moment.

  Once she got over the initial nerves, their banter picked up like old times. They even talked about the girls. Michelle had always assumed she’d be a horrible mother. Not because her mother was—she had been the best mom a girl could ask for—but because Michelle knew she had been indulged far too often and liked being the center of attention. Once you became a parent, the selfishness needed to take a back seat. Not to mention, she had no one to show her how to be a good parent. There was no one to call and ask for wisdom.

  Was she fit to be a mother?

  For a brief moment in time, she had been one. She remembered the shock that coursed through her when the stick had two lines and the immediate pain upon the realization it wouldn’t make Guy come back. Left to make a decision by herself, Michelle had chosen what she thought to be the best recourse.

  How wrong I was.

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  “Not necessary.” She swallowed. Why couldn’t the memories stop? “I was just thinking about that summer.” She met his gaze, wondering what he would say.

  Deep grooves appeared around his mouth. “I’m sorry about that, Michelle.” He reached for her hand across the table. “I felt guilty. I didn’t mean for it to happen and I panicked.”

  “So you packed up and left without a word to anyone?” She could still remember the raw hurt.

  “I know it sounds crazy, but yes.”

  She slid her hands back into her lap. “Because you didn’t...you didn’t want me?”

  “Ah, Chelle Belle.” He ran a hand down the back of his neck “I wanted you too much. That’s what got us in that predicament. I shouldn’t have done it the way we did. It should have been the right way. God’s way. I know that now, but not so much back then.”

  Michelle stared at him, trying to make sense of what he was saying. She sighed. “You’re right. It wasn’t the right way, but at the time, I thought it would help lessen the ache of the death of my parents.” She blinked and peered up at the light hanging over the table. “I lost you too. Did you ever think of what that would do to me?”

  Guy flinched. “I didn’t. Or rather, I refused to. I’m sorry. If I could do it over...”

  She gave him a sad smile. “You’d do it again. How else would you have Rebekah and Rachel?”

  He heaved a sigh. “I don’t know.”

  The conversation wasn’t what she imagined talking about on a date, but she knew it needed to be done.

  Tell him the rest.

  No, it was water under the bridge...she prayed. “You know what...it’s okay. I forgive you. It’s in the past. Let’s just start fresh and see where it takes us.” Because she so desperately needed a do over.

  A grin slowly lit his face. “Deal.”

  Her cheeks ached with the height of her smile. We’re on a date! A real date. Not one happening in secret. Or out on their bench, but in public for the world to see. She stared into his beautiful obsidian eyes and her heart stuttered. Somehow, someway, she knew deep in her soul if it didn’t work out, it would hurt more than the first time.

  Lord, please
guard my heart. I don’t want to lose myself in him, but I do want to be with him.

  It was a conundrum she didn’t want to figure out. At least not now. So she leaned forward and let the conversation carry her away.

  THE MOON SHINED BRIGHTLY as they walked around the lake. Guy squeezed Michelle’s hand thankful for the quiet. This is what he had missed with her. The calm and peace of being in her presence, knowing no words were necessary. He stopped in front of their bench. She turned and met his gaze.

  Michelle was tall and graceful and right now, Guy was grateful for her height. He didn’t have to worry about craning his neck down to kiss her, because that’s exactly what he wanted to do—kiss her.

  “What?” she asked, curiosity adding a husky quality to her voice.

  “There’s something I want you to know.”

  She chuckled nervously. “What’s that?”

  “This.” He cupped the sides of her face and leaned forward, settling his lips against hers. The warmth that came over him was his undoing. His body took over, lips remembering the feel of hers. His hands cradled the back of her head as his mouth settled firmly over hers, drawing her in.

  She sighed and moved closer, her arms winding around his neck.

  It took all his self-control to keep his hands still. They wanted to roam, but he knew where that lead. Guy pulled back and rubbed his thumbs across her cheeks. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Me too.” Her hazel eyes glimmered and she leaned forward to kiss him again, softly this time.

  Afterward, Guy took ahold of her hand once more and continued walking around the lake. For once, he didn’t want to rush. He just wanted to savor his time with her and enjoy her company.

  MICHELLE UNLOCKED THE front door, and then turned back around. Guy watched her, his eyes shining with...what she didn’t know. His facial features were relaxed and the dark circles under his eyes were gone. He no longer looked like he was waiting for the Grim Reaper to show up.

  Joy filled her heart. “Thank you for the wonderful night, Guy.”

  “My pleasure, Chelle Belle.”