Grace Restored

by Toni Shiloh

  By the time the bell chimed signaling a new customer, Michelle had successfully cleaned up her workspace for their lunch break. She walked out of her office into the main area and smiled when she saw Guy.

  “Hey, my office is back here.” Michelle pointed over her shoulder.

  Guy strolled toward her, his dark eyes glistened and an easy expression filled his face. He was so handsome. He stopped, leaving a foot of space between them while his eyes roamed over her face and then down her outfit and back up. “You make everything look good.”

  Her face heated. “You too, Sheriff.” And boy did he. The crisp, starched uniform showcased his lean body, not an ounce of fat to be seen. Her hand came up to rest on his chest.

  Guy leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. He straightened up and cleared his throat, his dark eyes brimming with an emotion she didn’t want to pursue. She was at work after all. Maybe letting Tanya go to lunch wasn’t such a great idea. A chaperone probably wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

  Michelle turned and walked behind her desk to take a seat just as Guy took the place in front of her desk. He withdrew a club sandwich and fries from LeeAnn’s takeout bag. How did someone so lean eat that garbage? She eyed him as he took out ketchup packets.

  He must have felt her stare because he looked up and met her gaze. “What?”

  “Do you work out?”

  A cagy grin stole across his face. “If I say no, are you going to cry?”

  “Not likely.” She snorted. “I’ll just point out all the trans-fat in your food.”

  Guy picked up a French fry and sniffed it. “Hmmm, trans-fat is the best way to go.” He ate the fry and winked at her.

  She threw a balled-up napkin at him. “Show off.”

  They settled into companionable silence while eating. After Guy polished off the remaining fries, he sat back and met her gaze. “I need to tell you something.”

  Her eyebrow rose on its own accord and she put her salad down. “What?”

  “My mother’s here for a visit.”

  She swallowed, her palms dampening at his revelation.

  “I just wanted you to know that she’s not...well she doesn’t...um, what I’m trying to say is she can be rude to women at times.”

  That was an understatement.

  His mother had hated her ever since they discovered Guy had left. Whenever she had run into her that ill-fated summer, Mrs. Pierre had looked her up and down with such an expression of derision.

  “I see,” she stated.

  “So with that being said, if you decide to not come to dinner tomorrow, I’ll understand.” He splayed his hands wide, a hopeful expression rounding his eyes.

  Michelle tried not to squirm. This was a test for their relationship whether he knew it or not. Which meant she had to go, didn’t she? She tucked her hair behind the back of her ear.

  “I look forward to it. Should I bring anything?” She took another bite of her salad intent on showing confidence. Only her food wouldn’t go past the lump in her throat.

  The look of joy he gave her sent tingles down her spine.

  “You don’t have to bring anything, but if you do, make sure it’s homemade and good.”

  “Oh, I can cook.”

  “Is that so?” His eyes twinkled.

  “Yes. I think I’ll bring a dessert that will knock your socks off.”

  “Great. It’s a date.”

  He stood up, grabbing his trash. “I need to head back, but I’ll call you later, okay?”

  She followed him out. “Sounds good. Hope the rest of your afternoon goes well.”

  He leaned forward, holding her gaze. He cupped the side of her face and brushed his lips against hers. “It will now.”

  With a wink he was off.

  GUY OPENED HIS FRONT door. It was weird not stopping by Nana Baker’s to pick up his girls. His mother had wanted to watch them while she visited, so he had capitulated. What he really wanted to know was how long she would be staying so he could let Nana Baker know. Guy shook his head. More like he wanted to know for sanity’s sake.

  “Papa’s home!” Bekah shouted. She ran to him and he reached for her, tossing her in the air then kissing her forehead.

  He didn’t remember when he started the ritual, but he knew the reasons behind it. He had never wanted his girls to doubt his love for them.

  “Bonjou, Guy.”

  “Hi, Manman.” He kissed his mother on the cheek.

  “We made tablet kokoye. Come sit down with us.”

  He followed them into the kitchen, the smell of coconut in the air. His stomach growled in anticipation of the sweet candied coconut treat. He hadn’t had any since he moved back to Freedom Lake. It showed how mad his mother had been. No care packages had shown up with the treat. Maybe now she was ready to clear the air.

  He grabbed one and bit into it, murmuring with pleasure. He looked up and caught his mother watching him. She smiled. “Eat.”

  Maybe now was the perfect time to make his announcement.

  “Manman, tomorrow Michelle is coming over for dinner.” He popped another tablet kokoye into his mouth, ensuring he was too busy to answer her objections.

  “Michelle?”

  “Miz Chelle is coming? Yay!” Rachel clapped her hands, and then took a bite of the candy.

  His mother looked at Rachel then slowly looked at him. “She has come here...before?”

  He nodded, focusing on chewing.

  “That is fine. I will make enough food.” His mother sniffed and tilted her nose in the air.

  “Mesi, Manman.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m going to change.”

  That wasn’t so bad. Thank You, Lord.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Michelle waited for the door to open, nervous energy making her toe tap. If she wasn’t careful she would drop the Pyrex dish of banana pudding. Lord, please let his mother like the pudding. A lot was riding on this dinner.

  The door swung open and she froze. Guy looked perfectly handsome in a cream polo and dark blue jeans. He took in her emerald wrap dress and his cheekbones scrunched with pleasure.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  No matter how many times he complimented her, she still blushed. Thankfully concealer would hide the effect. “Hi, handsome. Are you going to stand there all day, or can I come in?”

  He chuckled and moved back. “Please come in,” he said with a bow.

  She passed him and headed for the kitchen.

  “Miz Chelle!”

  Bekah waved from her seat on the barstool in front of the kitchen island. Guy’s mother glanced her way and then promptly turned away, ignoring her. Okay.

  “Hey Bekah, how are you?”

  “Good.” Guy’s youngest gave her a shy smile.

  She sat the dish down on the island. “Hello, Mrs. Pierre.” She held her breath.

  Guy’s mother nodded and continued stirring the pot of food on the stove. Apparently, she wasn’t in the talking mood. Michelle turned to Rebekah. “Thank you for letting me come to dinner.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “What about me?” Rachel asked from the eat-in table. She put her crayon down and looked up from her coloring book.

  “Thank you for having me, Rachel.”

  Rachel beamed at her. “You’re welcome.”

  The hairs on the nape of her neck stood up as the smell of Guy’s spicy scent enveloped her. She had the urge to lean back and see if he would catch her, but the presence of his mom stopped her. Instead, she turned and looked at him.

  He was staring at the Pyrex dish. “Banana pudding?”

  “Yes.”

  He licked his lips. She stared, mesmerized by the action.

  “I can’t wait to taste it.”

  “You’ll love it.”

  Guy turned, leaning against the island as he crossed his legs, hands folded across his stomach. His very flat stomach. “I’m sure I will.”

  The way he looked at her made her wonder if he was still talking
about the banana pudding.

  She felt a tug on her shirt and glanced down at Rachel.

  “Miz Chelle will you do our hair again?”

  The girls had their hair in braided pigtails with cute barrettes at the end. “If it’s okay with your Papa, then sure. Do you want me to do something different or the same way I did it last time?”

  “Diffwent!” Bekah chimed in.

  She studied her, tapping her chin. “Hmm, I think I have the perfect idea. I’ll do it after dinner, okay?”

  They nodded their heads in excitement.

  “Thank you,” Guy whispered close to her ear.

  Goose bumps raced up her arms. If she turned just a little she could kiss him.

  “Guy,” Mrs. Pierre said. “Dinner is ready.”

  They turned toward Guy’s mother. The glare she gave them could singe the hairs off their heads. Obviously, they had been too cozy for her liking.

  Michelle straightened up, pulling away from Guy. Mrs. Pierre grabbed a dish, holding it with potholders, and headed to the dining room. Guy and the girls followed her into the dining room.

  Not for the first time, Michelle noticed how sparsely decorated the house was. Every time she came over, the urge to add some decorations or paint the walls grew stronger. The house had such great potential. Could she at least convince Guy to let her redo the girls’ room?

  Was it too soon in their relationship? It wasn’t her house and one date and an invitation to a family dinner did not give her the right to insert her two cents. But she really, really, wanted to ask him.

  “Guy, say grace,” his mother said.

  Michelle refocused and bowed her head.

  “Heavenly Father, thank You for this bounty You’ve blessed us with. Please bless the hands that prepared it. Amen.”

  The repeated “Amens” echoed in the room. Plates filled up as dishes were passed. The food looked wonderful. The meatloaf, loaded mash potatoes, and greens filled her senses. She was definitely going to have to go for a run tomorrow. She despised the activity with every fiber in her being, but she didn’t want an expanding waist line either.

  She took a taste of the mash potatoes and the flavors exploded in her mouth. The smoked bacon paired wonderfully with the cheese. Michelle dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “Mrs. Pierre, this is wonderful.”

  Guy’s mother met her gaze and raised an eyebrow. “It is just mashed potatoes.”

  “I know, but I don’t have it that often.” Ever.

  “Humph, that is why you are too skinny.” Her gaze narrowed. “What do you do now?”

  She took a deep breath. Please, give me patience, Lord. “I’m a lawyer.”

  “I hear they are all liars.”

  She took another bite of her food to keep her words from getting her into trouble. Only now the food tasted like dust.

  Mrs. Pierre stared at her expectantly.

  “The bad ones are.”

  “There is such thing as a good lawyer?”

  “Manman, Michelle is a great lawyer.” He frowned at his mother. “She has her own law office as well.” Guy winked at Michelle.

  “A business owner? Why aren’t you married with children?”

  Yep, the dinner was off to a great start. “I haven’t found anyone I want to marry. As for kids, I would like to be married first.”

  “That goes without saying.”

  She stuffed a mouthful of meatloaf into her mouth. Maybe his mother would get the hint and leave the twenty-one questions for later.

  When I’m not here.

  GUY FELT LIKE HE WAS at a Wimbledon match. His mother volleyed a hit, but Michelle was ready and lobbed a reply right back. He tried to interject, but his mother threw him a withering look and Michelle gave him an I-don’t-need-your-help look.

  He took a bite of his food thankful the girls were oblivious to the under currents at the table. When he had told Michelle about dinner, he thought she would balk and leave at the first hint of trouble. He hadn’t expected her to handle his mother so well.

  Charlene had never liked his mother but was too nice to say anything. Instead, she was always cordial and respectful. His mother complained about her until the day they got married. Afterward, she said nothing, but he caught the look of disdain quite often.

  But now...now there was a strange glint in his mother’s eye. He thought it looked like admiration, but that didn’t make any sense. Michelle was the opposite of every woman his mother had ever raved about.

  “You have done a lot since you graduated from high school,” his mother said.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good.”

  He stared in shock at the simple proclamation. A flash of what looked like relief passed over Michelle’s face. She stared at her food and then began eating again. His mother continued eating like nothing significant had just happened.

  Dinner passed by swiftly and soon his mother began cleaning up, waving off their offers of help. Guy followed Michelle and the girls into the living room. He watched as she brushed Rachel’s hair. She’d had the girls pick a number between one and ten to decide who got to go first. They seemed happy with the arrangement. He was going to have to remember that for the next time the girls argued over who got to go first.

  “Are you going to Bible study?” Michelle looked at him, waiting for his reply.

  “I am. You want to ride with me?”

  Her lips curved up. “I wish I could, but I’m carpooling with Jo and my new secretary.”

  “New secretary?” He leaned back into the couch.

  “Yes. I really needed one.”

  “I didn’t even know you had hired one.”

  Michelle nodded her head as she began to braid the front of Rachel’s hair.

  How did she know to do that?

  “Yes, it was a win-win situation. She doesn’t have the money for attorney fees, so she’s working for me and a percentage of her check is paying my fees.”

  Guy watched her. Why was this the first time he was hearing about her new employee? Then again, they’d only been on one date and the conversation had centered on the past and a brief part of the present. But still, didn’t you share things like this with someone you were dating? Are we dating? He hadn’t put a label to their relationship. He’d just been happy to see where it was going.

  “Anyway. I invited her to Bible study so she’s riding with me and Jo. That is assuming Jo won’t be at Evan’s already.”

  “How come you didn’t tell me you hired a secretary?”

  She glanced at him, her eyes widening in surprise, a perfectly sculpted eyebrow arching as well. “Come again?”

  “Why didn’t you share that bit of information?”

  “Probably because I didn’t think you’d care. You never talk about your work.”

  “That’s because you don’t ask.”

  “Likewise.” She paused, her hands holding the half-braided hair. “Are you really upset about this?”

  “A little. It seems like something you would tell a person you’re dating.”

  She glanced at the kids and he froze. Should he have not said that within their hearing? They probably didn’t even know what dating meant.

  “I didn’t realize that’s what we were doing.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “Really?”

  “Okay, you’re right I did.” She looked at him again. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. However, I’m not going to discuss her case with you because of attorney-client privileged.”

  “Fine.” Maybe he was being a little ridiculous. Guy rolled his head, easing the tension out. This was definitely not something to get bent out of shape over.

  Her eyes softened and she sighed. “Are we good?”

  “Yeah, we’re good, Chelle Belle.”

  Michelle grinned and returned to braiding Rachel’s hair.

  “Do you think your secretary...wait, what’s her name?”

  “Tanya.”

  “Is she going to feel like a sixth wheel?”


  She chuckled. “Sixth wheel, huh? You know Chloe and Darryl aren’t paired up.”

  He snorted. “It’s only a matter of time.”

  “Too much time.”

  “Everyone has their own time table. Regardless, won’t she feel left out?”

  “I have no idea. I hope not.”

  “How about I invite my secretary?” The minute the words left his lips, he wished he could recall them. Wasn’t work already awkward with her?

  “Sure, then we can keep the study even numbered. Of course, you men will be outnumbered.”

  “We’ll survive.” He winked at her, loving the way her cheeks reddened.

  “Then it sounds like a plan.”

  AS MICHELLE LAID IN bed, she replayed her earlier conversation with Guy. He’d looked so disgruntled when he found out she had hired a secretary. She didn’t think it was something she needed to inform him of, but he had.

  Were you really supposed to tell a person every little thing that happened during the day just because you were in a relationship? Her stomach knotted as she thought about that summer of 2003. Would she ever feel healing instead of the ball of dread that filled her stomach? Maybe Jo was right. Maybe she had to tell Guy what she did. But if he could get upset about her hiring a secretary, what would he say about the abortion?

  She curled up on her side. It would not be pretty. Oh, the fury that would probably darken his eyes. The easy camaraderie between them would fly out the window. No more sweet kisses. No more relationship.

  Her eyes squeezed tight. No, she couldn’t tell him. It was water under the bridge. It didn’t need to affect their current relationship. The past had no bearing on the present.

  Do you really believe that?

  She sighed. I want to. Wasn’t that the beauty of being forgiven? The stains and sins of life no longer marred your present?

  But you still have to come clean.

  “No,” Michelle whispered. God already knew. She’d already discussed it at length. Then again, she had never accepted Christ as her Savior so maybe all her discussions had been pointless. Didn’t you have to admit you were a sinner in order to be saved? There were too many rules. She couldn’t keep up. Didn’t even know what the point of it all was. She inhaled deeply, hoping the thoughts in her mind would quiet and sleep would carry her off to oblivion.