Divine Grace (25 page)

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Jack opened the door to climb out of his vehicle as Angel opened the front door of his house and stepped out. Jack was immediately sorry he’d done that because he could hear Patricia screaming at Angel in Spanish.

Unfortunately, Jack spoke Spanish fluently and understood what she was yelling. Angel threw his hand up in the air like he was waving good-bye without looking back at her. He pulled the front door closed on her diatribe.

He came over to the passenger door and got in. If Jack didn’t know better, he’d say Angel was amused.

“Trouble in paradise?” Jack backed the SUV and swung around to head out the driveway.

“She’s pissed.”

“The saddle?”

“Mmm-hmm. I might have mentioned we’re shopping for a woman’s saddle. She might have put two and two together.”

“You told her it was a woman’s saddle we were looking for?”

“I may have, yes.” He buckled the seat belt.

“So basically you told her you were going shopping for Grace?”

“I suppose she might have drawn that conclusion.” He chuckled, looking over at Jack.

“Did you tell her just to piss her off?”

“Might have.”

Jack shook his head. He really didn’t understand their arrangement at all. “Why don’t you just tell her to leave?”

“She’ll get upset and cry. I can’t stand to see a woman cry.”

“If she’s pissed off about the saddle, how is she going to react when she finds out about Grace living here?”

“She may already know.”

“You can’t stand to hear a woman cry, but the screaming doesn’t bother you?”

“Not when it leads to the makeup sex.”

“I don’t think you’re gonna get any makeup sex off of this, amigo.”

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“That’s okay, haven’t been seeing much action lately, anyway. She’s hardly ever home. Speaking of Grace, how is she doing? I heard she had some damage.”

“Yeah, but I think it’s going to be a relatively easy fix. Everything looked like it was good and dry this morning, just have to keep it that way and get the roof checked out. Ethan and Grace were in the house when it hit.

Sounds like they had a wild ride. I was never so relieved to hear her voice.”

“I’ll bet, man. Is she happy to be staying with y’all?”

“I think so. She has some reservations, but she said she’d stay.”

“Is Patricia one of those reservations?”

“Yeah, unfortunately, she is, Angel. Sorry. You heard?”

“From several different sources. One of the hands was at The Pony for a little while Saturday night, heard the girls talk about her, plus I ran into Rachel at the vet’s office. She told me all about it. She says y’all are a cute couple, grouping, or whatever.” He used air quotes over the last words, chuckling.

“I appreciate you coming along.”

“That’s what I’m here for, but what did you really want to talk about?”

“We’re already talking about it,” Jack said as he followed the winding curve of the road that led into Divine.

“Let me guess. She knows Patricia hates her, she wants Patricia gone, but she’s afraid she’ll hurt my feelings. Was I close?”

“That pretty much sums it up. How do we deal with this?”

“Patricia is difficult,” Angel said, to which Jack quietly chuckled.

Yeah she was difficult, all right. Like a busted water pipe during a hard freeze was difficult. He’d had root canals that were more fun to deal with than Patricia.

“Okay, Patricia’s a bitch, no denying it.” Angel laughed. “I’m surprised she hasn’t moved on by now, if you want to know the truth. She doesn’t come home until late at night, most nights, sometimes not at all. I know she ain’t staying with her girlfriends those nights. We have no exclusivity to each other. It’s convenience for both of us. She has a place to stay, and she never turns me down. I’ve heard she seldom turns anyone down, for that matter. She still after Ethan?”

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“She was until Grace had a little heart to heart with her last Saturday night. Ethan had a talk with her Monday night at The Dancing Pony. I’m not sure how much good it did or if it just pissed her off more”

“If she needs to go, she needs to go. She’s like a bulldog. I could see that she was more than a little fixated on Ethan. I never should have brought her out here, wouldn’t have except she had nowhere to stay. I’m sorry she’s made things difficult for y’all with Grace.”

“Grace is torn because she considers you her friend, and she doesn’t want you to be upset, but she won’t be comfortable with Patricia out here.

How attached are you to her, Angel? That’s what this boils down to.” Jack hated to have this conversation with his friend.

“I’m more attached to the friendship I have with y’all. I consider Grace a friend, too, and her happiness is tied to your happiness. I’ll tell Patricia she’s worn out her welcome as soon as we get back,” Angel said with a sigh.

“Somewhere out there is a decent woman who’ll honor you, Angel.

With Patricia gone, maybe you’ll find her,” Jack reassured him as they pulled into Cheaver’s Western Store parking lot. Jack didn’t mind being the means to possibly help him find her, maybe even this afternoon.

“Maybe so. Let’s go find your lady a saddle.”

The midday sun beat down on them, blasting them with heat as they climbed from the SUV.

“Why don’t you come out with us some weekend to The Dancing Pony?

Grace loves to go dancing. You’ve been working a lot of hours and not getting out much.”

“Do I get to dance with her if I do? I heard she knows a few dance moves.”

“Hell no! Find your own woman!” Jack laughed as they entered the store.

An hour later, they left the store with a new hand-tooled leather saddle for Grace. It was of good quality and workmanship, and it had a floral design that Grace might like. All in all, Angel said, until they knew how much riding Grace would actually be doing, this was a good, comfortable saddle for her to start off with.

Angel had stopped him from ordering a custom-made saddle. If she really took to riding, then Jack could spend seven thousand dollars on a custom saddle, if that was what he wanted to do.

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“Speaking of spending money on Grace, do you mind if we make a quick stop at Stigall’s? I want to surprise her with a little gift.”

“No, I need some new blue jeans, anyway. I tore a hole in my best pair the other day.”

Jack smiled. That was easy. With a little luck, Teresa would be there working. Angel went over to the menswear department to get his jeans, and Jack headed for the jewelry department. He stopped at the ring of counters and started browsing. As he looked into a case that displayed jewelry with different gemstones, he heard the click of little heels approaching. He looked up and grinned. The pretty, young Hispanic woman walking toward him smiled in greeting. He noticed her nametag. Teresa. Perfect. Now all he had to do was make this transaction last long enough for Angel to come find him.

“Hello, I’m Teresa. May I show you something?” she asked softly. Just as Grace had said, Teresa was petite, with curling black hair that hung past her shoulder blades, pulled back from the front. She had sweetly rounded cheeks and warm brown eyes.

“You sure can, ma’am. I’m looking for something for a special lady. I think she’s a friend of yours. I hope you can help me.”

“Who is your friend?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

“Grace Stuart.”

“You must be Jack,” she said quietly. “I was so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. She was a very sweet lady. Grace has told me much about you.” Her voice was soft and feminine, and her speech was very proper with little accent.

“Thank you, ma’am. Has she really?”

She nodded conspiratorially. “She said you helped her
clean house
. I’m glad. Owen was not good to her. Are you shopping for a gift for her?” she asked helpfully.

“I heard her tell her sister there was a pair of silver filigree hoop earrings she wanted. I’d like to surprise her with them. If you still have them.”

“Yes. I know exactly which ones. Come down this way.”

She led him to a small locked display located on top of one of the glass-topped jewelry counters and unlocked it. Inside were a selection of silver
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and gold hoop earrings in various sizes and designs. Teresa pulled out a silver pair, with filigree etching, two inches in diameter.

“Grace admired these a couple of weeks ago,” she said, handing them to him. They were pretty with the way the light sparkled off of them.

“I think I’ll take them, Teresa, but I’d like to look at some other pieces, too. I don’t want to keep you from other customers.” He looked around for Angel. Where the hell was he? He’d have to stall for a while, have her show him some other jewelry.

“No, sir. You’re my only customer right now. Was there something in particular you’d like me to show you, or…would you perhaps like to see some other things I know Grace liked?” Jack had to chuckle. He’d been taken in by her shy, quiet demeanor, but he had a feeling he was dealing with a hit-and-run saleslady. By the time his wallet knew what had hit it, it would be too late.

“I knew I came to the right lady. Why don’t you take me shopping for Grace, Teresa?” Jack noted the way Teresa smiled behind her little hand and blushed. Grace had told him Teresa was shy and got embarrassed easily. “If you have time, that is.”

“Of course. Come with me.” She led him back to the case that displayed the gemstone sets. This was more like it. She removed a velvet-covered jewelry display board. Attached to it were a pair of amethyst earrings and a necklace with a large square-cut amethyst pendant accented with very small but brilliant diamonds.

“Grace’s birthday is in February, so amethysts are her birthstone.”

February? That was good to know. “She’s tried this set on before, and I know she likes it but wouldn’t consider it because of its cost.” Teresa pulled out another display board when Jack heard a paper bag crinkle and Angel walked up to the counter. Perfect. Angel could help him decide. Interact with the beautiful saleslady.

Teresa laid the other display board on the glass counter, and as she did, Jack noticed her hand shook the tiniest little bit. He looked up in time to see her glance away from Angel and blush. She was suddenly very quiet. Maybe Jack could get her talking a little. Angel laid his bag on the next counter and came over to see what Jack was looking at.

“Hey,” Jack said nonchalantly, “find what you needed?”

“Yeah, you?”

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“Teresa was kind enough to show me some pieces that Grace is partial to. Now what is this, Teresa? A garnet?” Yeah, use her name, jog Angel’s memory. Keep her talking.
Breathe, sweetie, breathe.

“That’s a ruby pendant. The choker is solid silver. It looked good on Grace but not as good as the amethyst.” She blushed as she glanced up at Angel. Jack watched Angel as he recognized her. He wanted to do a fist pump as he watched the flirtatious smile spread across Angel’s face. She was in for it now.

“How are you, Teresa? Do you remember me? You and Grace sold me some clothes a few weeks ago.”

“H-hello. Angel, right?” she asked, blushing again very sweetly, saying his name with the traditional Spanish pronunciation.

“Yes, that’s right. How have you been?” Angel asked.

“Very well, thank you. You are shopping again today, I see,” she said, indicating his shopping bag.

“Yes, I’m hard on clothes, needed more jeans.”

Jack noticed he never broke eye contact with Teresa, who looked ready to topple over. Time to redirect and let the girl breathe.

“What about that bright blue stone, Teresa. What is that?” Jack asked, pointing.

“This is a blue topaz. The ring, necklace, and earrings come as a set. I can have the ring sized for you if you know her size. The same set is also available in a pink topaz.” Good, she was breathing again, focused, but glancing at Angel. “Of the two, Grace would prefer the pink. It’s her favorite color.”

“Pink is her favorite color?” At Teresa’s affirmative nod, he replied, “I never see her wearing pink.”

“She thought it made her look fat. That’s what Owen once told her. To tell you the truth, I think he told her that because he didn’t want her to wear a color that might draw attention to her.”

Angel said, “Her boyfriend told her she was fat? Blind bastard. Grace is perfect. No offense, Jack. Pardon my language, Teresa.”

Jack chuckled. “None taken.” He smiled down at the pieces on the counter. Teresa was no longer blushing, and it sounded like she was breathing again. Moving right along.

“Teresa, is that a sapphire ring? I can’t tell in this light.”

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“Yes, Jack, but Grace wouldn’t care for this setting. Everything would snag on it. She uses her hands so much, something that has inset stones, like that amethyst there, would be much more practical, and she’d wear it more often.” Turning her attention to Angel, she bravely asked, “Angel, are you shopping for jewelry today as well? May I show you something?”

Jack had to fight his grin.
Good girl
. Teresa had just gone fishing and was about to land a whopper. Angel looked her straight in the eye and said,

“No, not today, Teresa, I don’t have anyone to buy such things for. Maybe someday I’ll get lucky, like Jack, and find a good woman. For now, we shop for Grace.” Smiling, eye contact. More eye contact. Still more eye contact.