Divine Grace (36 page)

She loved days like this when the shop hummed with activity. Filing the last order she’d just taken, Grace heard the door open and turned to help the next customer. It was Fred from Merritt’s Florist making a delivery. He set the large, heavy crystal vase containing one dozen blood-red, long-stemmed roses on the sales counter and smiled at her politely.

“These are for you, Miss Stuart.”

“Wow! Rose! Come look!” Martha shouted loudly, startling both Grace and Fred.

Grace sniffed them appreciatively as she removed the card from its clip.

“They’re beautiful, Fred.”

“Who are they from?” Rose asked, almost bouncing on her toes.

“I’ll be right back.” Fred said as he turned to the front door.

“The card says they are from Ethan,” Grace said dreamily after glancing at it. There was a handwritten note as well.

“Why did Fred say he’s coming back?” Rose asked.

Martha peeked at the card. “I see his handwriting, Grace. What did Ethan write? Read it!”

“Y’all, it’s
private
!” Grace laughed, holding the card to her breast. “Did Fred say he was
coming
back
?”

“Oh, my gosh!” Rose said in a stage whisper as another dozen long-stemmed roses moved past the front window.

Fred came inside bearing an arrangement of the most vivid yellow roses she’d ever seen, also in a heavy crystal vase. No expense had been spared on these arrangements. Fred set the yellow roses next to the red roses, still smiling sweetly. The women were shocked, awed into silence as Grace took the card and looked Fred in the eye.

The elderly man blushed and said, “I’ll be right back, Miss Stuart.”

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Evidently unable to contain herself, Rose screamed. The poor man cringed as he turned for the door again. Grace had a feeling she was about to be the talk of the town.

“Dang, Rose! Who are they from, Grace?” Martha asked. This time she positioned herself so she might be able to read what was written on the card.

Grace opened the card carefully. “Adam,” she whispered. Her body hummed, and her heart pounded.

Another rose arrangement passed in front of the window. This one held a dozen long-stemmed roses in a deep shade of rosy pink in another heavy crystal vase. She felt beads of sweat forming on her brow. As Fred walked in, his face split in a wide, happy grin, but he glanced at Rose in anticipation of her next reaction.

“The gentleman said I was to tell you he picked each one of these pink roses himself so he knew we’d send the
right
color. All of the vases are Waterford Crystal, the best and largest we had, according to his request.”

“Who are they from?” Martha asked.

Rose gawked at her. “Like we don’t already know.” She practically snorted. “Open the card, missy.”

“These are from Jack.” Grace sniffled, misty-eyed. “I don’t have to open the card to know that.”

Fred added, “Mr. Warner also asked that you open his card last. Ladies, you have a great day.
Y’all sure made mine.” He smiled as he left, shaking his head.

“I wonder why Jack felt the need to handpick those pink roses. Pink is pink, right?” Rose asked.

Grace was seeing black spots. “I think I need to sit down.” She went to her desk chair behind the counter.

“Get her some water, Rose. Here, honey, put your head between your knees,” Martha said, taking charge. She steadied Grace as she put her head down. “Slow, deep breaths, sweetie. I don’t want you to pass out and hit your head.”

Grace clutched the cards to her breasts, obeyed Martha, and breathed in slow and deep.

“Here, sweetie, drink up.” Rose swept in with a glass of water like a mother hen fussing over a chick.

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They pulled up chairs to hers as she sat up. “How do you feel?” Martha asked. “Don’t get up yet. Give the blood a chance to circulate back to your brain first.”

“Those men are so in love with you, honey. I take it you had a nice evening last night?” Rose smiled conspiratorially.

Grace blushed. “Yes, we did have a nice evening. I’m so in love with them, my heart aches with it. Thank you, Martha, Rose, for not judging me for loving three men. They are so sweet and so good to me.”

Martha patted Grace’s shoulder and sagely said, “In this life, honey, you have to take true love and hold on to it for dear life, even when it doesn’t come in the usual ways. If three men loved me like they
obviously
love you, and I loved them in return the way you obviously do, I would frickin’ go for it.”

“Martha, did you just say ‘frickin’’?” Grace laughed.

Martha grinned and rolled her eyes. “I’m just saying, is all. Go for it, honey.”

“Yeah! Seize the day, sweetie! Beautiful, hot cowboys are in love with you! Ride ’em, cowgirl!” Rose whooped.

Martha turned to give her a shocked and disgusted look.

“Oooh!” Rose gasped when she realized what she’d said, turning five shades of red. “Why that particular shade of pink?” Rose asked once she’d recovered. She tilted her head in curiosity. Grace put her hands to her flaming cheeks and said nothing, but her thoughts were almost singing.

Because it reminds him of my pink pussy!
Her cheeks tingled with heat.

“Let’s leave Grace alone to read her cards, Rose. It’s none of our business,” Martha said, shooing the curious Rose from the room.

Grace drank from the glass of water and opened Ethan’s card first. He’d written it in his own hand.

For the woman I adore—

Red, because the heart that beats in my chest beats for you.

Red, for the love in your wantonly innocent invitation.

Red, for the sweet yet seductive words that flowed from your lips.

Red, for the blood and the pain that is in the past.

Red, for the pounding of my heart when I think of a future with you.

Your Ethan

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She laid his card on the desk and looked at the red roses. His note was sexy and straight from his heart, just like him. The phone rang in the back room. She heard Martha answer it. Grace laid her hand gently on the card.

The love that flowed in those sweet words was like an arrow straight into her heart.

She wiped the tears as she opened Adam’s card next, also written in his own hand.

For you, Grace,

The flower I love the best in the entire world. The roses are nice, but
they can’t compare to your beautiful face, your beautiful heart, or the love
that shines in your eyes. Thank you for seeing my true heart. I loved you the
moment I first saw you, my angel.
You
are my true heart.

Love, Adam

His true heart. She pressed her lips to the note and wiped her eyes again.

She heard the overhead door open and assumed UPS must be here. Martha and Rose talked with the driver, quietly. Grace undid the seal on Jack’s card.

His script was economical and to the point, just like her Jack.

Darling,

I think I got pretty close on that shade of pink, don’t you?

Look up and say yes.

Love, Jack

Confused, she looked at the back of the card. There was nothing else written on it. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she read it again and heard a sound from the door. She looked up and expected it to be Rose or Martha checking on her.

It was Jack. And Ethan. And Adam. Their hearts in their eyes, tender smiles on their faces. Her eyes overflowed with tears, and she noticed their chins wobbled a little, too. Martha and Rose were doing their best to peek around them since there was no point trying to see over their tall shoulders.

The ladies were grinning from ear to ear.

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Her men came to stand before her, and her heart pounded as she looked up into their sweet faces.

Jack knelt down in front of her, on one knee, and reached out to wipe away a tear. “Darlin’? Marry me?”

A sob wrenched from her throat.

Adam knelt at Jack’s side. “Baby? Marry me?” Adam took her hand and pressed it to his cheek, love glowing in the green depths of his eyes.

Ethan knelt, too. “Gracie? Marry me?” He kissed her other hand.

Her heart felt like it would pound from her chest. She fell from the chair into their arms, sobbing. Martha and Rose quietly sniffled and sobbed.

They gave her a minute to settle down before Jack said, “Darlin’, you would make us the happiest men in the world if you would say yes.” He offered her his handkerchief and helped her back into her chair.

“
Yes
, with all my heart. Yes, yes, and yes. I don’t know how this will work, but yes!” She did her best to stifle the sobs that threatened. “The roses are stunning. Your sweet cards,” she held them to her breast again, “are priceless beyond words. I’ll save them forever.” She held out a hand to Ethan’s cheek and gazed into his damp, sparkling eyes. She placed the other hand on Adam’s damp cheek, and he looked up into her eyes, so vulnerable and happy. Then she placed both hands on Jack’s cheeks and leaned in to touch her forehead to his. “Thank you, Jack, for bringing me into your lives.

Nothing could make me happier than to marry y’all. You really surprised me.” She smiled as she wiped away her tears.

“Your ring won’t be ready until next Wednesday. Clay is rushing it but couldn’t have it ready any faster than that,” Jack said. “I’m sorry. I really wanted to have it in hand when we proposed, but we decided we couldn’t wait that long.”

“Couldn’t wait, huh?” She kissed him, and then she sat up straight.

“Clay Cook? Clay Cook is making a ring for me? When did you order it?”

“Last Saturday while you and Charity were at the spa.” He chuckled at her gasp of surprise.

“You boys
do
work fast! You knew back then you were going to propose? When we were at the restaurant? And my necklace?”

Ethan reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “All those things were for our future wife, Gracie. Yes, and we
knew
that night in the restaurant we had been right to order the ring. Every moment we’ve

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spent together only confirms it. We wanted to propose and give you the ring before you came to live with us, but then the storm happened. We’ve been in love with you since the day of Rose Marie’s funeral, at least Adam and I have. Jack’s been in love with you forever, I think. We couldn’t stand to wait until Wednesday.”

“I love my flowers, and the crystal vases are lovely, too. You must have spent a fortune, and the roses are beautiful colors.”

“How’d you like that pink, darlin’? Did I do good?” Jack asked softly.

“Well,” she whispered with a crooked grin, “I think Ethan, Adam, and you are probably a better judge of whether it’s the
exactly
perfect color.”

She blushed.

“I’m hard just looking at them and thinking about it.” Adam snickered.

“Me, too!” Ethan waggled his eyebrows at her as she put her finger over her lips.

“Shh! That’s too much information for Martha and Rose,” she whispered, laughing.

Martha returned to the front room. “I found my camera. Why don’t I take your picture?”

“I look awful!” Grace wiped under her eyes and mopped her nose with Jack’s handkerchief.

“You look beautiful!” all of them said at one time, and then they all laughed.

Martha took charge. “A girl wants to look good for pictures. Here’s your purse. Go powder your nose.” She handed Grace her purse, and Grace went to the restroom and fixed her face, then returned. Martha had arranged the roses and her men at the sales counter. She positioned Grace amongst her men and took several pictures. Then she surprised Grace by saying, “Now y’all go enjoy your afternoon off.”

“You’re giving me the afternoon off?” Grace asked in surprise.

Martha nodded and put her hand on Grace’s shoulder. “Honey, you need to adjust your thinking. You’re a self-employed woman
taking
a well-deserved afternoon off.”

“That’s not official yet.”

“Go, before I have them carry you out. Enjoy your evening. Go dance, go eat, go make out, go have fun. We love you, honey. Congratulations,”

Martha said, kissing her cheek. “Consider it our gift to you.”

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“Martha, you got a box and some padding we can use to get these arrangements home in?” Ethan asked.

“Why don’t you leave them here until after lunch?” Martha said. “You could take her out then just swing by and pick them up on your way home.”

“I’m starving for a good steak,” Adam said. “What do you think, baby?

Can we take you to lunch?”

“Sure, I’m hungry, and it is noon.”

“That settles it. Ladies, we’ll be back.”

In the SUV, she told them, “I am so happy, I may have a hard time not showing my feelings to y’all. I feel like I could burst with it.” She was trying to get her emotions under control.

“We’ll ask for a quiet table, and you can sit with your back to the room if you’re worried, but we’re not concerned. I think it will be fine.” Ethan took her hand as they climbed from the SUV.