Falling Into Grace (13 page)

I look at him and relax. “They are five.”

“Oh, my wife is five months pregnant. What are their names?”

“Ella and Hunter. Congrats. Do you know what you’re having?”

“Yes, we are having a girl. First girl for my family.” He looks so proud. “So you have twins? Did you do in vitro?”

“No, it was luck of the draw. Twins run on my husband’s side.” This is weird to say.

“Is your husband a twin?” Shane is easy to talk to, and I’m happy he doesn’t know my secret. I just go along and answer his questions.

“No, his mother and father are both from pairs of twins.”

He looks at me, impressed. I see Mrs. Grace walking toward us. Aiden stands and helps his mother back in her seat.

“What did I miss?” Mrs. Grace asks as she settles down.

“Hannah was just telling us about her family,” Shane says.

“Oh wonderful, fill me in.” Of course she is interested as well.

Shane takes over. “Well, she has twins, Hunter and Ella. Twins run on her husband’s side. Her in-laws are both twins,” he announces as if he is still impressed with the information.

I try to read Mrs. Grace’s expression. Only she and Grant know about Chase.

“That’s wonderful. Did you tell her your good news?” she asks Shane.

“Yes, of course. I’ve been telling everyone I see,” he laughs. “We have to start working on the baby shower. Annie wants to register this week.”

The rest of the plane ride is filled with easy conversation. Shane tells me that he and his wife had to do in vitro to get pregnant. She has lazy ovaries and they were lucky to get pregnant the first time. He tells me the story of how they first met. He had asked her out for two months straight before she finally agreed. It took one date, and they have been together ever since. I wish it were that easy for me. I wish I could meet someone and be able to let go enough to trust someone and let him into my life.

The pilot comes on, announcing our arrival and we start our descent. I place my arms on the armrests and Grant takes my hand. He
holds it like Chase used to, souls touching. I quickly change the position of my hand, and I see Grant look over at me. I stare straight ahead into my comfort zone, Aiden’s eyes. He pushes his legs out, and with his feet, he pulls my legs straight. I follow his move and stretch my legs out. He places his legs on either side of mine, and gives my legs a squeeze with his. He can be so cute. We descend and land smoothly. I pull away from Grant’s hand and he lets me go this time. I unbuckle my lap belt and feel relieved. I wasn’t scared about flying, but I am sure as hell happy we are on the ground again.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

W
e travel to their home in a black Escalade. Mrs. Grace and I are in the back, and once again, Grant is in the front with the driver. Cape Cod is beautiful. I just stare in awe out the window at all the sights. We drive down Main Street, which is filled with eclectic boutiques and trendy restaurants. I love it here already. Mrs. Grace’s house, or should I say estate, is to die for. The long driveway leads up to the house, which is perfectly landscaped. The house is sided with cedar shakes, and the salty air has changed the once-golden color to a pale almost-gray. It is a wonder to look at, with all its peaks and balconies. Mrs. Grace leans over to me.

“Grant Senior had this house built for me as a wedding present. He wanted a house big enough to raise six kids in.”

“It is beautiful.”

I’m impressed. So she has the money?

“We got to four, and it was a joy to raise my children here. I can’t wait to have grandbabies running all around here.”

She looks happy at the thought.

We pull right up to the front door, and everyone gets out. The front door opens, and a woman who looks about the same age as Mrs. Grace walks out, heading straight to Mrs. Grace.

“Oh, Victoria! You had me so worried.” She wraps her arms carefully around Mrs. Grace.

“Oh, Addy, there was no reason to worry about me.” Mrs. Grace hugs her back.

After a few seconds, they separate from their embrace.

“I’m so happy my babies are home.” Addy looks at the Grace men and opens her arms. They all walk over and hug and kiss her. I feel like an outsider again. Aiden introduces me.

“Addy, this is Hannah Redman. She came along to help take care of my mother.” Without any notice I am in her arms.

“I’m a hugger, baby.” I laugh and hug her back. “I have lunch all ready for everyone if you all are hungry. Victoria, the nurse arrived this morning. I put her in the guest quarters, so you’ll have to decide where you want Hannah to be.”

“I will have to think about it. Let’s all go and eat. We can talk about it later.” Mrs. Grace starts making her way into the house.

I follow behind everyone as we go in. Why is there a nurse here already? I thought she was coming Sunday. As I walk into the house, I am distracted from my thoughts by how amazing the house is. It’s the kind of house you can walk into and feel comfortable right away. It is enormous, and the theme is nautical, with shades of blues, creams, and greens. The entire back wall is floor-to-ceiling windows at least eighteen feet tall. The view overlooks the water. I walk over to the windows and take it in. My eyes wander over the sparkling water, and in the distance I can see sail boats. I would love to look at this every day. The tranquility of being surrounded by water has always been a dream to me. Chase hated the water, so when we bought a house, he wouldn’t consider looking at one on the bay. The kitchen is filled with chatter and teasing, and I can tell this house is filled with love. Grant stands next to me, and begins to tell me what I’m looking at.

“This is the Vineyard Sound. Beautiful, right?”

He seems like a different person, more at ease. I wonder how old he is.

“My dad built this place in seventy-five. He designed everything in here.”

I start to look around and can’t believe how much intricate detail is around the house. Exposed beams can be seen overhead; everything is rustic and beachy. I love it here.

“Grant, this is beautiful.” He leans into me and nudges his shoulder with mine.

“Are you two lovebirds ready to eat?” I hear from the kitchen. It’s Addy; she has the table filled with food, and she is directing everyone to sit down.

“Oh, Addy, I have missed you,” Grant says as he hugs her again.

I feel like I have been caught doing something wrong. I walk over to the table, and Aiden pulls out the chair next to him. I’m amazed when I look at the spread on the table. Addy has gone all out, with homemade potato salads, macaroni salads, barbequed chicken, steak, and fish. Everyone starts digging in.

I glance over at Mrs. Grace and notice that she looks tired. I should go and get my equipment to check her blood pressure and her incision. It didn’t look so good when we left the hospital. When I stand, everyone looks at me.

“I’m just going to get my bag,” I tell Mrs. Grace. “I need to do a check on you.”

“Hannah, eat something. Relax.” She leans back in her chair, and everyone catches on to what I see.

“Mom, let her check you. That’s why she is here, so we don’t have to worry,” Grant says as he sits next to her. I don’t wait for her response. I go back to the front door, thinking my bag would be there, but it’s not. I hear someone come up behind me. I turn to see it’s Grant.

“I had your stuff brought up to your room. I’ll show you where you will be staying.”

I nod and follow Grant up the stairs. I look at the pictures on the walls, which tell the family’s life story. I see a wedding picture, and I can tell it’s Mr. and Mrs. Grace. She looks beautiful; they look so happy and in love. I feel the hurt creep up.

“Is this your father?” I know I shouldn’t pry, but I opened up to him earlier today, so I feel we are on the same playing ground. He looks so much like his father.

“Yes.” He stands next to me, looking at his parents. He slips his hand into mine, and we stand looking at his parents. I wonder if this is what Hunter will be like when he grows up. I wonder if he will remember his father, or if the memories he has of him will slip away as he gets older. The thought makes my heart sink. I wish my children never had to be dealt this shitty hand. Grant pulls my hand up to his chest and starts to walk. I quickly pull my hand away. We go down two more doors, and he grabs me by my hand and pulls me into a room.

His eyes are wild. He closes the door and starts to kiss me with such a passion. Where is this coming from? Surprised, I try to slow him down, but there is no stopping him. He kisses me and starts to walk me over to the bed. I try to stop him, but he pushes me down on the bed. I sink right in, his full weight on top of me. His hands start in my hair and then slide down my neck to my chest and down to my waist. I take his hands in mine and push him back, but he pins my hands on the bed next to my head.

“Stop, I can’t.” I speak the words softly. He stops and presses his forehead against mine. He hugs me and I feel so lost. What the hell am I doing? What the hell is he doing? I can’t be doing this in his mother’s house. I have to walk away. I told myself I would walk away. I lie beneath him for a moment, feeling anxious that we might get caught. He rolls over so he is lying next to me on the bed.

“This was my room.” He moves onto his side and places his hand on his head.

I look around the room. French doors lead out to the second-story wraparound porch. The walls are a soft blue, and the furniture is all a deep cherry color. He takes my hand in his and kisses my fingertips. I get up, get my stuff out, and walk right out of the room, leaving him on the bed.
I have to walk away
, I repeat in my head.

Mrs. Grace’s vitals are good, but she really needs to rest.

“Hannah, if it will make you feel better, I’ll go and take a nap.” She looks at me with tired eyes.

“Yes, that would make me very happy,” I say in a matter-of-fact tone. When she stands, Addy is at her side, she tells me to sit and eat. I feel useless as I watch her help Mrs. Grace to her room. I sit at the table and just soak in the Grace men’s conversation. I think they are talking business, but I’m not sure. Each of them has his Blackberry out, and they are discussing e-mails. I feel like the outsider again. I sit and eat, trying not to be noticed. I just sit and listen. They are going over schedules, meetings, and who is doing what in the office and with their mother. So I guess they all work together? I should Google them, or I could just open my mouth and ask, but I want to keep going unnoticed.

I hear a woman’s voice coming from the front of the house. Shane stands up, and I see who I assume is his wife, Annie. She is petitie and cute, with short reddish-brown hair and a little baby belly. Shane walks over and kisses her belly first. She rolls her eyes, then he takes her in a romantic embrace and dips her while he kisses her. I can hear her giggle. The men don’t even look over. I just smile at them, and my heart swells a bit. I miss that kind of greeting from Chase. I feel a hand on my knee, giving it a squeeze. I look over and it’s Aiden’s giant hand on me. I don’t flinch and I don’t look around to see if anyone else is looking at us. I just look into his consuming eyes. I feel relaxed around him. Shane and Annie make their way over to the table, and the men get up to give her hugs and rub her belly. Aiden talks to her belly. I think it’s so sexy to see men this way. Aiden makes the introduction.

“Hannah, it’s so nice to finally meet you. Shane told me so much about you already. Anyone who can handle Mrs. Grace and not rip out her own hair deserves a medal in my book.” Annie has a face filled with freckles and a large toothy smile. She holds her hand out, and I take it, shaking her hand softly.

“Everyone says the same thing, but Tori has been nothing but a pleasure to be around.” She looks at me, confused, but I have been getting that reaction a lot lately when it comes to Mrs. Grace.

“Tori?” Annie says, looking at me in shock.

“Yes, Tori.” I repeat her words.

“I have been with Shane for eight years and not once has she asked me to call her Tori. You must have the special touch.” She looks at Shane and he nods at her in a ‘See, I told you’ way.

I just smile, and Annie is quickly distracted by Shane. She sits in between Shane and me and begins telling Shane all the latest gossip that has happened since he left for the hospital. I finish up and bring my plate into the kitchen where I find Addy. I never saw her come back.

“I’ll take care of that,” she says as she takes my plate out of my hand.

“Why don’t you go and get settled, then explore?” She raises an eyebrow, then smiles at me. I wonder what she knows. Did she see Grant taking me upstairs?

“Thank you, I think I will.” I smile back at her and turn to leave the kitchen.

Grant is saying good-bye to everyone. I give him a small wave and head upstairs.

As I walk up the stairs again, I slow down. I love looking at pictures; they are wonderful little pieces of frozen time. I stop at the wedding picture again, then slowly step up each step, looking at the moments from the past. I can tell who is whom. By looking at the baby pictures, I can tell they are all about a year apart. I wander into Grant’s old room and sit on the bed. What am I doing here? The nurse pops into my head. I wonder where she is and why I haven’t seen her yet. Is she not on until Sunday? So many questions fill my head. I walk around the room, viewing Grant’s past achievements and pictures from the past. I run my fingers over the beautiful, dark, cherry dresser and make my way over to the French doors. I open them, and my skin starts to rise in goose bumps as the breeze sends a chill down my body. The view is striking; I could stare all day long at the Vineyard Sound.

I hear my door close, and I cringe. I hope it’s not Grant. Aiden appears in the door and leans against it. I turn and lean against the railing, folding my arms over my chest.

“We are all heading out, but we will be back for dinner. I thought I would let you know, so when you come down, you don’t think we all ran off, leaving you with my mother.” He smiles that beautiful smile at me, and I feel myself starting to melt.

“Thanks. Do you all live close by?”