Saving Grace (The Grace Series Book 2) (32 page)

And in that second his eyes shot open like he was dazzled by something—something only he could see. At the same time the deathly rattle of his breath stopped. It just stopped. His stare was rigid and utterly vacant. The room was completely silent.

“No, no, no!” Jessica’s whispery cries flew out. “Breathe, breathe, please breathe!”

But he didn’t.

This was a despair she had never known. It surrounded her. It crushed her. It cut her in two with pain so acute, she knew she’d just been sliced wide open. Her heart shattered into a million pieces, while hysterically she cried, “Julien! Julien!”

Not caring whether Etienne, Sebastian, the general, Herlin, or anyone else, was watching, not caring about impropriety, she reached for her husband, frantically finding the strength to gather his deadweight into her arms. She drew him in, cradling his body against her own like she would a precious child.

She rocked him. She caressed his face. She kissed his cheeks, his forehead, his lips. She stared into his fixed, empty eyes, and she wept, “Please, please don’t die. I don’t want you to die! I don’t want your money, your houses. I don’t want pianos or gardens. I don’t want any of it. It doesn’t matter without you. Nothing matters without you. I want you, Julien! I just want to be with you! You are my dream, my heart, my soul, my life!”

In a frenzied onslaught of limbs she gathered him even closer. She clung to him, locking her arms around him so tightly, nothing could pry them apart. Uncontainable wails pierced the air. They bounced off the walls, echoing back to slash and consume.

And in their midst, she screamed, “I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU…”

Of all her properties, the old Grace homestead near the beaches in South Carolina, was Jessica’s favorite. There were not many things in life better than meandering barefooted along the water’s edge through the soft sand, dodging the chilly waves as they rushed ashore. Her husband had taught her this pleasure. She could no longer count the number of times they had walked and sometimes run through it, hand in hand, splashing and laughing. From where she stood at the top of the stairs on the back porch of the house, she scanned the distance beyond the dunes to the white sandy shore and the waves she could hear endlessly crashing. The sound was lulling, comforting. She loved being here.

She had been down at the beach for a walk this morning with the children. There were two of them now. Julien, affectionately known as Jules, had just turned five. He was growing so fast. Jessica thought she saw a difference in him every day. He was tall for his age, the spitting image of his father. The only features he’d inherited from her were the bright green color of his eyes and his auburn tinted hair. He was a pensive, analytical child, who could solve just about any puzzle set before him. Sometimes his intelligence astounded her.

Lauren was almost three. She was born in this very house, their Christmas baby. Like he had with Jules, her husband insisted on staying by her side throughout her labor and delivery. With Jules she sprained his hand. With Lauren she gave him a black eye. She would never forget how he sat on the bed beside her, holding freshly swaddled Lauren for the first time. He was grinning, but his damaged eye was watering so badly, he could barely keep it open. And then, he leaned over, kissed her forehead and whispered earnestly, “Thank you. I love you.”

Lauren’s big blue eyes and unruly blond curls made her stand out oddly when surrounded by the dark-haired Grace brothers, but her toothy smile and chatty nature made her a constant center of attention. She was commonly referred to by her father as his ‘little angel.’

Most of the year they lived in Washington, but winter months were spent in South Carolina because the climate was more pleasant. It was late November and still warm enough Jessica didn’t need a wrap. It was tradition now. For the last eight years their entire extended family and friends gathered here for the holidays. The Grace brothers had arrived within the last few days.

This year she would miss her father, Trent, Emily and their little ones. Their third child was due any day, and Trent had written, although Emily was doing well, he was concerned about her making the journey so close to her time. Jessica was disappointed they wouldn’t be here for Christmas, but she would see them soon enough. Her family would be going to Tennessee in February. Jules especially, was looking forward to the trip. He adored Trent and Emily’s oldest son, his cousin Daniel, and often asserted Daniel was his ‘very best friend in the whole wide world.’

From where she stood on the porch, Jessica could hear Leon talking with him. They were walking side by side across the lawn on their way toward the house. Leon was making a very poor attempt to explain the difference between sea fishing and fly fishing. For his birthday, Leon had given Jules his first fishing pole. Jules was enthralled with it.

Jessica just smiled.

Out in the garden, she caught sight of Adrien ambling along with Lauren. She had a hold of his thumb, and she was skipping and chattering, dragging him after her. She also had a handful of sporadically placed, freshly picked, purple mums tucked into her hair.

Jessica almost laughed out loud.

Without moving from where she stood she called out to them, “Suppertime!”

Leon grinned and winked, and Jessica thought, no wonder he is such a playboy. He is too charming, too attractive, and too spoiled for his own good. It was impossible to say no to him. Despite his reckless ways, despite how frustrated she could get with him sometimes, she knew, deep down, under all that fluff, was a compassionate, caring man. She was as close to him now as she was to Trent. Someday, she hoped, as they all did, he would learn to be responsible.

Her attention then turned to Adrien, the studious one of the Grace brothers, with his glasses and law degree. He was also an extraordinary artist. Although his law practice was flourishing, Jessica thought it was a shame it took so much of his time. It was a shame he couldn’t paint more. He had a tendency to be quiet, and at times, extremely shy. Jessica easily identified with him in this regard.

Lauren was still bouncing along, tugging on his finger. One of the flowers fell out of her hair and she stopped abruptly, picked it up and held it up to him. He knelt down on one knee and took charge of replacing it. There were two men in the world Lauren had at one time or another announced she was going to marry when she grew up. The first was her daddy. The second was Adrien.

When they were all close enough so she wouldn’t need to raise her voice, Jessica asked, “Where’s Etienne?”

“Probably still napping,” Leon said wryly.

Lauren suddenly let go of Adrien’s thumb and ran toward Jessica, but her focus wasn’t on her mother. “Daddy!” she squealed as she skittered clumsily up the stairs.

Jessica heard Etienne’s voice and she glanced back in time to see him come through the door.

“Where are you going in such a hurry, little one?” He scooped Lauren up and stood next to Jessica, and he grinned at her, flashing his straight, white teeth.

Etienne, in Jessica’s opinion, was the most handsome of the brothers, and extremely debonair in his military uniform. He was a colonel now and quite dedicated to his career. And he was so very tall. She had to crane her neck to look at him.

“I’m starving,” he said, then immediately followed it with, “Owe!”

Lauren giggled and squeezed his nose a second time, chanting, “I got your nose. I got your nose!”

Etienne raised his free hand with fingers and thumb making ominous pinching motions. Lowering his voice to sound evil, he threatened, “Monster claw is going to get you!”

Lauren shrieked in delighted terror. Her yelp turned into screaming giggles when Etienne’s finger lightly pecked the tip of her nose.

Jessica just laughed.

Her children were lucky to have such great, caring men in their lives, all of whom doted on them incessantly. She often wished they had more opportunity to spend time with Elise, who regardless of the relationship, was affectionately known by everyone as
Maman
.

Elise and her new husband of three years lived at the house in Florida. Etienne was planning to pick them up from the train station in the morning, and they too, would stay here in the beach house through the holidays.

When Jessica first met Elise’s husband, years before he and Elise married, she hadn’t liked him, but he’d changed a great deal since then. He wasn’t nearly as cold and intimidating as he used to be. Now, more often than not, he was smiling, and Jessica had to admit she really enjoyed playing duets with him. Seth McLean could make a violin sing like no other.

Jessica was quite fond of Elise and she was very much looking forward to their visit. For the last couple weeks her only adult companionship had been with the men staying in this house. It would be a welcome change to talk woman to woman, especially with one who knew them as well as
Maman
did.

She and Elise would get to the lighthearted, pleasant conversations soon enough, but first, another tradition would be followed. Every year, within hours of her arrival, Elise did the same thing. She visited the Grace family cemetery. Enclosed by a white picket fence, the small plot of land designated for this purpose was set on a picturesque rise of ground with a breathtaking view of the ocean. A huge, old, maple tree shaded the area. Every year Elise sat in the grass, surrounded by the stone markers, and one by one, she talked to each of the six people buried there.

The first time Jessica saw Elise doing this, she’d been on her way to the same place, and she stopped short. Before she could quietly retreat, Elise called out to her. Hesitantly, Jessica joined this woman, who she barely knew at the time, and took a seat on the ground in front of the newest of the graves. Elise took her hand and held it tightly. Jessica could hear the words Elise spoke that day, eight years ago, as clearly now as she had then.

“Your mother is here.” Elise’s voice rose and fell passionately in her heavily French-accented English. While she spoke, tears gathered in her eyes. “She thinks of you everyday. You brought her so much joy, so much promise, so much hope. You were her firstborn. She may not be able to see you, to touch you, or to hold you, but your memory is alive inside of her. She misses you, dear, precious son. Forever you will be loved by all of us.”

Interrupting Jessica’s reverie, Jules announced, “Hey Daddy! Uncle Leo was showing me how to use the pole! We’re going sailing tomorrow on the bay. I can’t wait!” He bounded the three steps up onto the porch and stood between Etienne and his mother.

“You just beware of Uncle Leo,” Etienne said. “He really has no idea how to fish. And he’s afraid of the worms. He’ll make you put all the worms on the hooks by yourself, even his hook. The big secret, you know, Jules, is that Uncle Leo has never caught a fish in his life.”

Jules squinted up at Etienne. After contemplating him for a moment, with an exasperated roll of his eyes, he said, “You’re just teasing!”

Feigning a frown, Leon piped up, “Actually, he’s right, Jules. I have never caught a fish. And I don’t like the worms.” He grinned at them all, flashing his eyes and revealing dimples.

Jessica couldn’t help but laugh.

Lauren, who had been squirming to get down, perked up. “I wanna go, too! I’m a good sailor. Daddy says I’m the best sailor ever. Tell them, Daddy!”

Before her daddy could respond, Jessica said, “
Maman
will be here tomorrow and at least some of us should stay and spend time with her.”

“
Maman
and Seth both love to sail.” Adrien peered at them over the top of his round wire-rimmed spectacles.

Lauren began wiggling and Etienne set her down. She started skipping the length of the porch and back, all the while running her tiny hand along the spokes in the railing. The dull noise of it droned on,
thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk...

“I’ll bet we can convince
Maman
and Seth to come with us,” Leon suggested. “How ’bout you, Jessie, are you game?”

“I don’t know—” Jessica started, but she was interrupted.

The resonant drawl came from directly behind her. “My suggestion is that you all go sailing.
Maman
and Seth will want to go. I have no doubt about that. My little angel is indeed, the best sailor ever, and should take advantage of every opportunity to practice her sailing skills. And Jules will be in his element because he will be the one showing the rest of you a thing or two about baiting a hook.”

While he spoke, strong arms encircled Jessica’s waist and drew her gently back until she was leaning against him. Then he murmured softly, “Jess and I will stay in and enjoy the peace and quiet of an empty house for a couple hours.” He dropped down and tenderly kissed the soft skin at the back of her neck. It was a slightly open-mouthed kiss, just enough for her to feel it, but not enough to make it obvious to their audience. “Mmm-mmm,” he murmured for her ears alone as he straightened.

Leon grinned and raised his eyebrows mischievously. Adrien chuckled and averted his eyes. Etienne smirked and took two steps away. Jules’s attention was already gone. He was running along the porch with his sister. The thunking began in twosomes.

“What do you think, Sweetheart?” Jessica’s husband whispered in her ear, while his arms tightened in promise.

Smiling, Jessica rested against his firm body. He’d walked out onto the porch with her, and had been patiently, and silently, standing behind her the whole time. For just a second she thought of
Maman
and the grave marker to which she’d so reverently spoken all those years ago. The carving in the marble read:

OUR BELOVED SON

EVAN GRACE

1872-1872

Jessica turned to look up into her husband’s beautiful, blue eyes. Eight years ago, when his doctor finally agreed he was well enough to travel, after his startling, miraculous recovery, he was the one who adamantly refused to leave their son behind.

Just before his lips descended to hers, she replied in a whisper, “That’s the best idea I’ve heard, Julien.”

~ FINIS ~