The Gate to Everything (Once Upon a Dare Book 1) (33 page)

“It sure does,” Grace said, watching her daughter gum the doll’s brown hair, which her mom had made out of yarn. She waited for Ella to make a face at the taste and then shook her own head. “Yuck, yuck.”

“Her one tooth is so cute,” her mom said. “Any more of them?”

“Not yet,” Grace commented. “And I’m okay with that. I don’t want her to be without teeth, but it’s not so fun when I nurse her.”

Her mom gave a belly laugh. “I don’t miss those days. Nope, not one bit. All right, missy. Time to open your present.”

“You didn’t have to get me anything, Mom,” she said, pulling it onto her lap.

“Mother’s prerogative,” she said, patting Grace’s leg. “You’re my little girl too, even if you are a woman now.”

“Ah, Mom,” Grace said when she pulled out the small copper pot she recognized from her childhood. “This was Grandma’s saucepan!” Grandma had splurged on the pan on a long-ago visit to Chicago, and for a time, she’d been the only woman in all of Deadwood to own one. It was a treasured family possession that had been passed down to Grace’s mom ten years ago, upon Grandma’s death.
 

“I don’t use it much anymore,” her mom said, tracing the wooden handle. “I thought you might like it. Maybe you can give it to Ella one day if she takes to cooking like you and I did.”
 

Grace liked to think about all of the women in the family being connected by her grandma’s special copper saucepan. They leaned closer to hug one another again. This time, they held onto each other while Ella babbled in the background.

“You don’t have to tell me how happy you are,” her mom said, squeezing her tight. “I remember how miserable you looked when I came here when you were pregnant. My, how things have changed. Gracie, I’m glad everything is good between you and Jordan.”

“It is,” she said, smiling. “We’ve been close before, but we’re more in sync with each other than ever. When we’re together, we’re just together. You know? No TV or movies. We just talk and…” She broke off, appalled at what she’d almost said.

Her mother laughed in her ear and pushed back. “I know what a man and woman do, Grace. I’m so happy for you guys.”

“Me too,” she said, feeling her cheeks flush.

“Any talk of marriage yet?” her mom asked with a sly smile.

Her mom never beat around the bush. “Not officially, but we both feel like this is forever. I’m sure we’ll get there.” She was feeling more certain Jordan wanted her and her alone. He was stripping away all of her past worries—layer after layer of them.
 

“I’m sure you will too,” her mom said. “I’m happy to take care of Ella if you and Jordan want to get away for a few days or so once the season ends. Might be easier once you’ve weaned her, but it’s not impossible. You can pump.”

Getting away would be nice. Maybe they could go to Italy again and walk in Piazza San Marco in Venice, one of their favorite places in common. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks, Mom. I love Amy and all, but—”

“I’m your mom,” she said, leaning back on her elbows to recline beside Ella, who was kicking her feet with the doll against her chest.

“I’m feeling more confident about going to the games,” Grace said. “I’m not used to all the cameras yet, but I’m getting better about it. Jordan and I went out last Tuesday night and had a blast, but the reporters are never far away, including Farley. Or his fans.”

This time, he’d signed a few autographs while she’d waited for him at their table. She’d told him not to deny himself the connection with his fans, which meant the world to him. The chef had outdone himself on the meal, and afterwards, Jordan had used the leftover chocolate ganache he’d asked to take home all over her body. She wasn’t sure she was ever going to be able to make another chocolate dessert at Marcellos without blushing to her roots.
 

Of course, Farley’s comment in the paper the next morning that she hadn’t yet lost all her baby fat had dimmed her joy a bit. Jordan had called him a liar and a jerk and threatened to sue him. That had soothed her some.
 

Her mom looked over her shoulder. “Well, it’s six o’clock. I should get dinner started. I was going to make your favorite.”

Fried chicken. Yum. “Mom, you don’t have to do that. Really. I was going to put together an antipasti tray and make some shrimp scampi with linguini.”

“No,” she said with a determined shake of her head. “You worked today. You’re not cooking twice. Do you have chicken in the freezer?”

Grace rose after tickling Ella’s tummy. “No, Jordan has been eating more beef. And we’re out of milk for the gravy. Let’s just make what I had in mind.”

Her mom rolled her eyes. “I’ll just go to the store.”

“You know Atlanta traffic. How about delivery?”

“Grace.”
Her mom held her gaze. “I’m making fried chicken.”

Her mother was immoveable when she was like this. Usually Grace ordered what she needed for the house at the restaurant and brought it home with her. Could she ask Jordan’s driver to go to the store for her? She hated to impose on him.

“What’s the problem here?” her mother asked, cocking her head. “I can handle the city traffic. I did when you were on bed rest.”

“But there was a local market around the corner,” she explained. “The grocery store is twenty minutes away down a major thoroughfare.” She hesitated mentioning that her mother grew flustered driving in the big city.

“Then you drive. Come on, Ella. Let’s go. Granny has chicken to fry.”

Grace realized she was wringing her hands. “Mom, I don’t usually take Ella out of the house.”

Her mother looked up sharply. “Ever?”

Her chest seemed to squeeze shut. “Well…Amy comes here, you know. I’ve taken Ella to the restaurant a couple of times, but she’s still pretty little.”

“Grace,”
her mom said softly. “Are you telling me you haven’t left the house with Ella except to go to Marcellos?”

“The baby books say it’s not uncommon for a new mother to wait until her baby is a little older to take her on errands,” she said, her hackles rising. “I’m doing my best here.”

Her mom rose and wrapped her in a hug. “I’m not saying you aren’t. But Grace. She’s five months old. I know it’s a little intimidating to think about going out in public with her—not just because she’s little, but because of Jordan. Maybe I can help with that. We can go together for the first time.”

“Mom,” she said, her muscles tightening at the very thought. “I don’t…I don’t want to go out in public with her yet. I’m afraid something might happen.”

Her mom put her hands on her shoulders. “Gracie, it’s just the grocery store. It’ll be fine. We’ll be in and out before you know it. No one will be the wiser. Besides, you love going to the grocery store.”

“Not on a Saturday night,” she said, crossing her arms. “It’s a zoo.”

“Come on,” her mother said, giving her a playful shake. “It will be an adventure.” She picked up Ella. “Are you ready for your first trip to the grocery store, sweet girl? I wonder if you’ll like to cook like your mommy and your granny. Let’s get you in your carrier.”

Before she knew it, her mom had Ella buckled in and was carrying her to the garage. Grace’s legs moved like they were made of clay.

“Come on, Grace,” her mom called, opening the car door. “You don’t have to go. I can take her with me. I’ve got GPS on my phone.”

“No, I’m coming,” she said, grabbing her purse.

After securing Ella, they drove off. Grace’s hands were locked around the steering wheel.

“Breathe, Grace,” her mom said as they drove through the gates, her mom waving at the guards. “We’re just getting chicken and milk. Unless you need anything else.”

She shook her head. All she wanted to do was get in and out. “Nope, that’s it.”

Focusing on driving, she crawled along with the traffic on the main road.

“Goodness me,” her mother said after they waited through three green lights to turn left. “You weren’t kidding about the traffic.”

No, Mother
, she wanted to say, but bit her tongue. It took them thirty minutes to get to the store, and Grace was strung out by the time she parked in the crowded lot. There were cars everywhere.

“I’m going to carry her inside,” her mom said, lifting Ella out of her carrier. “Be easier than hauling this thing. Pretty cool, huh, sweetheart? Welcome to your first grocery store.”

Ella’s eyes were wide as she took everything in. When a Honda honked at a SUV for backing up without looking, she babbled wildly, drool rolling down her chin.

“See,” Grace’s mom said with a proud smile. “She’s eager to take in this new world. Come on, Grace. Let’s pop in and get what we came for. Won’t take but five minutes.”

But her mom was wrong this time as well. The aisles were packed with people shopping for dinner, and Grace’s nerves grew tauter when a few people stopped and stared at her, as if trying to place her. She told herself she was being paranoid—that no one would recognize her without Jordan—but her body felt like a tightly strung guitar.

“Why don’t you find the chicken while I grab the milk?” Grace suggested. “I can meet you at the checkout.”

Her mom narrowed her eyes. “Won’t be any faster, and Ella is enjoying looking around. Let’s stay together.”

As if to prove her grandmother right, the little girl babbled again and reached out to the balloons floating in the florist area.

“Fine,” she said tersely. “But let’s not dawdle.”

She increased her speed down the aisle, and her mom matched her. Ella continued to babble and take everything in. At least the baby didn’t seem anywhere near a meltdown. That would have been too much for Grace to handle.

Since they were there, she grabbed some sour cream in addition to the milk and followed her mom to the meat aisle. After looking over the choices, her mom pointed to a fryer.

“I’ll cut it up when we get home,” she told Grace.

Grace wrapped the fryer in a meat bag and twisted the top. “All right, let’s blow this joint.”

They wove around carts and screaming kids, whom Ella regarded with wide eyes since she hadn’t been around other children yet. Grace fought her impatience as she joined the line at the express aisle behind six other people.

“Not so express, is it?” her mom whispered.

Grace gave her a tight smile. “I told you this was a busy time.”

Her mom shrugged. “Oh, well. We’re together, and that’s what counts. At least Ella is too little to want candy. I swear, getting you and your brothers to drop the gum and chocolate bars you’d picked up was a pain in the you know what.”

Grace tapped her foot. The checker was moving slowly, unconcerned with the customers’ growing frustration.

“Hey!” A man tapped her on the shoulder. “Aren’t you Jordan Dean’s girlfriend?”

Every muscle locked in place. “No,” she finally said, staring straight ahead.

Her mom gave her a sharp look before glancing back at the man behind her.

The guy leaned closer, and Grace saw his head appear in her peripheral vision as he studied her. “You sure do look like her. Wait! Is that Dean’s kid? Holy crap! The tabloids have been begging for a picture of her. It’s worth a thousand bucks.”

A thousand dollars? No, they wouldn’t have done that. But then she remembered what jackals they were.

Lots of people were staring now. A man further up in line nudged his friend, whispered something, and they both turned to look at her. Grace felt her mother grab her arm.

“Is Jordan here?” the guy behind her asked, tapping her on the shoulder again.

“Do you see Jordan anywhere?” Grace’s mom asked, giving him a pointed look. “Now, how about you stop bothering my daughter and let us check out in peace.”

“So she is Dean’s baby mama!” the guy said, slapping his hand to his forehead. “Wow. Can I get a picture of you and the baby? I could really use the money.”

Grace shook her head. “No, you can’t.”

The guy tapped her on the shoulder again, and Grace swung around with the groceries in her arms. “Stop touching me. I said you can’t take a picture, and I expect you to respect that.”

“Shit!” someone else cried. “It’s Jordan Dean’s baby mama with the kid. Hurry! Get my phone. There’s money in it for the first baby pic.”

Grace’s heart rate spiked, and suddenly there were a few people gathered around them with their camera phones outstretched. Her mom bumped into her, and she heard Ella start to cry. She looked over. The baby’s face was red, her eyes were wide with terror, and tears were rolling down her little cheeks.

“Stop it!” she called out. “You’re upsetting her. She’s just a baby.”

Someone pushed Grace’s shoulder again, and she slammed into her mom. Ella let out a high-pitched scream—a sound Grace had never heard her utter before. She dropped the groceries and grabbed her baby from her mother, pressing Ella’s little body to her chest and shielding her head.

“Shhh,” she said to her wailing daughter. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

She swung around to face the guy behind her, who had his phone in her face, taking pictures.

“Get out of my way,” she growled at him.

He tried to step back, but there were more people crowding in behind him now. They were snapping pictures too.