she can go, she’s restless and stubborn and makes everyone smile.”
Grace blinked at the unexpected flattery. She hadn’t slept more than ten hours in four days, her eyes were puffy from constant tears and she hadn’t brushed her hair today. Mitchell continued to pace, a pensive expression on his face.
“Are you leaving?” Grace asked.
He stopped. “Why would I?”
“You freaked that a stranger thought you were Evie’s dad.”
He settled on the couch across from her. He blew out a breath. “I never thought I’d be a dad, much less be mistaken for one. I was just… startled.”
“ You’re good at distracting her,” she offered.
“I was always cooped up in a h otel while my parents worked. The pool room was my refuge.” He eyed her carefully. “You look better.”
“I think getting out of here for a while was a good idea .” A comfortable silence fell and she clasped her hands in her lap and swallowed. “Thank you for coming with me.”
He nodded and didn’t say anything. She felt like a heel. After everything she’d done to discourage him he was here when she needed him most. No one else would have stuck this out. On top of the baby, Mitchell also had to deal with Grace’s unexpected bouts of tears.
“No. I mean it. You’ve taken care of whatever Evie needs and I really appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“I told you whatever you need, I’ll give it,” he said quietly.
He held her gaze and her heart fluttered.
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re going to be a great dad,” she said quietly before she got up and left the room.
Chapter Six
The day of Casey’s funeral was a bright Texas day without a cloud in sight. Grace couldn’t focus and her hands shook as she dressed Evie who sensed her precarious mood. Evie wouldn’t take her bottle or the baby food Grace tried to feed her. She fussed and only calmed when Mitchell carried her. As Grace requested, Casey’s funeral was small. Ten people showed up to pay their respects. The service was short and sweet and Grace could feel herself falling apart as she stared at the picture of her sister and Evie that stood at the front of the church. Tears rolled down her face as she held Evie who stared up at her with big eyes and started gabbing unintelligibly as if asking what was wrong. It made Grace cry harder. Mitchell took Evie as Grace broke down completely. She covered her face with her hands and hunched over in the pew and sobbed. Mitchell’s big hand rubbed over her back. There were murmurs and concerned words and then silence.
“Grace?” Mitchell said gently.
“How can I say goodbye? I’m not ready,” Grace whispered.
“We’re never ready for death,” he said in such a way that she raised her head and looked at him.
They were alone in the church. The pews were empty and the stained glass windows cast colo red light over the stage. The picture of Casey and Evie was surrounded by large lilies. How had Mitchell known they were Casey’s favorite?
“Who did you lose?”
“I lost both of my parents when I was eighteen,” he said, bouncing Evie on his lap.
She blew her nose and watched Evie smile up at him. Seeing Evie’s delight dimmed the storm of grief within her. Before she met Mitchell she heard how he took over his father’s business at eighteen but she had never asked what happened to his parents. A thought occurred to her.
“And Ray was there to help you?”
He nodded. “ Ray taught me hands on what it took to be successful. I owe him for everything I have today. I was angry for a long time after my parent’s died. He helped me push through it.”
Grace didn’t understand Ray. He had no children of his own and he despised Grace but there was no doubt that he loved Mitchell, the son of his best friend and business partner. At times Grace saw pieces of Ray in Mitchell and it frightened her but at this moment it all seemed far away and unimportant. Her head was pounding and she didn’t care
Grace blinked at the unexpected flattery. She hadn’t slept more than ten hours in four days, her eyes were puffy from constant tears and she hadn’t brushed her hair today. Mitchell continued to pace, a pensive expression on his face.
“Are you leaving?” Grace asked.
He stopped. “Why would I?”
“You freaked that a stranger thought you were Evie’s dad.”
He settled on the couch across from her. He blew out a breath. “I never thought I’d be a dad, much less be mistaken for one. I was just… startled.”
“ You’re good at distracting her,” she offered.
“I was always cooped up in a h otel while my parents worked. The pool room was my refuge.” He eyed her carefully. “You look better.”
“I think getting out of here for a while was a good idea .” A comfortable silence fell and she clasped her hands in her lap and swallowed. “Thank you for coming with me.”
He nodded and didn’t say anything. She felt like a heel. After everything she’d done to discourage him he was here when she needed him most. No one else would have stuck this out. On top of the baby, Mitchell also had to deal with Grace’s unexpected bouts of tears.
“No. I mean it. You’ve taken care of whatever Evie needs and I really appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“I told you whatever you need, I’ll give it,” he said quietly.
He held her gaze and her heart fluttered.
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re going to be a great dad,” she said quietly before she got up and left the room.
Chapter Six
The day of Casey’s funeral was a bright Texas day without a cloud in sight. Grace couldn’t focus and her hands shook as she dressed Evie who sensed her precarious mood. Evie wouldn’t take her bottle or the baby food Grace tried to feed her. She fussed and only calmed when Mitchell carried her. As Grace requested, Casey’s funeral was small. Ten people showed up to pay their respects. The service was short and sweet and Grace could feel herself falling apart as she stared at the picture of her sister and Evie that stood at the front of the church. Tears rolled down her face as she held Evie who stared up at her with big eyes and started gabbing unintelligibly as if asking what was wrong. It made Grace cry harder. Mitchell took Evie as Grace broke down completely. She covered her face with her hands and hunched over in the pew and sobbed. Mitchell’s big hand rubbed over her back. There were murmurs and concerned words and then silence.
“Grace?” Mitchell said gently.
“How can I say goodbye? I’m not ready,” Grace whispered.
“We’re never ready for death,” he said in such a way that she raised her head and looked at him.
They were alone in the church. The pews were empty and the stained glass windows cast colo red light over the stage. The picture of Casey and Evie was surrounded by large lilies. How had Mitchell known they were Casey’s favorite?
“Who did you lose?”
“I lost both of my parents when I was eighteen,” he said, bouncing Evie on his lap.
She blew her nose and watched Evie smile up at him. Seeing Evie’s delight dimmed the storm of grief within her. Before she met Mitchell she heard how he took over his father’s business at eighteen but she had never asked what happened to his parents. A thought occurred to her.
“And Ray was there to help you?”
He nodded. “ Ray taught me hands on what it took to be successful. I owe him for everything I have today. I was angry for a long time after my parent’s died. He helped me push through it.”
Grace didn’t understand Ray. He had no children of his own and he despised Grace but there was no doubt that he loved Mitchell, the son of his best friend and business partner. At times Grace saw pieces of Ray in Mitchell and it frightened her but at this moment it all seemed far away and unimportant. Her head was pounding and she didn’t care
Similar Books
