Falling Into Grace (23 page)

I wanted to make sure I could see you again. I thought that was smart, not stalkerish, if that is even a word. I will take any amount of time you can give me
.

I sit at the kitchen table and giggle to myself. I feel like a teenager again, thinking about what I should say back to him. I want to keep it cool and easy.

Send me the details of what you have in mind
.

I press Send. I pace, waiting to hear the vibration of my phone, but give up after five minutes. I start to clean to help with my anxiety and hear it vibrate after I fill the dishwasher.

I’ll have my driver pick you up at 10:30 tomorrow. Then he will pick me up and take us to my favorite spot. Thursday I’ll have you picked up again, but we will have to eat at my office. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow
.

I get the chills reading it. I’m getting more excited for tomorrow. I start to text him back, but decide I should make him wait a bit. I put my phone down and finish cleaning. The next few hours pass right on by as I daydream about tomorrow. Before I pick the kids up, I grab my phone and see a text from Aiden again.

You’re making me wait…I don’t like waiting…

I laugh out loud and text him back.

Mr. Grace, I am a busy woman. I like the plans for tomorrow. Look forward to seeing you
.

I press Send, and then head out the door to get the kids. When they get in the car, they tell me they want to play with the boy that lives next door to us. I agree to it. As I pull in the driveway, I see a package at the door. We hop out and I see Tyler from next door running over. I motion to the backyard, and they all go running. I pick up the package and head into the house. As I pull open the top, I realize it’s from Annie. I pull the folder out and open it as I make my way through the house and out to the patio. I sit at the table and start to read.

I lean back in my seat and start to look through the package she sent me. Mending Broken Hearts is the name of the charity Mrs. Grace created. I wonder what it’s about, so I open up the pamphlet and start to read. I feel the tears prick my eyes as I read about Victoria Grace’s trials and tribulations as a widow. She started the charity two years after losing the love of her life, Grant Grace. I read on to see that this charity was her way of moving on and helping women just like her to move on as well. The last page of the pamphlet features pictures of Tori with different women. These must be pictures of women she has helped.

I put everything back in the package and think about calling Becca to see what her event is Friday night. I look at my watch; with the time change, she is probably busy. I will call after I get the kids to bed. I watch the kids play for a couple hours, then send Tyler home for dinner. When we go inside, I see Kevin pull in the driveway. The kids go running to the front door, and I watch him hug them. He is, in theory, my second husband, and I think the kids consider him the
closest thing to a father. When he sets them down, he walks over to me and hugs me.

“Hey, you,” he whispers in my ear.

“Hey,” I whisper back. He pulls away and looks at me.

“The Cape seems to agree with you. You look great, Hannah.” I turn away to hide my red cheeks.
If only he knew how well the Cape agreed with m
e, I think.

“Oh, stop,” I say as I walk away from them and into the kitchen.

“What’s for dinner?” he asks as he follows me.

“Whatever you want. You want to go out or order in?” I ask him.

“Let’s go out.” He turns toward the kids and lets them choose. I grab my bag and we head out. Kevin takes my keys after I lock the front door and drives to the restaurant. As we walk in, I wonder if people think we are a family. From the looks of it, we appear to be a husband and wife out to dinner with our kids. I yearn for the normalcy we used to have when Chase was alive. I realize this is normal now for the kids and me. We have Kevin, and he fills the void left by Chase’s death. We sit down at the table and have a normal family dinner. The kids dominate the conversation, and Kevin and I laugh when they say something funny. When the check comes, Kevin grabs it. He ignores me and slips his card in, then hands it back to the waitress. He is such a pain in the ass sometimes.

On the way home, Hunter brings up the Father’s Day event at his school.

“That sounds like fun, Hunter. Can I come with you?” Kevin asks him. I feel my stomach flip as I wait for Hunter’s answer.

“All right, Uncle Kevin,” is all he says. I feel sad over this, but what should I expect? This is our first Father’s Day without Chase. I have no reference to compare it to.

Kevin stays to help give the kids their baths and tuck them into bed. I hear Kevin and Hunter talking about the Father’s Day party when I’m tucking Ella in. Her teacher doesn’t do Mother’s Day or Father’s Day parties, and I am thankful for that. I kiss and hug her tight before closing her door. I stand in the hallway listening to
Kevin talk to Hunter. I try not to cry when I hear Kevin tell Hunter he loves him like a son, and he is so happy to be going with him. When I walk in the room, they both get quiet, like it’s some kind of secret they were talking about. Kevin rubs the top of Hunter’s head, then walks out of the room. I sit on Hunter’s bed and start tucking him in.

“Mommy.”

“Yes, baby?”

“Are you going to marry Uncle Kevin?”

I feel like I’m going to fall off the bed.

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, he is like a daddy, and he is always here, so I thought you might make him our daddy.”

I bet his words would make Kevin smile, but it will never happen.

“No, honey, I’m not going to marry Uncle Kevin. He was daddy’s best friend. I bet Daddy is happy to see him doing all these nice things with us. Uncle Kevin has Vanessa, and I think they will start a family of their own one day.”

“Will we ever have a daddy again?” These words stab at my heart, and I feel tears coming to my eyes.

“I don’t know, honey.”

“Aiden said he didn’t have a daddy. Maybe he could be my daddy?” This puts a smile on my face.

“Go to sleep, Hunter. We can talk about this another time.” I kiss his forehead, and then leave his room.

Aiden as his father? That would be interesting. I think about our lunch date tomorrow and start to smile. I shake out of it when Kevin asks me what I’m smiling about.

“Nothing,” I say, but it makes me smile more.

“Hunter was talking about a man named Aiden and a necklace?” He leans against the countertop as I sit at the table.

“Yes, my patient’s son drove me home yesterday, and the kids met him. He lost his father when he was young, so he kind of related to the kids.” I start to stretch as I speak. “Ella noticed his necklace. It was
a St. Michael charm, and he was telling the kids about it. They asked for one.”

“What’s his name?”

“Aiden Grace.”

He looks at me wide-eyed.

“
The
Aiden Grace, as in Grace Industries?”

“I think so. He has three other brothers who run the company too.”

“Yes, Grant, John, and Shane. Holy shit, Hannah. Is that who you were taking care of this weekend?”

I simply nod to him as I eat a piece of chocolate.

“They bought one of our buildings last year, and they are looking into buying another. I have a meeting with Shane on Wednesday.” I want to laugh. I bet if I told them I owned half the company, they would be more likely to buy it.

“If you need help with anything…” I shrug my shoulders and stuff another piece of chocolate in my mouth.

“Hannah, that would be great! If Shane is down, then I get a meeting with Grant. I heard he is a real asshole, but I guess that’s how he made his billions.” I look at Kevin. Billions?

“Grant is the difficult one, but you’re great at what you do. There is no reason you should be worried.” I can see why he would dread meeting with Grant. He does come off as an intimidating asshole, but when he lets you in, he is a totally different person.

“Thanks, Hannah.” He gets up and kisses my check. “I have to go. I told Vanessa I would be home soon.”

“I’m happy you’re working it out with her.”

“Me too.” I watch him leave and feel happy. I call Becca and she picks up on the second ring.

“Hey, mama, what’s up?” I hear her shuffling through papers.

“Oh, nothing. I was just calling you to see what the plans are for this week.”

“I fly in Thursday, but I have a meeting, so I won’t come over till four or five. Then Friday I have dresses coming for us to try on. Then
we will leave your house by six thirty, because it starts at eight.” I hear typing now. She is always multitasking.

“What is this dinner?”

“Something about hearts. I thought you would be interested in it. An associate of mine invited me as a bribe, I think.”

“Is it called Mending Hearts?”

“I think so. How do you know?” I smile and come up with a plan.

“Becca, it’s a charity dinner for widows. Of course I know about it.” I enjoy the lie a bit.

“Oh shit, Hannah, I’m sorry. I thought it was about hearts, and surgery. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

“No, Bec, I told you I would. Don’t worry about it.”

“Thanks, Han. I have to run but will call you tomorrow. Love you.” Before I respond, she hangs up. I smile as I think about what I am going to do. I grab the package I got and find Annie’s e-mail address.

Annie,

I would love to attend the charity dinner. It just so happens that my best friend had already been invited. I look forward to seeing you Friday.

Hannah

I press Send. I wonder if I should tell Aiden I will be attending, or should I leave it a surprise? I decide on surprise and head to the cabinet for my magical sleeping pills. I take one and a half this time, hoping I don’t oversleep again tomorrow. I need to sleep and not think about anything tonight. I set my cell phone alarm and the alarm on the clock next to my bed.
This should do it
, I think to myself. Then I crawl into bed and turn on the TV. I watch a little, then feel myself let go, and drift off.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

T
he next morning I wake up to the sounds of a rooster and music. I roll over and turn off both alarms. I look at my phone and see a text from Aiden. I sit straight up and read it.

I can’t wait to see you today
.

It says it was sent at five thirty this morning. This makes me think of what Addy said about them being early risers. I sit for a few minutes to daydream about Aiden before I get into the shower and then head into my closet.
Shit
, I really need to go shopping. I make a mental note to make an appointment for a haircut as well. Then I will go shopping for something really cute to wear on our rendezvous on Thursday. I settle on a cute aqua-colored maxi dress before I straighten my hair. I look at the clock and decide to do my makeup after I drop off the kids.

Ella isn’t as cranky this morning, and Hunter is happy as a clam as they eat breakfast. I decide I should talk to them about Friday night.

“How would you guys like to sleep over at Grandma and Pop’s house Friday night?”

I try to read their expressions.

“Are you going away again?” Ella asks.

“No, lovey, Aunt Becca is coming here this weekend and asked if I could go to a big charity ball with her. I can’t take you guys with me, so Grandma said you could sleep over at her house.”

“Are you going to get dressed up like a princess?” Ella asks with big eyes.

“Yes, Aunt Becca and I have to wear big, fancy dresses,” I say, watching the excitement come over her face.

“Can I stay and watch you leave?” Hunter asks me.

“Of course, Grandma and Pop can come over here, and you guys can watch us get our hair and makeup done.”

“OK,” they both say. Why do I always expect the worst?

“OK, let’s get going, or we are going to be late.” With that they both jump up and head into the bathroom. We are out the door and in the car less than five minutes later. I kiss them good-bye and watch them run into the school. I rush home to finish getting ready for my big lunch with Aiden.

Later I stand in front of my full-length mirror judging myself. The dress seems all wrong, so I change into another dress with thinner straps. I stand in front of the mirror again and settle on the cute, shorter floral dress. I walk downstairs and wait for the driver to pick me up. I should have just driven in myself. I’ll talk to Aiden about that over lunch today. I wonder if we will eat lunch. I get the mail and flip through it, then spot the car out of the corner of my eye. I take a deep breath and grab my clutch. I answer the door and see it’s Sam.

“Mrs. Redman,” he says.

“Sam, please call me Hannah.” I follow him, and he opens the door to the Range Rover. I enjoy the ride to the city. I hear Sam talking on his earpiece.

“Hannah, we made good timing. Mr. Grace will not be ready yet, so he said I should bring you to his jeweler. He wants you to pick up something he ordered.” I nod at Sam, confused. What the hell did he get me? I don’t know him well enough for him to be buying me jewelry. I look out the window as we drive down Fifth Avenue. I love the hustle of the city. Sam pulls in front of Tiffany’s, and my heart drops. I feel shaky as I ease myself out of the car. I need to pull it together. Sam rushes in front of me to open the door to Tiffany’s. As I walk in, my eyes wander in every direction. I walk around, looking in the cases, until someone comes up to me.