Trace + Olivia Series Boxed Set (93 page)

I nodded my head in understanding. I tucked the letters away in my purse and wiped my eyes. “No more talk about dying or babies,” I cracked a smile. “Let’s do something fun … but not chess. I suck at that.”

“There’s a room down the hall where the nurses have board games for patients. If you ask one of the ladies at the desk they’ll take you to it.”

“Okay,” I stood. “Anything in particular you want?”

“See if they have Clue,” he smiled, pushing the button on the railing of the bed to raise it.

I stopped at the nurse’s station outside the room and one of them led me down the hall to a storage closet full of odds and ends. On the top shelf I spotted Clue, but since I was so short I had trouble reaching it. I found a stepstool and even with that I had to stand on my tiptoes to reach the box. I grabbed it off the shelf and headed back to Gramps’ room.

“Look what I found,” I sing-songed, waving the box in front of me. When I lowered it, I saw that Gramps had fallen asleep. “Well,” I set the box on the table, “another time then.”

I settled in the chair, hoping Trace had made it home and was actually relaxing like he needed to. But knowing him, I was sure that was the last thing he was doing.

“Olivia.”

I hadn’t been in a very deep sleep and I jolted awake at the sound of my name.

I looked around the darkened hospital room, rubbing my eyes and smearing my makeup.

“Trace,” I yawned. “What time is it?”

“Three,” he shrugged. “I meant to be back by midnight but I slept longer than I wanted.”

I glanced at Gramps’ sleeping form and then up at my husband. “I’m too sleepy to drive back,” I stood. “I’ll sleep on the couch,” I pointed to the couch covered in plastic in the corner of the room. I knew it wouldn’t be comfortable, but I didn’t want to leave. My reasoning had nothing to do with driving, like I’d told him. It was because he looked so sad, and no one that looks like that should ever be left alone.

“I can take you home and come back,” he started to pull the car keys from his pocket.

“No,” I shook my head hastily, “that’s silly. I’ll be fine here. Besides, Gramps and I are going to play Clue.”

“Oh, are you now?”

“You wanna play?” I asked, grabbing a pillow and blanket. “You can be Colonel Ketchup.”

“Isn’t in Colonel Mustard?” He chuckled.

“Well, yeah, but I figured you’d like Colonel Ketchup better,” I reasoned, lying down on the couch.

“That does sound like a wicked cool name. Think my mom would mind if I changed my name to Ketchup?”

“I think she might be a bit mad.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” he stretched his legs out, tapping the heels of his boots against the tile floor.

He looked better than he had earlier, but I knew he was still tired. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes were heavy as he fought sleep.

“Trace,” I called.

“Yeah?” He looked over at me, massaging his temples.

“I know this isn’t the biggest couch, but come lay down. Gramps is sleeping and you’re no good to anyone if you’re tired.”

He looked over at Gramps and back at me. “Fine, but only because I’m really sleepy.”

He climbed behind me on the small couch and spooned my body against his.

“I missed you last night,” he whispered, pressing a light kiss to the back of my neck.

“You didn’t have fun worrying the crap out of Gramps?” I giggled.

“What did he tell you?” Trace groaned. “Whatever it was, he exaggerated it. I swear.”

“Just that you were fussing over him.”

“Of course I was. Silly old man. He acts like no one should be worried about him,” he breathed deeply.

“You know how you Wentworth men are,” I wiggled against him, trying to get comfortable, “stubborn and unwilling to take help from anyone.”

“You have us all figured out, don’t you?” He chuckled softly.

“In all this time I better know a few things.”

Trace cleared his throat and I knew it was a classic stall tactic of his.

“What is it?” I prompted.

“I’ve been thinking,” he brushed my hair away from my face with a sweep of his fingers, “about our vows for the wedding.”

“And?”

“I think we should write our own.”

It took every ounce of energy I had left in me not to yell. “Trace,” I groaned, “you know I’m not good at that kind of thing.”

“We already did the traditional vows at the courthouse. I think this would be more special. Think about what it would mean to Gramps,” he pleaded.

“We’re getting married in two—tomorrow,” I corrected myself, realizing that it was now morning time. “How do you expect me to come up with my own vows by then?”

“You’re an English major, Olivia. This should be easy for you. Or … you could do what I plan to do, which is speak from the heart.”

Ugh, when he said sweet things like that it was really hard for me to argue with him.

“Fine,” I found myself agreeing.

“You could sound more excited about it,” he chuckled, brushing his lips over the curve of my ear and sending a shiver down my spine.

“Woohoo,” I feigned enthusiasm. “I’ll be fine as long as I remember to speak when it’s my turn, not yours.”

He laughed openly at that. “That was the most adorable thing ever.”

“I’m glad you think my mistakes are adorable,” I grumbled, still embarrassed about my outburst in the courthouse.

“I think everything about you is adorable.”

“That’s what every twenty-two year old woman wants to be told, Trace,” I said sarcastically.

“My bad. How about beautiful?” His voice grew husky.

“That’s better,” a small laugh escaped me.

“Sexy?” He questioned, leaning up to look down at me. He swiped a thumb over my bottom lip, his eyes warm and full of love.

“Even better,” I smiled, my eyes falling closed.

“Goodnight,” he finally whispered, his lips brushing against my ear as he settled back down.

“Night,” the word left my lips as my body succumbed to sleep.

“It was Professor Plum, in the kitchen, with the knife,” I announced proudly, knowing I’d solved the ‘murder’.

Gramps and Trace looked at their cards, shaking their heads. “Here,” Trace slid the yellow envelope my way.

I grabbed it, pulling out the three cards I had correctly guessed. “I win!” I cheered.

“And you’ve also won the last five games,” Trace grumbled, shuffling the cards.

“Aw, someone sounds like a sore loser. Does this make it better?” I kissed his stubbled cheek.

“A little,” he grinned crookedly.

There was a knock on the hospital door and then Lily stepped inside. She smiled widely when she saw the three of us.

“Having fun?” She asked, setting her purse down.

“Yeah,” Trace smiled, “except Olivia keeps winning.”

“That’s because women are smarter than men,” Lily quipped.

“Thanks mom,” Trace chuckled, pretending to be wounded by her words. “You wanna play?” He asked.

She shook her head. “I actually need to steal Olivia for a bit.”

“Steal her?” Trace put an arm around my shoulders and tugged me towards him. “I kind of like her mom.”

“You’re so full of it,” she rolled her eyes at her son.

“What do you need me for?” I asked, not wanting to leave Gramps.

“You have to pick the cake today and get your nails done.”

I wrinkled my nose in distaste. Picking out a cake would be fine, but I hated getting my nails done. “Do I have to?”

Lily laughed. “Yes, I’m sorry.”

I frowned, looking for any excuse not to go, but came up empty. “Looks like I have to leave,” I apologized to Gramps. “I’ll be back later if I can.”

“Don’t worry about me,” he assured me, opening his arms for a hug.

I wrapped my arms around his body, wishing I never had to let go.

“I love you, Gramps,” I kissed his soft wrinkled cheek.

“I love you too, sweet girl.”

I said goodbye to Trace and followed Lily out of the room. Trent was coming down the hall as we left and I waved to him.

Lily drove us to a small bakery in Kernstown. I wasn’t picky when it came to cake, so I was more concerned with getting something Trace would like … but I knew he was like me and didn’t really care which made my job more difficult. How was I supposed to pick one flavor when we’d like any of them?

“I don’t know,” I frowned at the half-eaten samples in front of me. I had to make up my mind fast so they could get the cake ready for tomorrow evening’s reception. On the way over, Lily had told me that we would exchange vows at sunset with the reception taking place right after. “What do you think, Lily?” I asked my mother-in-law.

“They’re all really good,” she agreed, “but I’m thinking the chocolate.”

“Chocolate sounds good to me,” I quickly replied. Next we had to pick out the type of frosting and decorations for the cake. We settled on a white buttercream frosting with flowers going down one side.

“You got it,” the baker jotted some notes down on a piece of paper. “I have everything I need. If I’ve forgotten anything I’ll be sure to call you.”

We shook hands with her and headed to the nail salon next. I was tempted to climb out of the back of the car and run away, but Lily probably wouldn’t appreciate that, so I was stuck having to tough it out.

Avery and my mom were already in chairs starting their pedicures. Lily and I headed over to join them.

“You look tired,” Avery commented as I took the chair beside her.

“I am tired. Sleeping on an uncomfortable hospital couch will do that to you,” I rubbed the back of my neck.

“You need to get some sleep tonight, you know, with tomorrow being the big day and all,” she wiggled her toes under the water, watching the bubbles foam around her feet.

“Um, the big day has already passed,” I shrugged.

“Yeah, but this is like the real wedding,” she reasoned.

“Oh shit!” I exclaimed suddenly, causing Avery, my mom, and Lily to turn my way. Their eyes were wide as they stared at me in shock. I wasn’t one to cuss and had taken them all by surprise. “I don’t have a ring for Trace,” I exclaimed, fighting tears. How had I forgotten to get him a ring? I was the suckiest wife ever.

“It’s okay,” Avery assured me. “I’ll take you to Marcy’s when we leave here.”

“Thank you,” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Wait, where is everyone?” I looked around the eerily empty nail salon. “Aren’t there normally more people getting their nails done?” I gulped, imagining that people had contracted some strange nail fungus, never to return to this place again.

Lily laughed at the expression on my face. “I rented it out for a few hours so it would only be us. You have nothing to be worried about.”

“Oh,” I wiggled in the plush seat, feeling silly. “That was nice of you.”

“Avery said you hate getting your nails done so I thought this might make it a little more tolerable.”

It warmed my heart that Lily had taken that into consideration. I was lucky to have married into her family and I was glad that we didn’t have a relationship like some daughters and mother-in-laws.

It took a few hours to get our nails and toes done. I ended up choosing a sheer pink color.

As we left the nail salon I followed Avery to her red car.

On the way to Marcy’s store, I told her about Trace wanting us to make up our own vows.

“I think that’s a great idea,” she beamed. “It’s really sweet and romantic.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Where’s my best friend that would normally gag at something like this? I think I want her back.”

“I’m in love too,” she laughed. “I understand it now, and I think you should.”

“I don’t even know what I would say,” my head dropped forward into my hands.

“Speak from the heart,” she replied.

“You make that sound so easy,” I glanced at her between my fingers. “But you know how I am, and I don’t like the idea of expressing my feelings in front of a bunch of people.”

“You’re not,” she shrugged. “You’re telling them to Trace.
He’s
the only one that matters in this situation. You need to get up there and forget that everyone else exists. Look at him and tell him how you feel. That’s it, Livie.”

“When did you get so smart?” I laughed.