Chapter 31 Grace
GRACE
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Kerry Winsor: @Dale Garrett, do you have something called a labubu? Tommy wants one for his birthday.
Comments:
Tammy Jane: Is that some sort of lab table?
Marjorie Brown: Is that a slang term for a lobotomy? If so, I need one too.
Jade Clark: Guys, it’s a purse charm, but it was a trend that ended a while ago. I would order one online. I doubt Dale has them.
Marjorie Brown: A purse charm? That’s dumb as hell. A name that good should be reserved for something that deserves it.
While not opening up the shop was the right thing to do, it left me with far too much time to think. I was on the couch trying to watch a baking show, but my mind kept drifting to last night.
I wished I didn’t, but I remembered it all. I remembered needing someone, and Dean turning me down before changing his mind.
And I was once again wondering what else he could change his mind on. I didn’t want to think this way. This wouldn’t do me any good. I was starting to think I didn’t care about what good came from it.
Thankfully, my phone rang and I was pulled out of my thoughts. I thought it might be Dean checking in, but I saw his mom’s face pop up on my screen. I’d told him to give her my number, and this was the first time she’d used it.
“Hi, Virginia,” I said. “It’s nice to hear from you.”
“Sorry it took me so long to call. I was getting a few things in order around here. I won’t keep you since I’m sure you’re busy with the shop, but—”
“I’m free actually. I have a day off.”
“Oh, really? I thought you were open during the week.”
“I usually am. I was sick last night.”
She gasped. “Sick? What happened? Are you okay?”
I could see where Dean got his concern from. “I’m okay, and so is the baby. I just ate something bad and took the day to recover.”
“Does Dean know? He could’ve helped.”
“He was here, actually. He’s been around for a few days.”
A second passed before Virginia answered. “Really? Normally it’s hard to get him to leave the city.”
“He said he wanted to help me with my house a little. I’m sure he misses Nashville a lot.” As I said it, I wasn’t so sure. He only mentioned Nashville when he talked about the things he didn’t like about Strawberry Springs. I never heard about it on its own.
Was there a meaning there I hadn’t realized?
“It’s where he likes to stay, but I’m so happy he’s been there with you for a little while. I’m sure it’s good for both of you to get to know each other.”
“It is. We’re making it work.”
“He talks highly of you.”
My cheeks heated and I was glad this was only a phone call. “That’s nice. It would be awkward if he didn’t.”
“I’d smack him into place if he didn’t. And if he steps out of line, you let me know.”
After all the stories I’d seen about nightmare mothers-in-law, it was nice that mine was so kind. Even if she wasn’t my mother-in-law. She was . . . my baby daddy’s mom?
Fuck. I still had to find a better name for that.
“Now, I did call for a reason, I promise. You’ll have to bear with me, dear. I get distracted easily.”
“It’s not a problem.” And it really wasn’t. I’d spent most of the day alone. I didn’t mind the company of someone else’s ramblings.
“Do you have any ultrasound pictures you wouldn’t mind sharing with me?”
“Yeah, I have one that I can text you. And there’s the big ultrasound next week.”
She gasped. “Already? Oh, please send me photos of that too. I wanna make a scrapbook, especially since I live so far away . . .” She trailed off.
“I have an extra room.” I said it before I could stop myself. “You could always stay with me.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all.”
It would have to be when Dean wasn’t here, and he’d been staying more than I expected. I didn’t mind it, but I also knew I couldn’t give Brooke’s room out either. I’d also have to make my third bedroom a nursery eventually.
“I might take you up on that. Have you offered Dean the same thing? I bet he would save money on a hotel.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Don’t take it personally that he turned you down. He’s a little finicky about attachment, but—”
“He didn’t. Turn me down, I mean.”
But Virginia seemed so sure, and I was already reading between the lines. Had he already stepped out of his usual for me?
Were things different?
“Really?” She sounded like she’d won the lottery. “This is great! Maybe he—” She stopped herself. “How has it been?”
I knew when someone was fishing for information. “He’s a very good guest.”
“Interesting.”
“Is . . . there anything else you want to happen?”
“Boy, do I.” She laughed. “I’ve been waiting for years for him to settle down, but he never wants to. Please tell me that streak’s been broken.”
I wished I could tell her that. I hated to be the one to break her hope. “Unfortunately not. I’m sorry, Virginia.”
She let out a long sigh. “I suppose that’s in character for him.”
“Maybe it’s for the best. He obviously enjoys his fun.”
“He wasn’t always like this, you know. Once upon a time, he was a little romantic! Can you believe that?”
“It’s . . . hard to.” And it was. I wondered what I would have thought of that version of him. I wondered where he went. I had the right to pry, and I couldn’t help my curiosity. “When was he like that?”
“Back in high school. About a decade ago now. I don’t remember all the details, but he came home one day and told me he’d never date again. I thought he would give up eventually, but he’s stubborn. And I suppose there are a lot of women his age who don’t mind simply getting what they want, right?”
I winced. I was one of those women. It had been good. Amazing, even. But now I was tied to him and wanting more.
“Right. It’s about the fun.”
“He’s not the kind of guy to only care about the fun, which is what I’ve never understood. Maybe I was just wanting grandkids. And now I have one on the way! You’re gonna be a great mom, Grace.”
I wanted to ask her to tell me more about Dean so I could figure out what had happened. But I wasn’t sure that was a good idea. I didn’t need to pry into his life.
“Thank you, Virginia. And I bet you’ll be an amazing grandma too.”
We talked for a good hour about how the pregnancy was going and how it compared to hers. I told her how I was still struggling with hairs growing in places I didn’t want them to, and she was thrilled to find another woman who’d gone through the same thing.
Despite my downtrodden mood about Dean, it was nice to talk to someone else and get my mind off of it.
But the second I said my goodbyes and hung up the phone, all the thoughts flooded back.
I was at an impasse, unsure of whether to stuff my feelings in a box or try to see if Dean could ever feel the way I did.
Whether I pulled back, jumped in, or did nothing, it all ended the same way.
And I was terrified.