Chapter 45 Grace
GRACE
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Mollie Wilson: I say this lovingly, but if any of you break my rules at Grace’s baby shower, you WILL meet God.
Comments:
Jade Clark: Oh, I’m stealing that.
Kerry Winsor: Threats are against the group rules!!!
Mollie Wilson: I have immunity when it comes to planning a baby shower.
Hu Gh: How do I get that immunity??? MY posts keep getting taken down!
Two weeks later, I was trying to find a recipe for punch when I was faced with a very stern Mollie.
“Grace, sit.” Mollie pointed me to the couch. “If you get up, I will kick you out of this house.”
“It’s my house,” I said with a laugh. “You can’t kick me out.”
“When I’m planning a party, it’s our house. And I say you aren’t doing a damn thing.”
Dean laughed. “Good luck with that.”
“You too, cowboy hat. Sit the fuck down or so help me God.”
His eyes went wide. “You’re not playing.”
“I will wrap you up like I wrap up the chickens.”
“Maybe we should listen,” Dean said as he sat. I shook my head and followed suit.
The town had been hounding Dean on whether or not I would have a baby shower. I had been on the fence about planning yet another thing, and I didn’t know if Mollie had the capacity to do it.
Then she offered, and I realized how she wrangled kids and handled a farm. She was a fucking force of nature.
“You’re so bossy,” I said. “But thank you.”
“I’m dedicated, and my mom planned an amazing shower for me. I consider this me returning the favor.”
“And I get to get pictures!” Virginia said as she came around the corner. She immediately snapped a photo. “Oh, I’m so happy to be here.”
Now that I was nearing full-term, all three of us had finished the nursery. I’d gone with a light yellow and found a crib, plus some small furniture. Virginia and Dean had put it all together.
Once there wasn’t room for the guest bed any longer, Virginia had increased her efforts to find an apartment, but both of us could tell she wasn’t happy.
That was when I offered to have her stay in Brooke’s room.
After what she’d done in Nashville, I didn’t want to talk to my sister. She’d made her life there, and I was making mine here.
She wouldn’t be happy when she found out, but I wasn’t sure that I cared. I doubted she would come home anytime soon, at the very least.
This was the first time my house was guest ready. All of the mess Brooke had left had been put in the basement by Virginia and Dean. We’d slowly gotten to most of the things that needed to be fixed or cleaned, and now it felt like a home again.
Jade and Wren arrived as Mollie finished the punch. She directed them on last-minute decorations while I watched from the couch.
“All right, that’s all settled.” Mollie put her hands on her hips. “Just in time for the first guest that wasn’t called early.”
“And who’s that?” I asked.
Mollie laughed. “Kerry. Who else?”
“Hello, hello!” Kerry said as she walked in. “Where is the expecting couple?”
“Back here! I’ve been tied to the couch!”
“Don’t say that!” Mollie hissed. “Do you want me to get in trouble?”
“Maybe.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re not as nice as everyone says you are.”
“She’s not,” Dean added as Kerry came around the corner.
“Hi!” Kerry said. She had a massive present in her hands. “Oh, you look beautiful. Pregnancy suits you.”
“I’ll take the present,” Mollie said.
“Thank you, but no peeking.”
“I am absolutely peeking,” she said. “I’m making sure you all brought things from the registry.”
“Oh, come on.” Kerry laughed. “Do you really expect me to break the rules?” Everyone was silent. “Well, I didn’t! Look inside, it’s not a diaper cake.”
“Is a diaper cake a problem?” I asked.
“Oh, yes it is.” Mollie shook her head. “They’re cute in the beginning, but a nightmare later. Do you know what it’s like to have a poop explosion in process and have to unpin a diaper?”
“But they’re cute,” Kerry whined. “Do you know how much it killed me to be basic and pick something from the registry?”
“Don’t play with me, Kerry.”
The older woman huffed and crossed her arms. I’d never seen someone stand up to the town gossip like Mollie did.
Well, until Dean.
It was good to know Kerry could be tamed.
“So,” Kerry said as Mollie took the present, “am I still banned from talking about this beautiful baby with Grace?”
“You’re clear,” Dean said with a laugh. “It was just while the town adjusted.”
Her shoulders slumped in relief. “Oh, thank God. So, how are you feeling? Is your crotch on fire yet?”
“S-sometimes,” I admitted. Of all the questions to ask, why was it that one? “But it’s not too bad.”
“I felt like I couldn’t walk with Tommy. But then again, he came out with a massive head.”
I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about her son Tommy’s head. But as the younger version of him crossed my mind, I realized his head was quite large.
“Did he hurt coming out?”
Kerry opened her mouth and then paused. “No, I don’t think he did.” I had a feeling she was lying to me. “Oh, by the way, Dean, do you install recessed lights? I might have some jobs for you.”
“Nice subject change,” I said with a laugh.
“No need to dwell on what must happen. You’ll just freak yourself out.”
Dean asked about what she wanted in her house while others arrived. Many congratulated us and brought presents that Mollie continued to audit.
Eventually, we got separated. Jade and Wren returned with snacks, and I immediately went to hunt that down. Cain and Henry arrived and pulled Dean into a conversation about something.
“They’re planning a guys’ night,” Wren said. “Cain and Mollie agreed to give each other one night off a week, and I’m sure Dean will do the same.”
“He will,” I replied. “It’s nice to see him making friends.”
As Dean laughed at something Henry said, it was nice to see that he’d built a rapport with the guys. Come to think of it, he’d built a rapport with almost everyone. I knew he preferred the city, but he seemed to be doing well here.
But I knew he had one friend in Nashville that he was going to miss, and that friend had been invited today. I’d been excited to meet Clyde. Virginia said the person he was most social with was Dean, and not to expect us to be best friends, but I was happy to meet anyone who was close with him.
A person I didn’t know walked in. He was a larger man and held a small gift in his hands. I excused myself from a conversation with Jackie and nearly ran to him. Dean and I got there at the same time.
“Clyde,” Dean said. “It’s good to see you.”
His eyes shifted to mine and a slow smile spread to his face. “Uh, hi, Dean. And you must be Grace.” He handed over a gift. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Mollie watched us closely and I knew she wanted to make sure the gift was from the registry. I had a feeling that would stress poor Clyde out.
“It’s so nice to meet you too. I’ve only heard good things.”
“Me too,” he replied. “When I get to see Dean, that is.”
It was paired with a chuckle that was well-meaning, but Dean’s smile dimmed.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He shrugged. “I bet this is a nice little town. And you’re kinda close to Knoxville. There’s work there. A lot, actually.”
“Still. We won’t be working together that regularly. It sucks.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that.”
“You live in Nashville and that’s three hours away.” Dean’s brow furrowed. “The only time we’ll hang out is when you happen to take a job in Knoxville.”
“I’ll be doing that more often. I think maybe my home base should be there.”
Dean straightened. “Really?”
“Yeah, there’re a lot of jobs out here and I don’t wanna be three hours away from the closest thing I’ll ever get to a grandkid.” He glanced at Dean. “If that’s okay with you, of course.”
“Yes, that’s definitely okay,” Dean said, clapping Clyde on the shoulder. “More than okay. I’m happy to have you closer.”
Dean took him over to Virginia, who was the one other person he knew. She greeted him like an old friend and introduced him to some of the people in town. Clyde seemed tense, but I knew he would blend in just fine.
Dean was watching closely and I gave him a thumbs-up before we all started playing games. We got through four before my table was a mess and everyone seemed to prefer talking over playing.
That was when the last guest arrived.
The entire party went quiet when he walked in, and I knew why.
Hugh was not the kind of guy to come to a baby shower. Unless it was the bar, he avoided town gatherings. But here he was, a present in hand, even though he looked angry about it.
“This is one hell of a hike,” he grumbled.
“Hey, Hugh.” I walked up to him. “Thank you for coming.”
I heard Mollie whispering to Wren in a panic. I doubted Hugh had let anyone know he was coming, and she had no idea what kind of gift he brought. That made two in a row she didn’t know about.
I wasn’t worried. It could be a pair of old socks and I would still think it was sweet.
“This kind of thing is too loud for me, so I won’t stay long. Where’s your other half?” Hugh looked around.
Dean was in the back checking in on Mark and Clyde, but he’d started walking over when he saw Hugh.
“Hey,” Dean said. “You looking for me?”
“I got you both a present for the mini-you.” He shoved it at us and sniffed. “It ain’t much, but I hope you like it.”
Dean held the bag as I grabbed whatever it was. It was heavy.
I pulled out a music box. It was a rich wood one with intricate carvings. I stared at it for a long time, feeling like I’d seen it before.
“This is beautiful,” I whispered. I couldn’t stop staring at it. “It looks familiar.”
“Your mom brought it in a long time ago. She needed the money, so I gave her double what it was worth.” He shrugged like it was nothing. “I figured I’d keep it and give it back someday.”
“This was Mom’s?” I knew we had money troubles, but never knew that she’d had to pawn anything off. I’d always thought she’d had magic with her ability to make things happen.
“It was. I liked her. She was as sweet as you are.”
I felt tears in my eyes. All this time, I thought I had everything of Mom’s that she left behind. I also thought that I knew her, that she had somehow managed to do it all without ever needing help. It looked like I was wrong.
Hugh leaned away. “And that’s my cue to leave. Come by the shop sometime, though. I have stories for ya.”
With a wave, he left the party.
I thought the only piece of my family was with Brooke. The same girl who’d signed me up for a text chain rather than talking to me. But there were other things that could keep me connected, and they weren’t toxic.
My real family seemed to be here, in the people who cared about me and the memories I still held on to.