Chapter 15
Fifteen
“ T hat cake looks really good. And it smells even better.” Gita stood beside the counter, looking at the Texas sheet cake that Grace had finished not that long ago.
“Just relax. It won’t be long, and we can try it out.”
“I remember telling that to you. I also remember making batter just so we could eat it. I feel like I should be reaping what I sowed, but I didn’t today.”
Her eyes twinkled, and she looked so happy that Grace almost grabbed her in a hug. When was the last time she’d seen her mom this happy?
Well, that was a very good question considering that she hadn’t been around a whole lot, so maybe her mom had been this happy, and she just hadn’t noticed.
But she didn’t think so. She was pretty sure the imminent arrival of a certain gentleman was putting that spark in her eyes and that spring in her step even though she wasn’t far removed from hip replacement surgery.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make a special cake batter just for us to eat together. Maybe next time?” she asked, lifting her brows and giving her mom a baleful look. After all, her mom was an adult and shouldn’t expect to get batter every time they made a cake .
“I’ll make sure that there’s a next time, and I’ll remind you of your promise,” her mom said, but then she winked and grinned again, and Grace couldn’t do anything but smile back. Her mom’s face was fresh and cheerful, and the whole atmosphere of the house just seemed to be anticipatory.
If this was how her mother was when she was in love, Don was going to have no choice but to fall so deeply in love with her he couldn’t stand to live without her. She was attractive and irresistible and would surely pull him into her orbit.
Even on her worst day, her mother was an attractive woman with a compelling personality, but being in love had ratcheted that up to the next level.
Was that the way every woman wanted? Grace asked herself. Was that the way she was?
She could feel her lips wanting to turn up when she thought about Trevor and their bargain of deciding that they would try to be together in order for their parents to be able to spend as much time as possible together.
It felt fun to have a little secret between the two of them, and it also felt good to be doing something so nice for someone else.
Even more, it felt good to see her mom so happy.
And it wasn’t exactly a hardship to be around Trevor.
Maybe… Maybe him being around her would make him see that he still loved her after all.
That felt like maybe it was a long shot, but her hopes flew up and made her lips turn into a real smile.
“You look happy,” her mother said as she carried silverware from the kitchen into the dining room and placed it around the table.
She was walking without a limp, completely normally. Her physical therapist had been impressed with her progress the day before.
“I’m happy because you’re happy. You’re practically glowing. You and Don are good for each other.”
“I should hope so, because he’s a wonderful gentleman,” her mom said.
There was a little bit of a feeling of something being not quite right, but Grace pushed it aside as usual.
She and Trevor had decided that the feeling stemmed mainly from the fact that they were not used to their parents not being with their other parent.
It had nothing to do with any real problem in the relationship.
It was nice to have Trevor to talk things over with so that she could organize her brain and not continually wonder what the problem was. Now that she knew what it was, she ought to be able to put it to rest.
“We should light candles,” her mom said.
Grace smiled to herself. Her mom was really going all out.
“Don’t you think you should take things a little bit slow?” she said, teasing her mom a bit. After all, that would be something that her mom might have said to her back in the day.
“I am taking things slow. We have chaperones, and we already decided that we’re not going to see each other again until next week.”
“All right,” Grace said and was a little surprised at the disappointment that rumbled through her. If they didn’t see each other until next week, she wasn’t going to get to see Trevor until next week either.
But that wasn’t supposed to matter. And she could use the extra time to really dig into her mother’s business and see if there was going to be a spot for her. If there wasn’t, she was going to need to find a job.
There was a knock at the door before she could say anything else, and to her surprise, her mother hurried to answer it.
Well, she didn’t hurry exactly, but she walked gracefully, which Grace had to stop and take a minute to watch.
It was amazing how her hip replacement had gone so smoothly, and she was thrilled that her mom was doing such a good job.
It didn’t hurt to admire that and to be happy for her.
“Hello, Donnie!” she heard her mother say and then watched as Don and Gita embraced.
Don murmured, “Hello, Gita Baby.”
Grace met Trevor’s eyes, standing slightly behind his dad as their parents embraced, and they shared a smile. It was a laughing, they’re using their nicknames kind of smile, but also a we’re happy for our parents kind of smile too.
She truly was happy for them.
She could tell by the look on Trevor’s face that he was too.
“Trevor, it’s good to see you,” her mom said with the typical hospitality that she displayed so easily. “Come on in, both of you. That smells delicious,” she said, indicating whatever it was that Trevor carried.
“This is more of the cauliflower that we had yesterday, since it was such a big hit,” Don said, indicating the small crockpot he held.
“And this is tuna casserole, which, considering that you’re dealing with two unmarried men, is no small feat.”
“I thought I smelled tuna noodle casserole. I haven’t had that in forever, and I can’t wait to try it. I hope it has lots of cheese,” her mom said, leading them to the table.
“You’re not limping,” Don observed.
“Nope. The physical therapist told me that I’m doing awesome, although I still need to be very careful not to fall. So, I just take it slow, make sure my steps are measured, and I’ve been doing pretty well.”
“You have. You’re back to your graceful self.”
“The pain is mostly gone. Every once in a while, I feel a twinge, but I can’t believe how well I feel.”
“The doctor said it was because she was so active.” Grace felt like she could throw that in there, so hopefully later when they suggested they take the double kayaks onto the lake, they would be agreeable.
“That’s good news. Whatever the reason,” Don said as they sat themselves in chairs at the table.
Don said grace, and then they passed the food around. It did smell really good, even though it was simple, and it tasted even better.
Grace was on her third bite when Trevor cleared his throat, and she looked up to meet his eye.
He lifted a brow, and she nodded ever so slightly. Whatever they were going to do, he was going to get started on now, and that was just fine with her.
“So,” he said, getting the attention of both Gita and Don as they chewed. “Grace and I met on the road on the way to Mrs. Donegan’s house. We had such a great talk, and you know we have history, and we decided that…”
As he seemed to struggle for words, Grace decided that she could try to help him.
“We decided that we would like to develop a relationship together. But we didn’t want to interfere with yours and Don’s,” she said, looking at her mom.
“So we were hoping that you two would be our chaperones,” she said, lifting a brow at Trevor.
They hadn’t exactly talked about that, but it seemed like a good enough excuse for them to try to be together and to get their parents to be together too.
“I don’t know if anything will come of it, but that’s what we were talking about, and we really wanted to take the kayaks out on the lake together. We hoped that you two might be game to join us?” Trevor said, seeming to be relieved when Grace smiled and nodded.
They were going a little bit off script, but it felt like the right thing to say and do.
“My goodness. I haven’t been out on kayaks in years,” Gita said.
“Trevor and I go all the time. We can get a double kayak, and you and I could do it together.” Don seemed to be all in on the idea.
“Donnie, you have the best ideas. And then Grace and Trevor could have a double kayak, and they could go together as well.” Her mother seemed especially pleased about the idea.
“I think that’s a fabulous idea,” Trevor said.
“I agree. I’d love to go out on the lake with you guys. And I feel like I need to share a kayak with Trevor, because if you guys are used to doing it, I probably couldn’t keep up.”
That part was one-hundred-percent honest. Loving the idea of going on a boat with Trevor was absolutely true as well. She did want to and did look forward to it. And she wanted the relationship to be real, even though she knew that it really wasn’t. At least not in his eyes.
They finished up the meal, talking about different kayak trips they’d taken over the years and a strategy for this one, which included staying close to the shore, just in case anything happened, since neither Grace nor Gita had been out for a very long time.
Gita also said that she would check with her physical therapist and perhaps her doctor to make sure that everything was okay and to get the all clear.
They agreed that if they didn’t get the okay this week, they’d just postpone the trip until they did and substitute something else in.
They batted some ideas around, including walking on the beach, taking a drive, or renting mopeds.
Grace didn’t even know it was a thing to rent mopeds, but apparently Don and Trevor had done it and had really enjoyed it .
It needed to be a warm day. Of that she was certain.
Regardless, by the time she cut the chocolate cake and finally put a piece in front of Gita, her mother surprised her with her comment.
“I was speaking with Madeline Grosheck earlier today. You know, Lauren’s mom?” Gita looked at Grace and waited until she nodded.
She hadn’t talked to Lauren in forever, but her mom, Madeline, had operated the bakery until a few years ago when her health took a turn for the worse.
“I haven’t seen her in years,” Grace said.
“No, she hasn’t been well. But she did say when I was speaking with her that Lauren might be coming to pay her a visit. Perhaps even moving back. She wasn’t sure.”
Grace nodded, and Trevor said something, but she missed it.
Because she was thinking that she had just thought she wanted to get in touch with all of her old friends.
That would be Lauren and Claire mostly. They were the ones that had run around in their group together along with Yolanda. Until the accident.
“Madeline asked about you. She wanted to know how both of you were doing,” she said, looking between Grace and Trevor.
“I should reach out to Lauren,” Grace said.
“You should. I hope it’s okay that the next time I talk to Madeline, I can tell her that you and Trevor are together.”
Fear shot through Grace. She hadn’t considered the implications of this.
The whole town would know that they were together, and then the whole town would be upset and wondering whose fault it was when they “broke up.” It was kind of hard to break up with someone that one wasn’t truly with.
As she wasn’t exactly with Trevor. They were only together, in a fake kind of way, to try to get their parents together.
Because they decided that their parents deserved every shot at happiness, which seemed like a kind, considerate reason.
But a breakup wasn’t going to go over well, and she wasn’t sure a fake relationship was something they could admit to the entire town.
“I think Trevor and I would kind of like to keep it between ourselves for a little bit, wouldn’t we, honey?
” She paused a little before the “honey,” stumbling because it was so familiar.
She was sure everyone at the table noticed, but hopefully they chalked it up to the fact that the relationship was so new.
“I think Grace is right. This is new, and we’re not sure exactly where it’s heading. We just want to make sure we do it right. Right, darling?” He did a much better job of calling her darling than she had of using an endearment for him.
Maybe she should call him Trevor Baby. That seemed to roll off Don’s tongue like chocolate melted in the sun.
“Gita Baby, not to change the subject or anything, but this is the best chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten in my life,” Don said, and Grace almost laughed when she saw that his mouth was full. Either he was in a hurry to change the subject, or he was truly inspired by the cake.
“I wish I could take credit for it, but Grace made it. I actually complained to her, because this is the cake that my children loved to eat the batter from growing up, and I admit that on more than one occasion, I made the batter just so we could sit and eat it.”
“It was always a huge treat. Maybe after we had a really hard test, or for the last day of school, or if something terrible happened. I’m sure that it created lifelong bad eating habits I’m still fighting to this day, but the memories are really sweet.” Grace smiled, and Trevor laughed.
“I considered asking her to just serve the batter, but I didn’t want you to think we were barbaric.”
“It sounds really good, and good trumps being barbaric all day long.”
“Good to know.” Gita’s cheeks had gotten red, and Grace marveled that her mother could still blush at her age.
They talked a bit more, and then the men helped them clear off the table and do the dishes before they sat back down at the table and played a few games.
Grace marveled at how much fun she had with Trevor and his dad. She wouldn’t have guessed that they would get along so well, but it had been a long time since she had had that much fun, and she was truly sad when Don and Trevor reluctantly rose and said it was time to go home.
She wasn’t able to get a private message to Trevor, but there would be plenty of time for them to talk later. All in all, she thought the evening had been a smashing success.