Chapter Six
“If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that things happen for a reason and fate doesn’t make mistakes…if you believe in that kind of thing.” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.
On the way to the hospital the next afternoon, Gracie turned onto Cherry Tree Lane when she saw the detour sign on Main Street. Whatever was going on was blocking traffic, and she couldn’t be late to meet Pip’s social worker.
Pip had fallen asleep almost as soon as she’d pulled out of the driveway. She’d woken Gracie up at about one in the morning, screaming. Since it was obvious she’d been having a nightmare, Gracie had let her snuggle in with her for the night. They’d had a full morning of blueberry muffins for breakfast with a bowl of fruit salad, and Gracie had opened several toys for her to play with. She still hadn’t started her online shopping yet, but she’d been having too much fun to care.
Gracie admired the trees that were shimmering white with frost from the frozen fog that had rolled through this morning. Amidst the winter wonderland, she noticed a red For Sale by Owner sign in front of 905 Cherry Tree Lane and slowed the car. Her heart skipped excitedly as she stared at the white house with the gray trim. All the houses on this side of town had nice yards and were at least three bedrooms.
Perfect for someone who didn’t want to sleep on the couch for two weeks.
Of course, buying a home was a big step, but she had been saving for the down payment. And since it was for sale by owner, maybe they’d be willing to carry the loan.
After parking in front of the house, she typed the number on the sign into her phone. She turned her Bluetooth ear piece on before she hit the green call icon on her phone and pulled out onto the road again.
“Hello?” a woman answered.
“Hi, my name is Gracie McAllister, and I was calling about your home for sale on Cherry Tree Lane. Is it still available?”
“Gracie? It’s Kirsten Winters.”
Gracie wished she could hang up the phone without looking like a tool. She liked Kirsten, but ever since she’d left with Eric during the Halloween Ball, Gracie had developed a bitter taste in her mouth whenever she saw her.
Maybe because I was a little jealous?
“Hey, Kirsten! I didn’t know you owned a house.”
“I don’t. It was my grandparents’. I’m just managing the property for them since they moved to Arizona. You’re interested?”
Part of Gracie wanted to say no, but it would be a bald-faced lie. And besides, she had no reason to be irritated with Kirsten. She and Eric were two consenting adults, and Gracie had no claim to him, didn’t even want one. He was a Neanderthal, and she was dating Darrin.
“Depends on the terms, yes, I am,” Gracie said coolly.
“It’s one hundred and thirty-nine thousand and eighteen hundred square feet. It’s four bedroom, three bath, and the backyard is just shy of half an acre since it’s a corner lot. If you want them to carry the papers and have at least twenty percent down, the payment would be nine hundred and twenty-six, not including home owner’s insurance for ten years.”
Gracie considered that. It would be faster, without the added fees of a bank. “Could I come by and look at it later today? Maybe four?”
“Sure, I can meet you there about four thirty, if that works.”
“Definitely. And thanks, Kirsten.”
“See you then.”
Gracie ended the call and turned up the radio, humming along to “This is How We Roll” by Florida Georgia Line, and considered her options. She could call Wyatt Carter at the Credit Union and talk to him about getting her a preapproval loan and pay for the house in full. Or at least have her lawyers draw something up.
Or, I could see if I even like the place before I jump the gun. First things first.
* * *
At the hospital, Gracie was surprised to find that Pip’s case worker was an old friend from her drama club days in high school. Viola Merryweather still looked like she was fourteen. An inch shorter than Gracie, with freckles and her copper hair pulled back in a twist, she smiled brightly.
“Gracie, it’s so good to see you.”
“You too, Viola.” Gracie tried to get Pip to lift her head, but she was still pretty tired. “And this is Pip.”
“Pip?”
“She still hasn’t said a word, so it’s just a nickname.”
“Ah, gotcha. Well, hopefully, some of these tests can help us identify you, love.” Viola reached her arms out, but Pip squeezed Gracie’s neck harder.
“If you just want to lead the way, I’ll stay with her,” Gracie said.
Viola dropped her arms and nodded.
“I also took pictures of some bruises on her arms and legs and she is so thin.”
“That’s fine. I’ll have you transfer them to me for her record but the doctor will also take some.”
Over an hour later, Gracie wanted to just bundle Pip up and get her the hell out of there. As nice as the techs were, it broke Gracie’s heart to watch such a tiny child be poked, prodded, and positioned to take X-rays and blood work, and be photographed.
Pip scooted away when the doctor came in and started screaming, reaching for Gracie.
Pushing past Viola, she scooped Pip up and faced the doctor and Viola like a bristling mama bear ready to protect her cub.
“Viola, she’s been through so much. Can’t we give her a little break?”
“Actually, Ms.…” The doctor waited.
“McAllister.”
“Ms. McAllister, I was coming in to say we were all finished and we were so impressed with how well…”
“Pip.”
“Pip did that I was wondering if she’d like a sticker.” The doctor, a dark-haired woman in her mid-forties, held out a tray of different stickers. “Pick any one you want.”
But Pip wouldn’t even look at her, and finally, Gracie picked a Little Mermaid sticker and held it in front of the little girl’s face.
“How about this one? She’s pretty, huh?”
Pip took the sticker without lifting her head, and Gracie could see the thumb shoved into her mouth like a safety net.
The doctor now spoke to Viola. “We’ll try to get the results on the blood back as soon as we can. Hopefully we’ll be able to locate her mother or a next of kin. Other than the diaper rash and her weight being a little low for her estimated age, she is in good health. There were no signs of sexual abuse or trauma, and no broken bones on Jocelyn’s X-rays.” The doctor handed Viola several prescription slips. “Here is a prescription for an antibiotic ointment for her diaper rash and a children’s multi-vitamin.”
Once the doctor left the room and it was just the three of them. Gracie stroked Pip’s back gently, meeting Viola’s gaze.
“Is she done now? Really?” Gracie asked.
“Yes.” Viola seemed to be watching her intently. “You’re very good with her.”
“I’ve taken care of kids before.”
“And she seems to trust you.”
Gracie stopped rubbing Pip’s back. “What are you thinking, Viola?”
Viola lowered her voice. “I don’t have a current foster home for her in the Magic Valley, and until I get the lab results back and we figure out who she is, I either have to place her with a family in Ada County or a group home. But if you’re okay with it, I can have a motion filed this week giving you temporary care of her until we’re able to find her family.”
Gracie’s heart leapt in her throat. “Do you think a judge would go for that? I’m not an actual foster parent.”
“I’ve got a judge that owes me a favor, and when I explain the circumstances, I have a feeling she’ll be sympathetic. You just leave that up to me.”
* * *
Eric sat in front of his computer, typing up an email to his literary agent, Neal Goodman. He knew Neal was out of town for the weekend visiting family, but hopefully he’d get it first thing Monday and be able to give him an update on his submission. Considering Neal was the only one he had to talk to about his novel, he was going out of his mind.
It wasn’t because he was ashamed or thought his family wouldn’t approve. Writing was always something he enjoyed, but since he’d never gone to college or taken any classes, he’d always kept his musings to himself.
The last two years, though, he’d been a bit restless. He’d been running his family’s bar since he was twenty-one years old, and although he loved it, it wasn’t his passion.
Still, he wasn’t ready to share anything with anyone until there was something to share. When he’d finished his manuscript six months ago, and sent a query letter to eight different agents, six of them had come back with a hard no.
Not Neal, though. He’d sent him a contract to review five days after reading Eric’s sample chapters, and the two of them had been tweaking and working together ever since. Neal had finally told him in September that the manuscript was ready to shop.
Now all he had to do was wait.
The clock on the wall chimed six times, and Eric cursed. The guys were supposed to come over for poker tonight, and he had nothing but leftovers and beer in his kitchen. Travis had texted to cancel earlier, so there was one less mouth to feed.
Pulling on his coat, he headed out to the store and walked back through the door forty-five minutes later with enough junk to feed an army.
Just after seven, there was a knock on his door, and he opened it to find Gabe and Mike on his doorstep.
“Hey, guys, come on in.”
Gabe stepped inside first, pulling off his gray wool cap and revealing the short strip of hair along his otherwise dark shaved head. He shrugged out of his jacket and pushed up the sleeves of a gray sweater that looked out of place with the diamond studs and the tattoos.
“Nice sweater, J.Crew.”
Gabe grimaced. “It’s warm.”
“Apparently, Caroline’s sister Ellie made it for him. Knitted it herself,” Mike said.
Eric couldn’t imagine Ellie, one of his bartenders and a bit of a wild child, sitting around knitting anything, but the fact that Gabe was wearing a sweater his girlfriend’s sister had made him spoke volumes about the domestication some men could experience.
Mike tossed his coat over Eric’s couch and made a beeline for the snacks across the counter. None of his friends were shy about their appetites.
“I thought Chase was coming with you guys?”
“Nah, he said something about going to bed early,” Gabe said. “Justin and Everett Silverton are coming, though.”
Eric nodded. He liked the Silverton brothers. Justin was married to Val, Caroline’s other sister, who was in her second trimester. He shuddered. Whatever was in the water this year, Eric hoped none of the women he’d slept with had drunk it.
Everett had been dating Callie Jacobsen, but the two had split suddenly a few weeks ago, and Eric couldn’t figure out why. They had been pretty perfect together, and Everett seemed to be taking it hard.
Hopefully a night with the guys would do them all some good. Eric knew it would help him at least get his mind off a certain, hot-tempered blonde who took offense to just about everything. Eric was still blown away by the way she’d gone off on him, but lesson learned. He was going to avoid Gracie like the plague and stop trying to help her.
At least, he hoped so.