Chapter 1
Ismile as I pull up to Grandma”s cozy Craftsman bungalow. I”ve always loved this house. Climbing the front steps, I smile as I anticipate my grandmother’s warm embrace. It’s been too long since I’ve been home.
But when she opens the door, my smile fades.
“Grandma! What happened?” I ask, stepping inside and hugging her gently.
She has a huge bruise on her cheek but waves it off like it’s nothing. When she winces, I know it’s something big.
Gently grasping her arm, I guide Grandma to the faded floral couch in the living room. The familiar scents of lavender and worn furniture remind me of when I lived with her.
Grandma glances anxiously out the window, then turns to me. “Oh, just some bad kids in the neighborhood. They knocked me over trying to take my purse. I”m fine, though, dear.”
I help Grandma to the couch, and she sits gingerly. My heart clenches at seeing her hurt. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, reaching out to take her hand in mine.
“I’ll be fine. This neighborhood just isn”t safe anymore. Those kids lurk around at night. I’ve seen them cutting through my yard to the alley out back. I’ve yelled at them, but it doesn’t do anything.” She gestures toward the front door. “I”m worried they might break in. I miss having Henry here with me.”
I miss Grandpa, too. This house is certainly more than she needs, but I know that if I suggest selling and moving someplace smaller, she’ll say no immediately. She’s said before that she intends to pass this house to me when she’s gone.
Anger at the kids and frustration that the neighborhood has declined like this overwhelms me. How come she’s never told me this when I’ve called? I squeeze her hand. “Don”t worry, Grandma. I”ll take care of it.”
“Thank you, Claire. You’re a good girl,” she smiles. “Are you back home for good?”
I hesitate, unsure how to answer. Since I went to college, I haven’t returned to Jefferson much. For years, Grandma would come to visit me, but she’s getting older. Her eyesight isn’t what it was, so she avoids driving, especially at night. I’ve missed being in Jefferson, but settling down here would mean facing the past.
Sensing my unease, Grandma squeezes my hand. “It”s all right, dear. You don”t have to decide now.”
I nod and plaster a smile on my face. “Let me take care of you. I”ll make us some tea.”
I fill the kettle in her cozy kitchen and grab two of Grandma”s favorite mugs. Chamomile for her, Earl Grey for me. Waiting for the water to boil, I glance out the window above the sink. My heart aches at seeing this once-vibrant neighborhood looking faded and neglected, with overgrown lawns and houses in serious need of fresh paint.
I smile as I walk back to the living room with our steaming mugs of tea. I’ve been away too long.
She smiles gratefully. “You take such good care of me. Thank you, dear.”
I kiss the top of her soft white hair. “I”m going to fix up the house so you’re safe. I promise.”
After we finish our tea and Grandma settles in with one of her soaps, I go outside to assess the situation. The flimsy locks on the doors and single-pane windows offer no security. Plus, the fence looks ready to topple over the next time there’s a windstorm. A fierce protectiveness rises in me as I walk to my car.
I”m going to fix this. Now.
* * *
“Miss,can I help you with something?” I turn to see an older man in one of the orange vests the employees wear. He introduces himself as Earl and listens as I explain the situation with Grandma’s house.
“Hmm, let”s see what we can do,” he says, leading me down the aisles.
Earl gestures animatedly as he describes various options—deadbolts, alarm systems, motion-sensor lights. My head spins trying to absorb it all. I want to secure Grandma”s house quickly, but his torrent of suggestions overwhelms me. How am I supposed to know which type of deadbolt is the best? If I have to hire contractors, I’ll be paying that off for years…
“Which of these is most important?” I ask Earl desperately. “I”m not sure where to start.”
He thinks for a moment. “Tell you what. Why don”t I write up a list you can take home and look over? Then come on back with any questions. Don’t forget, you don’t have to do it all at once.”
I thank Earl and nod. “That would be great. Thank you so much.” While doing it all in pieces would be fine in another situation, I’m scared about choosing the wrong thing to fix first, not to mention some things I can’t do on my own, like wire an alarm system.
“Claire?” a familiar voice calls from the end of the aisle. “Claire Matthews? Is that you?”
I know who that is. I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. Slowly, I turn to see Quincy Walker smiling brightly at me. He looks just as I remember—tall and muscular, with piercing green eyes that still make my knees weak.
My heart stutters as memories come flooding back.
We were inseparable in high school…until he joined the Army without telling me. I always knew that’s what he wanted to do, and I supported it. But I was crushed when the day after we graduated, he announced he was leaving for basic training the following week. No warning, no sharing his plans with me, no nothing. He made me feel like I didn’t matter in his life.
Yet seeing him now, memories of our connection resurface. He knew me better than anyone, especially after I had to go live with Grandma after my parents were killed in a car accident.
I can’t deny that I want to know how he’s been. I hear snippets from my friend Tessa, but I know they’re biased because she blacklisted him when he broke my heart. Though Jefferson is a small town, I know she sees him around.
No. I can”t go down that road again. I take a deep breath and force those thoughts away.
“Quincy. Wow. It”s been a long time,” I say as evenly as I can.
“Yeah, how are you? What brings you here?” He seems genuinely glad to see me, which catches me off guard.
His familiar smile still makes my heart race. I remember his strong arms wrapped around me and how it felt like we were a single unit ready to take on the world. In all the years since we broke up, I’ve never felt that kind of security and unity with anyone.
“I’m here to visit Grandma for a while. I”m just getting some things to fix up her house.”
“It”s great to run into you, Claire.” His warm eyes hold mine, and he reaches out as if to touch my arm, but I flinch. His eyes crease with pained surprise, and he steps back.
“Well, I should get back to...” I gesture vaguely toward the service desk, where Earl is looking at us patiently, a piece of paper in his hand. Ugh, I sound like a wooden idiot, but I have no idea how to talk to him. I want to talk to Quincy, but a voice in my head screams that it’s a terrible idea.
“Right. Sure.” Quincy looks disappointed. “It was nice to see you. Tell your grandmother I said hi.”
“You too,” I reply softly. With a last lingering glance, I turn and walk away before my emotions overwhelm me.
I move toward the service desk, my head spinning. Seeing Quincy has dredged up so many intense emotions. But I remind myself that I need to focus on Grandma, not revisit the past.
“Claire, wait up,” Quincy calls after me. I reluctantly turn to face him. “Are you back in town for good?”
I hesitate. “I”m not sure. It kind of depends on my grandmother.”
Concern furrows his brow. “Is everything okay with her?”
I debate for a moment before explaining about the mugging and her neighborhood. “She”s pretty shaken up. Her house isn”t very secure, so I”m trying to fix it up for her.”
Quincy listens intently, his warm eyes filled with care. Grandma loved him, too, and was as hurt as I was when we broke up.
“I”d be happy to help with your grandmother’s house,” he offers earnestly. “She was always kind to me, even after you left for college. Whatever you need, I’ll make it happen. What I can’t do, I know guys who can. Just say the word.”
His enthusiasm surprises me. I had no idea he was in contact with Grandma after I left. I”m touched by the offer, but letting Quincy back in feels risky.
Yet doubt creeps in when I glance at Earl”s lengthy list of security suggestions. Can I handle all this alone? Grandma”s safety is what matters. Don”t I owe it to her to accept help, even from Quincy?
“Okay,” I finally say. “I”d appreciate that. To be honest, this is too much for me to tackle on my own.”
Quincy”s face lights up. “Don”t worry. We”ll get your grandmother’s house all fixed up. You remember Jeremiah? He’s part of a security company now and can help with an alarm system. And my buddy Greg works over at Swinton Construction. We”ll figure this out together.”
His eagerness gives me hope, despite being unsure if he’s genuinely going to step up for this. I want to believe people can change.
“Give me a call tomorrow, and we can discuss a plan. Here”s my number.” I take Quincy’s phone and enter my phone number, hyper-aware of the electricity when our fingers brush.
“Cool. I’m glad to see you, Claire.” Quincy’s eyes are filled with emotion as we say goodbye.