Chapter 9
Malachi
“So, what’s going on with you and Grace?
” Ev asked when I came into the kitchen for breakfast on Saturday.
He was leaning against the marble countertop, sipping a cup of coffee in his usual jeans and flannel combo as I strolled in.
Despite the almost two decades separating our ages, he had become my closest confidant.
I respected the hell out of him and all he’d survived.
Out of all the guys, he was the most mature and had a level head on his shoulders.
I trusted him, implicitly. He’d helped each of us through our transition back into civilian life and had given us each a job and a new purpose.
He was open and honorable, and didn’t hide from his past or make excuses.
It was his honesty and upfront nature that I liked the best. I’d grown up with two people who were saints in public but monsters at home.
I’d learned how to spot a liar, and Everett’s integrity was why I’d confided in him from the start. That, and he was easy to talk to.
“You know how much Gracie means to me. She’s all I’ve ever wanted,” I answered.
“Does she know that? How much, and for how long, you’ve had her in your heart?” His gray eyes assessed me. “And what about the reason she’s here? What about your brother?”
My brother had been playing on my mind ever since I’d seen Gracie again.
I’d known what a monster he was, and I hadn’t been able to protect her.
I’d naively thought he’d have enough morals never to hit a woman, but how stupid had I been.
The guilt of knowing who Cain was, and what Gracie had likely suffered, was enough to make me sick.
“He needs to go,” I stated, ice lacing my words. It was the truth. Cain and my father were vile, horrible people, devoid of souls. The world would be a better place without them.
Ev raised his eyebrows at me over the rim of his mug.
“What? You don’t think so?” I snapped.
“It’s more complicated than that, and you know it,” Ev stated, always the voice of reason.
“I do know; I hate that he hurt her. I wish I could have protected her, got her out, taken her with me when I left. The guilt is eating me alive.”
Everett approached, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “You, more than anyone, know I get it.”
“I know, I’m sorry, Ev. This whole situation is messing with my head.
I never thought I’d get to see her again.
Now she’s here, and all I want to do is keep her safe and avenge her.
Cain is vindictive; if he ever finds her, it won’t end well.
” An involuntary shiver ran down my spine.
The idea of him laying a hand on her ever again had rage simmering in my gut.
Over my dead body.
“Just be careful,” Ev warned. “She’s young, and even though she grew up like you, you’ve been out for as long as she’s been trapped with Cain. She’ll likely need some time to adjust to both you and her new life, not under her father’s or Cain’s thumb.”
Kath, the little minx, invited me to the Papadakis brunch they host every Sunday in Hope’s Ridge.
Kath knew Gracie would be there and that I’d want to see her.
She’d hinted at knowing all about us and that she thinks it’s time I meet all the important people in Gracie’s life if I want a relationship with her.
I think she meant it to sound intimidating, but with my fucked-up past and as a combat vet who lost a leg, not much scares me anymore.
Gracie and I have been texting on and off since Thursday.
Just a few simple ‘good morning’ and getting to know you type texts.
But every time my phone dinged, and I saw her name, my heart skipped a beat.
We tried to speak every day. She usually called me on her break at work which lined up nicely with the time I tried to go to bed.
We talked about everything and caught each other up on our lives.
I felt like I had my best friend back and that filled a void in my heart I didn’t even know was there.
She mentioned the Sunday brunch, but hadn’t invited me. I liked the idea of surprising her.
Ev, Ollie, Oak and Maisie all offered to come with me, along with Ollie’s daughter, Everly.
As they were all locals, and attended from time to time, it would break the ice and, hopefully, allow me to meet everyone without too much extra pressure.
They’d all warned me about Yaya. Everyone knew Yaya; she was infamous across our little community.
She was the formidable Greek Grandma and matriarch of the Papadakis family.
She took no nonsense and had a reputation for being tactlessly direct.
We’d all piled into Ollie’s Silverado and made our way over to Hope’s Ridge.
It was only two towns over and had the best coffee in the county.
With silver trees flanking the road, the picturesque, snowy street was a world away from the barren yet impeccably kept streets of my hometown.
Cars, trucks, and even a few bicycles packed the drive.
I’d known this was a big shindig, but seeing how many people attended, nerves skittered down my spine.
This was Gracie’s new family. Her core supports—her people.
From how fierce Kath was with Grace, I’d guess the rest would be just as protective, if not more. While I was thankful, she had so many people backing her, I was nervous about my acceptance and place in her new world.
As we all exited the truck, I grabbed my hostess gifts.
I was a Southern gentleman after all, and I’d promised Gracie all the romance she deserved.
With the matching gift bags, bottle of wine, and bouquet in hand, I followed Maisie and Ev up the front walk.
Oak offered to take Everly around the back and play with all the kids.
He doted on his niece every chance he got; she’d been a substantial source of hope and joy for all of us since we returned.
Never having attended one of these brunches, I didn’t know what the protocol was as I shifted from foot to foot by the front door.
“Oh, come on. They’re not formal here.” Maisie pushed the front door open and made her way through the house, without a care in the world, with us following in her wake.
We passed a well-appointed living and dining room and rounded the corner into a massive kitchen.
Food covered the counter, and Gracie stood at the stove with her back to me, next to an older woman with curly dark brown hair and a kind smile.
She was instructing Gracie as she stirred something that smelled mouthwatering.
Gracie wore a long-sleeved, sage green tunic dress, black leggings, and cowboy boots. She had tied her hair up in a messy bun, and my heart began to race as she turned toward us.
“Kai,” she gasped, and her steps faltered before she set aside the pot she was holding and rushed towards me. “What are you doing here?” The blush that colored her cheeks had me smiling and snapping out of my daze.
“Kath invited me, and I thought I’d surprise you.” I kissed her cheek before handing her the bouquet of origami lilies I’d made especially for her, my Wildflower.
“Kai, this is beautiful.” She spoke reverently, the awe evident in her voice as she inspected the small bouquet. “Are these paper? Oh my, did you make this? Is this your writing?” She asked as she traced her finger over the edge of one of the blooms.
“I did and it is,” I answered, feeling my cheeks flame. “I used a few of my old letters and I had to make some purple, your favorite color.”
“You remembered. Wow, Kai, this is amazing.”
“Of course I did, Wildflower,” I said in her ear so only she would hear. “I remember everything that has to do with you.”
Her eyes, luminous green gems fringed with dark lashes, sparkled as she looked at me, and a warmth spread through me. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her senseless, but a throat clearing had me remembering my manners and where I was.
“This is for you, ma’am. Thank you for having me.
” I passed the gift bag filled with a bottle of whiskey-infused maple syrup from Jasper’s Peak Farm and some cured fruits.
I had another one for the infamous Yaya and a nice bottle of red wine for Gracie’s brother-in-law, Indy.
Kath had helped me with what to bring, especially the wine for Indy.
“Oh, aren’t you sweet,” she said as she took the bag. “This is lovely, thank you. And none of this Ma’am stuff; you can call me Kat or Ma, if you’re going to be courting our Grace.”
She gazed at Grace as if she were her own daughter, and at that moment I was so thankful Gracie had a kind motherly figure to look up to. She deserved all the love the world held, and if this woman cared for Gracie even a fraction of how I did, I was grateful.
“There is nothing I desire more than to court Grace,” I said with a wink to Gracie, causing her to blush again.
“What am I? Livestock? We’re dating, but there will be no dowry for my hand, I’ll tell you right now.” Her sass shocked a laugh out of me.
“Oh, my goodness, Wildflower! I think Kath is rubbing off on you.”
“Who am I rubbing off on?” Kath asked as she came stomping into the kitchen, with a stout, yet formidable-looking woman trailing behind her.
“Gracie was just showing off some of your trademark sass,” I teased.
“Was she now? About time the fiery redheaded spirit came out. That’s my girl!” She bumped her hip into Gracie’s, making her chuckle. “Yaya, this is Malachi; Mal, this is Yaya in the flesh.”
“You make me sound like the Loch Ness monster.” Yaya spoke with a hearty accent as her gaze assessed me from head to toe.
I gulped at the appraisal. With my best Wranglers, cowboy boots, and a black button-down, I dressed up more today than I had in a while.
I wanted to make a good impression; I hoped she wouldn’t find me lacking.
After a tense moment of silence, Yaya nodded. “You’ll do.”