Chapter 30
Grace”s heartbeat came in rhythmic thuds in her chest. She liked Sid. Probably more than like, but it was soon. And, she was scared. Terrified is more like it. She was terrified. She”d left her bad marriage, and it was nothing short of a miracle that she came out as good as she did. Her ex fought her every step of the way. He wanted to control everything. Luckily, she had a great attorney who had seen men like this before, and she let him have it with both barrels. Her ex had to pay her for half of the house, they didn”t have credit card debt, thank goodness, but he did have to pay for his own bills that he”d piled up along the way. So, she left with enough money to buy her little bungalows, fix them up, and then put a nice down payment on the next ones as soon as she could see fit.
She stared into Sid”s deep brown eyes. She felt like she could see him in them. Really see him. He didn”t look away from her. He didn”t hide from her. He didn”t hide his illness, though it would be impossible to, since that”s how they met. But, since that first day, he didn”t hide anything from her. He fessed up in the driveway about Jace, before they came in to look at the house. So, she knew where his head was the entire time.
His deep voice floated over her like a warm blanket. ”Tell me what you”re thinking, Grace.”
She took a deep breath. ”I”m thinking I”m scared.”
His fingers squeezed hers. ”I understand that. How about if we leave this big decision for another time then?”
As he looked into her eyes, she saw earnestness. ”I don”t want to leave you hanging. This is an incredible opportunity for you.”
He chuckled. ”Oh, I”m buying the house. It”s perfect. I like being away from town, but not too far. I can see coming home at night and relaxing on that porch out back, staring at the water like I do at the bungalow, but without all the people milling about. Just this sanctuary called home. In my mind I see you here clearly. But, what”s important is that you see yourself here clearly.”
Yes, that was true. That”s what she needed to see. And, if she were honest with herself, she could see living here. It was absolutely a sanctuary. A place that worked like a balm on a tired soul. Home, he”d said home. She hadn”t felt like she”d ever had a home. Not since she left her parent’s home to go to college. Her life with her ex was always tumultuous. Everything was what he wanted. What he said. Where he wanted to go. She had little say in anything, including the house they lived in. He decided where they”d live.
”Can we go out and see the front porch?”
He chuckled. ”I”d like that. I only had a glimpse from the window.”
She stood and Chiefy jumped up from the rug she”d been laying on and it struck Grace that Chiefy felt comfortable here too. She”d laid down on a rug without whining or pacing.
As Grace reached the bedroom door she turned and stared out the window at the sun, now lowering itself into the water, its orange burst about to extinguish for the evening.
Sid”s hand found hers and she wrapped her fingers with his as they walked the hallway to the kitchen. As they stepped into the kitchen, the beauty of the room and the warmth of the man standing next to her felt like a warm blanket. She felt peaceful here.
Sid bent and grabbed Chiefy”s leash, then opened the back door for her. The wooden porch was covered, and enclosed with windows, which someone had opened, maybe Quinn. The room was inviting, and they didn”t have to slap at mosquitos as they took in the landscape. Sid led them to a tan, L-shaped sofa, which allowed them to relax and enjoy. As soon as they sat together, his arm wrapped around her shoulders and she laid her head on his shoulder. His breathing was even, his presence comforting. She didn”t feel the nervous energy she used to feel with her ex. She was always afraid she was doing something wrong and he”d criticize her for it. All evening long. Here, she felt truly relaxed.
Birds flew over the water, one of them swooped down and picked a fish from the water. Chiefy barked and her tail wagged as it flew past their view, looking like it was coming to offer them food.
Chiefy sat down and stared out the windows just as they did.
”I want to live here with you, Sid. If you”re sure you want us here.”
He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her shoulders. ”I”ve been sure about many things in my life, Grace. I”ve been unsure too. I”m absolutely sure that I”d love for you and Chiefy to live here with me.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. Her nose tingled as tears threatened. She sat next to Sid as she was and let the feelings flow over her. A tear slipped from her eye and landed on his shirt.
After she felt she could talk without crying, she said. ”I”ve never known peace like this before.”
”Me either, sweetheart.”
Chiefy finally laid down on the rug in the Florida room, flopped to her side and closed her eyes. She was at peace here too. That said a lot.