Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
G race could not keep the smile off her face. It had been three days since she and Trevor had met in the healing garden, and they’d spent a lot of time kissing.
Those memories were sweet, and she thought about how the healing garden really had healed so much of their relationship.
Of course, she had to hand it to Trevor, he had forgiven her easily and completely without requiring her to jump through any hoops or make any specific promises.
He’d just taken her at her word and trusted her.
She wasn’t sure whether she would have been able to do that or not, but she appreciated the fact that he had, and she promised herself that she was not going to let him down. Ever.
They had decided that because their parents’ relationship was so new, they would wait a few days before they announced to their parents at least that they were together.
It had been an extremely long three days, but she and her mother were going to Trevor and Don’s house, and they were making supper for them. And they were going to announce their relationship status at the meal.
Beyond that, she would need to tell her sisters, and he could tell his siblings, and they would move on from there.
They didn’t have a timeline, other than they didn’t want to wait forever.
They’d already wasted a lot of time apart from each other.
Both of them agreed that they wanted to be done wasting time.
“This cauliflower seems to be a tradition at the meals we have with Don and Trevor,” her mom said as she opened the door and held it open while Grace walked through after a perfunctory knock.
“I kinda like it. Not just the fact that it’s tradition, but the cauliflower itself. So good. I think I could eat it pretty much every day.”
“I like it, but I don’t know if I like it that much,” her mother said, walking beside her without limping at all. Her hip was almost as good as new.
“Gita Baby!” Don said, coming around the corner and putting his arms up and embracing her mother in a huge hug, which her mother did not hesitate to return.
Every time Grace saw them together, she had to smile and be so happy for her mom. After all, after the heartache and sadness she had with losing their dad, it was so nice to see her happy again and with a man who deserved her.
“Donnie. It’s so good to see you.” They looked into each other’s eyes as Trevor came around the corner, looking absolutely adorable in a black apron with pictures of grilling tools on the front.
Grace supposed she would think he would look dashing in anything, but the apron really made him attractive.
“Grace,” Trevor said, and she realized that she needed to talk to him about getting her a cute nickname the way her mom had. After all, nothing said I love you more than a nickname that only the two of them shared.
Although, the way he said her name made her fingers tingle, and maybe she didn’t need a nickname after all.
“Trevor. Hello,” she said, feeling suddenly self-conscious, which was ridiculous. This was Trevor, who always made her feel so at ease and to whom she could say anything.
She felt awkward standing there and wanted to go and wrap her arms around him, but her parents didn’t know about them yet, and they had agreed that they would tell them this evening, not show them.
“You ladies need to come in. Supper is ready. Perfect timing,” Don said as he put an arm around Gita and walked into the dining room with her beside him.
Trevor and Grace followed behind, exchanging looks and smiles and all the secret things that people who are in love do.
Grace didn’t think that this would ever be her again, and she vowed once more to be careful to nurture her relationship, and not take advantage of it, and cherish it the way she knew she needed to. Not everybody got a second chance like this.
They sat down, Don said grace, and they started to eat.
Grace had only taken a mouthful when Trevor said, “Grace and I have something to tell you two.”
“That’s funny, because Gita Baby and I have something to tell you two,” Don said, putting his hand over top of Gita’s hand which was beside her plate.
“All right. Did you want to tell us now?” Trevor said, glancing at Grace with his brows raised. They weren’t expecting this. They were expecting that they had given their parents enough time to get used to their relationship before they stole the spotlight with their own.
“I think we can, Donnie,” Gita said, smiling.
“All right then. I’ll just say it. I asked Gita Baby to marry me last night, and she said yes.”
“Wow,” Grace said, putting her hands together and trying to pretend it was a clap and not out of shock.
She was not expecting that, but her mom had said something about life getting shorter and not wanting to waste any days, and she felt the same way about her own relationship.
Plus, there was no doubt that Gita and Don were perfect for each other.
She smiled sincerely. “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks,” Gita said, beaming at her daughter and then looking back at Don.
“That’s awesome, Dad. I am surprised it’s so soon, but it feels like perfect timing.” Trevor sounded like he was telling the truth, and Grace believed him. After all, she’d never heard him lie. Unlike her ex. That was just one difference, a major one, but one of many.
“Thanks. We figured you two would be happy for us. Now we have to announce it to the rest of the family. I didn’t want to wait, so I’ll probably call your sisters this afternoon.”
“And I’ll call your siblings as well. We’re probably going to have a wedding within a week or two, since we didn’t want to drag it out. But we wanted everyone to know before we actually got hitched.”
“That’s considerate of you,” Trevor said.
“Anyway. That’s our news. What’s yours?” Gita said as she and Don continued to hold hands.
Was it okay to share the news of their own relationship?
Grace only hesitated a moment before she felt certain her mother would not mind in the slightest and would actually want to know.
“I said some things to Trevor on our kayaking trip that weren’t true.
And I got enough courage to talk to Trevor about them. ”
Trevor smiled at her, and she kinda stumbled. She hoped he would take over, and he seemed to read that on her face.
“We decided that we are going to be together. I haven’t asked her to marry me yet, Dad. You’re faster than I am, but I suppose that’ll be coming, because that’s the direction our relationship is headed. That’s our goal, right, Grace?”
He lifted his brows, as though wanting to make sure that he wasn’t saying anything that she didn’t agree with. She appreciated the fact that he was careful and concerned about her.
“That’s right. Although, I’m a little bit upset that you allowed your dad to beat you.”
“Maybe I want to get a ring first. I noticed that your mother doesn’t have one.”
“I told him not to worry about it. At my age, jewelry doesn’t mean anything at all. I have plenty of rings but no husband. I’d rather have a husband than a thousand rings.” Her mother gave another sweet smile to Don.
“You’re getting a husband, and you’ll have a ring if you want one. I just didn’t want to force you to wear something you didn’t want.”
“It never even occurred to me that you might not want a ring.” Trevor looked at Grace.
She lifted her shoulder. “A ring says to the rest of the world that you’re married, but I guess having a ring for a ring’s sake doesn’t really mean anything to me. It’s just for what it says to everyone else.”
“A wedding ring, then, but not an engagement ring?”
Maybe they should have this conversation in private, but she wasn’t going to shut him down. And she didn’t care if Mom, and now her future stepfather, heard.
“Yes. That would work just fine. Honestly, I don’t care. Having the husband, like my mom said, is the most important thing. A husband with character and integrity, someone I can depend on, someone who will be honest with me and keep his word. I would take that over a thousand rings any day, too.”
“Sounds to me like we’re in agreement,” her mother said, looking over at Grace.
Grace looked around the table, at the family that had been cobbled together. She thought about how hopeless her life had been not that long ago and how hopeful it looked now. It was funny how just a few turns of the earth happened and everything was different.
Maybe it wasn’t so funny after all, since God promised to work everything together for her good. Sometimes she just had trouble remembering that.