34. Grace
Grace
“Hey, Grace,” Jena greeted me when I was a block away from the bar.
I adjusted the belt on my coat. I felt sweaty and slightly disheveled after helping Fiona lift furniture to the curb and pack away other knickknacks she was willing to part with.
We were refreshing The Grand B&B. I was honored that she trusted me enough to help her with these big changes.
Fiona had taken a shine to me and we’d formed an unlikely friendship.
I couldn’t wait to put the finishing touches on the place that had become an oasis for me.
“Hey, what’s up?” I asked, giving her a half hug. I was grateful for all my friends. While she could be meddling and nosy, I secretly loved her passion toward life and how she truly loved people of all kinds.
I hadn’t visited the coffee shop in a few days, which was a new record. I was coffee addicted—nuts about coffee, if you will.
“Mom made some new pastries you’re going to want to try,” Jena teased. My weakness for sweet treats wasn’t a secret, especially when Ms. Kenzie was the one making them. “Come in tomorrow. We can catch up.”
I nodded and said my goodbyes before making my way to the bar. A black town car passed me on the cobblestone street—like the ones my mom’s car service used. You didn’t see one of those every day in this small town.
Opening the door to the dimly lit bar, I heard raised voices and someone yelling. God, I hoped Dirty Al wasn’t getting rowdy this early.
My stomach churned uneasily, sensing something wasn’t right.
Max was hunched over his phone at the bar.
I shook my head at him, hoping he didn’t get caught looking at porn again.
As I walked behind the bar, I glanced between Max, Dirty Al, and a pissed-off looking Caleb, confused as to what was going on.
But my heart stopped when I leaned over Max’s shoulder and I did a double take when I saw a familiar photo on the screen.
They weren’t photos of naked girls—they were photos of me. Paparazzi photos.
“You didn’t,” I gasped, my head snapping between Max and Caleb, my voice cracking as I was on the verge of tears.
“You googled me?” My question lingered in the air as Caleb walked into my line of sight.
Max jumped as Caleb walked by him. Caleb yanked the phone from Max’s hands and tossed it onto the bar, his expression etched with guilt.
“No, Grace,” Caleb interjected quickly, stepping forward and grabbing my shoulders, his eyes filled with urgency. “Max was just being an ass.”
“But you were looking. You saw!” I accused, my voice low and shaky. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. Fuck!
Caleb’s grip loosened slightly, and uncertainty clouded his features. “I’m all messed up,” he finally admitted. “Between Noelle, this shit, and your mother stopping by today.”
“My mom was here?” Panic surged throughout my body as I took a step away from him. Craving space. Clarity. What was happening?
“Why didn’t you call me? What did she say?” I demanded, growing angry and not caring about our audience. Dirty Al had the audacity to chew bar nuts loudly before Max dragged him into the back.
Caleb eyed me sadly and then looked down, not speaking.
My anger only festered. “Caleb, what the hell did she say? Please just tell me the truth.”
He took a deep breath, his eyes heavy. “Nothing I didn’t already know.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Caleb looked at the floor, cupping the back of his neck. “She offered me a check, Grace. Tried to pay me off to break up with you.”
My eyes widened and my heart shattered. “She did what?”
He nodded solemnly. “Yeah, she said a lot. About me and the bar. How you being stuck in this town will only cause you to resent me. She was pretty convincing too. She said you’re better off in your world. With someone like Grant.”
“And what did you tell her?” I whispered, desperately hoping he didn’t believe that.
“I told her you belong here with me. But now I’m not so sure.”
I shook my head, not believing what I was hearing.
“I don’t want to hold you back, Grace,” he murmured, his eyes filled with a sadness I hadn’t ever seen in him before.
“You’re not!” I cried. “I chose this. I chose you and Noelle.”
He shook his head, moving slowly as though he was in pain. “Maybe you shouldn’t. You once told me you didn’t want me to hate you. Well, I don’t want you to hate me either.”
I stared at him, stunned and shaking. “How could you say that? I love you.”
He shrugged, looking defeated. “I don’t want to hinder you from having the life you deserve.
Your mother insisted it’s so much better and maybe it is.
Sure, it is easier with money. I can’t give you all that.
Look at what happened with Roxy. I burdened her and she left us.
And Noelle is her fucking child. Her real child. What’s to say that won’t happen again?”
The room felt suffocating, and the walls felt like they were closing in on me. The life I once saw myself having in this very room was crumbling before my eyes.
I swallowed loudly and shook my head, raising my chin. “Well, I guess you have all the answers,” I spat bitterly as tears blurred my vision.
Turning sharply on my heels, I ran out the door.
Like déjà vu from the first night we met, Caleb called after me, “Grace, wait!”
But unlike the night we met, I didn’t wait. I couldn’t.
His phone started ringing and I continued to jog ahead.
“Noelle, what’s up?” Caleb hurried out. His voice grew faint so I assumed he must have stopped to speak to her. I didn’t look behind me until I hopped onto the train, hot tears streaming down my face as I left Grand Haven in my rearview window.
“Welcome back, Ms. Harrington,” the bellhop greeted, as I made my way through what was once my happy place.
My usual suite was taken. I accepted any room they would give me. I had to get away from Grand Haven. I needed to escape from the place I escaped to.
I felt betrayed. Nothing could hurt like this—except the loss of my sister.
Caleb did the one thing I asked him never to do. He looked me up on the internet after promising me he wouldn’t. I couldn’t help but wonder if my mother showing up at Bar had anything to do with his sudden change of heart. But why would he believe her over me, the person he claimed to love?
I told him my truth. I wanted that to be enough for him. Not him to need to read tabloid gossip that had nearly ruined my life. If he wanted to know anything, I would’ve told him.
After Noelle admitted to getting bullied by her peers because they saw a glimpse of my past, I knew things would be tense for a while. There was also Grant’s lingering threats.
I was naive enough to think we could ride out the storm, like a family.
Caleb wasn’t the only person I would lose if things went south. I would lose Noelle. Not to mention the town I grew to love. The town that embraced me when my own family disowned me.
As the elevator made its ascent, I realized I needed to try to fix things with Caleb. We could get through it. He was worth it. We were worth it.
Shuffling through my purse, I found my phone, which had many missed calls and messages from Caleb. I glanced at the time and realized he must be on his way home from picking up Noelle from school. I’d take a shower to calm down and then try to call him.
I stepped out of the bathroom, hearing somebody pounding on the door. Caleb? I ran to the door and opened it without looking in the peephole.
As I did, my stomach lurched as I smelled a once-familiar smell: overpriced cologne and jackass.
Standing in front of my door was none other than Grant Abernathy.
“Hello, Grace.” He smirked, and I gulped, my stomach turning all over again.