Chapter 21
Chelsea went through the sale rack, putting sizes in the correct order, and even organizing everything by color, something she had just started after Grady left.
Her employees had expressed their curiosity and even frustration at setting up the racks and displays in the new way, but she’d just told them to deal with it.
It had been six weeks now, and he should be getting his casts off as long as everything had healed properly.
Her sisters, Anneka and DeAndra, had been great supporters as usual, but they both told her she needed to give Grady a chance. She wasn’t sure she could.
She still hadn’t come to a decision. A week ago, she had sent Grady a text asking if he was all right.
He had responded with, I miss you. When can we talk?
She replied, Not yet.
Please call me when you’re ready to work through this, was his last text.
She knew what she wanted, and that was Grady. She needed him.
But was what she wanted and needed good enough to surpass the two things she hadn’t thought she could ever live with again?
She loved him, no doubt about that. She loved him with everything she had.
Was it enough?
She frowned. Grady had said he had a better chance of being in a plane crash than dying on the job. Was that true?
And she told him she trusted him, she believed in him. Had she lied to him? Had she lied to herself?
The store was empty, except for one of her employees, Mandy, who was working on the window display.
Chelsea went behind the counter to her tablet that sat near the register, and put in her password. She went to her Internet browser and typed in a search for “firefighter statistics.”
The first result was a site for family members of firefighters.
Chelsea had no idea there was a site for wives of firefighters, but she supposed there was one for wives of many dangerous careers.
She clicked on the link, and it took her to a page that discussed the chances of a firefighter being killed on the job.
According to the guest writer, there were over 1.2 million firefighters across the U.S., like Grady had told her. This article was more specific, and the entire U.S. had fewer than seventy “Line of Duty Deaths,” or LODDs, per year.
“Less than seventy?” Chelsea tapped her fingers on the counter next to the register. “Out of over 1.2 million?” Every life was precious, and every LODD was a tragedy, but she had expected the number to be much higher.
She read on and saw that a firefighter had a greater chance of dying in a car accident than in a LODD. She blinked at the screen. Grady had been injured, but he hadn’t died, and there was a slim chance of his actually dying in a fire.
Was it taking a chance to be with a firefighter? She shook her head. Clearly not.
That left his addiction.
She closed her eyes and slowly breathed in and out. What was the right thing to do in her case?
Her mind went over and over what it had been like to live with George, and the differences between him and Grady.
Grady got help and remained sober. He had shared the fact that he had a problem when George hadn’t.
While he was in the hospital, he had asked the doctors not to give him painkillers and just used Tylenol and ibuprofen.
No, Grady wasn’t George.
And she truly trusted and believed in him.
Why had it taken so long to work through this?
She took in a deep inhale and let it out slowly. For the first time in weeks she felt peace.
Yes, peace. She smiled. She loved Grady enough to be with him no matter what happened. Whatever the future held, they could make it through together.
She pulled her phone out of her purse and brought up Grady in her text messages. I’ve made my decision. When can you meet?
His reply came back almost immediately. Tonight, 5:00 P.M. Our place.
Her chest grew tight. Giovanni’s. The place they had gone on their first date had become their place.
I’ll be there. She relaxed and set the phone aside before heading home and getting ready for tonight.
Grady’s heart pounded steadily as he used his cane to follow the hostess, who was leading him to Chelsea’s table. When he saw her, the thumping in his chest almost stopped.
God, she was gorgeous. He wanted to kiss her sweet smile as he looked into her beautiful green eyes, while he slid his fingers into her soft blonde hair. He needed to hold her in his arms and never let her go again.
She stood as he made his way to her. The hostess seemed to realize they needed to be alone because she retreated with just a slight bow of her head.
Chelsea’s eyes glittered with tears. “Grady.” The way she said his name made him feel like warm honey flowed through his veins.
The moment he stood in front of her, she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against his T-shirt. He felt her tremble as he stroked her back with his free hand.
If he hadn't had so many sisters, he might have been more concerned about why she was crying. At a young age, he learned that women sometimes cried over anything emotional. Not all women, but most of his sisters were like that.
He continued to stroke her back. “Honey, are you okay?”
“I am now.” She raised her head, and her mascara was smudged from her tears. He carefully wiped away the traces with his thumb as he looked into her eyes. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you, too, honey.” His throat went dry as the moment of truth and her decision was upon them. “Why don’t we sit down?”
She nodded, seeming unable to speak for a moment. She looked at his cane. “You’re doing so well.”
They sat close to each other at the round table, close enough for a quiet conversation.
“Talk to me.” He brushed her hair away from her face, sliding his fingers through the strands. He breathed in her soft, flowery perfume. He’d missed her scent, as much as he missed touching her, kissing her.
She caught his hand in both of hers and squeezed. “I’m just going to say it.”
“Go ahead.” He found himself holding his breath and forced air from his lungs before drawing another breath.
“I love you, Grady.” She smiled. Warmth filled his entire being as she spoke. “Whatever our future holds, I will be there for you. No matter what.”
He swallowed hard, feeling so choked up he could barely get the words out. “I love you, Chelsea. I’ve loved you forever.” He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her until his mind spun. When he drew away, he gave a big grin. “I’m not feeling so hungry right now.”
“I feel like playing nurse.” She gave him her adorable, mischievous expression. “Let’s get out of here.”