Chapter Twenty
EFFA
Mercs’ whole body radiates a kind of calm I haven’t seen in him before, like just being here soaks peace into his skin.
We drive down E. Main Street, passing the town square he told me about. The old bandstand sits right in the center, and it’s all so charming and small-town cute that I can’t help but feel my spirits lift.
When we pull into the driveway, the driver parks abruptly, and I take in the house. It’s a modest two-story with white wood panel siding. It’s got a kind of quiet French cottage vibe to it, with a porch lined in potted plants and a single rocking chair waiting patiently by the front door.
As the driver opens my side, I slide out, and Mercs grabs our bags from the trunk, walking with me toward the house.
There’s a sense of comfort and warmth here. Like it’s a place that holds years of love. It’s easy to picture Mercs as a kid, running around this yard, probably causing all kinds of mischief.
But as we climb the steps, nerves flutter in my stomach. Excitement and anxiety, both colliding. I’m about to meet Gran and Kiera, the two people Mercs cares about most in this world, and I want this to go well.
Suddenly, the front door bursts open.
Mercs’ face lights up with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.
I turn to look, and there she is.
Gran.
Her long gray hair falls in soft waves, and she’s dressed in a red flowing dress and a white lace cardigan. She radiates the kind of energy you want to bottle and keep forever.
Her eyes flit between Mercs and me. “Oh gosh, I don’t know who to hug first,” she exclaims with a bright laugh.
I glance at Mercs and tilt my head toward him. Gran catches the motion, winks at me, and throws her arms around him.
“Gran,” he groans as she smothers his face in kisses. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“One day is one day too long without you,” she declares, pulling back to beam at him.
Then her eyes land on me. “Well, aren’t you just a vision?
” She steps in for a hug, and I go willingly into her arms. She smells like cookies and chocolate, and suddenly I feel more at home than I’ve felt in years.
“Thank you for having me, Gran. I’ve really been looking forward to this.”
She waves a hand through the air. “Oh, shush now. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Come inside, Kiera’s practically passing out waiting to meet you.”
I blink and glance at Mercs, who grimaces while picking up our bags again.
“Did Kiera have a turn, Gran?” he asks.
My pulse kicks up a notch. I don’t know exactly what that means, but I brace myself.
“Yes, sweetheart. I think she got a little too excited. She’s resting in the living room.”
Mercs shoots me a look, and I nod, doing my best to keep my expression calm even though the nerves are clawing higher up my throat.
Gran leads us through the house. It’s warm and rustic, with wooden cabinetry, floral curtains, and that old-world, cozy charm I already love.
Mercs drops our bags at the base of the stairs, then turns toward an open doorway on the left. Gran follows, so I do too.
The living room is painted in soft off-whites, filled with plush white-and-wood furniture. A rerun of The Big Bang Theory plays on the television, and I smile. Everything about this place screams comfort.
The sofa is baby blue, cozy-looking, and draped with a white throw. On it, curled up under a blanket, lies Kiera. Her face is pale, framed by her signature beanie, just like in her Facebook pictures. She’s beautiful but fragile.
Gran perches gently on the edge of the sofa, brushing her hand over Kiera’s shoulder.
Her eyes flutter open, and she blinks a few times. “Are they here yet?” she whispers.
“Hey, booger-butt,” Mercs murmurs.
I have to bite back a chuckle. Her gaze snaps to Mercs, and she sits up fast, tossing the blanket off and flinging herself into his arms. He lifts Kiera like she weighs nothing, spinning her gently, kissing her cheek over and over.
“I missed you so much, doofus,” she says before he lowers her back down. She stumbles slightly, and he steadies her.
My heart tugs at the sight, while I catch myself holding my breath, watching her sway.
“I missed you too,” Mercs says, voice soft. “But you should sit down.”
Kiera looks up at me and grins. “I have to hug Effa first.”
I step forward into her embrace. Her frame is so slight, with just skin and bones through the layers. Still, she hugs tight, putting in more effort than her body probably wants to give. When she pulls back, I meet her eyes with a genuine smile.
“Kiera, it’s so good to meet you in person, finally. Kaden talks about you all the time. He absolutely adores you.”
She snorts. “He has to. We’re blood. But you? He really adores you. He’s never brought a girl home before. You, Miss Effervescent, are truly special.”
My cheeks warm, and I glance at Mercs. “Well, I think your Kaden is pretty special too.”
Mercs chuckles. “Shucks. That’s enough of the sappy shit. Kiera, sit down.”
Kiera rolls her eyes. “God, how do you stand him, Effa? Is he always this bossy?”
I laugh, meeting Mercs’ gaze. “Yes, but I hold my own. Pretty sure I’ve got him wrapped around my finger.”
Gran and Kiera both laugh as Mercs lets out a long groan.
“Excellent,” Kiera beams. “Kaden needs to know his place. And having a feisty chick to keep his balls in check is a great start.”
“Kiera,” Gran scolds gently while Mercs raises an eyebrow and at the same time, I burst into laughter.
“You and I…” I say, pointing to Kiera, “… are going to get along just fine.”
She grins wide. “Oh, I know. Anyone who’s down to harass Kaden is A-plus in my books.”
Mercs groans again, cracking his neck as he slings an arm around my shoulders. “Why the hell did I come home again?”
Gran pinches his cheek. “Because you couldn’t possibly live without us.”
He sighs. “True. But a little less teasing would be nice.”
I place my hand on my hip. “Where’s the fun in that? Mercs, you don’t know women at all.”
He leans in and kisses my temple. Kiera watches us with a glowing smile that makes my chest swell.
“Well…” Gran says with a gentle clap of her hands. “You two should get settled. Let Kiera rest before dinner.”
Mercs nods, but Kiera pouts. “I’m fine, Gran.”
“You nearly fell over, Kiera,” Mercs says softly. “We’ve got two full days. Please, rest now and hang with us later.”
She nods, though her lips are tight.
I gnaw on my bottom lip. I want to say something, but this isn’t my place. Not yet. They know Kiera’s limits better than I do.
Gran pats my shoulder. “C’mon, let’s get you two settled.”
We head back to the stairs. Mercs grabs our bags, and we follow Gran up to a bedroom that looks like it probably belonged to him back in the day.
“It’s so good to have you home, Kaden. And Effa, we’re thrilled you’re here. But Kiera’s over-excited, and we need to make sure she doesn’t push herself too hard while you’re here.”
I straighten, nodding as Mercs does the same. “I thought she might get a little… over the top.”
“I promise I won’t ask too much of her,” I say earnestly.
Gran gives me a knowing smile. “I know, sweetheart. We have to watch her. She’s still learning her limits.”
A lump rises in my throat.
I hate that she’s so sick.
I hate that there’s nothing I can do.
“I’ll stay close to home with her,” I say softly. “That way, she doesn’t need to go anywhere or use up her energy. We can simply chill here.”
Gran nods, her expression grateful. “That sounds perfect.”
Gran leans in and gently takes my hand in hers. “I love that you’re so caring, Effa. We have a little day planned tomorrow, and I know Kiera won’t want to miss it, but we need to go slow with her. Let her set the pace. That’s all. I hate to put a dampener on things—”
“Oh no, I completely understand. I’ll look out for her. I promise.”
Mercs wraps his arm around my shoulders, tugging me close. That simple touch, his warmth, his steadiness, is exactly what I need right now. My heart aches that his family is going through this, but I’m glad I’m here, even if it’s just to bring a little light to Kiera’s day.
“We’ll watch her, Gran. Don’t worry,” Mercs assures her.
“I know you will, sweetheart.” She smiles softly. “But enough of that. You two get settled in… dinner will be ready soon. I’m just so happy you’re here. I know we’re going to have a wonderful time.”
Beaming, I pull free from Mercs and step forward to hug her. “I’m so happy to be here.”
She squeezes me tight before stepping back with a warm smile, then turns and closes the door behind her, leaving us alone.
I turn back to Mercs, exhaling slowly. “Do you really think us being here will be okay for Kiera?”
He grins, all confidence and certainty. “I think you being here is exactly what she needs.”
My chest swells with emotion. I step into him, sliding my arms around his neck and pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
When I pull back, I smile wide. “I’ve got a good feeling about this trip.”
His gaze holds mine, warm and steady. “Me too, Effa. Me too.”
I rest my head against his chest, breathing him in, letting the quiet moment wash over me.
Everything feels right.
But somewhere deep in my gut, there’s a whisper I can’t quite silence.
I just hope this calm lasts.