Chapter 1 #2
"Th-thank you," Grace stuttered.
"Oh, get over it." Shirley rolled her eyes as she waved a hand in dismissal.
"You've been an excellent employee and deserve to be recognized.
You'll be missed." The tall, slender fifty-something woman stepped forward and gave her a stiff hug that was every bit as awkward as Grace expected it to be.
She turned to the rest of the group. "Now hurry and say your goodbyes and clear out so you're not in the way of the evening shift. "
Then the woman was gone.
"Hate to see you leave us," Brad said as he enveloped her in a big bear hug. "I hope it's for greener pastures."
You and me both.
Jeff said goodbye with little more than a grunt and a pat on the back. Then Grace was left with Jeanette and Barb. Her two closest friends at work.
"So you’re really moving to Providence?" Jeanette asked.
"Actually, I moved into my new house last weekend.
" Saying the words still sent a little thrill through Grace.
She was a homeowner now. In a small town that didn't have many prospects for marriage and a family.
But she was doing what she'd felt prompted to do, so she had to put her trust in God that it would all work out.
The house was far from new and needed some renovations and updating—which Paige's family had generously helped with—but it was hers. Well, part of it. The other half of the duplex belonged to her brother Gabe.
"I wasn't planning on leaving, but..." Grace let her words trail off.
Grace had planned to keep her job here in the Tri-Cities even though it meant an hour-long commute. Then Paige's dad offered her a job at the hospital in Providence, and Grace accepted.
"But Providence?" Jeanette's expression was skeptical. "I'm surprised they even have a hospital there."
"Oh, stop it." Barb gave Jeanette's shoulder a shove. "You're just jealous that Grace gets to work in a small-town hospital that's a lot less stressful than here."
Grace gave Barb a grateful smile.
"It just felt right." Grace gave a shrug that felt inadequate in comparison to the magnitude of the changes she'd made. She couldn't deny the unseen force that had been guiding her for the last six weeks.
When her brother decided to move to Providence to be closer to his fiancée and his job, despair filled Grace.
As deep and wide as the chasm that engulfed her when they got the news three months ago that their mother had stage-four pancreatic cancer.
When the cancer took her mom, Grace wanted to be near family.
Barb set the basket on the desk. "Small town life takes some getting used to.” She grinned. “Everybody knows your business and thinks they should be a part of it. And gossip tends to run rampant, but they mean well. Mostly."
Grace laughed. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."
Barb nodded thoughtfully. "Once people get to know you, most of them will give you the shirt off their backs."
Grace thought about the people she'd met in Providence so far—mostly her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s family—and she agreed with Barb. They were some of the kindest people she'd ever met.
"How's your mom doing since you guys moved?" Jeanette asked.
"It wore her out, but she's hanging in there."
"Not having to commute will mean you can spend more time with her." Barb's smile was encouraging.
Grace nodded. “I’ll even be able to run home and check on her on my lunch break.”
"That’s good." Barb closed in and wrapped her arms around Grace. "Keep us posted, okay? I'm going to miss you so much. Working with you always made the long shifts bearable."
Grace squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears from falling. "I'm going to miss you too."
Barb was ten years older than Grace, but she was like a big sister who was a great listener and always full of words of encouragement.
Jeanette hugged her next. "Any time you need a break or just want a fix of city life, call us. Barb and I will paint the town with you."
"I might take you up on that." Grace wondered how long it would take her to go stir crazy in the small town.
Grace picked up the basket, spotting an assortment of her favorite brand of hot chocolate, a scented candle, and bath bombs, as well as her favorite sweets. "Thanks for all the goodies. Shirley may have approved this, but I know it was you two who put it together."
"We couldn't let you leave without letting you know how much you mean to us." Barb gave her another side hug.
"Thank you. You guys mean the world to me too." Tears flooded Grace's eyes again. "And on that note, I'm going to leave before I totally start blubbering."
"Take care."
"Love you."
Jeanette and Barb's voices followed Grace down the hall where she hurried into an open elevator just as the doors started to close.
"Whoops." The tall, dark-haired man inside held out a hand to hold the doors.
"Thanks." She stepped to the back of the small compartment.
"Main floor?" He looked over his shoulder before pressing the button.
Grace nodded, still trying to keep the stupid tears in her eyes from falling. She had a lot to look forward to in Providence, but man, she was going to miss this place.
The doors closed, and the noise of gears and cables engaging sounded above them as the elevator began its descent. Then the carriage jerked to a stop, and everything went dark.
The sudden jolt threw her off balance, thanks to the weight of the basket in her arms. Her free arm flew out, desperate to steady herself. Her hand met warm flesh, and she grabbed hold as panic squeezed her chest, sucking the air from her lungs.