Chapter 9 - Gracie #2
“When I told him we were going to have a baby, he panicked. I wanted to get married but he said he wanted to go to Vegas.” She gave a soft laugh. “I really thought he was going to scope out chapels and such for a quickie wedding. But he got a job in a casino and…never came back.”
“Ooh.” He angled his head in sympathy. “That’s rough.”
“He said he’d come back, then said he’d visit.
He does, once in a while. He calls on most birthdays and at Christmas.
He sends the occasional check, but he’s married with a child and one on the way.
” She looked down, hating that she’d fallen for someone who just didn’t love her enough to stick around and be a man, a father, and a husband.
“I used to be angry about it, but now I’m just…
grateful I got Benny out of the deal. He’s my whole world. ”
“With good reason,” he said, a look of admiration in his eyes. “You’ve raised him alone?”
She shrugged. “Technically, yes. But you met my family at the dog event last Christmas. My mom and aunt, my grandfather and cousin—we’re a pack.
Benny’s been well-loved and I’ve been emotionally supported.
We live in a big house on the Snowberry property where I grew up, like my mother and grandfather. ”
“Very historic and grounding,” he said. “And great for Benny. I think family is so important. My mom died three years ago and…” His voice grew taut. “That’s why I left Pennsylvania. I’d moved her to Pittsburgh, and she lived with Olivia and me. With her gone, I had to start over.”
She searched his face, the obvious and unspoken question hanging between them. “I thought I heard Olivia say something about joint custody once? Her mother is…”
“Her mother is…Bianca.” He said the name as if it stung a little.
“We met when I was with the Steelers. She was…wild. Gorgeous. The kind of person who makes every room tilt sideways when she walks in. I was mid-career, riding high on success, and honestly, too dumb to see what she was really after.”
Gracie stayed quiet, letting him continue.
“She got pregnant about three months after we met,” he said. “I was scared out of my mind, but I was also thrilled. I always wanted to be a dad. I thought maybe that would make everything make sense.” He gave a humorless laugh. “So I did what seemed right. I married her.”
“You were trying to do the honorable thing,” Gracie said, part of her wishing Sam had that much respect, but part of her grateful he didn’t.
“Yeah,” he said. “And for a while, I thought it might work. But when Olivia turned four, and I retired from the NFL, well, I guess the thrill was gone. Bianca started disappearing—nights out that turned into weekends, and long absences with ‘friends’ I’d never met.
When I caught her cheating, it was almost a relief. At least then I knew.”
Gracie’s breath caught. “Marshall…”
“She filed for divorce, took a hefty settlement, and made it clear she wasn’t interested in the whole co-parenting thing. We have joint custody on paper, but she makes just about zero effort to see Olivia. Kind of like your ex.”
She looked skyward. “Some people shouldn’t be parents, but I have to say—Olivia is a gem.”
“So’s Benny,” he said. “But thank you. Credit to my mother, honestly, who did double duty as grandmother. It’s harder now, without her, but Olivia is…everything.”
For a long moment, Gracie fought the urge to reach across the table, to take his hand, to tell him how impressed she was. But she wasn’t that comfortable. Instead, she just smiled.
“She’s lucky to have a dad who loves her so much.”
“I’m lucky to have her,” he said. “She runs rings around me intellectually, though.”
“Welcome to my world,” Gracie joked.
“To single parents of Mensa candidates.” He lifted his mug for a toast. “A special challenge.”
She met his mug with hers just as their gazes locked. For a long moment, the tea shop seemed to quiet, the lights and people and scent of herbal teas all disappeared as her entire focus sharpened on this man.
“I guess we have a lot in common,” she said, surprised at how tight her voice was. “Being a single parent is very hard, no matter what kind of family or village you have.”
“Olivia seems to think so,” he said. “She’s always encouraging me to contact you, but…”
Gracie waited, her brows rising. “But…”
“Well, I still feel like I blew into town and put a damper on your business.”
“You kind of did,” she joked, “but we’ll survive.”
“It’s not exactly great for mine to be across the street from the world’s most desirable cream puffs.”
She laughed and shifted in her seat, knowing that the conversation had led to the fact that their kids had played matchmakers. She should tell him that right now.
He studied her face, looking into her eyes long enough to elicit a blush, but she told herself that anyone would have warmed under that kind of scrutiny.
“The thing is,” he said slowly, making her wonder where he was going next. “I haven’t…I don’t…” He swallowed. “I have a hard time trusting people,” he finally said. “Maybe now that you know my history, you understand.”
“I understand,” she said.
If he wasn’t a trusting man, should she tell him about what the kids had done…or not?
Would he be mad? Disappointed? Amused? Would he wonder why she hadn’t told him when they first talked about it?
“I should probably get back,” he said, tucking a folded napkin next to his mug as if he somehow thought his confession was…too much. “Olivia’s sitter will think I disappeared.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “Benny’s great-grandfather tends to conk out by eight and if that child is left to his own devices, our Christmas tree will run on robotics by the time I get back.”
They stood, pulling on coats and scarves. As they stepped outside, the cold air wrapped around them, crisp and biting. Snow fell thicker now, swirling in the glow of the streetlamps.
They walked in silence for a block. Gracie could feel the warmth of him beside her, that same quiet comfort all over her.
“This was fun,” she said, smiling up at him.
“You sound surprised.” He laughed. “I didn’t even make you eat carrots and chia seeds.”
“I am surprised,” she admitted. “I’m glad we got to know each other.”
They slowed when they reached Sugarfall, which was locked up tight for the night. He turned to her, looking down.
“So am I,” he said. “And next time I see you, we will create the best gingerbread structure this town has ever seen.”
She laughed and pulled out her keys. “I’m going to walk through to my car in the back. Good night, Marshall.”
“You okay to go alone?”
She smiled, touched by the protectiveness she so rarely got to experience. “I am, thank you.”
“’Night, Gracie.”
“Good night, Marshall.”
Inside Sugarfall, the lights were still on in the display case, casting a golden glow. Back in the quiet, warm kitchen, Gracie leaned against the counter and closed her eyes.
He hadn’t made her a nervous wreck. She hadn’t been shy, scared, or stuttering like a crushed-out fool.
Did that mean she didn’t really like him?
Or that she really, really did?