Chapter 30 #2
I choke a little on my own breath.
“But,” Winnie continues, eyes dancing, “Grace said she’d rather pick those out herself.”
I glance between them. By the look on Winnie’s face, that was probably a very good call.
Grace
I get home later than I planned. I’m already rehearsing my apology in my head when I open the door and freeze.
Elvis is blaring “Burning Love” through the speakers. Well, that part is normal. What is not normal… is what’s happening in the living room.
Ben is on the coffee table. Dancing. On. The. Coffee. Table. In his socks.
Winnie has her hands on his hips and is physically rotating him from side to side like she’s directing a workout video. “You need more hip action!” she declares.
“Winnie!”
“Oh, hi Grace. We’re just giving your man some lessons.”
“What kind of lessons?” I choke out a laugh. Manhandling 101?
Ben tries. Truly. But his version of “hip action” looks like he’s attempting to dodge invisible bees. His shoulders are stiff. His jaw is clenched in total concentration.
“I feel ridiculous,” he mutters.
“Again!” Winnie nudges his arm. “Loosen up! Pretend you’re Elvis.”
Ben squeezes his eyes shut like he’s bracing for impact and tries again.
A sound slips out of me, not quite a laugh, not quite a gasp. “What on earth is happening?”
Ben scrubs a hand over his face. He’s such a good sport.
Winnie nods solemnly. “He lacks pelvic confidence.”
I snort before I can stop myself.
“Don’t laugh,” Ben groans.
I drop my bag and walk closer, tilting my head as I smile up at him. The man I married, currently marooned on my coffee table. “You’re up here because you love me?” I question.
He exhales. “I am up here because I love you.”
Winnie claps her hands. “See? Romance.”
I step forward, reach up, and take Ben’s hands. “You don’t need lessons,” I murmur. “You’re already my favorite performer.”
His ears turn pink.
Winnie sighs dramatically. “Fine. But when he wins a dance contest someday, remember who trained him.”
As I help Ben down from the table, still smiling at him like he’s my favorite miracle, one thing becomes perfectly clear, our honeymoon weekend hasn’t even started yet, and it’s already unforgettable.
“Did you get the ones I told you about?” Winnie waggles her brows at me.
“No,” I respond deadpan. Ben’s head whips back and forth between us. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, Mrs. Banks.” He extends his arm toward the door. “Your chariot awaits.”
“Aww. My baby got a good one.” My mother sniffles.
Running over to her side, I give her a big hug. “Yes. I did. Please stay well while I’m gone.”
“Seeing you this happy is all the medicine I need.” The conversation with Ben at the airport where he reminded me my mother had me comes to the forefront of my mind. I have to fight not bawling on the spot. “I love you. I’ll take lots of pictures.”
“Oh, good,” Winnie blurts.
“Not of that.”
“Oh, shucks. I bet he looks hot with his clothes off.”
“Winnie!” my mother and I screech.
Thankfully, we use this opportunity to head out.
The road stretches out in front of us, sunlight flickering through the trees, and there’s not a cloud in the sky. We’re headed to our honeymoon.
Our honeymoon! I internally squeal. I still can’t quite wrap my head around it.
His truck rattles a little as we hit a rough patch of pavement, and Ben winces, glancing at the dashboard like it personally offended him.
“This thing is officially on borrowed time,” he mutters.
I laugh. “It’s not that bad. Trust me, I’ve driven far worse.”
He gives me a look. “I purchased a beat-up old truck because it was mainly going to be used on a dusty construction site. I knew I’d eventually need a new one. But yours…” He points at me accusingly. “That is the first thing we’re replacing.”
“Already making executive decisions, Mr. Banks?”
He smirks. “Second thing is picking out a real ring.”
I glance down at my finger, at the brightly colored Ring Pop I keep replacing each time I finish one off. This one is blue raspberry.
“If I don’t get you a real one soon, we’ll probably have to get you to a dentist.” He chuckles. “I’d say we could pick one out this weekend, but I’m not sure they’ll have a nice enough jewelry store where we’re going.” The laughter fades, replaced by a thought that’s been weighing heavy on my mind.
“It was you,” I say carefully. “You’re the one who took care of all of my mom’s debt, weren’t you?”
He shrugs like he paid a parking ticket, not erased years of fear. “Yeah. It had to be done, Gracie.”
I swallow down the lump in my throat. “I hate that you’re spending your money on me. I’ve been in your shoes, being the only one in the relationship bringing financial stability.”
He glances at me, brows pulling together in confusion.
“You must have an awful lot of money,” I add softly. “If you could take care of hospital and medical bills without blinking.”
He reaches over, lacing his fingers with mine. Then he lifts my hand, brushing feather-light kisses along the inside of my wrist. “No, baby,” he murmurs. “We have a lot of it. It’s our money. And you more than make up for the financial part of our relationship in emotional stability.”
I give him a questioning look.
“Honest. I never dreamed I could be this happy,” he adds quietly. “And it’s all you.”
The love swelling in my chest feels almost unreal. Like any day, I could wake up from this dream.
I always thought this kind of love only happened in fairy tales. But here we are. And for the first time in my life… I believe in happily ever after.
We pass a sign that says welcome to North Carolina, and my heart rate speeds up. “Oh, I have a dear friend who lives here. I wonder how far her town is from where we’re going?”
“Why don’t we check once we get there? Maybe we can leave a little early and make a detour to pay her a visit on the way back.”
“Really?” I squeal. The delight I’m feeling with everything this man does should be starting to feel commonplace. I guess it will take a while. Heck, I’m not sure I ever want things with him to feel normal.
The sign for Sycamore Mountain comes into view, and I start shaking, my finger pointed at the exit but the words are stuck in my throat.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“This is it.”
“What’s it?”
“Where my friend lives. Oh my god. Ben, are we going to Sycamore Mountain for the weekend?”
His bright smile is worthy of a Colgate commercial. “Yes! I’ve met some great new friends here. And fell in love with this small town. Is it your first time here?”
“Yes.” I can’t stop the tears. “I’ve missed her so much. We talk on the phone almost every day.”
“What’s her name? We’ll have to call her once we check in to the little Bed and Breakfast.”
“It’s Tuesday. Tuesday Palmer. Oh, duh. I mean, Tuesday Bell now.” I giggle. More at the realization both of us are married women now. I shake my head. This still doesn’t feel real.
The car starts to slow. Looking through the windshield, I realize there’s no light, yet he’s pulled over by the side of the road. Oh no, maybe we do need to look at replacing this thing sooner than mine.
“Tuesday is your best friend?”
“Yes.”
“Ha!” Ben throws his head back in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. “Of course she is. My god, can this world get any smaller?”
“What? How do you know Tuesday?”
“I’ll explain it all once we get there. Suffice it to say, she’s my favorite florist.”
Yes. It is a small world.
Small, but wonderful.
Ben pulls up in front of Cygnature Blooms, and for a second I stare at the storefront like it might disappear if I blink too hard.
The painted flower boxes under the windows, the little brass bell on the door, and the chalkboard sign that leans slightly to the left.
It all feels like stepping back into an easier time in my life.
Where I’d show up in Hanover at Tuesday’s part time job and share silly girl talk.
No stress about my mother’s illness or our financial troubles. Just gossip, giggles, and warm hugs.
As soon as we walk inside, the scent of eucalyptus and roses wraps around me. I hold my breath in nervous anticipation. Can this be really—
“Grace!” Tuesday’s voice rings out from behind the counter, and before I can even say her name she’s already launching herself across the shop. She collides with me in a hug so tight my feet nearly leave the floor. “Oh my gosh, you’re here, you’re actually here.”
“I know. I can’t believe it. When Ben said he was taking me away for the weekend, never in a million years would I have imagined this would be where. Oh, Tuesday.” I clutch her so tight I bet she can barely take a breath. Tears tumble down my cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much,” I cry into her hair.
She clutches me just as tightly. Finally pulling away, Tuesday’s hands still gripping my arms, big green eyes blinking back tears. And then she notices Ben standing behind me.
Her gaze flicks between us. “Oh. My. God. She is your Grace!”
“Yes.” He chuckles. My eyes bounce between them, confused at their conversation.
Tuesday steps in to give Ben a familiar hug. And then looks down. And then back up.
“Wait,” she says slowly, dramatically, “Holy shit, Gracie. Did you two get married?”
Ben clears his throat. “That would be a yes.”
Tuesday’s mouth falls open. She squeals again, louder this time, and slaps a hand over her chest like she’s about to faint. “YOU DID NOT. You romantic lunatics!” She launches into another hug, grabbing both of us this time, while Ben and I laugh.
“You know how romantic we are?” I snort. “So hot for it that we drove to a tiny mountain town to spend our honeymoon with my bestie.”
“Wait, what?” Ben interjects.
Tuesday doubles over. “I always knew I liked Ben.”
Ben
Later, we head over to Elliot’s Hot Chicken, the warm scent of spices and fried goodness hitting us like a hug of its own. Alex slides into the booth urging his wife to join him while Tuesday chatters nonstop.
Grace entwines her fingers with mine wearing a naturally radiant smile. Hell, I’d give my entire net worth if I thought it would keep it there. If only I could freeze this rare moment in time—
When my eyes land on Betty behind the counter, I immediately try to retract my earlier thought. “Oh no,” I murmur.
“What?” Grace asks, the smile falling from her face.
Betty locks eyes with me, squints dramatically, and then shouts, “Well, I’ll be damned. If it ain’t sassy pants, returning to pay us a visit!” She comes closer, noticing my hand wrapped in Grace’s. “And you got hitched!”
The entire restaurant turns to stare.
I blink, unsure how to answer this unpredictable, scary woman. Slowly I raise my hand. “Hi, Betty.”
She winks at Grace. “Girl, you look like you won the lottery, and the jackpot married you back.”
I run my hand down my face and hold my breath waiting for Grace to respond while Tuesday wheezes with laughter.
“You’d be right,” Grace announces proudly.
“Congratulations, son. You did good.” I lower my hand nervously and exhale.
Soon the table is full, many of my new friends stopping by to wish us well as Ellie and Betty pile our plates high. Laughter mixes with the clatter of silverware and glasses.
As the night draws to a close, I tell Grace we should make our way to the Bed and Breakfast. Tuesday squeezes me into another hug before pulling her best friend into her tight embrace.
Her sweet reassuring voice brings a warmth to my soul as she whispers, “Things are finally looking up for you, Gracie. And no one deserves it more.”
And once again, this woman is absolutely right.