Chapter 18 - Take Your Time

Grace’s pulse raced, but everything around her moved in slow motion as she ran from Dani’s news. She’d held back the tears until out of Dani’s presence, but now they fell freely.

“Hey, Grace. Pretty girl.” In Grace’s peripheral vision, Dirty Harry danced on his perch like an old reel-to-reel movie about to break.

“Shut up, Harry.” He’d said the nicest words to her ever, but she couldn’t stop so close to Dani and acknowledge him. She ducked into Mary Jane’s room. No one would follow.

She dropped into the upholstered recliner in the corner that was so old dust motes perpetually hovered likes bees around honey. The sides enveloped her the way Mary Jane’s arms had when she was a child but offered none of the comfort. And the tears continued.

A light tap on the door preceded Clay’s concerned voice. “Gracie, are you okay?”

“We’re here, if you need us,” Trip added.

“Need…to be…alone.”

She’d been wrong about Dani and risked her heart again. Neither their intimate conversations, sharing stories about their lives, satisfying sex, nor deep feelings could hold Dani if she didn’t want to stay. No amount of preparation could’ve eased the ache in Grace’s chest or the feeling she might drown in grief. She curled into the chair, pulled a blanket around her to hide from her feelings and the rest of the world, and sobbed.

She woke later to Mary Jane’s soft voice laced with worry. “Grace, honey? Are you all right?” Mary Jane shook her gently.

Grace hugged the blanket tighter, refusing to wake up or face anything outside of her fabric cocoon. “Sorry.” Her throat was scratchy, and her stuffy nose made her voice sound muffled. Mary Jane didn’t need to see her this way again. They’d been here before, and Grace apparently hadn’t learned her lesson. “Sorry I invaded your space.”

“It’s perfectly all right. You know that.” She rubbed Grace’s shoulder, and then Grace heard her move toward the small kitchenette in the back part of the room. “I’ll make us a cup of green tea while you unravel yourself from that blanket. It must be over a hundred degrees under there.”

“Thanks.” She lifted a corner of her cover, and a blast of cooler air rushed in. She inhaled and wiped her eyes on her T-shirt, the salt of tears making her face feel rough.

Mary Jane took her time puttering with the tea, and when she returned, Grace was sitting up, the blanket once again covering the back of the chair. “I’m sorry again for crashing your place. I know you don’t like people in here.”

Mary Jane placed the tea on a small side table between the recliner and a cushioned chair she’d scooted closer. “And you’re not just anybody, Gracie.”

She stared straight ahead not really focusing on anything while Mary Jane patiently sipped her tea. She always seemed to know what Grace needed but gave her time to come to her own conclusions. She reached for her teacup, drew back her shaking hand, tried again with two, and brought the cup slowly to her lips. “Good, MJ. Thank you.” She took a couple more sips.

“Well, choir practice sucked tonight. The ladies were more interested in talking about the new mechanic over at the garage than playing cards. You’d think at some point the hormones would level out. I tried to explain that the concept of cougar required mobility.”

Grace loved Mary Jane for trying to distract her, even make her laugh, but nothing was going to help her mood right now. “Dani’s going back to Baltimore.” Her statement hung in the air, making the room feel darker and burying her under its weight.

“Oh, Gracie, I’m sorry.” Mary Jane cupped her hand and squeezed. “So very sorry.”

“I knew it was going to happen.” Grace brushed another round of tears from her cheeks.

“The knowing doesn’t make the happening any easier, honey. When did you find out?”

“She announced it at dinner. That’s where she’s been for two days.”

“Any idea when she’s leaving?” Mary Jane asked softly.

“No.” Grace finished her tea and stood slowly. “I need to get out for a bit, breathe some fresh air.” She looked down at Mary Jane and her eyes looked as sad as Grace felt. “And don’t worry, I won’t do anything stupid, like run after her. Those days are over.”

“You want some company?”

Grace shook her head.

A few minutes later, she pulled up to Mosquito Alley, cut the Corolla engine, and waited as it sputtered into silence across the water. She walked to the river’s edge and sat on her favorite flat rock overlooking a small waterfall. The last rays of sunlight streaked the surface of the water and brought it to life with color. Clay had painted several beautiful landscapes sitting on the bank while Grace and Trip chatted nearby. Tonight, the muted hues produced only melancholy.

Things with Dani were always going to end badly. But why so soon? She’d hoped for a few weeks, possibly months, of something resembling happiness, but had only gotten a taste. Dani made her feel more deeply than she ever had, and she’d finally opened her heart again. She couldn’t regret being with her no matter how painful the outcome.

Grace inhaled the familiar scents of rich river mud, brackish water, and remnants of sweet muscadines and melons decaying and returning to the soil for another season. She listened to the wheezy call of finches, the clicking rattle of scrub jays, and the unique chirping of cicadas as night closed in. The sights and sounds of this place gave her peace, but she’d leave it today to be with Dani anywhere in the world. She couldn’t deny it any longer or claim contentment with the temporary. She was in love with Dani. Now what? She bent her legs and rested her head on her knees letting the revelation sink in.

“Hey, Grace.” Trip sounded nervous. “Thought we might find you here.” She settled on one side of Grace and Clay on the other.

“If you want to be alone, we’ll leave,” Clay said, her voice thick with concern. We’re just worried about you is all.” Clay wrapped a light jacket around her shoulders. “The mosquitoes are about to carry you away.”

“Hadn’t noticed.” Grace pulled the jacket tighter, suddenly feeling the bite stings and the crisper night air.

“It’s her type O blood. Those females love her,” Trip said. When Grace eyeballed her, Trip added, “Sorry. Do you want us to go?”

Grace shook her head. “I’ve been thinking and I need to tell you something.” Clay and Trip scooted closer but didn’t speak, letting Grace take her time. “I’m in love with Dani.” No one responded. “Well…”

“That’s not exactly news, Gracie,” Clay said. “But Trip owing me ten dollars is.”

Grace laughed out loud and her mood lifted. “It’s about time. What was the bet?”

Trip grunted. “That you’d fall for Dani. It’s easy to see when you guys are together.”

“Hard to imagine you betting against such a sure thing, Trip.”

“Yeah, I was hoping I’d lose, but now I’m not so sure. Anything we can do?”

Grace slid one arm around Trip’s shoulder and the other over Clay’s so they were all connected. “Nothing to be done. I gave it my best shot, and she’s still leaving. End of story. I just needed to admit the truth. When will she finish at the clinic?”

“Not sure.” Trip looked out over the river and swatted mosquitoes. “I told her she could go now for all I care. Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, you won’t have to see her again.” Trip frowned and tucked her head when Grace squeezed her neck. “Sorry, but I’m pissed. She hurt you. Do you want me to ask her to work out a long notice?”

“Don’t really see the point. Just be nice and don’t make matters worse. And you will give her a good, no, make that a great, reference.” When Trip didn’t answer, Grace added, “Understand me, Tripoli Olivia Beaumont?”

Trip covered her ears. “Keep it down. I don’t want the whole town knowing that moniker. I’ll give Dani a glowing recommendation. She’s an awesome vet. I’d even thought about expanding the business and asking her to become a partner, but she blew that too.”

“Pine Cone would never be enough for her.” Grace’s voice quivered as she watched insects dance above the water’s surface. “And neither am I.”

Clay patted Grace’s arm. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Gracie. I was lucky enough to entice River away from New York City.”

Grace smiled, grateful for Clay’s kind words, but Dani was nothing like River.

Trip nodded toward the car. “Come on. My eyeballs are floating. Too many beers at dinner.”

“Well, your favorite bush is right over there. Don’t let us stop you,” Clay said.

“I’m not dropping my drawers out here at night. Those bloodsuckers would latch onto my lady parts and ruin me for life. Let’s go.”

Grace stood and started toward her car. “Nothing like best friends to put life back into perspective.”