Chapter Eighteen

"I want to ride the rides, Vince! Can we go ride the rides?" Cadence asked, grabbing his hand and bouncing a while later, seeming to be oblivious to the tension among the adults.

"Of course we can," Vince replied.

"Actually dear, your father and I are quite tired and we'd like to go and rest," Beverly stated. "Aren't we tired, dear?" she asked, throwing Vincent a pointed look.

"Oh yes," Vincent made a big show of faking a yawn. "Exhausted."

"I'll take you both to the inn," Vince sighed. "Your mommy can ride with you until I get back, Cadence."

Cadence pouted and tugged his hand harder. "I don't want to ride with mommy. I want you to ride with me."

"Cadence, you don't whine," Grace warned sternly.

"But mommy...."

"Grace, I don't want to disappoint her," Vince said. "Why don't you take my mother and father down to the inn and I'll take her up to the rides. You can join us once they're settled in. Please?"

"Well...I..uh.." Grace stammered.

"Please mommy!" Cadence begged.

Grace wanted desperately to say no but she didn't want to show any kind of fear or weakness in front of Vince's parents. She had a feeling that would sign her own death warrant, so to speak. "Sure," she relented, though she tossed Vince a look to ensure the man knew they'd be talking later. "That sounds like a plan."

Vince quickly looked away from her and wrapped his arm around Cadence's shoulders. "Well the monster and I are going to go. Mother, father, I'll check on you when I return to the inn tonight." With that, Vince quickly walked away with Cadence giggling and skipping alongside him.

"I thought he hated giggling," Beverly mused with a shake of her head.

"He did once say he would scratch out his own eardrums with a cactus rather than listen to the sound," Vincent agreed. Then he shrugged and scratched Widget behind her ears. "But I suppose a man is allowed to change his mind."

Grace wasn't quite sure what to add to their conversation and so she bid farewell to Meg and Ben and motioned for Vince's parents to follow her. "I'll take you both to the inn. Where is your luggage?" she asked.

"In the trunk of Vince's car," Vincent replied.

Grace nodded and they began the long walk to the city parking lot with an uncomfortable and oppressive silence surrounding them.

"How old is your daughter, Grace?" Beverly finally asked, breaking the silence.

"She's nine years old," Grace replied.

"Oh..." Beverly nodded.

Grace could tell there was more that Beverly wanted to say but was clearly unsure how to say it. Grace sighed and continued. "She was born with what the doctors call mild mental retardation." Grace shivered just as she always did when she said those words. "She currently has the mental maturity of about a five year old."

The silence became even more strained after Grace's confession and they arrived at Vince's car. Grace pulled her keys from her purse and opened the trunk. Vincent reached in and grabbed his own small suitcase leaving another suitcase, a matching bag and a smaller toiletry bag inside.

Beverly quickly snatched the small toiletry bag and then looked at Grace expectantly. "My back is hurting from the long car ride."

Grace wanted to tell the woman to take the suitcase and bag and shove them both up her ass but she knew she couldn't. This was Vince's mother and despite the fact that Vince didn't seem to concerned if they got along, Grace knew that it would make things run much more smoothly if she could earn the woman's approval.

"Okay, I'll get them," Grace forced out politely.

Vincent shook his head. "Why don't you hold Widget and I'll get those bags," he offered.

Grace nodded her thanks and reached for the dog which growled and snapped at her hand.

"Perhaps that horrid dog is a better judge of character than our son," Beverly noted dryly.

Grace took a deep breath to combat her temper and offered Vincent a smile. "I'll carry the bags, it's really no trouble. As a single mom, I've gotten used to packing groceries, purse, baby and all. Two little bags won't be a problem."

Grace realized how wrong she was about halfway to the inn. She was convinced that Beverly must have planned all of this and stuffed the bags with various rocks and bricks. There was simply no way that clothes alone could weigh so much!

Grace grunted as she readjusted her load and decided to end the oppressive silence. "I'm sure the two of you have some questions for me," Grace said. "Questions that would be more comfortable for you to ask without Vince standing over us. Now would be the time for you to get them off your chest."

Beverly and Vincent shared a look of surprise at Grace's forwardness and then Beverly nodded. "What exactly attracted you to our son?"

"Your question surprises me," Grace admitted. "Vince hates beating around the bush as he calls it and I would have thought his parents would have the same straightforward nature."

"She seems to know our son well," Vincent stated.

Beverly waved her hand. "Hush, Vincent, and play with your dog."

Grace sighed. "I think the question you really wanted to ask me was, am I with your son for his money."

Beverly sniffed. "Well are you?"

"I won't lie and say that knowing Vince is successful and rich isn't a bonus because it is but it isn't why I love him. I have always been independent and I've been raising my daughter and taking care of my grandmother by myself for many years."

"I have a hard time believing that a woman struggling on her own to raise her mentally retarded daughter would not fall in love with a man who has money simply because he can make her life easier," Beverly stated.

Grace gripped the suitcase handle a little tighter. "Please refrain from calling my daughter mentally retarded. I don't like the words and there are much more polite terms you can use to refer to her," she snapped. "And as far as Vince goes, there is nothing I can say to you that will convince you I'm not with him for money. I could talk about how loving, caring and warm he is to me and to my daughter and grandmother. I could talk about how he does everything he can to show us he loves us and wipes away tears and scares away monsters under the bed but none of that would matter to you.

"Yes, I am relieved to finally be able to buy my daughter clothes that haven't belonged to five children before and I'm grateful to be able to get her new shoes without waiting until her toes are showing through her old ones, and I'm beyond thankful that the Vince has offered to pay for the medicine my grandmother's insurance just stopped paying for so she can retain some of her mind and remain with us just a little longer. However, I'm not with him for those reasons. They have nothing to do with the love I have for your son."

Beverly huffed. "Well I..."

"And furthermore," Grace continued, her temper piqued. "All I heard from Vince was how he was expected to take a 'trophy wife' of your choosing. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't those the types of women who are with men for their money?"

"I.. well.. That is.." Beverly stammered.

Grace tipped her head in thanks to Vincent as the man opened the door to the inn. She stepped inside and continued. "But then again, those women come from good families with money themselves and, of course they don't have calluses on their hands because they've never had to lift a finger for anything," Grace stated, leading the couple up the stairs toward the room that Vince had reserved for them. "I, however, wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I was raised by my grandparents from the age of five after my mother changed her mind, I ended up pregnant by a boy I thought loved me at eighteen and found myself alone three months after giving birth. My grandfather died and my grandmother lost her home so I worked two jobs and I scrimped and saved to buy another one for her, me and my daughter to live in. I'm not much, Beverly, but I am proud of what I am."

They reached the door to the room and Grace sat the bags down. "I am a woman with hands calloused from hard work, a house that is never clean and could use some updating, a car that is on its last leg and probably near to death but I have earned every bit of it without ever asking for a handout."

Grace pulled key to the room from her pocket and placed it in Vincent's hand. She looked at Beverly who was considerably paler than she had been earlier and seemed quite speechless. "I trust that tomorrow you'll be a bit more considerate to the fact that, although I may not be rich and high class, I am still a human being as is my daughter and you have no right to look down your powdered nose at us."

Grace turned on her heel and walked away before either one of them could overcome their shock enough to speak. "Of all the egotistical, arrogant, snobby, horrible people I've ever met...." Grace growled as she stepped out into the sunlight.

"Anyone I know?"

Grace turned and saw Grant coming down the sidewalk toward her. "This day just keeps getting better," Grace mumbled.

"Sorry, I guess I should leave you alone," Grant admitted.

Grace sighed. "No, you're okay. I just met some new people and I let them get under my skin is all."

"Vince's parents? I saw you walking with them."

Grace's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, they don't think I'm quite high-class enough for their son. They have no problem with gold diggers just so long as they're plastic surgery enhanced gold diggers with rich daddies."

Grant smiled. "I do have a badge. If you want to lead them across the street, I could always get them for jaywalking."

Grace found herself laughing. This was the Grant she remembered. The lighthearted tone, the teasing in his blue eyes. It was almost enough to make her forget about the jealous streak he had shown which had led to him mistreating her daughter...almost.

"I heard from Vince that you nearly lost that badge."

Grant sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, but thanks to him I was able to keep it."

"Your nose looks like it feels a little better," Grace noted.

Grant laughed. "Yeah, I don't whistle when I breath anymore. I have to admit that I didn't think the city boy would actually hit me."

"He's a good man," Grace vowed.

Grant nodded. "I'm seeing that now. He'll be good for you and Cadence I think."

"Well I'm glad you think so," Grace snapped sarcastically. Then she winced. "I'm sorry."

Grant just shrugged. "I deserved it. But before I turned into a complete and total ass, I was your friend."

"Yes you were," Grace agreed.

"And I care about you and Cadence."

"I know you do, Grant," Grace admitted with a smile. She laid a gentle, reassuring hand on his arm and he gave her a grateful smile.

"Are you on your way to the festival?" he asked.

"Yes, Cadence wanted Vince to ride rides with her and I'm eager to see just how green his face is."

"Probably not green at all," Grant stated. "I have a feeling that man could walk through shit and come out smelling like roses."

"Yes, he probably could," Grace agreed.

"Well let me walk you to the festival," Grant offered. "I'm heading that way anyway," he added at her doubtful look.

Grace nodded slowly and they headed down the road. They were just passing Mavis's pharmacy when the heavyset woman came bustling out. "Mavis, the sheriff was looking for you," Grant informed her.

"He was?" Mavis asked with a blush as she smoothed out her hair. "Where is he?"

Grant grinned. "He was going to get a funnel cake the last I saw him."

Mavis appeared torn. "What's the matter, Mavis?" Grace asked.

"I really want to go get a funnel cake with Martin," Mavis admitted.

"Then go!" Grace urged.

"But I told Vince that I would get your measurements so I could get those alterations done to your grandma's wedding dress for Sunday. He called me about twenty minutes ago and told me you'd be walking this way."

"He did, huh?" Grace asked with a shake of her head. No wonder the man had been so quick to agree to her taking his parents to the inn.

"Yes.." Mavis replied hesitantly.

"Don't worry, Mavis. I can stop by tomorrow morning after I take Cadence to school. Does eight o'clock work for you?" Grace asked.

"That would be fine!" Mavis exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Now, I'm off to woo the sheriff!" she added before bustling away quickly with an extra hop in her step.

"A wedding huh?" Grant asked quietly, his gaze fixed on the empty park.

"Yes."

"This Sunday?"

"That's right," Grace replied, wondering why she felt guilty when she had no reason to.

"I know I doubted him at first," Grant finally spoke after several quiet moments. "I was worried he'd break your heart and, well I guess I always saw you as mine so it felt like he was stealing you away. But I can see the change in you since he got here. You always smiled before but sometimes it seemed kind of forced and it doesn't ever seem forced anymore. You no longer seem tired and weighed down and Cadence laughs more than I've ever seen her laugh before." Grant sighed. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm happy for you."

"Do you want to come Sunday?" Grace offered quietly.

"Uh..no," Grant shook his head quickly. "But I honestly do wish you both the best."

"Thank you, Grant."

***

"How horrible were they?" Vince asked as he held Grace out on the porch that night. Ester and Cadence were already tucked snuggly into bed and the cool night air blew around them lightly. Vince was putting off leaving because he wanted to stay here with Grace forever. Even five minutes away was too far.

"Not horrible at all," Grace replied quickly.

"You're lying," Vince accused.

"No, I'm not," Grace countered defensively as she walked to the porch swing and sat down.

"Okay then," Vince replied unconvinced. He sat down next to her and Grace curled up against him with her head on his chest.

"I'm meeting Mavis tomorrow morning to get the measurements done for the wedding dress and then I have to go down and run the baked goods booth for the rest of the day." Grace sighed. "It's going to be a long one."

"Patricia's coming back in tomorrow," Vince said, enjoying the way Grace's body fitted so perfectly. It was amazing how at peace a simple thing like snuggling on a porch swing could make a man feel. "She is going to run the booth part of the day so we can spend time together with Cadence."

"She's coming in again? Already?" Grace asked with surprise. "What about work? Isn't there a company to run in New York?"

"Yes," Vince replied. "And there are plenty of people up there to run it. Patricia is the absolute best organizer and planner I know and she wants to help with the wedding. I'd like to have her there since she's one of the only friends I've ever had."

"Of course," Grace replied, snuggling closer. "You really should give her a raise for all the extra things she does for you."

Vince chuckled. "No, I can't do that. She's rewarded for her hard work every time she gets me grumbling." Vince kissed her hair. "It didn't make you angry when I sent you with my parents today did it?"

"Angry, no. Confused, yes. But then I talked to Mavis and it cleared things up. You really do just like to take charge of everything don't you?"

"Yes I do," Vince replied without apology. "I always have been that way so you might as well get used to it."

"That's fine," Grace replied. "Just so long as you get used to me complaining about it."

"Complain away, sweetheart. That's what I'm here for."

"Thank God for you," Grace whispered before yawning widely. Vince smiled and buried his face in her hair, kissing her head. "And thank God for Patricia," Grace added. "From what I hear, your mother isn't very fond of her and it may take a bit of the fire off of me."

"You tell me if my mother pushes things too far," Vince ordered. "I'll put a quick stop to it."

Grace smiled. "I'm a big girl, Vince. I can handle Beverly Griffin."

Vince just grinned and held her tighter. "If you say so."