Chapter Nine

"I must say, boss, that you sound rather chipper today," Patricia informed him as Vince lay stretched out on his bed at the inn with his cell phone to his ear.

Vince rolled his eyes. "I can promise you that I have never once, in my entire life, sounded chipper."

"Until now," Patricia agreed. "Did you finally get laid then?"

"You are such a lady," Vince intoned dryly. "With a mouth like that on you, it's a miracle you aren't married yet."

"Bite your tongue, boss!" Patricia scolded. "I'm not the marrying type."

Vince stood and walked to the window. He pulled the curtains back to let the Sunday morning sunlight come into his bedroom. The mist was still hanging thick over the surrounding mountains and the view he had of them was pretty spectacular.

He moved his gaze down to main street to see the townsfolk all dressed in their Sunday best heading toward the two churches. He wondered why a town as small as Clifton had two churches but decided it didn't matter. Things would be changing soon.

But, then again, Grace had said that Clifton needed to remain the way it was and that was why Vince had barely slept the night before because he was too focused on attempting to formulate a plan that would make him money but give Grace what she wanted.

"Patricia, I'm calling because I need you to do something for me," Vince admitted.

"I figured that was the reason for your call, sir. I didn't think you were calling to check on my sick aunt that has the wolfhound."

"How is she?" Vince asked, feeling guilty when he realized he hadn't even known Patricia had an aunt.

"She's fine. She gets fleas from time to time and she has this terrible habit of rubbing her ass against the wall...."

Vince pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers and shook his head. "I meant your aunt. I could not care less how the dog is."

"You know I've heard that serial killers hate dogs too," Patricia warned.

"No, serial killers sadistically torture and kill innocent creatures. I could give you a demonstration when I return to the office."

"We'll have to find a sacrifice, sir," Patricia lamented. "I haven't been innocent in a long long time."

"Are you ready to focus on work now or must we sit and talk about a sick dog and the fact that you have far too much fun?" Vince demanded.

"There's no such thing as too much fun," Patricia countered. "And, yes, I'm ready to work now," she added at the sound of his grumble.

"Okay. I need you to take all the figures I've sent you and check out the profit margins for a rustic getaway instead of a fancy resort. Cabins, guided tours, hiking trails.. A large bed and breakfast just outside of town for those that don't like roughing it. Also, perhaps a campground equipped for both tents and R.V.'s...."

"Camping? Rustic? Tents? Sir, are you feeling okay?"

"Of course I'm okay," Vince replied.

"I don't think you are, Mr. Profit. That's what we call you when you're not around the office, by the way. You'll do anything possible to make the most money you can make. Now suddenly you want a rustic getaway? I don't see Beyonce and Jay-Z making plans to sleep under the stars with the mosquitoes and the strange mountain natives."

"Mountain natives aren't strange," Vince argued. Then an image of Old Man Foster and his gun came to mind. "They're... unique."

"Whatever you say, sir," Patricia replied. Vince could hear her tapping her long nails. "I still can't believe this.. You'll not make nearly as much money with a rustic getaway. I have to say it's not a smart business move. Now I'm behind you one hundred percent with whatever you decide, you know that..."

Vince sighed and fished his over the counter pain reliever from his drawer. "No, you're right...It's just an idea I had while talking to someone. She put the idea in my head."

"She?" Patricia's interest seemed suddenly piqued.

Vince glanced toward the smallest church of the two that people were piling into. It was a brick building with white stone steps and a tall steeple. His eyes were instantly drawn to a flash of auburn hair and he felt a surge of emotion when he recognized Grace.

She was walking up the steps in a yellow dress with cap sleeves and a skirt that dancing around her knees when she moved. He had an unexplainable need to be near her and shrugged as he glanced toward his suit jacket on the door. He had the proper clothes for church.. Why not join the townspeople?

"I have to go, Patricia. Just forget I called," Vince stated.

"But wait!" Patricia exclaimed. "Who is she?"

Vince hung up his phone and headed toward the bathroom. He had a service to get ready for.

***

"Grandma, go ahead and sit right here," Grace motioned toward the back pew. She always like to sit in the back of the church just in case Ester or Cadence had to use the bathroom or decided they weren't going to sit through an entire service.

"Grace, it's so good to see you here!" Mavis exclaimed as she walked over with her sister in tow. Mavis's sister Blanche was a stoop-backed woman with her white hair pulled into a severe bun and a beak-like nose which she liked to look down at everyone.

"How are you doing, Ester?" Blanche sneered at the woman who had been her arch nemesis all her life.

Ester raised her brow as she stared at the woman for a moment and then gave a sidelong glance to her granddaughter. "Do I know that woman?"

Grace sighed. "Yes, grandma. You do."

Ester appeared very confused for a moment and then shrugged. "Good riddance to bad rubbish, I suppose." Without another word, Ester relaxed against the pew and turned her attention to a family trying to usher all five of their children into the church.

Grace bit back a laugh as Blanche huffed loudly and stormed away. "That woman's had a stick up her rear ever since your grandpa chose Ester over her," Mavis grumbled with annoyance as she glared after her sister.

"You should probably talk nicer about your sister in a church," Grace reminded her.

Mavis shrugged. "God hears what I say whether I'm in here or out there," she replied, motioning with her head toward the door. "So I don't see how it matters. I wanted to talk to you, Grace. Well, actually, Blanche did but now she'll expect me to."

Mavis squeezed into the booth beside her and Grace filled with dread. She already knew what the woman was going to ask. She listened to the din of everywhere filing into the church and waited for Mavis's next words.

"Grace, you know the fall festival is coming soon. We have three weeks to be exact and it's important that we make more money than ever this year. Ester's baked good have always been such a huge hit and some of our best sellers."

Grace nodded. Her grandmother's baked goods had always made thousands of dollars during the week long festival that included food booths, crafts, a carnival and talent shows. Ester, however, hadn't been in any shape to make those goods the last two years.

"Just come out and ask for what you want, Mavis," Grace urged. "The service is about to start."

Mavis nodded and sat up a little straighter. "You have all your grandmother's recipes and you're just as good a baker as she is, or was, rather. We were hoping that you would be in charge of baking them and running a booth this year."

Grace wanted to say no. Lord knew she needed to say no. She was already working two jobs, taking care of her house, her grandmother and her daughter. She had no time for herself and no idea where she'd find the time to make brownies, cookies, cakes, fudges, pies and everything else the townspeople would expect to see.

"Sure, I'll do it," Grace replied.

"Great!" Mavis exclaimed, beaming. "And you'll still be helping to coordinate the talent show, won't you? Auditions start tomorrow evening at the community center."

Grace bit back a curse, threw up a prayer of forgiveness for thinking said curse in God's house, and then forced a smile. "Of course."

"That's great!" Mavis clapped. "Now I better be getting back to my.... Uh-oh," Mavis paused as she looked toward the door. "Looks like Mr. Hot City is going to be joining us for church this morning."

Grace's heart dropped as Mavis stood. Sure Grace had been planning on letting Vince know about Ester and Cadence today but not this morning. Not in church. Not in front of half the town and all the biggest gossips!

"Good morning, Grace." Vince's deep and oddly comforting voice greeted from behind her.

She turned in her seat and barely kept her jaw from dropping as she looked at him. Vince seemed to be pulled straight off the pages of G.Q. magazine. He was overly dressed for church, seeing as how most of the men here were wearing jeans, but Grace had to admit that he made the suit look good.

"Good morning, Vince," she replied, her voice shaking.

"Well look at that, the service is about to start." Mavis winked at Grace. "I'll just be making my way back to my seat so there's room here for someone to sit down if they'd like to."

Vince chuckled. "Can I sit here?" he asked as Mavis walked away.

Grace nodded. "Of course."

Cadence chose that moment to giggle and tug on Grace's dress. "He talks funny, mommy."

Grace bit back a groan and glanced at Vince with dread. She saw the surprise and waited for the accusations. But instead, Vince surprised her when he sat down and gave Cadence one of his best half grins. "Anything to make you laugh, pretty lady." He added a wink and that just made Cadence giggle even more loudly.

Grace knew introductions had to be made. "Vince, this is my daughter Cadence and my grandmother Ester. You two, this is my...friend... Vince."

Cadence waved but Ester barely spared either of them a glance before looking back toward the preacher who had stepped up to the pulpit. Grace was thankful for the distraction because it mean that Vince might just choose to at least remain in his seat until church was over instead of bolting out and away from her right in front of everyone.

***

Vince tried hard to focus on the preacher, the first he'd ever seen wearing a rhinestone shirt. He wanted to talk to Grace. He wanted to learn more about her daughter, maybe discover why Grace hadn't mentioned her yesterday, but that would have to wait until after the service.

It didn't take long for Vince to realize that this preacher must be a relative of the football coach he'd had in high school. That booming, commanding and thundering voice couldn't run in two separate families.

Finally the preacher quieted and requested that the ladies doing Sunday school take the children downstairs. Grace stood to allow Cadence to get around her and Vince followed suit. He tilted his head as he studied the girl. She didn't look much like her mother. They had the same tiny nose with a sprinkling of freckles but that was where the similarities ended.

With a twist of his gut, Vince wondered who the father was and whether or not the man was still around. Jealousy was a new emotion for him and one he didn't much care for.

"Grandma, you need to stay here with me and listen to Brother Mark's sermon." Grace's voice pulled Vince from his thoughts and he turned to her and Ester.

"I can do what I want!" Ester argued, sticking out her bottom lip stubbornly.

Vince saw Grace toss him a nervous glance before putting her hand gently on her grandmother's shoulder. "Grandma, please, Sunday school is for the children. Why don't we sit back down so Brother Mark can get started?"

"I want to go downstairs and color!" Ester screamed, stomping her foot as she turned red in the face and brought the attention of the entire church to them.

"Grandma..." Grace's voice as gentle and Vince marveled at her patience.

"Stop treating me like I'm a child, Anna! I'm not a child!"

Vince saw Grace's face pale instantly and it truly looked as if she were in pain. It made him wonder who Anna was. "It's okay, Grace," Mavis said gently as she walked over. "She can come downstairs with us and help pass out the crayons." Mavis took Ester's hand and helped her from the pew.

Grace just stood there silent and still as she stared into space. Vince put a soothing hand on her shoulder. "Grace?" he whispered.

Grace seemed to snap from her daze and she quickly pushed past him. "I need some air," she stated before all but running out the church doors and allowing them to slam closed behind her.

Vince waited for someone to go after her. He thought for sure one of these townspeople who had known Grace all her life would rush off to check on the woman but they didn't. Everyone merely turned back around in their seats and began whispering amongst each other.

Vince felt a moment of temper but shoved it aside. If they wouldn't go after her then he would. He found her outside, standing in the middle of the flower bed with her head pressed against the cool, shaded brick of the church.

"Grace, are you okay?" It was a stupid thing to ask since it was obvious she wasn't but Vince didn't know what else to say. He had never been the type to want to comfort someone else and this was new to him.

"Yes, I'm fine," Grace replied, far too quickly for it to be the truth.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Grace demanded, without pulling her head away from the wall or looking at him. "Talk about the fact that my daughter's body is nearly ten but she has the mind of a five year old? Or about the fact that my grandmother is forgetting herself, and me, more everyday and becoming a child again? Maybe you'd like to talk about how I'm taking care of both of them by myself while doing all the cooking, cleaning and bill paying. We could have a chat about all the medicine and the round the clock care. Or just chew the fat about how every single person in this town wants something from me and I just can't do it anymore! I'm too tired."

***

Grace was shocked.

Had she really just said all that? Grace prayed she hadn't really just said all that. But she knew she had and to Vince no less! If he hadn't been running away before then he certainly would now! There was nothing like laying all her baggage out in the open during a fatigue induced rant just for a shock and awe effect. Grace couldn't even bring herself to look in his direction. She just wanted the flowerbed to open up and swallow her whole.

Grace nearly screamed when she felt Vince's big hand close gently around her shoulder and spin her around. He put his finger, which was more calloused and rough than she had imagined it would be, under her chin and tilted her head up so that she was looking into his deep green eyes. Her breath caught in her chest when she saw the concern that was shining out of them.

Suddenly the tears that Grace never allowed herself to cry, welled up in her eyes and she was powerless to stop them. She'd been alone for too long. She'd been the strong one for too long. Grace had always seen tears as a weakness but they were too powerful for her to stop as they rolled in rivers down her cheeks.

Vince leaned in and Grace nearly jumped from her skin when she felt his firm lips against her tear dampened skin. "I'm here now, Grace," he whispered. "You don't have to do it alone anymore."

He wrapped his arms tight around her and pulled her into a strong embrace. It was the warm, supportive, protective hug of a real man and, until this very moment, Grace hadn't realized just how badly she'd needed it.

"Walk with me?" she asked as she pulled from his embrace and dried her face with her hands.

Vince nodded, took her by the hand and led her to the sidewalk. He released his hold on her hand and held out his arm so Grace could wind hers through it. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked gently.

Grace didn't answer at first. Instead she looked down at their shoes as they walked. Her worn sandals and his polished loafers. They were so different and yet perfectly in step as they moved together down the sidewalk. "Honestly?" she finally whispered.

Vince nodded. "I've always preferred honesty."

Grace sighed. "I really liked you and I was afraid you'd run away from me... I didn't want to watch another person run away from me."

"I've never run away from anything," Vince assured her. "And I won't run away from you."

"This is crazy," Grace stated.

Vince nodded. "Positively insane."

"I barely know you!"

"I'm a complete stranger."

"And yet I feel like I've known you forever," Grace finished.

Vince pulled her a bit closer. "My entire life," he agreed.

There was a certainty in his voice that gave Grace the courage to believe that maybe, just maybe, this truly was happening. Could there be two people meant to be? A connection that sparked instantly and was real? Could Vince be the man who was going to change everything?

"When are you leaving town?" Grace asked, forcing herself to remember that Vince was temporary.

Vince sighed as dread settled into his gut. Leave? He didn't want to leave. But he had a company. He had commitments. He was due back in the office on Tuesday. "I'm in no hurry," he found himself replying. "Are we playing the twenty questions game again?" A smile curved Grace's lips and Vince's heart lightened. Finally, her tears were gone.

"You seem to be better at that game than I am, but yes, we can play it," Grace teased.

"I'm not better," Vince countered. "I've just had more experience. My father is a well known defense attorney back in New York and my mother is a high-class society wife. I've gotten used to twenty questions."

"Wow, that's quite a family," Grace mumbled.

"That's one way of putting it," Vince replied. "You have a lovely family, Grace. Your daughter is beautiful."

Pride lit up Grace's features. "Thank you. She looks just like my grandmother did when she was young. She has the same blond hair and blue eyes." Grace stared off into the distance. "She has a mild form of mental retardation." She shivered. "God, I hate those words."

"You said she's ten?" Vince asked gently.

Grace nodded. "She will be in two months. The doctors say that eventually she might have the mind of a twelve year old but I don't really care one way or the other. She is my daughter and I love her with all my heart."

Vince could hear the defensiveness in her tone. "Of course you do," he agreed. "You must be a great mother and a strong woman."

"No, I just do what I have to do," Grace replied.

"Not many women could handle two jobs, a challenged daughter, a grandmother with dementia and everything else all by herself," Vince countered, wanting her to see just how amazing she was.

Grace just shrugged and stared down the road. "I had Cadence when I was nineteen. Her father, and I use that term loosely, was my high school sweetheart. He cut and ran when Cadence was only a few months old."

"And your grandmother?" Vince questioned, eager to learn all he could about Grace.

"Her and my grandpa raised me from the age of five when my mom changed her mind about parenthood. My grandpa died quite a few years ago and grandma has been getting worse. I've been told to put her in a home but...."

"You love her and you want to pay her back for everything that she did for you," Vince finished.

Grace stopped walking and stared up at him with shock. How could this be happening? No one had ever understood Grace the way Vince was seeming to.. It simply didn't make sense!

"Where did you come from?" she whispered as she gazed up at him.

He gave her that half grin that caused her heart to start doing the rumba and smoothed a strand of hair from her face. "New York," he replied.

Grace wanted to kiss him and she could tell by the way his green eyes darkened that he wanted to kiss her too. Time seemed to stand still and the air seemed to spark around them as he leaned down and she rose up on her toes.

"Grace!"

They flew apart suddenly at the sound of feet pounding on the sidewalk. Grace turned to see Grant jogging toward them in black sweatpants and a t-shirt. His thinning hair was messy and damp with sweat. He eyed them both warily.

"Hello Grant," Grace said breathlessly as she took another step away from Vince. Her heart was racing and her head was spinning but she still saw the way Grant's blue eyes narrowed and lost their good nature.

"What's going on? I was going for my run when Mavis stopped me outside the church and told me you'd run out. Everyone is worried about you."

Vince bit back his sharp retort. No one in that church had made an attempt to help Grace. They didn't care whether or not she was okay, they simply wanted the gossip.

"I just need a moment to myself," Grace replied as she smoothed out her yellow dress and slid her hair behind her ears. Vince couldn't help but notice the way the sun glinted off the red highlights.

"But you're not by yourself," Grant sneered. "You're with this city guy." Grace was shocked. She had never in her life heard Grant be rude to anyone!

"Actually my name isn't city guy," Vince cut in politely. "It's Vince Griffin." He held out his hand and for a moment it seemed Grant was truly going to refuse to shake it. It was clear that Grant was jealous of what he'd seen between Grace and Vince but she had always been clear to the man that she saw him as nothing but a friend.

"Deputy Grant Caudill," Grant grumbled, shaking Vince's hand grudgingly.

Grace could tell that Grant was squeezing Vince's hand with force but if it was hurting Vince, you couldn't tell by looking at him. A smooth, polite smile formed on his face and Grace didn't like it. It seemed robotic and practiced and it didn't reach his green eyes the way the half grins he gave to her did.

"Nice to meet you, deputy," Vince replied with a polite tip of his head.

Grant released his hold on Vince's hand and turned toward Grace, angling his body to leave Vince out of the conversation. "I'll walk you back to church."

"That won't be necessary, deputy," Vince spoke up before Grace could. "I was going to go finish listening to the sermon myself. We'll let you get back to your jog."

Grant glared at Vince before shaking his head and leaving them once again alone. Grace looked up at Vince and frowned. "Where did you learn to do that?"

"Do what?"

"Fake a smile that way? Whenever I fake a smile, it comes out as more of a grimace."

"Who says it was fake?" Vince countered.

Grace rolled her eyes. "I do. I think we've already covered the fact that we are both completely crazy and far too familiar with each other for the short time we've known one another."

"Yes, we have," Vince agreed, flashing her that half grin and causing her to tremble as he ran his fingertips down her bare arm.

Grace had been too long without the touch of a man and Vince was nearly causing her to burst into flames right out here on main street! She wondered if he felt as near to losing control as she did.

"I have been well trained," Vince finally replied to her question.

"Well trained?" Grace raised her brow. "Are you a golden retriever?"

Vince was beyond shocked when he found himself laughing. How long had it been since he'd truly laughed? So long he couldn't remember.

Grace smiled. "You have a nice laugh. You should do it more often."

Vince took her hand in his and began to lead her back toward the church. He looked down at her and nodded. "I believe I will."