Grace
My phone ringing jerks me from my sleep.
It’s been four days since Raide was locked up, and I’ve barely heard a thing about what’s been going on with him. All I’ve seen are stories on the news. I’m still staying at my parents’ house, because I can’t face going home. I rub the sleep from my eyes and stare at my flashing phone. It’s late, around 10 P.M. I glance at the screen and see it’s York.
With a yawn, I pick it up and press it to my ear. “York?”
“Grace, honey, sorry if I woke you.”
“What is it?”
“Good news. We arrested Dean tonight. He admitted to the murder.”
I blink. My entire world stops spinning.
“Grace?”
“He—” I wheeze. “—confessed?”
“Yes, he confessed. He’s under arrest¸ awaiting trial. He’s been denied bail. He’s going down.”
I burst into a fit of tears, my entire body sinking back onto the bed. “And Raide?” I croak.
“They’ll be going to trial on Monday. Raide will be cleared of charges, however, he still skipped bail.”
“How long do you think he’ll get?”
“Probably three to six months.”
That’s not life, though. I can live with three to six months.
“Thank you so much, York. Thank you.”
“No problem at all, honey. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Night, Grace.”
“Night, York.”
And that night, for the first time in four days, I go to sleep with hope.
* * *
Raide’s and Dean’s trials goes ahead as planned on Monday. They moved a lot quicker than normal trials would because Dean confessed to the murder of Kelly. Dean is found guilty of murder, two counts of assault, and rape. He’s sentenced to life in prison. Raide is found guilty of assault and skipping bail, he’s sentenced to four months in prison. I’m there through it all, but the most I get is a glance of my gorgeous man. When they lead him back out, he stares at me and that stare holds so much promise.
Four months.
I can do four months.
Right?
* * *
Two months later
It’s been two months since Raide was sent to prison. I visit him as often as I can, but Don recommends, for job reasons, that I keep it to a minimum. I’ve only seen him three times since he went away, and it’s through a piece of thick glass. I ache to touch him, my body aches to feel his pressed against it. I miss him with every passing moment, but I know that soon, I’ll get to see him again.
I’m still on office duties at work, which has kept me quite busy. Denver can be a crazy place when it wants to be, and we’ve had quite a few cases come in and out. I’m excited to be back in the saddle, but right now doing paperwork is probably the best thing for me. It allows me to focus while I deal with everything else around me. Don has let it all go, and seems to be fully back to normal with me. That feels nice.
I’m working one morning when my phone rings. I shuffle through paperwork to find it, and see Kady’s number on the screen. With a smile, I answer it and press it to my ear. “What’s up?”
“So, I’m at your house, right. And you have a visitor.”
“Firstly, why are you at my house?”
“It’s your birthday tomorrow, I was trying to give you a surprise birthday party.”
“You just ruined that surprise, you know that, right?”
She’s silent. “Well, shit.”
I laugh. “Anyway, who is there?”
“Some guy named Benny.”
Benny! “Benny is there?”
“Yeah, and,” she whispers low, “he’s hot.”
“Kady!” I warn. “No.”
She huffs. “You’re no fun. Can you come or should I send him to you?”
“I’ll come. I have a break coming up.”
“Right, see you soon.”
I end the call and grab my jacket, then I rush out with a quick explanation to Don as I pass. I hurry home and when I arrive I see Benny and Kady standing on my front porch laughing about something. I rush over and smile big when Benny notices me and extends his arms.
I launch into them and he swings me around. “Benny, it’s so good to see you.”
“Thought I’d get off my ass and come in to see how you’re doing. Raide would kill me if he knew I didn’t check on you at least once.”
My smile wobbles and he notices.
“How are you doing?”
I sigh. “Okay, I’m busy with work but I miss him.”
“Yeah, I bet you do. I saw him yesterday. He’s doin’ okay. I offered to kiss you for him, he wasn’t down with that.”
Kady and I both laugh.
“I wonder why.”
He shrugs. “It was just a kiss. He really is too uptight.”
With another smile, I wrap my arm around his waist. “You want to come in? I’m on my break.”
“You going to make me lunch?”
I roll my eyes. “Of course.”
“Then of course I’m coming in.”
I turn to Kady. “You staying?”
She gives me an um derr look and then mutters, “I’m setting up secret decorations, of course.”
I laugh. “You’re the worst secret-keeper ever, Kady.”
She grins happily. “I know.”
“So I heard your birthday is tomorrow. What do you want?” Benny asks.
“Raide, of course,” Kady says for me.
I sigh. “One can dream.”
Benny turns us into the house. “Dreams come true, Grace.”
So I’ve heard.