CHAPTER 33

There was just too much excitement going on this weekend—that’s what Grace kept telling everyone—and herself. From her Friday night out to her long day Saturday with Frank. Though she didn’t admit that seeing Sofia had been the most detrimental to her already fragile state. It only confirmed what she already knew. That she was nowhere near even beginning to get over Sal.

Her tiresome day of house hunting Saturday had also taken its toll. The heat wasn’t helping matters either. It was no wonder why she kept having dizzy spells. Somehow she couldn’t convince anyone that she was fine. She’d just been a little winded yesterday when her head spun after getting out of Frank’s car and she had to hold on to the door for a few minutes before she could walk. She’d seen the fear in Rose’s face and no amount of reassuring could persuade her not to worry.

Frank had been there the entire weekend. Her mom had everything to do with that. She’d invited him back over on Sunday. Grace had been lying in bed still when her mother walked in to tell her.

“I was with him Friday night, and most of the day yesterday.” Grace argued. “I’m sorry I’m not spending today with him, too, mom. He’s gonna get the wrong idea. This is a business partnership and nothing more.”

“I know this and so does he, Grace. We’re just being hospitable.”

“Well I think he’s beginning to get the wrong idea.” She regretted now that Friday night she hadn’t protested when Frank slipped his hand into hers several times. It just didn’t seem like a big deal walking off and on the dance floor. “You can be hospitable for the both of us today. I’m going over to Joey and Taylor’s.” She sat up and immediately felt lightheaded. Shit.

She glanced over to where Rose sat on a bean bag in the corner of her room glad she was too engrossed in her texting to notice Grace needed a moment to focus while the room finally stood still for her.

Her mother was busy still rambling about why Grace should reconsider staying and hanging out with Frank for a least a little while but she didn’t want to hear it anymore. She stood up slowly and carefully, hoping Rose wouldn’t notice anything.

Seeing her mother cross her arms in a huff as she walked past her did nothing to slow her down. She was done with this conversation. The only good thing that had come of this weekend was that they finally narrowed their choices down to two restaurant/homes that both Grace and her mother agreed were acceptable. Both were in Chula Vista which meant Rose wouldn’t have to change schools.

The agreement with Frank had been that he’d help Grace and her mom get the restaurant going but eventually, once the restaurant took off, she and her mother would buy him out, leaving them the sole owners. Her mother still insisted that there were no ulterior motives and that Frank was doing this out of the kindness of his heart and a few years of extra profit brought in by the restaurant was incentive enough.

The fact that he was supposed to go back to Laughlin yesterday morning and he’d hung around a few extra days when talk of them spending the day together Saturday had come up, and now he’d happily agreed to coming over to spend yet another day with her instead of going back to check on his casino said it all. Besides Grace wasn’t blind. She’d seen from their very first night out, the way he’d looked at her. His gazes were becoming increasingly uncomfortable. And she wasn’t the only one who’d noticed it either. Taylor was very keen about noticing everything. Just like he’d noticed Sofia watching her at the nightclub, he also noticed and even asked if she thought it was wise to partner up with a man who was obviously interested in doing more than just business with her.

It got her thinking and it was one of the reasons why she was getting the heck out of there before Frank arrived. But not the only reason. She had something else she needed to finally face. Something that had crossed her mind a few times in the last week but she hadn’t allowed herself to seriously consider.

If it weren’t for the fact that she knew Rose would more than jump at the chance to be able to spend time with Vincent, Grace would almost feel guilty about suggesting she make plans with him again. He was actually coming in handy, not only to keep Rose company Friday night but today as well. Normally she’d balk at her little sister spending so much time with him but she needed to talk to Joey and Taylor without Rose there and she knew her sister would tag along rather than stay home with her mother and Ruben to entertain Frank. So Grace agreed to let her go to the beach with him today but only for a few hours until she took care of what she needed to.

An hour later, despite her mother’s protests, Grace and Rose walked out at the same time. Vince had texted Rose that he was just around the corner. She felt guilty when she saw Frank pull up and park behind his own Cadillac. The very vehicle she’d be using to flee his company today.

“Oh God. I should’ve left sooner.”

Rose glanced at Frank who’d already gotten out of his car and was on his way to meet them. “What are you gonna tell him?”

“That I have errands to run,” Grace whispered as he got closer. “I’m not staying and hanging out with him again. Mom’s nuts.”

Suddenly she regretted that in her haste to rush out before Frank arrived sh’de neglected to eat anything because a wave of lightheadedness swept over her again just as he reached them.

“Going somewhere?” he asked.

Trying hard to ignore the fact that the dizzy spell she was experiencing was one of the worse she had to date, she smiled. “Yeah, I have a few errands I need to run today. I’ll be gone all day but my mom and Ruben are up there waiting for you.”

Vince pulled up in the Jetta, reawakening the pain of her heartache but she was still relieved to see him because Rose immediately waved goodbye to them and walked away. As soon as she turned her back Grace reached out for Frank’s arm, needing the support before she fell. “You okay?”

He brought his arms around her as Grace leaned against him, willing the spell to go away. What the hell was wrong with her?

“Maybe you shouldn’t be driving like this.”

Grace looked up at him, his face close enough she could smell the mouthwash on his breath, then glanced over to where Rose now sat in the front seat of the jetta and both she and Vincent were looking their way. She managed a smile before they drove away. “No I’m okay.” The spell was already passing, but she did need to get out of there. Now more than ever. “I’ll be fine. I just skipped breakfast but I’ll grab something.”

“You sure?” Frank searched her eyes, his hand still firmly on her elbow.

“Yes, I’m sure.” She smiled, fishing the keys out of her purse. “I’ll be fine as soon as I grab a bite.” His eyes still seemed unconvinced. “It’s the first thing I’ll do. I promise.”

Okay so she lied when she said it would be the first thing she would do, but it was for good reason. Some things were more important at the moment. She waved as she drove away feeling that familiar tightness in her throat. She didn’t think it possible and she prayed that she was wrong. Her health hadn’t been an issue in years. Unbelievably life could be getting even more complicated for her now.

Of course it would be Grace’s luck that there’d be three other people waiting to use the blood pressure machine at the pharmacy. A sad indication of her neighborhoods status level. Like her, most probably didn’t have insurance and had to rely on the free resources available to them.

She walked around through the vitamin aisles. For weeks she’d suspected her dizzy spells were a sure sign that her anemia was back. She’d suffered from it when she was younger but it had gotten better and since she’d read that it was curable with good diet and iron supplements, she made sure she ate well and took her pills. Unfortunately, she stopped worrying too much about it and began neglecting taking the iron supplements after a few years of zero symptoms.

Shock she was told, was also something that could bring on the sudden drop in blood pressure, something she so often had when her anemia was at its worst. Nothing could have shocked her more than finding out about Sal and Melissa. She was certain that’s what had started it all, and now she’d hardly had an appetite since the break up. And the last thing on her mind lately had been to take iron supplements, in fact she’d run out years ago and with no symptoms she hadn’t bothered replacing them.

After grabbing a generic brand of iron pills she walked back to where there was only one person waiting for the machine now.

When it was her turn she sat down and even though she’d done this many times before she was nervous. The instructions on the machine said to push the stop button if she began to feel dizzy or faint. Grace remembered once becoming so lightheaded while taking the test she’d hit the stop button in a panic. She already felt dizzy and she hadn’t even hit the start button. But she had to know the severity—had to know if she was going to have to bite the bullet and use the insurance she was sure Alex hadn’t cancelled yet. Her anemia could get bad. And with the frequency of the dizziness she’d been feeling lately, this couldn’t be good. She couldn’t take a chance of falling into that kind of illness now that she was getting ready to start her own business.

Taking a deep breath she pressed the start button. The machine did its thing and began to squeeze around her arm. Her hand was ready to push the stop button but it happened too fast. An incredible wave of lightheadedness swept over her and before she could react everything went black.

*

It took Grace a few moments after the two unfamiliar faces staring at her came into focus to realize where she was and what had happened. She sat up quickly from the chair she was slumped in, immediately regretting it as a sudden jolt of nausea and lightheadedness threatened to take her out again.

“That’ll probably turn into a good sized knot for a few days from where you slumped over and your head clunked the machine. That’s what got our attention.” He motioned toward the pharmacist station and she realized he was a pharmacist not a doctor.

“How long have I been out?”

“Just a couple of minutes. We had just rushed over when you started coming to.”

They let her call someone, refusing to let her drive. She called home figuring it would be the fastest since Joey and Taylor were further away. When she was finally able to walk around without feeling like she was going to pass out she grabbed the iron pills and walked down an the dreaded aisle where she knew they had the one other thing she needed to buy. She hurried and paid for her things before her mother could arrive and see. But she should’ve known. Her mother didn’t even bother to come. She sent Frank by himself.

“How are you feeling?” he rushed to where she sat waiting, the overly concerned expression making her a little uncomfortable.

“I’m fine, really,” she said, grabbing her things and standing up. “I’ve always had low blood pressure. Using that machine was not a good idea today.”

He continued with the concerned questioning most of the way back to her apartment until she changed the subject. “I think my mom and I finally decided on which place we should make an offer on. Did she tell you?”

“Yeah she did. The one on the corner. That’s kind of a busy spot. You sure you wouldn’t mind living on such a busy corner?”

Grace glanced up at her old building. “Anything is better than this place.”

Frank parked and she got out of the car immediately feeling lightheaded as she stood. She’d noticed that’s when it was the worst; after sitting for a while and then suddenly standing. Frank was at her side in an instant taking her by the arm then bringing his arm around her shoulder as they walked the rest of the way into her apartment. Not only was it uncomfortable, it was getting annoying. She moved her purse over to her other shoulder as they reached the stairs and was able to casually move his arm off her. “I’m fine Frank. Thanks.”

He finally got the hint and let her walk the rest of the way up without him holding her arm. Once inside she explained to everyone about what happened, adding that they need not worry she would be fine. Although she wasn’t really feeling hungry she boiled an egg, nibbled a few crackers and forced herself to drink a V8. Then she took her vitamin supplements. She needed to get better. The last thing she wanted was for Rose to see her like this.

After eating she walked to her room and pulled out what she’d purchased at the pharmacy and stared at it. Rose would be home in a few hours. Grace had told her she wanted her home early so she only had short while before she got home. She did what she’d planned on doing at Joey and Taylor’s then called them immediately after to explain why she wasn’t going over after all. “I’m better now but I wanna get some sleep before Rose gets back so I’ll can come over tomorrow. You’ll be there right?”

~*~

With his anxiety reaching a new level, Sal needed the distraction Sunday. He was glad Alex suggested he go with him to the gym. He’d been neglecting working out for some time now and working off some stress did him good.

Romero hadn’t had much luck with Melissa’s texts yet but he said there was still a shit load he needed to go through. The waiting was the worst.

He headed back to his parent’s house instead of going home after, with the excuse that he hadn’t been over in a while but really he was anxious to talk to Vincent. He was tired of the short texted answers. Sal knew Vince had spent the day with Rose and he’d pushed up the urgency that he find out more about Grace. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold back before confronting her about what the fuck was going on between her and the casino guy.

It was irrational to think he had any right. He knew this. But he’d never felt such desperation in his life. He had to do something. There was no way in hell he could stand by and watch the love of his life just slip away like this for nothing. All because some psychotic bitch had come up with a way to split them.

He sucked in a hard breath at the thought that Melissa may’ve pushed Grace into the arms… the bed of another man. Any relief he’d gotten from his workout flew out the window in an instant. A roar snuck up from inside him again as he slammed his fist against the steering wheel. That was it. Proof or not if Vince didn’t have any answers for him today he’d be getting them for himself. He wasn’t waiting on anyone anymore. Fuck the casino guy—Grace was his damn it.

At that very moment reality beat down on him like a mallet. As much as he hated to admit it, he did think just like his brothers when it came to women. Still it wasn’t just women he argued with himself. This was love. Since he’d never been in love until now, he’d never understood his brothers’ crazed thinking when it came to their wives. It was as plain as the rage he tried to mollify now—he got it—no mistake about it. He completely understood now.

With the heated blood racing through his veins he stepped out of his car and walked to his parent’s front door with a purpose. Greeting his mother, who was more than happy to see him calmed him some but very little. He followed her, by request of course, to the kitchen. His mother was determined he’d never leave her house unfed.

His mom informed him Vince was in the garage and Sal promised he’d be back in a few to eat, walking out the back door toward the garage. Vince had the radio on and Sal turned it down when he walked in. Vince sat up on the weight bench when he saw Sal.

“You’re not supposed to be lifting without someone to spot you,” Sal said, but before Vince could respond he added, “did you find out anything else?”

He saw Vince take a deep breath and then frown, making Sal’s heart beat even harder.

“According to Rose she’s been telling me they’re just doing business together and since they’re business partners he’s going to be around a lot now but…”

Sal waited while Vince seemed to ponder on his next words. His normal patience was gone now. It’d been gone since Grace walked out. “But what, Vince?”

“Well,” Vince scratched his head, unbelievably still stalling. “Rose started to say the guy wasn’t there for Grace. Grace was supposedly on her way out by herself and he was just visiting her parents but then…” He took another annoying deep breath and looked away from Sal’s glaring eyes. “It seemed they were about to kiss until Grace looked up and saw us watching. I drove away after that and Rose just shrugged, saying she didn’t know what that had been about. As far as she knew Grace wasn’t at all interested in him but we both knew what we saw.”

Sal was having a hard time getting any words out. His stomach had bottomed out at the very thought of Grace almost kissing someone else. “What do you mean it almost seemed? What did you see exactly?”

His young cousin frowned apparently uncomfortable about the question but Sal didn’t care. He needed to know. “I don’t know. I just saw what happens when someone is about to kiss. He put his arms around her and their faces came dangerously close until she looked up and saw us watching.”

The visual served only to further the anxiety and rage Sal was already feeling. “Did Rose say anything else? I don’t care how insignificant.”

Vince shook his head. “No. She changed the subject after that, but later when we were at the beach I brought it up casually, asking if she knew where they were moving to. She said she was pretty sure they were staying in Chula Vista. Then I asked if the dude was moving in with them and she said she didn’t think so.”

This was ridiculous. “How can she not know?”

“Well she’d seemed pretty sure about everything between Grace and that guy but after today… I did notice she was quiet for a while there after we drove away. Like it had surprised her, too. So maybe Grace is keeping something from her.” Vincent’s face soured suddenly. “Maybe Grace suspects you might be making me pump Rose for info. Damn, I hope she doesn’t figure it out.”

“She won’t.” Sal began to walk away then turned back. “So that’s it? Nothing else?”

Vincent shook his head. With that, Sal was off on a mission. Grace may think he slept with someone else but the fact remained he hadn’t. Whether or not he could prove that now, didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered now is that he stop this… thing she had going with the casino guy. He had to do something now. Alex’s words slammed into him. Make a move now before this guy does. Maybe he already had. Fuck! He hurried into the kitchen where his mom was just serving something on a plate. “Whatever it is, mom, make it to go.”

He thought about calling Romero when he got in his car then decided not to. He was done waiting on everyone else. It was time to take matters into his own hands. Just as he put the phone down in the cup holder it rang—Jason. Not exactly the person Sal wanted to speak at that particular moment but he hadn’t talked to him since the day he called to tell him he wouldn’t be at the wedding.

In no mood to answer he let it go to voicemail. Jason never left messages unless it was important. Sal would call him later when he was feeling more up to it. For now he had more important things to think about.

He’d only driven half a block when his phone went off notifying him of a voicemail. Frowning, Sal hit the buttons to the prompts for his voicemail and set the phone back down on speaker. A few seconds later the message started but it wasn’t Jason that spoke it was Kat.

“Sal this is Katherine. I need to talk to you. It’s about Melissa. She’s been in the hospital all weekend. She overdosed on her medication. The family thinks it was accidental but I know it wasn’t. Jason didn’t want me to call you and I know you want nothing to do with her, but I had to. I really need to talk to you. Please call me back as soon as you get the message.”

Sal pulled over and sat there even after the call ended, numb from the news. From the moment he heard overdose thoughts of his conversation with her Friday morning came to him. The way he’d gone off on her and worse—he called her a mental case. He rewound the message to make absolute certain he’d heard right. This was the last thing he needed right now.