Grant fully expected Maurie’s car to be gone by the time he arrived at her house, since it had been the past several mornings. So why did he feel that stab of disappointment when he pulled up to the curb?
She and Taffy were putting in all kinds of hours working at the store, and Grant suspected that Maurie was carefully avoiding him. Well, after today, she wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore.
He’d finish the last couple of things, then clear his stuff out. He’d leave the carpet layer’s card on the table, along with his own thank-you note. And that would be that.
Grant opened the front door to Maurie’s house. As usual, she’d left it unlocked.
And, as usual, the house smelled heavenly, like something baking. And ... new paint.
Grant ventured into the kitchen and saw the apple pie in the middle of a cleaned-off table.
Maurie had left a note. Nothing personal, just telling him to help himself. Grant wasn’t hungry though, and no matter how delicious the pie smelled or looked, he decided he’d leave it for the women.
He followed the smell of paint and walked into Maurie’s room. Which was now completely blue. It appeared she and Taffy had worked half the night too. Grant smiled. The blue looked great, and the room seemed totally different. He hoped that Maurie was happy with it.
He walked out of the bedroom and set to work. The other day he’d told Taffy that he was willing to help move any final things into the store, but she’d said that they’d arranged to pay a couple of neighbor kids who were looking for some extra cash.
There were only a couple days left before the shop’s grand opening on Friday, the day before Valentine’s Day—which reminded him that he should send something to Trent. Before he forgot, he paused in the hallway and pulled up Amazon on his phone. Thank goodness for two-day Prime delivery.
He ordered a Lego set and a giant Hershey Kiss in a red box, then selected Joy’s address and submitted the order. Grant thought of the Valentine’s boxes he’d made from shoeboxes in elementary school, and how he’d come home with dozens of small cards and pieces of candy. He wondered if Trent would be doing the same thing for his preschool class. It was the small things that were hard to miss, Grant thought.
He closed down the Amazon app just as a text came in. He didn’t recognize the number, but it was signed Taffy.
He read the words a second time.
Hi Grant, I’m at the cemetery with Maurie, and I think she could really use a friend. You know, someone who knew her mom. If you can, come over. She’s on the north side. I’m sitting in her car. She seemed to want time alone with her mom, but I don’t like her being this alone and upset. —Taffy
Grant wrote back. She’s not exactly happy with me.
Taffy’s reply came a few seconds later. She told me what happened, and I get your hesitation. But you knew her mom at least a little. You have that connection with Maurie, one I don’t.
Taffy was right, and he was done hesitating. Ok, he wrote, then pocketed his phone.
He climbed into his truck and headed along the frozen streets toward the Pine Valley Cemetery. His grandparents were buried in this cemetery, and yet Grant only made it here about once a year, with the rest of his family on Memorial Day weekend.
The single car idling in the parking lot was Maurie’s. Grant could see that Taffy was sitting in the passenger seat. That was good because it meant that Maurie was still among the graves. He parked a few spots away from the car and shut off the ignition.
Taffy waved, then pointed out her front window. Within seconds he spotted Maurie, wearing a dark coat on the far north side.
Grant grabbed his coat from the back seat and climbed out of the truck. Before he could change his mind, he shrugged on his coat and started the trek across the cemetery. He was wearing his work boots, and they doubled as snow boots, easily cutting through the several inches of snow that blanketed the ground.
His footsteps were silent though, and he’d almost reached Maurie before she turned to see him.
He slowed, gauging the expression on her face. Her beautiful eyes were rimmed in red as if she’d been crying. It was the first time in days they’d been face to face, and Grant’s heart felt like it was being slowly twisted from his chest.
Maurie merely stared at him, as if she couldn’t believe he’d appeared in the cemetery.
“Hey,” Grant said, shoving his hands into his coat pockets.
Maurie gave the slightest nod, then turned to the grave marker.
Grant waited for a couple of seconds, then walked toward the grave marker and stopped on the side of it, standing a few feet from Maurie. There was a small bouquet of flowers laying in the snow above the gravestone.
The inscription on the stone was simple. Name, birth and death dates. Nothing else. No decoration in the pale-gray stone. He read the dates. Maurie’s mom had been forty-nine when she’d died. Not old at all.
He squatted and used the sleeve of his coat to brush away the snow from the edges of the stone. When he straightened, he felt Maurie’s eyes on him. Several moments passed in silence, but for some reason, it wasn’t awkward.
“I remember those green Christmas ornaments you guys always had on your tree,” Grant said. “I told my mom about them, and she said that the tree was already green, so ornaments should be a different color.”
Maurie said nothing, but he knew she was listening.
“But I thought the green was cool.” He shrugged. “And the lights on your tree twinkled. That was pretty cool too.”
“What did your mom say about the twinkling lights?” Maurie asked.
Relief shot through Grant. Maurie had finally spoken to him. “Nothing, because we had twinkling lights too.”
The smallest smile touched Maurie’s lips. The sight made Grant’s heart ache. She was the most resilient person he knew.
“Were you the one who brought over the tin of Christmas sugar cookies?” she asked.
Grant had forgotten about that. His family had gotten so much stuff from neighbors that he didn’t think his parents would notice some of it going missing. His mother probably wouldn’t have minded him taking cookies, but he’d been afraid of his sister finding out. She was a merciless tease as a teenager.
“Yeah,” Grant said.
Maurie gazed at him for a moment, and Grant held her gaze. He wished he knew what was going on inside her mind.
“I think you were the only one who cared about me in Pine Valley, Grant.”
Grant wanted to argue, tell her that other people cared. But he couldn’t think of a single one, except for maybe her mom in her twisted way. “I still care,” he said in a quiet voice.
Maurie’s eyes filled with tears, and she turned from him, gazing down at the gravestone.
He hated that she was in pain, and that some of it came from him.
As much as he wished he could pull her into his arms and comfort her, he didn’t move. Maurie’s shoulders were tense, and he didn’t want to make things worse.
She wiped at her cheeks, then sniffled. “I’m pretty sure that Taffy told you to come, but I’m glad you did.”
Grant took a step closer. “If I can help, I will.”
“I know.” Maurie took a stuttering breath. “But there are some things no one can help with.”
“Do you really think that?” he asked. When she nodded, he continued, “Maybe I can’t fix things, and we certainly can’t go back in time. But don’t you think it’s better to face life’s challenges with someone else—with someone who cares?”
Maurie didn’t answer. And maybe she didn’t need to. Grant might have crossed the line, and now wasn’t the time to discuss what had been building between them. For now, Maurie’s visit to her mother’s grave was an important process for her to go through. Grant couldn’t expect anything else.
He took another step closer. “I think you’re a brave woman, Maurie Ledbetter. You’ve overcome more than most people do in their entire lifetimes. You’ve built a successful business, you have good people in your life, and you’re kind and generous.”
Maurie closed her eyes.
Grant bent close to kiss her cheek. She didn’t pull away, but she didn’t turn toward him either.
He stepped back. “I hope you can find the peace and happiness you deserve, because if there’s anyone who deserves it, it’s you.”
Maurie opened her eyes and fiddled with the zipper on her coat as the wind kicked up, stirring her dark hair.
“Don’t stay out here too long,” Grant said.
She gave him the slightest of nods, although her eyes still hadn’t connected with his.
Grant walked away, moving through the snow the same way he’d come. Maurie’s car was still idling in the parking lot with Taffy inside. She lifted a hand in greeting as he continued to his truck. He waved back. There was nothing to discuss with Taffy, and he didn’t want to put her in between him and Maurie anyway.
So Grant returned to Maurie’s house and finished the cleanup. Taffy and Maurie must have gone straight from the cemetery to the shop because they hadn’t returned to the house by the time he’d loaded all his tools into his truck. It was late afternoon now, and he’d checked and rechecked all of his work.
Maybe he could run by the store, see if they needed help tonight since tomorrow was the grand opening. He could let Maurie know he was completely finished with her house. Or maybe he should let things stand where they were.
Outside, he was slipping off his tool belt and setting it on the passenger seat of his truck when his phone rang. Joy.
“Hello?” he answered.
Joy’s breathless voice came on. “Stone’s taking me on a surprise Valentine’s getaway,” she said. “Can you pick up Trent for the weekend?”
Grant wasn’t sure if he heard right. Having Trent so soon after his sick visit was unexpected. Grant had been counting down the days until the first week of March and Trent’s spring break. “This weekend?” It was Thursday night.
“Yes,” she said. “We’re leaving first thing in the morning, so tonight would be best. I don’t want to have to deal with him in the morning.”
Grant’s mind spun. “Uh, I need to switch to the SUV, and then I can head over.”
“Great,” Joy said. “He needs to be home by Sunday night, six sharp. I want to make sure he gets a good dinner in him and a full night’s sleep for school the next day.”
“All right.” Although it was completely last minute, he wasn’t going to complain. He didn’t have much going on over the weekend. He’d considered starting the next job he was booked for early, but he could put that off until Monday.
“Oh, I hope you didn’t have Valentine’s plans,” Joy said in a completely unsympathetic voice. “Well, if you do, I guess Trent will be a third wheel.”
“I...” Even before things fell apart with Maurie, he had known she’d be busy with her store opening. Valentine’s Day was Saturday, but it wasn’t like he was dating anyone. Anymore. “Trent is welcome at my place. I’m on my way.”
By the time Grant arrived at Joy’s house, he was met with a very sleepy Trent.
Grant had to admit that it was great to see his son fully healthy, unlike the last time. Grant pulled the little guy into a tight hug. Trent started to squirm and make fake choking sounds. “Lemme go, Daddy.”
Daddy. Grant smiled at the name.
He glanced up at Joy and Stone—who was wearing a tuxedo of all things. Joy was equally decked out in a shimmering peach dress that left nothing to the imagination. They looked like they’d just returned from a high-dollar fundraiser gala, or maybe the Oscars.
He patiently listened as Joy explained the “homework” that Trent needed to do over the weekend; apparently preschoolers had homework. Who would have thought?
Grant nodded his agreement, then told Trent he’d give him a piggyback to the SUV. Trent eagerly hopped up on his back, and Grant gave him a ride to the SUV.
Once Trent was buckled in, Grant pulled out of the driveway. “Are you tired, buddy?” he asked.
“No,” Trent said, then gave a giant yawn.
Grant tried not to laugh. “What did you have for dinner?”
“Spetti, and it was green,” Trent said as if he was disgusted by it.
“Do you mean spinach fettuccini?”
“Yeah, that’s what Mommy said.” Trent yawned again.
Grant turned on the radio to a mellow station. He had no doubt that Trent would be falling asleep soon. “Well, I’m excited that you’re coming to hang out with me for a few days.”
“Me too,” Trent said in a sleepy voice. “Where’s Maurie?”
Grant should have expected that question, but it still felt like a punch in the gut.
“She’s, uh, working at her store,” he said lamely. “The store opens tomorrow, which means she’s very busy.”
“Can we see the store?” Trent asked, his voice more awake now. “Does she have lots of candy there?”
“I’m not sure,” Grant said, wondering what all Maurie had told Trent.
Trent continued peppering questions for the next ten minutes, most of which Grant couldn’t answer. When Trent fell asleep, Grant thought about how grateful he was for this stolen weekend with his son, and it almost made up for the disaster with Maurie. Almost.