Chapter 19

Kelly

Grace gently knocked on the screen door so she wouldn’t wake Lucas.

“Hey, baby,” she whispered as she smiled and waved from the porch, holding a brown paper bag full of groceries in her other arm. “Open this door and let’s get this show on the road. This is far too late for an old girl like me to be thinking about eating dinner.”

I was so happy to see her. Grace gave me a warm feeling in my stomach whenever something was wrong. I felt like I was about to cry tears of joy just from hearing her voice.

“You’re not old and it’s not that late,” I whispered back, slowly opening the door for her. “It can’t be more than nine, Grace.”

“I know,” she said softly. “Other folks my age ate hours ago and have tucked themselves in for the night like little Luke. How is the dear? Keeping his grades up? Still working his charm on the ladies?”

“How did you know about his little ladies?” I asked with a laugh.

“I have my sources, honey. Don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours. Plus, I’m his Grandma Grace, remember? We have ways of prying things out of our little guys.”

“Yes,” I smiled back at her. “This I know.”

Luke had taken to calling Grace Grandma when we started living with her. All our grandparents had passed away before we were born, so we never knew them. I think he just assumed that Grace was it. And she was. She had fought the name briefly, but as soon as I gave it the okay, she was fully behind it. She would never admit it, but I knew the joy it brought her every time he called her that. It warmed my heart to hear as well. It made both of them very happy and that was all I wanted.

“So, what’s for dinner, Grace?” I said as I walked into the kitchen and realized what a mess it was. I was going to get an earful.

“Well, that is up to you, my dear. You’re the cook. My goodness, child. It looks like a tornado blew through this kitchen.”

I knew she was talking about the dishes that had piled up since I made Lucas dinner, but a part of me was afraid she could see signs of Hurricane Hunter. I could still smell him, could still feel him, and I hoped that she couldn’t too. Or at the very least, I hoped I wasn’t wearing my feelings on my face.

“I know, Grace, I know. With everything that happened today at the diner, I just didn’t get to cleaning up like I normally do. I’m sorry.”

“Goodness, Kelly. It was an interesting day, but I still managed to clean my diner up just fine. And your kitchen didn’t have that bull come charging through it. I know he was trying to help, but my Lord. I’ve never seen such a disgusting display in my entire life. Such violence. Not very becoming of a young man.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Grace hadn’t seen Hunter leaving with me, and had no idea he had been here or what we had done. It was better that way. Much, much better.

“You’re right Grace. I have no excuse. I’ll get it cleaned up and then I’ll make you a great meal. Is there any pasta in that little bag of tricks you brought over?”

Had Hunter really been there, or had I imagined the whole thing like some odd mixture of fantasy and nightmare? I took a step toward the table where Grace had set the groceries and felt the soreness between my thighs. I looked at the table, at the dried watermark Hunter’s beer had left on the table. He had been there. I was just getting better at forgetting.

By tomorrow he’ll be gone, Kelly. Just keep moving forward.

“You read my mind, dear. There’s some spaghetti noodles in there and I even had some of my famous sauce in the freezer. Cook those noodles and I’ll defrost the sauce. Then we’ll clean this place up a bit after we eat.”

“I thought I was making you dinner. Now you’ve gone and done all the leg work for me.”

She looked over at me with her warm eyes.

“We’ve all had a long day, sweetie. Plus those noodles don’t cook themselves. Hop to it before I fade away to nothing in this filthy room!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I couldn’t wait to sit down and enjoy a meal with her. I liked making small talk about the business, the silly books she was reading, the weather. It was time to forget Hunter and, for the first time since I met him that morning, it seemed like I was going to be able to.

“The Christian in me says we should invite that troubled boy over and see to it he gets a good meal tonight. His kind tend to fight sin with more sin and I think we could show him a better path with some kindness.”

My stomach sunk.

Please. Please, God, no.

“Grace, I don’t know if that’s,” I started.

“Oh hush, child. I don’t want to see him anymore than you do. I said, the Christian in me. There’s also a tough old woman in there that wants to teach him some manners. Even if he did protect my baby, he’s got no right playing executioner at his will and destroying my livelihood for a day. That boy is lost and has no business around you, me, or this town. I’m going to tell Dennis to cut him loose tomorrow, first thing. We don’t need someone like that around here and I think it’s best if he just moves on. Maybe I’ll speak with the sheriff as well, and see if he can just, you know, shuffle him along. Surely he can.” Grace crossed herself. “Forgive me, Lord. I’m just protecting mine.”

Grace was right. I had no business with Hunter and he had no business with me. We weren’t the same and he was dangerous. I needed to take the day for what it was and move on with everything that was good in my life. Grace, Lucas, my quiet and peaceful town. Hunter was sin in the flesh and had led me to temptation with his ways.

Never again, Kelly. Never again.

When Elle had been here, she’d found herself a bad boy and gone off to California to create an exciting new life with him. That’s what I’d thought I wanted. I’d been to her wedding. I’d seen the mansion her man, Forrester, had taken her to. So many times I’d daydreamed about some guy coming along and sweeping me off my feet like that. Something told me that wasn’t going to happen for me. At least, not with a man like Hunter. He was a thug and a criminal. He was nothing like Forrester and the brothers who lived with him in California.

No. I would never allow myself to be alone with Hunter again. I would never even think of him again.

I kept repeating that to myself in my head as I started to boil the water, and I began to feel better. Mostly because I knew that it was a bold faced lie. He’d claimed me that afternoon. He’d taken me as his. Hunter wasn’t gone, he wouldn’t leave me, he would come for me. I could feel it in my bones. I just prayed I could resist him when the time came.

I crossed myself as well, but suddenly knew nothing could protect me anymore. I had followed him down into the fire and my only hope was that he would have mercy on me.

I could feel myself heating up as the lid on the pot started to rattle with boiling water.