Page 160 of Return To You

I stay silent to let him catch his breath.

“You hafta understand. I just didn’t want to see her grow up. But meanwhile, I pushed a good man away from her. I’ll die knowing I messed up, son, and that’s the worst that can happen to a man on his deathbed. Knowing he’s leaving his daughter alone and knowing it was his fault she’s alone.”

“She’s not alone. And you’re not dying, Dennis.”

“Grace loves you. She always did. Always will. Take that love she has for you and return it a thousand-fold to her. It’ll be worth it, I promise. There’s nothing like a life with a woman who loves you.” He stops for a bit, exhausted by the effort.

“Maybe we can pick up this conversation when you’re out of the hospital,” I suggest, getting worried about him.

He ignores me. “I know I’m the one who got between you and her, back in the day. But believe me when I tell you, you were too young. Would have messed it up. Now you’re both older, you’ve seen combat, and she has, too, in a way. You’ll know what’s important.” He stops again, breath leaving him.

It doesn’t escape me that he’s doubling down on being fundamentally right at the time. And maybe he was right about us being too young. We’ll never know. “You should really get some rest. Don’t work yourself up with all that stuff. It’s water under the bridge,” I assure him.

“Just promise a man on his deathbed that you’ll do right by her.”

“You’re way too young to die. You need to see your grandbabies.”

Color graces the cheeks that were a worrisome gray, and his eyes focus on me. “Grandbabies, huh? How many?”

“As many as she wants.”

The twinkle in his eye tells me I talked him over the edge. Sometimes when life is in the balance, people just need a purpose, something to look forward to. I might have given him just that.

And I’ve given myself that as well.

Suddenly, I want those babies. I want grumpy old Dennis as my father-in-law and Colton as another brother. And Shannon as more than Mom’s friend.

I don’t want to ‘make it work’ with Grace. I don’t want long distance.

Fuck that.

I wish I could have my life back. All of it.

fifty-three

Ethan

Shannon and I convince Grace to go home and get some sleep. Even though the main threat to her business is now gone, she’s not canceling her clients tomorrow. Not after the loss the spa took when people canceled right after the storm, plus the day she just took off when I got back.

She needs her rest, and I’m making sure she gets it.

The next morning, we get good news from the hospital. They’re keeping Dennis under observation one more day, then sending him home. Grace is relieved, and although the dark marks under her eyes say a different story, she maintains she wants to get to the spa early.

I follow her into town on my bike. While she’s at work, I’ll make my rounds of goodbyes so I’m not rushed when the time comes. I’m bound to leave anytime now.

Someone tied balloons on the front porch pillars like it’s a birthday party. I pull up behind Grace’s car to kiss her goodbye, and Randy comes out, having just dropped off a bouquet, “compliments of Alex and Chris.”

It’s only eight in the morning, and clients won’t start coming in before nine or ten, so I walk Grace up the stairs. There’s a vibrancy in the air, and I’m curious about it.

Shanice, Fabrizio, and Cheyenne are dancing to loud, fun music coming from the hidden loudspeakers—not the spa kind of music. Grace hugs Hope and Claudia, who are beaming. While they’re all aware that Dennis is in the hospital and they express their get-well wishes to Grace, I’ve never seen all of them so happy.

This business is truly their life. And it’s all because of Grace. Shanice grabs Grace’s hand to dance with her just as the phone rings.

Claudia picks up, cheer in her tone. “Now is great!” she says, then hangs up and announces, “Chris is bringing croissants and doughnuts.”

I pull out my phone and ask Millie to whip up an order for… twelve people, and manage to kiss Grace on the temple as I snatch her car keys. “Be right back.”

At Easy Monday, Ms. Angela calls out to me from her couch. “Good job keeping her spa, Ethan!”

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