Page 3 of State of Grace

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. I already booked a flight.” She smirked as Salem playfully shoved her shoulder.

“Why did you ask my opinion then?”

“To make you think it was your idea.”

Leaning over toward Salem, Blake placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Salem rolled her eyes at it, and Blake stuffed the letters back into the chest. Picking up the trunk, Blake and Salem carried it downstairs to her bedroom as she dug a backpack out of one of the boxes. Blake packed the letters away in the bag before unpacking a few boxes and packing a suitcase full of enough clothes to get her through at least a couple of weeks in Maine. When she finished packing away the letters, the movers had already arrived and were loading up the U-Haul while Salem hovered over them like a hawk.

“Do you want me to drive you to the airport?”

“No, it’s ok.” Blake slung the backpack over her shoulder. “I called an Uber.”

“I told you not to do that.”

“I used an alias.” She put a grey baseball cap on her head and pulled her long ponytail through the back of it. “It’s fine.”

“Well, be safe and let me know when you get there.” Salem pulled Blake’s suitcase to the front door as they both stopped in the doorframe. “I’ll let you know when I have an update.”

“Thanks, Salem.” Without another word, Blake headed out the front door with her suitcase dragging behind her. She put it into the trunk of the driver’s car before slipping into the backseat. Blake was thankful that the driver wasn’t chatty and kept the radio on a moderate volume for the entire drive to the airport. At the terminal, the driver turned around and smiled shyly at her.

“I love your show.”

“Thank you.” Blake nodded her head at the young woman. She reached into the bag and pulled out one of the 8x10 photographs she’d started carrying around with her. Her fans always loved it, and Blake didn’t mind spending a few extra minutes to make their day. “What’s your name?”

“Lily.”

“Thank you for the ride, Lily.” Blake handed her the personalized autograph copy of her character from the show. “I’ll see if I can get you to pick me up when I get back.”

“Absolutely. Thank you, Ms. Calloway.”

“Please, call me Blake.”

“Let me get your suitcase for you.”

“I got it, but thank you, Lily.” Despite her fame, Blake never liked people fawning over her or doing things for her simply because of who she was. Blake didn’t think she deserved that for simply doing her job. Pushing open the car door, Blake peeked in once more after getting her suitcase from the trunk. “Thanks again, Lily.”

“Thank you, Blake.”

With a wave, Blake shut the car door and headed inside the airport. She checked her bags, went through security, and found a quiet rocking chair by a window to spend a few moments alone until her plane was ready to depart. Reaching into the backpack, Blake pulled out the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. Blake gently set the rocker in motion as she let out a sigh.

I’ll be there soon, Mom.

Chapter 2

Impatiently tapping her sneaker on the hardwood floor, Alexis Holland mindlessly stared at the microwave and sipped coffee from the Star Wars mug shaped like Yoda. She checked her watch once more as her foot tapping increased. It was nearly three in the afternoon, and if she didn’t leave soon, she would be late for work at the bar.

She’d been working at Straight to Ale since the day she turned eighteen and loved everything about it. She loved the bar; loved the atmosphere Isla, the owner, had created. It was a funky little hole-in-the-wall joint that everyone in Moonflower Cove loved. Each night had a different theme, including trivia and karaoke, and it made for a diverse group of regulars.

Ever since her daughter Harper had been born five years prior, Isla had been more than accommodating to Alexis with the scheduling. When Alexis found out she was pregnant, Isla made sure not to schedule her on days she had doctor’s appointments, and if Alexis’s morning sickness became too much, Isla would sit with her in her office until it passed. As Alexis neared her due date, Isla had been right there beside her, hovering over her like a hawk. She’d let her work up until her water broke in the bathroom, and for that, Alexis had been thankful. Isla made sure she wasn’t always on the closing shift so she could be home to tuck Harper in at night. She has been a blessing to Alexis, and Alexis saw her as more of a mother than her actual mother.

Of course, her relationship with her mother had always been a strained one. Moira Holland wasn’t the type of mother who didn’t have favorite children. No, that title went to Alexis’s older siblings, Cole, Grace, and Dylan. They were the perfect ones, the ones her parents doted over in every conversation. Alexis tried not to let it bother her as she had fantastic mentors in her life, but constantly feeling she wasn’t good enough for her mother left a hole in her heart especially after becoming a mother herself.

The microwave dinged, pulling her out of her thoughts. She took the pepperoni pizza Hot Pocket out of the microwave and quickly transferred it into a paper towel. Alexis usually didn’t allow herself such unhealthy foods, but she was in a hurry and didn’t have time to prepare anything before work. She’d have the kitchen staff whip up something for her on her break, but she needed something to tide her over until then.

“Harper, let’s go,” Alexis called out as she heard quick footsteps coming toward the kitchen. Her five-year-old slid across the kitchen floor and crashed into her as her arms wrapped around her waist. Harper had done it since she could walk, but the older she got, the more force there was behind the crash. Alexis bent down and picked her up as the two rubbed noses with each other. Alexis had never pictured herself having kids, but that all changed the moment Harper entered her life.

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