Page 10 of Holding Grace

Grace let out a deep breath, wrapping her arms around herself as she shifted her gaze to a point across the room, avoiding my eyes. I tensed, sensing I was about to get the answers I’d been looking for.

“Then one day right before my 21st birthday, I overheard Ellis and Seth talking. The relationship I’d thought I had with Seth was a complete lie. It was all part of a plan to get my inheritance. The plan was for Seth to marry me, which they assumed would give him joint ownership of the property as my husband. His job was going to be to convince me we should sell it, then take control of the money.”

The thought of Grace married to some asshole who didn’t even want her for herself made my gut twist.

Grace went on, seemingly oblivious to the effect her revelation had had on me. “If that had been the whole plan, I wouldn’t have been too worried about it. I was never going to marry Seth, so it wouldn’t have been a problem. I figured I’d kick him to the curb, find a way to move out of the house I still lived in with Ellis, never see or speak to either of them again, and that would be that. Then I heard the rest.”

I saw Grace’s hands clench and unclench and knew that whatever she was about to say next would likely make me want to put my fist through the wall.

“They decided that if for whatever reason Seth couldn’t get me to sell the land after he and I were married, they’d kill me and, as my spouse, the property would go to Seth. They even talked about forging a will with my name to make sure it happened. Seth asked what they’d do if I didn’t want to marry him, and Ellis said they’d drug me or find another way to make it happen. Then he laughed and said...” Grace paused and swallowed hard... “he said maybe they’d just off me anyway after Seth and I were married so they wouldn’t have to deal with me anymore. That was all I heard.”

Grace drew in a deep breath, then blew it out.

“I’d always known Ellis hated me, but to hear him say that, for him to talk about killing me like it wouldn’t even bother him, and for Seth to just go along with it...”

I’d been right, although it wasn’t a wall I wanted to punch. If either Grace’s piece of shit half-brother or her ex had been standing in front of me, I’d have beaten them to death with my bare hands.

I clamped down on my fury, knowing it was the very last thing Grace needed from me in that moment.

“What did you do?”

My question brought Grace’s eyes back to mine. “I made a plan of my own.”

Grace’s chin came up a little and I had to fight a smile. One of these days I’d have to clue her in to that small tell that communicated loud and clear when she was girding up for her own version of a battle.

Then again, maybe I’d keep it to myself. It would give me an advantage in every future disagreement we’d ever have. I’d see that chin go up and know that I needed to be on my toes.

Had I just made plans for a future with Grace? Hell yeah, I had. All couples – no matter how perfect the relationship – had disagreements, and I had to believe that, now that I’d found her again, someday, somehow, Grace and I would be together.

That was something else I’d be keeping to myself, at least for now.

“I didn’t say anything to Seth or Ellis. I just acted like everything was fine. For a few weeks right up until my birthday I worked as much as I could for extra money and just lied and said someone had quit so we were short-staffed. Ellis kept reminding me that after my birthday I needed to go see the estate attorney to sign paperwork to get the deed to the property. He and Seth even offered to take me to meet with the attorney, then take me out to celebrate.” Grace rolled her eyes. “Like I’d believe that Ellis would ever spend a dime on me that he wasn’t forced to.”

Grace unwrapped her arms, resting her hands on the counter at her sides, and I could feel some of her previous tension ebbing away as she continued to talk.

“I made an appointment with the attorney for the day after my birthday, but I told Ellis and Seth that it was for two days later to buy myself a little time. Ellis and Seth both got shit-faced celebrating my birthday, so while they were passed out, I packed everything I could and snuck it all out to the trunk of my car. The next day I acted like I was going to work, but instead I went to the attorney’s office, signed the paperwork, and got the deed. Then I did the only thing I could think to do. I ran.”

The touch of defiance in Grace’s eyes dared me to criticize her for taking off, for running away. If criticism was what she was expecting, she wasn’t going to get it from me.

“And you’ve been running ever since, haven’t you?”

My quiet question seemed to confuse Grace, and she frowned at me before nodding slowly.

“How long?”

How long had she lived this way, always worried that someone was coming for her?

“Two and a half years.”

I sat back in my chair, my stomach clenching at the thought of Grace on her own and afraid that whole time.

“How many times have you moved?”

Grace pushed away from the counter and crossed the room to sit in the chair beside me again.

“This is my sixth place. Or maybe my seventh.” She rubbed her forehead and looked off into space for a second before shaking her head. “I can’t remember.”

Grace quieted, then turned toward me and I knew an apology was coming before she opened her mouth. I hoped she never planned to make a living playing cards because her poker face was nonexistent.

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