Page 78 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell

“Still doesn’t change the fact that I’m repulsive to women.”

Gracie squeezed him to her affectionately. “That’s because most of us are idiots. You just need to find a girl who’s smarter than the rest of us.”

“And avoid drama queens at all costs.”

“Except as friends? Friends who make you whatever you want in the form of chocolate?”

“Except for those.”

“Oh good, because besides Gemma, you’re the only one who will put up with me.”

He chuckled. “Well, I guess we all have our uses. You better get started on some chocolate goodies, though, to keep me happy. I’ve always wanted to be paid to be someone’s friend.”

She laughed. “I’ll make you so many goodies, you’ll be round as Santa Claus.”

“If you make me fat, I’ll never get a woman.”

His statement sobered her, and she held his cheek in her palm. “Yes, you will, Michael. You’ll get someone awesome. Wait and see.”

The sound of Gemma’s loud chewing broke through their tender moment, and both of them turned toward her. She stared at them for a minute, her cheek full of food, and waved at them.

“Carry on, nothing to see here. Just a preggo woman trying to get her nourishment.”

* * *

Around four that afternoon, Gracie pulled up to the small house in Filer that belonged to Margaret, her stomach fluttering with butterflies. It had been over two weeks since she’d seen Pip, and she wondered whether their short time together had really made that much of an impact on her.

She stepped up onto the front porch and knocked lightly on the door, a festive bag in her other hand and a box in brightly wrapped paper on her hip. She’d picked something up for Margaret the day after meeting her and hoped she wouldn’t be uncomfortable with it.

The door opened, and Gracie smiled at Margaret, who stepped back to let her pass. “Come on in. She’s—”

A high-pitched squeal echoed in the small living room, and Gracie set down the Christmas presents just in time to scoop Pip up in her arms. The child buried her face in Gracie’s neck, and Gracie inhaled sharply, her eyes burning with tears of joy.

“I missed you, Pip. So very much.”

She couldn’t pry Pip’s clasped hands away from the back of her neck to look at her, so she just carried her over to the couch and sat. Margaret’s home was filled with shelves featuring dusty knickknacks and worn furniture sparsely displayed around the room. On the floor were old wooden blocks Pip must have been playing with.

Gracie met Margaret’s gaze, noting the sadness in the other woman’s eyes, and reached out a hand. Margaret took it and sat beside her.

“I brought you each a Christmas present,” Gracie said.

The word present didn’t faze Pip, but Margaret immediately started to protest. “Now, you didn’t have to bring me anything.”

“I know, but I wanted to. Yours is the bag, and the box is for Jocelyn.”

Margaret went to pick up the dropped parcels, and Pip turned on Gracie’s lap to accept her box. As Margaret pulled out a beautiful barn-wood picture frame, Gracie said, “I thought we could get your picture taken with Jocelyn so she would always remember you.”

Tears rolled down Margaret’s weathered face. “Thank you, honey. It’s beautiful.”

Pip was pulling at the bow on the top of the package, and Gracie spoke softly over her head. “I was wondering if your family had contested your decision?”

Margaret’s lips thinned. “No. I’ve already had my will drafted and signed by my lawyer. The only thing they want from me is what they can sell.”

Gracie couldn’t understand what this woman had done to raise children who didn’t care that their mother was dying. She was so warm and loving.

“If you want, you can join my parents and me for Christmas.”

Margaret shook her head. “I appreciate it, but despite their faults, I love my family.”

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