Page 32 of Amazing Grace

The walk had made them both ravenous and after they’d polished off the lot between them, they started walking again.

The closer they walked together, the more they touched each other and each touch felt like an electric current soaring through their bodies. Vinnie suddenly stopped walking and Grace stood still too, puzzling over why he was standing still. He swept up a big section of her hair to one side which had blown into her face, tucked it behind her ear and kissed her gently but fully on the lips. He smiled and carried on walking and she caught up with him. He grinned at her, took her hand in his, kissed it, tucked it under the crook of his arm and then didn’t let go. Neither of them seemed to be able to stop smiling.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever felt this comfortable with anyone before, Grace. Just walking side by side, we don’t even have to be talking, it just feels right to be here with you. Does that sound a bit mad? Am I scaring you with too much too soon?’ he asked.

‘Not at all, I love it!’ she responded. ‘It just feels good and right and I feel like I’ve known you all my life, if that doesn’t sound too forward.’

They smiled at each other and a kind of deep understanding passed between them. They’d got to the end of the walk and were nearing the car park again. ‘What are you doing for the rest of the day, Grace?’ Vinnie asked.

‘Not much planned to be honest. I have to be back by six as that’s what time Archie is back but apart from that, nothing.’

‘So can I persuade you and Becks to come back to mine and curl up on the settee and watch a film, do you think?’

‘Are you sure you want that furry smelly monster in your house? He needs a good wipe down first.’

‘Well, I’ve got some old towels and a sponge knocking around in the airing cupboard. I’m sure we could give him a bed bath!’

‘Ooh, he’d love that! Not!’

‘He’ll be fine, won’t you, mate?’ he said to the dog while ruffling the fur on his head. Becks licked his hand and raised his head in a look of complete adoration.

‘See, he’s my buddy! Leave it to me.’

‘OK, if you insist, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

When they got back, Vinnie went into the house first and grabbed some old towels and a sponge. He kneeled down by the front door. ‘Come on then, boy,’ he said as he patted his knees. Becks bounded up to him and jumped up, nearly knocking him over. Where Mark would have hit the roof, Vinnie just laughed and rolled around on the floor with him, Becks licking his face. Then Becks sat obediently and did everything Vinnie told him to while he gave him a wash down and dried him.

‘Amazing!’ said Grace. ‘I definitely think you have a new best friend.’

‘Come on, boy, let’s see what we can find you for a treat,’ he said, opening and closing cupboard doors. ‘What can I give him?’ He looked at Grace for advice.

‘This might sound a bit mad, but do you have any carrots?’

‘I do. They’re in the fridge. Will that be OK? I’ve never heard of a dog eating carrots before. Are you sure?’

‘I hadn’t either, but they’re good for their teeth apparently and it’ll keep him quiet for a while.’

He gave Becks the carrot and walked over to where Grace was standing, putting his hands on her shoulders and kissing the top of her head. ‘Fancy a cuppa?’

‘Mmm, please,’ she responded. ‘Can I do anything?’

‘No, sweetheart, all under control. Why don’t you go in the lounge and see what films we can watch.’

Grace walked into the room that Vinnie had indicated and took a look around. It was obvious that it was a man’s room. It had a black leather suite and there was a footrest with some car and men’s health magazines on it. His Apple Mac sat on a low black glass-topped table in the far corner and there were very few knick-knacks around. As she looked around the room, her eyes caught a photograph on the mantelpiece of him and Ruth together and another of him with his arms around a beautiful young woman, standing on the side of a mountain, bathed in sunshine. It was the lady whose picture was in his wallet. Vinnie looked like he adored the very ground that she walked on. You could see the love in his eyes. Her heart caught in her mouth.

She picked up the photo and looked at it in detail. The woman was tall, slender, blonde, beautiful, young, vibrant and full of life. She was wearing a white skimpy vest and very short shorts. She was quite simply stunning. Grace was gutted. Her heart sank to the bottom of her boots. She felt green with envy and could feel jealousy surging through her body. This girl couldn’t be further away from herself – she was everything that Grace wasn’t. Grace was short, curvaceous and dark, and she couldn’t help but wonder who this beautiful lady was. She was obviously someone very important to Vinnie, if the photo was still on the mantelpiece, yet everything she knew about him told her that he was single.

‘Ah, you’ve seen the photo then,’ Vinnie said as he walked into the lounge balancing a tray in his hands while Becks danced around his ankles.

‘Yep!’ Grace looked at him.

‘I should explain,’ he said as he put the tray down and took the photo out of Grace’s hand and touched the glass, stroking the girl’s face tenderly. Grace felt sick with jealousy.

‘This is Meredith. I loved her so much. She’s stunning, isn’t she?’

‘She is indeed,’ replied Grace, wondering what on earth was going on and why he was telling her about how much he loved another girl.

‘My beautiful brave girl,’ he said, his voice catching on his words. He took a deep breath.

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