Page 32 of Shelter from the Storm

Two hours later, Gretchen took another sip of Lightning in a Bottle red, sitting in one of the countless camp chairs scattered around the front yard of Theo’s farmhouse, feeling happier and more at ease than she had in…well, in her entire life.

Usually, it took her ages to become relaxed around strangers, but it was impossible to be in the company of Edith, Theo, and the Storms, and not instantly feel welcome and safe. It was a foreign but appreciated feeling.

She couldn’t believe she’d almost run from this wonderful place Saturday night, when the sheriff had arrived. She’d escaped to her room and packed her suitcase, waiting for the sheriff to come upstairs and… Well, she didn’t know what he might do. What Briggs might have told a fellow cop to get her back.

When Sheriff Anderson left—with a Saran-wrapped plate containing another large chunk of chocolate cake—she finally relaxed. Sort of. Though she hadn’t unpacked her bag again until after work on Tuesday…just to be sure.

True to his word, Theo and his mother had organized a cookout so that she could meet everyone, not that it was necessary. She’d met most of the Storms throughout the week, nearly everyone stopping by at some point to welcome her.

Edith had mentioned that the pace of life in Gracemont was slower, and she hadn’t lied. Whenever someone new stopped by to introduce themselves, they always took a few minutes to get to know her, seemingly in no hurry to be on their way. Gretchen had gotten pretty good at keeping most of the details about her life secret, able to deflect by using Shaw whenever someone asked about her family, or where she’d lived. It wasn’t like her brother was going to find out she was embellishing the handful of stories he’d told her about his experiences with the military and the SEALS before their estrangement had become an insurmountable ravine.

She hadn’t spoken to Shaw in years, and she hated that she’d been the one to push him away, simply because Briggs had turned her thoughts against him, convincing her Shaw had abandoned her, like everyone else in her life—except him. She could have reached back out to her brother during her worst days, but it was easier to withdraw from everyone, herself included, rather than risk any further hurt or disappointment.

After five days, the only Storm she hadn’t met was Levi, because he was now working on his girlfriend’s farm down in the valley. Of course, she felt like she knew Levi and Kasi simply because the rest of the Storms were all abuzz about Gracemont’s new “it” couple.

Gretchen smiled to herself when she recalled Remi dubbing them that.

Tonight, the couple had come to meet her, bringing along Kasi’s dad and brother. Kasi, who’d apparently grown up with the Storms—she and Remi having been best friends since birth—had instantly linked arms with Gretchen and playfully asked in a fake horrified voice if she was ready for what was coming.

Gretchen hadn’t known how to respond to that, but as the night wore on, she was starting to understand why Kasi had warned her. Gretchen had never been around such a big, boisterous family. It hadn’t taken her long to figure out that trash talking and teasing were the family’s love languages, along with food, beer, and wine.

Currently, Theo, his dad, and Sam were standing around the grill, drinking beer and flipping burgers and turning hot dogs, while Edith sat nearby, deep in conversation with Kasi’s father, Tim. Most of the other cookout attendees had divided into teams and were playing flag football.

Gretchen was invited to join the game but had declined, because the Storms were clearly very competitive. She’d reassured them she would be a detriment to whichever team got stuck with her, since she had a bad habit of flinching whenever a ball was thrown her direction. Her high school P.E. teacher was constantly exasperated with her, insisting she couldn’t catch the ball with her eyes closed.

“Overwhelmed?”

Gretchen smiled as Theo’s mom, Claire, claimed the empty chair next to her. She’d met Claire on Monday when Theo took her on a tour of the entire farm, the two of them stopping by each of the businesses. Apparently, he’d timed their visit to the B&B Claire and Rex ran perfectly—and on purpose—so that they were invited to stay for lunch. Claire had served them the tallest, most chocked-full of meat and cheese club sandwiches Gretchen had ever seen, along with homemade potato chips.

“A little, but in a good way,” Gretchen said. “I’ve never been around such a large family.”

Claire lifted the bottle of wine she’d carried over with her, and Gretchen nodded, accepting her silent offer of more. Claire topped up both their glasses, then set the near-empty bottle on the ground next to her. “I swear that rosé of Mav’s is dangerous.”

Gretchen agreed. “It’s very easy to drink.”

“Too easy. Which is why I’m always shocked when I get to the bottom of the bottle so quickly. By sharing with you, I can fool myself into thinking I didn’t drink the whole thing myself.”

Gretchen laughed, which was another new development, in addition to her rising confidence. She wasn’t aware how rusty her laugh had become until she heard it slipping out whenever Manny and Edith got into one of their adorable nephew/aunt spats that were completely devoid of anger or meanness. Or whenever Theo made a joke as they slowly—and she did mean slowly—circled the parking lot while he attempted to teach her to drive. So far, she hadn’t managed to do more than round the lot at approximately five miles an hour.

Oh, and reverse. She’d attempted that with some zigzagging success—though she was certain she wasn’t supposed to swerve quite that much while looking at the backup camera. Yesterday had been her third lesson, and she was starting to think that at this rate, she’d be mugging for that first driver’s license picture shortly after her fiftieth birthday.

“How do you like your hot dogs, Gretchen?” Theo shouted from the grill.

She frowned, confused by the question, so she fired back the first answer that popped into her mind. “Done.”

Everyone in hearing distance laughed—though she hadn’t intended to be funny. Claire, who really had been enjoying the wine, had to wipe tears from her eyes. “He means, do you like them grilled the normal way or Levi’s way, which is burned to a crisp.”

Gretchen crinkled her nose, then yelled back, “The normal way.”

Theo gave her a pleased smile, waving his spatula at her. “Good girl.”

Claire rolled her eyes as Gretchen blushed. Her instant attraction to Theo Storm hadn’t wavered, despite countless mental admonishments to herself over the past five days. She’d already proven herself to be a terrible judge of character, spending the last six years with an abusive, manipulative man. Following that with an affair with her new boss—in a job she needed like water and air—would do nothing to redeem her poor life choices. In fact, something like that would land her on the too-stupid-to-live list.

So…she had to stay strong.

Of course, that didn’t mean she couldn’t look at the pretty man from afar and dream a little.

Or a lot.

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