Page 46 of The Fear
He thought for a moment, before slowly nodding. Of course he would. That was what people did for those they cared about, loved. And a woman like Hala…deserved all the love a man could give. He could see her with a husband, two or three kids. Maybe more kids than that. Half a dozen, maybe. She’d be…perfect at it, really. Beautiful. There would be laughter constantly. Joy.
A man would be happy to go home to that. He really would. To go home toher.
Or…he’d pick her and the kids up at the school every day and take them home with him. He could see that, too.
“Would you treat whatever woman you fell in love with the way your father has always treated me—or the way George has always treated his Veronica?”
He nodded again. “I would try my best. But what if I…couldn’t?”
“Why wouldn’t you be able to, baby? Everyone in relationships makes mistakes. It’s just the way it is. Two people just have to love each other enough to want to learn from those mistakes, to forgive, and keep going. I have no doubt in my mind you would love a woman just as deeply as Gunn does Ayla, or Guthrie his Aubrey. Or your other brothers and those twobeautiful, wonderful women they love. Maybe even more deeply. You, Grady Treyton Hiller—have a heart just made for loving. Maybe even more than any of your brothers and sisters. I have known that from day one.Youhave always been my sweetest one.”
“Even more than Gunn?” Gunn was theniceone, after all. He always had been. The one everyone always talked about that way.
“Gunn is one of a kind, even if the two of you look the same on the outside. But so are you. You are just more introverted and quieter—and far shyer—than your twin. Identical on the outside doesn’t have to mean identical on the inside. And the two of you arebothgood men. Just in different ways. I don’t know why I have to keep telling you—you are a good man. And I am proud to be the mother lucky enough to have raised you.” She looked over to where Hala was still speaking with that man and his children, even braiding the little girl’s hair quickly. “And I can think of only one woman around here who is deserving enough for my baby. Now, shoo. Don’t be scared. Go get your woman back before that man there makes off with her like I suspect he’s wanting to.”
“He’s got kids.” He was a cop, from the Barratt County Sheriff’s office. He’d been a year ahead of Grady and Gunn in school. Had always had a bad attitude, too. The man and Guthrie had tangled during high school a time or two. Grady recognized Ryce now.
“And isn’t married any longer. I know what he’s thinking when he looks at that pretty girl of yours. Now, go. I’ll distract the elementary school principal. I have some things to tell that young man about his behavior this morning. I’ll just be your wing-mom. Shoo.”
He loved that woman; she’d always given his father fits. Grady had always understood why. But…his mom did come in handy.
39
Hala brusheda hand over the fresh braid she’d just put in Wynnie’s hair. “There you go, sweetie. Beautiful.”
“Thanks, Mith Hanan,” Wynnie had a real lisp still, and it was just made more noticeable by the front tooth that had fallen out recently. Hala made a note to speak with the on-site speech pathologist to see if there was something that needed evaluated. She was one of the more rambunctious kids in Hala’s class, but she had spirit. And the cutest little freckles. Her brother, maybe a few years younger, had the same freckles. They reminded her of Ryan—as did the dark chocolate curls everywhere.
Hala waved every time she’d seen the kids playing in the area between their building and hers—and tried not to wince every time she saw theirmother.That woman had gotten on Hala’s nerves since that day two years ago when she and Greer had caught her trying to practically corner Grady outside the diner.
Jessica had even been running her hands all over that perfect Grady-chest. He’d been obviously trying to escape—sheer panic on his beautiful face. Greer had run Jessica off that day, by yelling for her brother that he needed to come help carry Hala to Greer’s car—Greer had invented a sprained ankle for Hala in aninstant. Hala had dutifully let Grady carry her across the diner parking lot, snickering in his ear about the thwarted look on Jessica’s face.
When Grady had finally told Greer the extent that Jessica had been pestering him in town…Greer, Gia, Genny, Chantal and Hala had come up with a plan to make Jessica back off. Jessica had been married—and Grady hadn’t wanted her attention at all. And she’d been practically harassing him every time he stepped foot in town. Him…andChad. So…a brother-rescue-mission had been engaged.
They hadn’t meant to cause Jessica’s second husband to actually leave her, though. But that man had deserved to know the truth, too. Hala didn’t regret it one bit.
Hala had considered it doing her duty to protect Greer’s brother and Chantal’s brother from the girl barracudas out there.
Wynnie’s father, on the other hand, was rather intimidating. He was the same size as Grady and built just as muscular. Almost movie star kind of pretty, too. And the dark glasses hid his eyes. Although…he’d had nice eyes when they’d met before. Well, confused and a little worried, honestly. “It’s nice to see you again, Deputy Ryce. Wynnie is a lot of fun to have in class. She’s helped me settle in just fine.”
“Mith Hanan is there now. I like her lots,” Wynnie said to her dad, twisting her hand around his and swinging. “I’m being really good, too.”
“You absolutely are,” Hala told her. It was obvious the little girl was excited. She was always excited when it was Daddy’s time to have her and her brother. She’d told Hala that before. Wynnie adored her father, and from what the little girl had said, her father was actively involved. Wynnie’s mother hadn’t engaged with the school even once since Hala had arrived. “I’m glad you’re here to buy cookies, too.”
“Why are you working here?” Wynnie asked. “Does the school not pay enough? Mommy says the schools pay people lots and lots to watch bad kids and she would never do it. Not for a million dollars.”
Hala tried not to shudder. The thought of Jessica in aschool…
“My two best friends in the world asked me to help today—that man right there is their brother, and they thought he needed lots of help to sell lots of cookies. His brother is Pastor Gunn, and he got hurt recently. So we’re here to help with the bake sale instead. Before I get ready for the carnival at the school tonight. That’s Pastor Gunn’s mom right there, too.”
“Pastor Hiller? I saw what happened to him recently,” Deputy Ryce said. The man just seemed a little frustrated at the moment. But he was holding his son close, lovingly. “I hope he’s recovering well? And his sister…the attorney. We’ve met a few times before, on the job. How is she doing? I was on duty that day at the courthouse.”
“She is actually doing very well. She’s going to stop by this afternoon, after a doctor’s appointment. She’s still a little battered. My brother is bringing her, and his little boy, later. They are involved now.”
“Hanan. That’s right. You’re related to the prosecutor, right?”
“My big brother, yes.”
“I see.”
