Page 70 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
“That’s perfect, and you’ll do great. Just remember, if you mess up, nobody will know but you. Just ad-lib—that’s what actors do. Pretend it’s part of the song.” Grace gave her a quick hug. “And, Nana, my family is probably getting sick of me by now. Reed and I had breakfast with my parents and Sable this morning. Sable’s apartment isfinallydone being renovated. We helped her move back in after breakfast.” She loved being part of her family’s lives instead of just hearing about them. She would miss them when she returned to the city.
After the others left, Grace stopped by Haylie’s office and peeked her head in. Haylie and Sin, the athletic director, were deep in conversation. “Hey, guys. Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to say thanks again for letting us use the auditorium. We’re done for the day. Sorry we stayed so late.”
“No worries,” Sin said. “We’re closing up early so we can go to the jam session. I hear it’s going to be wild tonight.”
“Phoenix and Lauryn are playing. I’m sure it’ll be fun.” They talked for a few more minutes, and then she texted Reed to tell him she was on her way home. Her father had asked Reed to help with a repair in the barn, so they were meeting at her parents’ house anyway, but she hated being late for something her mother had worked so hard to prepare for.
Grace was the last one to arrive. Add another layer to the guilt cake.
She parked on the street, and as she climbed from her car, the sounds of laughter and familiar voices filled her ears. Reed’s deep voice was easy to pick out. Reba and Dolly greeted her with slobbery kisses to her bare legs. She crouched, and her messenger bag slipped from her shoulder. Why did she even have it? She wasn’t going to work during dinner.Old habits die hard.Reba stuck her nose into Grace’s bag, knocking Grace on her butt and causing papers to slip out.
“Oh, Reba,” Grace said, surprisingly not at all irritated.
The pup heard it as an invitation and went paws-up on Grace’s shoulders. She fell back, catching herself with her palms. Dolly licked her face, and Grace relented, lying back on the driveway as the dogs loved her up with playful kisses. She tousled their fur, laughing even as Reba stepped on her bag and more papers slipped out.
“Oh no, Gracie!” her mother cried from the top of the driveway. “Reba, Dolly, sit!” she commanded as she hurried toward them.
Grace wanted to tell her it was okay, but she knew the importance of obedience training and held her tongue. When the dogs were safely settled, she sat up, unable to stop smiling as Reed, Amber, and Reno rushed toward her.
Reno stood beside Amber, her ever-present guardian angel, as Amber collected Grace’s papers and put them in her bag.
“Are you okay, babe?” Reed helped her to her feet, looking darkly handsome with clean-shaven cheeks and wearing a white button-down shirt with his jeans.
Grace wiped the dogs’ slobber from her cheek and said, “Sure beats coming home to an empty loft. You look pretty fancy for a family barbecue.”
“I’ve waited forever for this special night. Nothing’s too fancy for my girl.”
Reed hugged her as Brindle and Morgyn ran down the driveway, their blond hair flowing loose and wild behind them. Their blue eyes radiated mischief as they each took one of Grace’s arms and dragged her toward the house.
“Hey,” Grace complained, wanting to be with Reed.
“Change of plans,” Morgyn said, looking cute as ever in one of her own designs, a pink jagged-edged dress with several colorful necklaces and a bright blue and purple shirt, sleeves cuffed, hanging open in pure hippie style. “We’re going to the jam session.”
“But Mom’s been planning this barbecue for two weeks. She won’t be happy.” She glanced at Reed, sure he’d be disappointed since they were both looking forward to their first real family get-together, but he shrugged and smiled, like he was cool with it.
“She’s fine,” Brindle said as they dragged her toward the front door. “We need to get you out of those city clothes.”
“What?” Grace looked over her shoulder at Reed. “Reed!”
“I love your clothes!” he hollered as they climbed the porch steps. “But I also love you in cutoffs!”
“Since when has a Montgomery girl let a man decide what she wears?” Brindle pointed out.
“You guys, all my clothes are at Reed’s.”
Amber and Reno caught up to them at the front door. “Don’t worry. I helped pick everything out. You’re going to lookamazing,” Amber said.
“You too?” Grace complained as they dragged her into her bedroom and began stripping her down. “I can get undressed myself, and I’mnotwearing cutoffs in public!”
“Hush up, sugar lips,” Morgyn said. “You’ve been in control of your life way too long. Tonight you’re one of us again, like it or not.”
“We miss you, Gracie,” Amber said. “Give us tonight. Please?”
Unexpectedly bowled over with emotions for the hundredth time lately, how could she say anything but, “Just be kind, please. No butt-baring skirts or halter tops.”
“But you have the best legs in the family!” Brindle complained.
“I donot!”
