Page 71 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

On Tuesday morning, Gracie sat at the second table near the entrance of Starbucks, anxiously watching the door. She cupped her tall peppermint mocha in her hands, hoping the warmth would soak into her chilled skin. She knew it was nerves more than the air that was turning her skin to ice. She was tired and anxious and already knew she looked like hell. That was what happened when you panicked over nothing.

Gracie had stayed at her place Saturday night and hadn’t been back to Eric’s since. He’d seemed a little puzzled by her sudden desire to suffer the stiff lumps of her living room couch, but when she’d mentioned she had to be up at four thirty every morning while Tanya was on vacation this week and that she wanted to spend a little more time with her parents, he’d just accepted it. No questions, no asking if everything was all right. He’d just kissed her on the forehead after the tree had been trimmed and told her he’d talk to her the next day.

And he had texted her, had invited her over on Monday night for family dinner again, but she’d declined. He’d come in a couple of times for coffee, and they’d texted and talked on the phone, but she kept making excuses for why she was so busy. She was being an insane coward, she knew that, but it was almost as if she was possessed by the need to run from him and her feelings.

A woman who appeared in her late sixties came up the sidewalk, her dark hair striped with silver and her tan skin wrinkled. She stepped through the glass door, and her gaze immediately landed on Gracie.

Gracie stood as the woman approached her. “Margaret?”

The woman held out her hand to Gracie. “Yes, and you must be Miss McAllister.”

“Gracie, please. Can I get you a coffee?”

“No, that’s all right, honey. I already had some.” Margaret took off her coat and draped it over the back of the chair. “I just thought this would be a quiet place for us to talk.”

“Yes, of course.” Gracie sat down across from her, anxious for any news about Pip. “How is Jocelyn?”

“Oh, she’s doing all right. Quiet, like I said.” Margaret hesitated, then cleared her throat. “I think she misses you.”

Gracie wasn’t sure how to respond at first, so she just went for honestly. “I miss her too.”

“I don’t want you to think me heartless, not bringing her wit

h me today, but I wanted to meet you myself and get a feel for you as a person.”

“Believe me, I understand. She’s your family.”

Margaret grimaced at the word, and Gracie wondered what she’d said wrong.

“Well, I’m a little thin on relatives willing to step up and help me with her, even her own grandmother, my eldest daughter.”

Gracie’s jaw tightened. She couldn’t imagine not being there for her family, especially if they needed her.

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Gracie said. “I was a little surprised to find out you were her great-grandmother.”

“Well, I had my daughter when I was barely twenty, and my daughter had my granddaughter when she was just sixteen. I guess you could say I was the only one who ever had my life together; Lord knows all of my children seem to have struggled through life and their children, well…” Margaret shook her head. “I was ashamed when I heard what my granddaughter did to Jocelyn, leaving her with that woman. Makes me so mad and sad at the same time.” Margaret seemed to get a hold of herself. “But I don’t mean to burden you with all my family drama.”

“I don’t mind. I was curious about you all, but I am sorry that your children aren’t stepping up to help you.”

Margaret shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do about it now. I thought I raised them better, but apparently, I failed.”

The older woman’s voice was so dejected that Gracie reached out for her hand to squeeze. “You know, sometimes kids are just screwed up through no fault of their parents’.”

“Well, I wish that were true, honey.” Margaret used her free hand to wipe at her wet eyes. “You’re a good soul, you know that? I could tell over the phone I was going to like you right off.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

“Which is why I want you to adopt Jocelyn.”

Gracie jumped in surprise. “But…why? Don’t you want her?”

“Of course I do. She is the sweetest thing, but I… The week before Jocelyn came to live with me, I had some tests run. Turns out I won’t be around to raise Jocelyn like I’d hoped.”

Gracie’s chest ached for her, and she put her other hand over their clasped ones.

“And I’ve been asking the rest of my family if anyone would take her in, but they just…they’re just selfish.”

“Do they know what’s going on with you?” Gracie asked.

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