Unexpected Love

by KaLyn Cooper

  She hadn’t been there but two or three times a year since Kevin had died. Before that, they’d made regular trips. He had always been more of a homebody than her. She’d wanted to see the world, experience everything life had to offer, and come back to visit family for that needed dose of home, recharge, then leave again for the next adventure.

  Since she couldn’t get into the house through the garage as usual, she walked up the two steps to the front porch. For the first time in her, life she wondered if she should knock. Feeling silly, she walked in.

  “Mom, I’m home. Are you here?” She called into what felt like an empty house. It even smelled musty. Unused. Every other time she’d come home, she’d been assaulted with scents of supper cooking or cake baking. Or simply, clean house. “Mom?”

  No one answered.

  She felt like she was invading someone’s home, but it had been hers for many years. Checking her watch, she saw it was shortly after seven and decided to wait for someone to show up. Stepping into the living room she noticed a new recliner next to the well-worn couch. She and Kevin had spent hundreds of hours on that couch watching television or making out. Grace was drawn to the shelves above which were jammed with family pictures.

  There was the one of her as homecoming queen standing next to Kevin as king their senior year of high school. Several were of her holding a bouquet with a crown on her head; Miss Sweetgrass, Pork Queen, Prom Queen again standing next to Kevin as king. Holy crow, they looked so young.

  And in love.

  Grace sighed, fighting back the tears. She blinked as his picture turned blurry. He’d been her one true love, and she was thankful for every single day they’d had together. God had brought him into her life at such a young age, and taken him all too soon, in Grace’s opinion. But at a young age she’d learn to put her trust in God, and there was a purpose in everything he did. She sent up a small prayer that someday she would meet a man who would fill all of her dreams. A good man, that over time she would learn to love, in her own way, knowing she could never have another love like Kevin.

  She opened her eyes and wiped away the two tears that dared escape. When her vision cleared, she lifted the next frame in line, their formal wedding picture.

  As she stared at it, Grace admitted that she hadn’t liked her wedding dress with its tiny pearl buttons all the way up to the high neck collar and down the long cuffs. It was so not her, even back then. And was totally the wrong style for an Iowa summer wedding. She’d been so freaking hot all day she’d almost passed out. Kevin’s mother had insisted that a proper lady should be completely covered for her wedding. Her own mother had been bullied into agreeing by the holier-than-thou woman.

  It hadn’t been Grace’s wedding at all. Whenever she disagreed with one of Mrs. Milburn’s overbearing suggestions, her mother had reminded her that Kevin’s family was generously paying for most items traditionally provided for by the bride’s family. A Southern Baptist minister in Iowa didn’t make anywhere near the kind of money that the vice president of the bank made. Kevin’s family wanted to be sure their son’s wedding represented their position within the city. In the end Mrs. Milburn got every dang thing she wanted.

  All Grace had truly wanted was a guarantee that Kevin would be in her life forever…and they lived that life somewhere other than Ames, Iowa.

  Right then she decided, if she were ever to get married again, she’d wear a comfortable dress, one she could dance away the night in. Maybe a short little cap sleeve and lacy fingerless gloves which were her new favorite accessory. The bridesmaids would actually wear dresses that could be worn again. She gazed in disgust at the ridiculously frilly, full-length gowns hers had been forced to wear.

  No. Grace would choose everything, especially for the reception. It most certainly wouldn’t be a meal of baked ham, potatoes au gratin, green beans, and dry sheet cake cooked by the ladies of the church.

  And, it would absolutely include a bar with lots of wine.

  This would be her wedding.

  Grace’s mind painted a picture of her in that dress, her father walking her down a white carpet this time. Since Kevin had been an only child, his mother had insisted that his father escort her down the aisle and that her father performed the ceremony. She could still hear his mother whining that this would be the only chance Kevin’s father had to walk a girl down the aisle, and they had always considered her their daughter. Besides, according to Mrs. Milburn, Grace’s father had two more daughters to escort down the aisle.

  Yes, if she ever remarried, several things would be different. Grace would have to think long and hard whether she would take the other man’s name. She had become Grace Milburn, and to the great dismay of Kevin’s parents, she had legally returned to her maiden name a year after his death.

  The few times she had returned home during that first year, she hadn’t felt welcome in the Milburn house. Yet, her own family had welcomed her with open arms and an open heart. She had seen a grief psychologist for a while and had been encouraged to move on with her life. As far as Grace was concerned, she no longer deserved the name Milburn. She was a Hall. The day she returned to being Grace Hall, she felt empowered. It was as though she had taken her life back and was anxious about her future.

  Scratching away another memory of her weakness, when she had succumbed to the pressure of Kevin’s family, she continued with her fantasy wedding.

  Covered white chairs, with big bows on the back, would sit neatly on either side of the aisle. At the end, a white arbor would stand under a moss-draped pin oak towering fifty feet into the air. Her brain automatically painted in Griffin waiting for her.

  No. Griffin was fun to play with, and an excellent choice to have at her back, but the southern playboy was not the man for her. He wasn’t what anyone would seriously consider husband material.

  She set the picture back on the shelf and stared at the next one. Her brother, Jeremiah, and his high school sweetheart, who married a few years after community college. She couldn’t remember whether either had actually graduated, but it didn’t matter. He had a good job selling farm equipment, and she worked at a local nursery. Denise created some of the most beautiful gardens and landscaping, starting with their home which looks like a magazine cover.

  I don’t even have time to keep a plant alive. That would require me to be around to water it. She set the picture back on the shelf and picked up the next one of Rebecca and Derek. Thank God the man had the patience of Job, because with a house filled with estrogen, he was going to need every ounce he could get.

  Some of Grace’s psychology classes in college explained her sister’s middle child syndrome. She shook her head and marveled how children raised under the same roof, by the same parents, could turn out so completely different.

  Jeremiah was steady, determined to do well for his wife and family, be successful in his business, and maintain his faith while living two miles from his childhood home. Then there was Grace. Filled with wanderlust, happy to live a thousand miles away and occasionally visit, her goal was to make the world a better place by personally eliminating some of the worst men on the planet.

  Not for the first time, she wondered what her father would have to say about her job. Would she be able to convince him that what she did was necessary? Would he take pride in her service to this country? Or be ashamed that she killed people for a living? She had always believed that her work was blessed by God, mandated by him. She, and her teammates, were a strong line of defense to keep the people of the United States of America safe.

  Next in line was a photograph of Margaret, smiling ear to ear, surrounded by a dozen dark-skinned children. Haiti maybe. She’d gone there after a hurricane had devastated the island. Perhaps Guatemala. She had accompanied Doctors Without Borders for a month as a general assistant in the Central American country the summer after she graduated from high school. It dawned on Grace that she hadn’t seen her sister in several years. Hopefully Mags was there, and they could get a few minu
tes alone.

  She set the picture back exactly where she found it, easy to tell by the dust that had accumulated. If she could find time, Grace decided one of the best things she could do for her mother was to give this house a good solid cleaning. On second thought, Grace didn’t even clean her own house. Perhaps a well-placed word, in the right ear, would spur the ladies of the church to take on the project.

  At the sound of tires crunching down the driveway, Grace glanced out the large picture window of the living room. As soon as the crossover came to a halt, side doors blew open and two little boys flew out.

  Grace couldn’t hold back the smile at her young nephews. Her brother and sister-in-law weren’t far behind their children.

  “I get the bathroom first,” yelled Jeb, the eleven-year-old.

  “Dummy, we can both pee at the same time you know,” the eight-year-old reminded him as they stepped into the house.

  Both boys stopped and looked up at her a second before they bounced up to hug her. She loved the feel of small arms embracing her.

  “Aunt Gracie, you’re here!”

  As quickly as they latched on, they dropped their arms.

  “Gotta pee,” Jonah called as he pushed his brother out of the way and dashed down the hall.

  “I was wondering what all the fuss was about when the boys reached the house,” Jere said as he embraced her. “When did you get in?”

  “Just a few minutes ago.” Grace didn’t want to be specific.

  Stepping back he nodded toward their childhood bedrooms. “You know the substitute minister is staying here, right?”

  “Uh, no, I had no idea.” She was now glad she hadn’t gone wandering through the rest of the house. She also wondered if he was there, now.

  “Sorry, but there’s no room at the Inn,” her older brother declared.

  “You’ll just come and stay with us,” Denise stated. “I put clean sheets on Jeb’s bed this morning so that works out perfect. Besides, the boys end up sleeping in the same room most nights anyway. That’s why we never took down the bunkbeds.” She gave Grace a quick hug then headed down the hall. “Jeb, Joe, you boys better not be messing up Grandma’s bathroom.”

  Jere glanced down the hallway before he asked in a low tone, “I take it you didn’t call Mom and tell you were coming?”

  “No, if my plane had been late, she’d just have one more thing to worry about.” That was one of many reasons, so Grace wasn’t really lying.

  “You look tired, Gracie. Where did you fly in from?” Her brother was much smarter than many gave him credit for.

  “I left D.C. early this morning.” That was the truth.

  “Gracie, you can’t lie for crap, where were you yesterday?” Jere could always read her better than anybody else, even Kevin.

  She shook her head. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you. It’s classified. Let’s just leave it to say I was a long way away.”

  Without a word he hugged her, rocking her side to side. “Why do you let Mom and Dad think that you’re in banking? They’d understand that you’re still a pilot in the Navy.”

  “After Kevin crashed in the desert, I think it was just easier for them to believe that I had a benign job, like banking, that took me all over the world. I don’t believe either of them could handle the truth.” She clung to her brother.

  “What you tell them, or don’t, is up to you.” They parted but he kept his hands on her shoulders. “It looks like my prayers have been answered. God has kept you safe.”

  She managed to smile. “Yes, He has.” Desperately needing to change the subject, she asked, “Where’s Mom?”

  Jere shook his head. “She’s practically lived in the hospital since they first took Dad in.” He moved over and sat on the edge of the recliner and pointed toward the lumpy couch. Begrudgingly, she sat.

  “She stayed with him for nearly two days before we could convince her to come home and sleep, and shower, just take a few minutes for herself.” Noise from the hall bathroom caught his attention. “Come on, boys, we got to go home. You two have school tomorrow.”

  He continued, “I stayed until she came back. We’ve kind of built up a routine now. Mom spends the night and stays until after she’s talked to the doctors during morning rounds. Rebecca comes in around ten o’clock and stays through lunch.” He grimaced. “Sometimes I think our sister is more of a headache than she’s worth, but at least she’s dependable for a few hours every day. Then Mom goes back in for the afternoon, and I get there as soon after work as I can. I had the boys with me today because Denise had a late estimate to do, so I took them to the hospital with me. The nurses were really great and allowed them to come in and see Dad for a few minutes.”

  Little boy squeals echoed down the hall.

  “If you guys hurry up,” Jere said, “Aunt Gracie might even read you a story before you go to bed.” He looked up at her hopefully.

  “Of course I will.” She loved those two little kids. She loved her nieces, too, but that was an entirely different situation. “Does Mom have her cell phone with her at the hospital?”

  “Yes, she does, but good luck getting through to her. I swear every member of the church calls and checks on her three times a day.”

  “That’s really sweet that she has such a wonderful support group.” Grace didn’t know what she’d do if it weren’t for her team members. They were her best friends. Each one had checked in with her several times already.

  Her phone buzzed with a text from Griffin. He’d texted between classes and had promised to call her later. Headed out to eat with some of the guys. Wish it was you instead of them. Already missing you! Talk later.

  She’d never had phone sex and wondered if he might be persuaded to participate. Maybe he’d initiate the idea. Leaving him that morning had been so much more difficult than crawling out of his bed at the Willard.

  “Earth to Gracie,” her older brother called. “Given that look on your face, I’d say you were thinking about Kev—” He slammed his mouth shut as though he suddenly remembered. “Sorry, sis. It just automatically popped out. For all those years, I never saw you without him being right there beside you.” He had the good grace to look sheepish. “It’s been what, three years?”

  “Four.” She glanced down at the preview box on her phone when it buzzed with another text from Griffin. What are you wearing?

  She blushed.

  “Is there someone special in your life?” Darn Jere.

  The boys zipped past them, and out the front door. “You’re it,” Joe yelled as he smacked his brother on the back.

  “I’ll get you back for that,” Jeb yelled and kicked it up a notch.

  “Those two are certainly wound,” Denise said joining them. “You ready to go, Jere? We really need to get them into bed.” She looked around for a moment. “Did you forget to grab your Mom’s knitting?”

  Jere’s hesitation was his only admission. “Gracie has a boyfriend,” he said as he got out of the chair and headed back to her old bedroom. Darn him. Sure as can be, somebody was going to tell Mom.

  “He’s not—” Gracie began.

  Her sister-in-law threw her arms around her. “I’m so happy for you. Jere and I have been so worried that you’d never find someone else. Everyone knows how much you loved Kevin, and he loved you, but we absolutely hated the thought of you going the rest of your life alone.”

  “Gracie, you’re going to just follow us home, right?” He held her gaze. “You are not going to a hotel.”

  “I hate to put you guys out,” she protested.

  Her sister-in-law threw an arm around Grace’s shoulders. “I could use some girl time. There are just too many boys in my house. Even the dog is male.” Then she whispered in her ear. “I have wine.”

  “Please tell me it’s not something like—” Grace started to object.

  “I have fallen in love with white wines out of the state of Washington.” Denise looked over at Jere. “After you read the boys a book, I’ll pou
r you an ice cold beer.”

  “After I read a book to those hoodlums tonight, I’m gonna need an ice cold beer. Maybe two.” Jere countered.

  Grace was shocked. “Since when do you two drink alcohol?”

  Jere and Denise looked at each other and burst out laughing. “Since we had kids.”

  Chapter 17

  Griffin was frustrated and angry when the small plane finally touched down in Des Moines.

  What a cluster fuck trying to get to Ames turned out to be. He couldn’t get a flight out of Dulles until late, then he ended up spending the night in Minneapolis-St. Paul due to a mechanical problem with the airplane. Even catching the earliest flight he could into Des Moines, it was still nearly one o’clock by the time he finally landed.

  He was just happy that Katlin had cleared the way for him to join Grace. He would have gone to her family’s home to protect her whether she liked it or not. The threat against them all was real, and having Grace there to protect his back, as much as he was protecting hers, was comforting in kind of a role reversal way.

  Grace had asked him to grab a few of her weapons from the condo and bring them with him. He chuckled when he remembered the man at the TSA baggage check as he opened each hard case so he could place the official piece of paper inside. He always carried General Lyon’s business card in case anyone gave him grief, but the airport agent had only told him to enjoy his trip. Griffin intended to.

  Shifting his phone off airplane mode, the texts and voice mails started downloading. He ignored them and called Grace.

  “I think I saw your plane just land.” She sounded excited to see him and his body instantly responded. Although they had talked on the phone last night, and had phone sex for the second night in a row, his cock begged for the real thing.

  “We’re taxiing in right now. I’ll see you in just a few minutes.” That was all he was going to say on the crowded airplane. He had carefully watched everyone who had boarded the flight, exchanging a long glance with a man he’d pegged as an air marshal. They had both carefully watched two young men who had conversed in Arabic in the waiting area but did not sit beside each other. With a price tag on his head, Griffin didn’t care if he was profiling. He’d covertly taken pictures of the men in question and sent them to General Lyon.