The Stand

by Lila Kane

“Nice to meet you,” Grace said. “Sorry, but I have to be going.”

  The man smiled and dipped his head. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Bye, sweetie,” her mother said.

  “Thank you for…being here for me.”

  “Of course, that’s what moms are for.”

  Grace took a deep breath. “You’re right. ’Bye.”

  She checked her watch and hurried to her car. She’d been away longer than she’d intended, and everyone was probably wondering where she was. And worrying.

  Grace got behind the wheel and checked her face in the mirror before she started the car. Her eyes were rimmed with red, puffy and tired. But she felt better. She’d needed perspective and her mother had given it to her.

  Because she was already in town, Grace stopped at Serendipity. She saw Kara’s car there along with Maddy’s and Elliot’s. She parked in the closest spot, walked slowly up the steps and then entered as inconspicuously as possible.

  “Grace, where have you been?” Maddy asked, her pretty eyes tired and concerned. “We were worried. Riley’s out looking for you.

  “I’m sorry.” Grace swallowed. “I’m going to call him. I will in a minute. I had to…I needed to get away.”

  Her voice broke and Maddy drew her into her arms.

  “Take a break,” Elliot said. “I’ll watch the counter and give Riley a call.”

  Grace let Maddy lead her to a table and Kara came around to the other side, both murmuring words of comfort as fresh tears rolled down her face. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, reaching in her purse for a tissue.

  Kara was faster and already pressed one into her hand. “Don’t cry, Grace. We’re going to fix all of this. I promise.”

  She nodded, willing to take any comfort she could get. Within minutes, Elliot brought them coffee and gave Grace a tight hug, which she clung onto fiercely.

  “Riley’s here,” Maddy said.

  Grace looked up and met his eyes–blue just like her own. Rimmed in red, just like her own–probably from lack of sleep. His face, drawn with worry, seemed to break a little more when he saw her.

  “Grace…”

  She lifted herself from the table and he caught her in his arms. “I’m sorry, Riley,” she sobbed.

  “Shhh…” He smoothed her hair away from his face. “It’s okay.”

  “Where’s Nathan?” Kara asked, standing from the table as well.

  Grace felt Riley shake his head. “He thought it would be better if he didn’t come in.”

  The words made Grace sob harder and Riley tightened his hold. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go.”

  “Wh-where?”

  He put his arm around her and murmured something to Maddy she didn’t hear. Maddy nodded and touched Grace’s shoulder. “We’ll see you later, okay?”

  Grace nodded, keeping in step beside Riley. He walked her out the door and into the sunshine. She saw no trace of Nathan, but she did see Lewis lingering on the sidewalk.

  Riley stopped when he saw him and his grip on Grace tightened.

  Lewis shifted his shoulders. “Are you okay, Grace?”

  “I’m fine,” she told him, her tears betraying her.

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “I’m taking care of her just fine right now,” Riley said. “She needs her real family.”

  “Riley,” she mumbled.

  Lewis nodded. “He’s right.” He stepped off the sidewalk and crossed the street to his car.

  “Come on, Grace.”

  She got into the car with him and searched in her purse for another tissue. When Riley got in, he gave her a tender smile.

  “I shouldn’t have left this morning without telling anyone where I was going.”

  He touched her cheek, wiping away a stray tear. “I understand. We’re going to figure this out, okay?”

  “Promise?”

  He started the car. “I promise.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To visit Grandpa.”

  Grace rolled down her window and let the wind help dry her tears. She took out her ponytail and felt the wind in her hair as well. She planned on telling Riley everything. She had to. And everyone else as well.

  She leaned her head back against the rest and closed her eyes in the sunlight. She nearly fell asleep by the time they reached their destination.

  “Grace.”

  Riley’s hand touched her arm. She opened her eyes slightly. “Hmmm?”

  She heard a smile in his voice. “Do you want to get out?”

  She nodded and reached for the door handle. He met her on the other side and they walked together down six rows and two headstones to the right.

  When she saw flowers on his grave, Grace looked at Riley.

  He smiled. “Maddy and I brought them last week. Had to tell him about the baby.”

  The words made her smile. She wrapped her arm around his waist. “You’re going to be a great daddy.”

  “You’re going to be a great aunt.”

  Together, they sat on the ground on either side of the grave, letting the sun beat down, and stretching the silence. Grace tried in those moments to block out all the pain in her heart and simply enjoy the memory of her grandfather. A man who’d done so many wonderful things with his life. Who’d raised her and Riley when their mother had walked out. Who’d helped Maddy and Kara and dozens of other kids at the youth center.

  “If Grandpa were here,” Grace said quietly, “he’d know what to do.”

  Riley took her hand. “We know what to do, Grace. We have to remember what he taught us. And be strong. And stick together. All six of us.”

  She looked over at him. Did Riley know about Amanda? Did he know Nathan was thinking of leaving?

  “You mean all five of us,” she said softly.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Didn’t Nathan tell you about Amanda?”

  Riley shifted on the ground so he could get a closer look at her face. “He told me she stopped by yesterday and that’s why you left so quickly. That’s why he didn’t come in this morning. He thought it might be better if we talked first.”

  “So he didn’t tell you that he might be leaving?”

  “What do you mean leaving?”

  “I mean leaving Serenity Falls.” She looked away, trying to fight back tears again. “It doesn’t matter. Maybe he hasn’t decided for sure yet.”

  Riley reached out and touched her arm. “Grace, tell me why you think he’s going to leave.”

  “He sent me an email.”

  “What did it say?”

  Grace turned her gaze back in his direction, felt a tear escape the corner of her eye. It trailed down her cheek and splattered on the ground below. “It said he was thinking about getting back together with Amanda. That he might be leaving.”

  Riley’s grip tightened. “Are you sure he sent that email?”

  “It was from him, Riley. I opened it this morning.”

  “Grace, Nathan didn’t say anything this morning about leaving. In fact, he seemed encouraged that you both were making progress yesterday–”

  “That was before Amanda showed up.”

  “Exactly.”

  She shook her head. “What?”

  “What if part of the reason Amanda showed up is because things were progressing with you?”

  “She was real, Riley. I saw her touch Nathan–”

  “I’m not saying that. I’m just saying the timing was perfect. Mom coming back, and Lewis. Amanda showing up. Your worries about Nathan. About relationships. When it starts to go well…look what happens.”

  “But…” Grace sighed, suddenly uncertain. “These are just normal things.”

  “But if they make you doubt–if they make you get further away from the star–then they’re working.”

  “The email,” she whispered, feeling sick. “Do you think it wasn’t real?”

  Riley moved closer to her and put his arm around her. “I don’t know. We could call Nathan.�
�

  “No.” Grace swallowed hard and shook her head. “If that’s what he’s planning on doing, then he should do it.”

  “But Grace–if he didn’t send that email, then he has no idea what’s going on.” She continued to shake her head and she heard him sigh. “Okay, did you keep it? Is it still on your computer?”

  “I think…after I read it, I just left it there.”

  “Let’s see if it’s still there, then.”

  She raised her chin, though it wobbled. If Nathan hadn’t written the email…she’d just made a huge mistake. She might have ruined things between them.

  Riley stood and reached for her hand. “Come on, let’s go see.”

  She let him help her up and they drove back through Serenity Falls to the guesthouse. Her computer lay on her bed just as she left it, making her hesitate. The sick feeling returned and suddenly she wasn’t sure at all the email had been real. They’d seen so many things that weren’t. Elliot had seen her, sitting right here in this house, when it wasn’t really her. But he’d been smart enough to recognize it wasn’t real.

  If this wasn’t real, why wasn’t she smart enough to see it?

  “Do you want me to check?” Riley asked.

  She stayed where she was. She nodded.

  He stepped to the bed and turned the computer in his direction. She watched the screen come alive and Riley’s hand move across the touchpad.

  “Is it there?” she whispered.

  He was silent.

  “Riley?”

  After a long moment, she saw him shake his head. He turned toward her. “I don’t see anything Grace.”

  She felt her heart flip-flop at his words. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.” He gestured to her computer. She could see from where she was standing that there weren’t any messages. “Grace?”

  She pressed one hand over her mouth, trying to hold back the sick astonishment that she’d been fooled into believing Nathan would actually leave after he told her he loved her. He’d been right about trust. Right about everything. Since the moment he’d said those words in the youth center after the piggy back ride. The evil behind the star had tricked her, and she’d believed it.

  “Grace…”

  Riley moved a step closer.

  “I’m sorry.” She rubbed her hands over her face. “I can’t believe I fell for this.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  She swallowed but couldn’t answer.

  “You should talk to Nathan,” Riley said.

  “I know.”

  “Tell him what happened.”

  “I know.”

  “Do you want me to call him?”

  “No,” she whispered. She wiped her face. “I think I know where he is.”

  Chapter 32

  He’d spent the better part of the hour eyes closed, swaying back and forth on the hammock. It hadn’t fixed anything, but he felt some of the stress leave his body.

  Sunlight stretched through the trees, relaxing him further. If only he could put his mind on hold. If only he could stop worrying about Grace. If only she’d realize how he felt about her. But the way things were going right now, he wasn’t hopeful. In fact, it might be over.

  Leaves crunched nearby. His eyes flashed open. When he saw Grace standing only feet away, her hair shining in the sunlight, his breath caught. He swiveled on the hammock, trying to get into a sitting position.

  “Don’t get up,” she said.

  She walked to the hammock and nudged it with her knee to make him sway. Like he’d done with her once before. Her eyes, such a deep blue, were red and puffy from tears.

  “Grace.”

  She set her hand on the top of the canvas and pushed him again. Her face moved back and forth above him.

  “Did you send me an email?” she asked quietly. “Last night or this morning?”

  His brow furrowed. He shifted again so he could see her face straight on. “No. But I wanted to. I almost did, to say sorry about Amanda. To see if you wanted to talk. I almost called you–”

  “It’s okay.” She swiped at her eye and he felt a twist in his gut. “I…got an email from you. I thought it was from you. And it said you were thinking about leaving, about getting back together with Amanda. I didn’t…”

  Her voice caught, and he saw her eyes fill with tears. He couldn’t sit still any longer and he reached out for her, trying to swallow back his own emotion. Sick with what she’d had to deal with.

  “Don’t get up,” she protested, voice breaking again. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even thought that you’d do something like that.”

  “Come here,” he said softly. “Please.”

  She looked down, uncertain. He took her hand and pulled her closer, watching as she breathed in and out like the whisper of wind. He moved over and let her crawl onto the hammock with him. She pillowed her head on his arm, setting her hand on his chest.

  “I didn’t know about the email,” he murmured, dropping his leg over the edge to push them back and forth. “I’m so sorry, Grace. I promise I’m not leaving.”

  “I know, Nathan,” she whispered, voice breaking again. “Please don’t apologize. This whole time, you–you’ve been there for me and I’ve been horrible to you. I’m so sorry.”

  He smoothed her hair back. “I forgive you.”

  “I understand if you don’t think…if you don’t think this will work between us anymore.”

  “I said I forgive you, Grace. Really.”

  “Just like that?”

  He smiled. “Just like that.”

  She looked up, eyes meeting his. “Thank you.”

  He brushed his thumb across her cheek, wiping away the tears. Her eyes closed in reflex, then opened again. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her look so tired. He hated that she’d had to go through what she’d gone through last night alone. And everything else this morning.

  “Close your eyes, sweetheart,” he suggested.

  She closed her eyes, face still turned toward his. Absolute trust.

  The silence lasted a long time. He heard the water rushing in the creek. The trees above fluttered slightly in the breeze. A bird swooped in their direction, catching the air in a wide arc. Grace’s breathing evened out.

  “Grace?”

  Another long pause. Her eyelids flickered. “Hmmm?”

  He smiled. “Never mind. Sleep now.”

  “No…I can get up.”

  “Just rest. You’ll feel better if you get some sleep.”

  “But…”

  “No buts. We’ll talk later.”

  She sighed. “I know.”

  “Good.”

  She was quiet for another minute. Then she spoke again. “Nathan?”

  “Yes?”

  “I really, really…love you.”

  He closed his eyes, letting the words travel straight to his heart. He squeezed her hand in response and said, “I love you, too.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Her eyes opened to sunlight streaming through the trees, reaching the hammock at a different angle. Disoriented for a moment, she let her eyes wander the treetops. Her eyelids flickered. Then her memory kicked in swiftly and she turned her head.

  Nathan smiled. “Hi.”

  “I fell asleep,” she said. The tenderness in his gaze made her heart swell with love.

  He chuckled, and the sound brought a smile to her lips. “I know. Do you feel better?”

  “Yes.”

  He looked relaxed, still swaying them back and forth on the hammock.

  “How long has it been?”

  “A couple hours.”

  She shifted, trying to sit up. “I’m sorry.”

  Nathan moved to help her off the hammock. She stood and stretched, looking down at her crinkled outfit with a grimace. She’d dressed in such a hurry this morning, she didn’t even think the socks she wore matched.

  “I should probably call Riley and let him know I’m still with you.”

  She turn
ed, caught by surprise when she saw him standing right by her. He tipped her chin up with his finger. “Are you?”

  “What?”

  “Still with me?”

  “Nathan…Yes. I’m still with you.” She gave him a wobbly smile. “And I plan on keeping it that way this time. I’m so sorry about yesterday. And–everything. About not trusting you before, and not listening when you told me you had something to do with the star. I–”

  He stopped her words with a kiss, lips warm against her own. Her breath hitched and he held her tight. “It’s okay.”

  He kissed her again, slow and deep, hands sliding into her hair, holding her captive. Her lips lingered on his, drawing everything she could from them.

  “I’ll call Riley if you’d like. And then we can get some lunch.” He checked his watch. “Or an early dinner.”

  “You sure?”

  “I have the whole day open.”

  Grace waited for him to make his phone call. She stepped around the clearing, stretching her legs and taking note of the colorful dash of wildflowers on the fringe of the trees. Her eyes were rested but still felt swollen. She hadn’t cried that much since…probably ever. Even after Grandpa had died. There was too much to do to take time to mourn.

  Nathan ended the call, reaching for her hand. “Ready?”

  Grace nodded and let him lead her from the clear. They had dinner together and went for a walk, taking up the day with light topics and laughter. Nothing to do with the star or her mother or Amanda.

  By the time they headed back home, the sun had gone down and stars had come out. She expected Kara was already in bed and she felt bad for not returning home sooner. She didn’t want Kara to be alone. Her time with Nathan had been important, however. Even if not directly important to discovering the location of the star, it was important to her future.

  Important to everything after the star was gone from their lives.

  They turned down the gravel road and Nathan took his time getting to the guesthouse.

  “I don’t want to go home,” she told him with a smile.

  He reached out for her hand. “I’ll stay if that’s all right.”

  She started to respond, but the words died on her lips. She leaned forward in her seat. “Slow down, Nathan.”

  They neared the youth center and to the right, nearly obscured by the trees was an unfamiliar truck. He peered into the darkness. “Who is that?”