by J. M. Hill
“I’m sorry, Gracie,” Garrett said sweetly. “I’m sorry you lost your parents.”
“Uncle David was wonderful to me, he was like my dad,” I said with a smile. “And, I have Kate.”
Garrett sighed as he set the picture carefully back on the shelf. “Did you know we had a little sister?” He shoved his hands into his pockets and kept his eyes on the photos, not looking at me. I swallowed the knot that formed in my throat.
“No,” my voice was quiet. “I didn’t know that.”
“Rachel.” A smile touched the corner of his mouth. “She died eight years ago of cancer, she was fourteen.”
My breath hitched with his words, and I shook my head. “I’m so sorry.”
He looked at me then. “You know, you remind me of her. She had blue eyes, too.” Grief came over his face, and I wanted to go to him and just hug him. I looked down at my hands, the ugliness of cancer familiar to me. He turned suddenly and walked to the kitchen. “You hungry?”
“Um, not really.” I was still trying to recover from our conversation, and pretty sure he was doing the same thing. “You need to help yourself to whatever we have. There’s leftover enchiladas, unless you’re tired of them.”
“Excellent. You should probably eat something too.”
“Okay, I’ll have an enchilada.”
“On it.”
Plates clanked and the microwave beeped. He brought me a plate with an enchilada on it, then returned to the kitchen.
“Hey, I think I found some leftover steak, do you mind?” he called.
“Not at all, but it’s leftover from Friday. It may not be that great.”
He snorted a laugh, obviously disregarding my warning. After a few minutes, he came into the living room again, holding a plate piled high with leftover steak, several enchiladas, and two bottles of ginger ale. I thanked him, and he took a big bite of steak, his eyes rolling back into his head as he chewed. His cell phone rang and he answered it with his mouth full, again.
“Hey, Michael,” Garrett mumbled and I smiled waiting for the inevitable. “Steak, why?” He shrugged as he looked at me innocently, and I was about to fall off the couch laughing.
“We’re good,” he said. “Yes, I’m behaving myself. Just a sec.” He pulled the phone away. “Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m good. Thanks.”
“Did you hear that?” Garrett asked Michael. “Okay. See ya.” He pressed a button and tossed his phone on the coffee table.
“Was he calling to check on me?”
Garrett grinned while he chewed. “You could say that.”
“That was nice of him.”
“Yep. He’s a pretty nice guy.”
I thought about how Michael rearranged meetings to take me to the ER, Garrett had given up his day just to sit with me, and Miles was busy helping at the store. I’d never known anyone quite like the Andersons, and even though we’d only known each other for a few weeks, I already cared for them and it seemed so strange to feel this way about people I hardly knew. I was comfortable with Garrett. I liked him so much, and it was the same with Miles and Michael.
“What’s wrong?” Garrett interrupted my reverie.
I smiled at him. “Nothing’s wrong, I was just thinking…I’ve never met anyone like you and your brothers.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“It’s good,” I told him. “It’s just surprising that’s all.”
He nodded thoughtfully, and then smiled widely as if something came to his mind suddenly.
“Providential,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Providential?”
“That’s the word Miles used the night you and Kate came over to introduce yourselves. Providential. And I would have to agree.”
I couldn’t help my smile. “Me too.”
There was a knock on the front door, and then it opened slightly.
“Can I come in?” Michael peered around the door.
“Of course,” I said.
Pathetically, I noticed every detail about him, every time I saw him, and I’m pretty sure that made me pathetic. He smiled when he saw his brother in the kitchen doing the dishes.
“Hey, little brother.” Garrett waved. “How was the meeting?”
“Stimulating,” Michael said dryly, and then he looked down at me. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good. Thanks.”
“Does it still hurt?”
“Not too bad,” I said with a shrug.
“When did you take your last pain pill?”
I smirked at his line of questioning. “Um, this morning.”
He checked his watch, and then went to the kitchen. He returned with a glass of water, and the bottle of pain medication, shaking out a tablet and handing it to me.
“Thanks,” I said.
“You’re welcome.” His eyes didn’t leave mine, and I felt the trembling begin. What was this strange effect he had on me? I swallowed the pill, and leaned into the couch trying to escape his gaze.
Deciding I couldn’t put off a shower any longer, I excused myself to my bathroom. After my shower, I hobbled into the kitchen where Kate, and the Andersons were all sitting around the table.
Garrett saw me and patted the chair next to him. “Sit here, Gracie. You feel better now?”
“I know I smell better,” I quipped.
Kate dished Chinese take-out onto a plate for me. I started to eat when I looked over at Michael, noticing he was watching me.
“How’s the ankle?” He asked.
“Fine. Thanks again for everything today. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s no problem.” He smiled warmly. “I’m glad we could help.”
For a long moment he watched me, and then abruptly pushed away from the table.
“Thanks for dinner, Kate,” he said. “But I have some things I need to finish up. Grace, feel better.”
“Thanks.” I was disappointed he left so quickly and tried not to dwell on it, but did anyway.
“So, Miles,” Garrett said. “Do you know how to make all those fancy coffees now?”
Kate giggled while she gazed at Miles dreamily, and Garrett nudged me gently under the table, obviously noticing the same thing.
“I think I actually got the hang of it,” Miles said proudly. “Have you ever heard of a ‘half-caf-non-fat-double-shot-full-foam-latte’?”
Garrett looked at him dumbfounded.
“Exactly.” Miles replied.
“Was the bookstore busy?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Kate said. “It was pretty busy all day.”
Miles nodded in agreement. “Grace, I have to hand it to you. You have an impressive selection there. Kate tells me you run the bookstore.” “Well, I don’t do it by myself, the bookstore just happens to be the part I like best,” I told him. “I love books.”
“So I’ve heard.” Miles smiled watching Kate as she got up, and started doing dishes. “She talked about you most of the day,” he said in a low aside. He winked at me and then went to help Kate.
Garrett stood up, pulling my chair out for me and I hobbled to the couch in the stupid, ugly boot. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep the annoying contraption on for two weeks like Evan instructed. I hadn’t even had it on for eight hours, and I hated its guts. Garrett chuckled at my irritated expression as I sat down on the couch next to him. He flipped through the channels looking for something to watch as I laid my head back and closed my eyes. My ankle throbbed dully, and I was tired. I wasn’t surprised anymore at how comfortable I was with Garrett, because he made me comfortable. He put the TV on ESPN, and we watched baseball highlights.
“Yankees?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
I snorted. “Of course.”
He grinned, giving me a fist bump.
When Miles and Kate came into the living room, Garrett stood from the couch and helped me to my feet. As I looked up at my new friend, I felt a surge of love for him. It was bizarre feeling so close to him, so quickly.
“Thank you, Garrett. Thank you so much for everything today.”
Without warning, he picked me up, tightening his arms around me in a bear hug.
“Aw,” his voice was gentle. “I had so much fun with you today, really. You don’t need to thank me.” He swung me back and forth so my feet swayed above the floor—even with the stupid boot—making me giggle. He set me down and kissed the top of my head before walking out the door.
“Miles, thank you for your help today,” I said. “I really appreciate it.”
“It was my pleasure. You get better, okay?”
I nodded and turned to go to my room as Kate walked with him outside. I took the boot off of my foot and slid under the covers of my bed, feeling a little drowsy. I heard the front door close and soon Kate was sitting on the edge of my bed.
“You need anything, Gracie?”
I shook my head, and remembered my conversation with Garrett.
“Kate, did Miles tell you they had a sister?”
Her expression was instantly troubled as she shook her head slowly.
“Her name was Rachel, she died of cancer eight years ago.” My throat tightened. “She was only fourteen.”
Kate’s eyes welled with tears, and I brushed mine away. Kate grabbed my hand and laid down next to me as we both stared up at the ceiling. Memories of Uncle David flashed through my mind, and though I’d never met her, Rachel, and the heartache the Anderson family must have suffered with their loss.
Kate stayed with me that night, neither of us willing to leave the other alone. Both of us so thankful we had each other.
SEVEN
I woke to the smell of coffee and bacon, wondering why Kate would be making breakfast on a workday. I rolled over to look at my alarm clock, which I’d forgotten to set last night.
“Crap.”
It was after nine o’clock. I quickly got out of bed and was instantly reminded of what I’d done to my ankle yesterday.
“Ow!” I clinched my teeth and hopped toward the bathroom for my shower. Kate came into my room, dressed and ready for the day.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Sorry, I overslept. Why didn’t you wake me up?”
She strolled past me into the bathroom and turned on the shower for me. “I thought you could use the sleep. Don’t worry about it, I called Kenny and we’re covered.”
“Okay, I’ll be ready in just a few.”
“Take your time. I invited Miles to join us for breakfast.” She hummed as she started making my bed for me.
“Kate, it’s only a sprained ankle. I can make my bed.”
She shrugged, and I knew better than to argue. I showered quickly, got dressed and strapped the big, ugly, boot onto my foot and limped out to the kitchen. Miles sat at the table with Kate dishing up scrambled eggs, bacon and her cinnamon-streusel muffins.
He smiled sweetly at me. “Good morning. How’s the ankle?”
“It’s fine, thanks.” I replied. “Where are your brothers?”
“They had to go to Denver. We’re starting a remodel project at St. Joseph’s Hospital.”
Kate handed me a cup of coffee and sat next to him. We ate quietly for a moment, when Miles broke the silence.
“Grace,” his voice was soft. “Kate told me Garrett talked about Rachel yesterday.”
I nodded warily.
He seemed hesitant. “I feel the need to explain something.”
“Okay.”
Miles took a deep breath and rested his arms on the table, his expression wistful.
“We all loved Rachel very much, but Garrett was closest to her, and her death was a devastating blow to him.” He looked down at his hands as he continued. “Her last two weeks, mom and dad brought her home with a nurse, wanting her to be as comfortable as possible, and Garrett only left her side long enough to shower because mom and dad insisted.” He smiled, but it didn’t touch his eyes. “He ate and slept right next to her bed, and when she died it was Garrett’s hand she held. He wasn’t himself for a long time after that.” He shook his head sadly, and I felt tears coming. Kate reached over and placed her hand over his, and they watched each other for a moment before he turned to me again.
“I’m telling you this because, I know that Garrett can be…a lot to take, and I say this with all the love in my heart for him. I just don’t want him to scare you, or make you uncomfortable.”
I wondered for a moment if maybe I should feel uncomfortable with Garrett, but when I thought about him, the only thing I felt was happy.
“He’s a gigantic, massive guy, with the biggest heart of anyone you’ll ever meet,” Miles continued. “He’s never spoken of Rachel’s death with anyone. Not even me or Michael. The fact that he said anything to you…he already thinks a lot of you.”
Sadness and happiness surged inside me at the same time. Sadness for the loss Garrett and his family suffered, and happiness that Garrett felt some sort of comfort in our new-found friendship.
“I already think a lot of him, too, and he doesn’t scare me one bit,” I assured him. “He hasn’t made me feel uncomfortable either. In fact, I’ve only been surprised at how quickly I felt comfortable with him.”
Miles seemed relieved as he leaned back in his chair. “Well that’s good. I know he would never want to give you the wrong idea, or make you feel uneasy in any way. I’ve never seen Garrett take to anyone so quickly. And that’s a compliment.”
“That’s exactly how I take it, as a compliment,” I responded. “And you know, I’ve never had a big brother.”
He laughed and nodded. “I think it’s safe to say, you do now.”
Over the next several weeks, the Anderson’s became an intricate part of Kate’s and my life, and we loved each one of them. They were three of the most generous, compassionate, and warm-hearted people I’d ever known in my entire life, and it didn’t take long for the five of us to feel more like family than neighbors.
I was closest to Garrett. It was so easy to be comfortable with him, and Miles was right. Garrett was the goofy, over-protective, big brother I never knew I wanted. We’d razz each other constantly, and argue about which one of us knew more about football. I knew he did, but I would never admit it, even if I had to spend time on the internet looking up facts just to impress him. I tried to educate him on music and books, and he’d pretend to be bored, but I knew he listened. He’d break into his loud, gut-busting laugh when I quoted verbatim most of the lines from the first three “Rocky” movies, and pat my shoulders in comfort when I sniffled during a sad movie.
Miles was gentle and soft-spoken, and I loved the way he loved Kate. They adored each other and were blissfully in love, their happiness was infectious. It made the rest of us happy just being around them. He and Garrett treated me like a little sister, and I loved it.
And then there was Michael.
After my ankle healed and I got rid of the stupid boot, we ran together almost every morning, and I really loved having that time together, even though he made me quite nervous in the beginning. We’d laugh a lot, and ask probing questions about each other, from favorite color to favorite ice cream, and talk about everything from politics to our childhood memories. I loved being with him and the more I was around him, I became more at ease. We enjoyed each other’s company, and I was determined not to make things awkward because of my feelings for him, even though I wasn’t really sure what those feelings were. He was in my every thought, his presence always felt. I laid in bed at night and see his face when I closed my eyes. With everything I knew about him, I wanted to know more.
The boys were eager for Kate and me to meet their parents, so, they arranged for a weekend visit. Will and Ava Anderson were a visible explanation of why their three boys were so gorgeous. Their dad, tall and lean, had the same dark curly hair as Garrett, not to mention the same enormous dimples flanking the movie-star smile each of the boys inherited. Mrs. Anderson was also tall, and graceful, reminding me of a ballerina. Her features were deli
cate, and her hair the same chestnut color as Michael’s.
We stood in the boy’s living room and I watched as Miles introduced Kate, the exultant pride in his voice, and on his face. Garrett grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him, draping his giant arm over my shoulders.
“Mom, Dad, this is Gracie.”
Mrs. Anderson smiled warmly and reached for my hand taking it into hers. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you. We’ve heard so much about you from all of the boys.”
“It’s great to meet you too, Mrs. Anderson.”
“Please, call me Ava.”
I nodded and put my hand out to Mr. Anderson, and he shook it gently.
“It’s nice to meet you, Grace. You can call me Mr. Anderson.”
Ava nudged him in the ribs with her elbow, and he didn’t release my hand as he continued to laugh and I saw a reflection of Garrett’s personality.
“Call me Will,” he said with a wink.
We spent the weekend getting to know Will and Ava. The love the Anderson family had for each other was overwhelming to see and it caused my heart to ache. Not with pain, but with joy.
It was Saturday morning, and I returned home from a run alone, because Michael didn’t show up. The house was empty, and I walked straight to shower and get dressed in my comfy jeans and crimson USC sweatshirt. The Trojans were playing Stanford, and Garrett and I were going to watch it together. While I made a pot of coffee, I noticed a note from Kate on the fridge saying she was with Miles and Garrett getting groceries.
I listened to the drip, drip of the coffee maker and retrieved a cup from the cupboard. After stirring cream and sugar into my coffee, I decided to grab the paper and catch up on football scores. When I picked up the paper from the front walk, I noticed a cherry-red Porsche parked in front of the Anderson’s house. Before I made it inside, I heard voices from across the drive.
