Grace turned to the front, her mind and heart reeling as she blinked back tears. Though the blow hurt worse than any other, it was for the best. Now she wouldn’t have to worry about him getting caught in the crossfire while she tried to uncover the truth.
Throughout the service, an ever-growing realization invaded her thoughts. Life in Miller’s Creek would never again be the same.
17
“Matt!” Derek barked out his name, effectively bringing Matt’s focus back to the Sunday evening rehearsal.
“Sorry. Can we try it again?” He sent an apologetic grin.
Derek sighed. “Actually, let’s take five.”
The guys in the band jumped on the break, quickly exiting the basement in favor of Derek’s loaded fridge upstairs. All it took was one look from his host for Matt to stay in place.
His friend pulled up a chair and straddled it backwards, elbows at rest on the back of the chair. “What’s going on, bud? This isn’t like you.”
Matt feigned an innocent expression. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you’re here, but your head’s not.”
His eyebrows rose. Derek had always been blunt and to the point, one of the things that drew Matt to him during their college years. “Sorry, man. I’ll try to keep my head in the game.”
“It’s a chick, isn’t it?”
A wry grin crept onto Matt’s face. “That obvious, huh?”
“Seen it a hundred times before,” said Derek, breaking into a smile. “Afraid she’ll forget you while you’re on the road?”
Though there was a smidgeon of truth to his friend’s comment, that wasn’t the true source of his fear. Matt shook his head. “Afraid she’s in danger.”
“Then why’d you agree to come on the road with us?”
Matt shrugged. “I don’t think I fully realized how much danger until right before I left. Now it’s all I can think about.” The bags under his eyes should bear testimony to his words. Though he’d managed to doze off a few times during the past couple of nights, his sleep had not been sound.
“Need to leave?”
“No, I won’t do that to you guys. I’ll get my brother to keep an eye out for her.” That is when he wasn’t running around like a crazy man trying to keep all the balls he juggled in the air.
Derek knocked knuckles with him. “Sounds like a plan, man. Keep me updated.”
“Will do.”
The rest of the rehearsal went smoother, but took more effort on Matt’s part than he ever dreamed possible. Not only did his worries of Gracie constantly threaten, but fatigue from the drive to Austin coupled with two restless nights made it a struggle to keep his eyes open.
As soon as Derek released them for dinner, Matt grabbed a sandwich, bag of chips, and a Dr. Pepper, then made a beeline to his room to make a couple of calls. First up was Justin Combs, a college professor who’d also been a friend and advisor.
The phone rang only once. “Hey, Doc. Matt Tyler here. How’s it going?” He put his phone on speaker setting and opened the bag of chips, nabbing one and crunching it between his teeth.
“Great. To what to do I owe the honor of this phone call?”
“Actually a friend of mine is going through a rough time, and I thought you might share a little of your professorly wisdom.”
Justin laughed. “Happy to help, but I’ll need a few details before I make my diagnosis.”
A smile broke through on Matt’s face. “Figured you might.” His smile dissipated as he thought of Gracie. “This friend is a perfectionist, always striving to do better and to be better.”
“Ah, real conscientious, huh? I know the type. An overachiever to boot?”
“Yeah.” He took a bite of the tuna salad sandwich and followed it with a swig of Dr. Pepper. “She’s always been one to control her emotions, but here lately, she’s changed, done things I never thought she’d do.”
“Such as?”
“Well, she broke into my brother’s office for one. And her emotions have been out of control, like a yo-yo.”
“Has she experienced some type of trauma?” Justin’s voice held concern, and Matt could almost see his friend’s accompanying frown.
“She lost her Mom when she was ten.”
“Hmm, that’s hard on anyone, but I meant something recent.”
His mind immediately flew to Gracie’s boss. “The woman she works for sounds like an adult version of the typical playground bully. And since she’s new on the job, there’s not a whole lot of support for her during her work hours.”
Justin released a sigh. “Your friend is just the type that others prey on. A lot of people feel intimidated by over-achievers.”
Matt considered his words. “I’m not sure that’s the case here. I think it’s more about dominance.”
“And your friend lets it get to her?”
“Yep. She turns the words and actions of others against herself, so the emotional damage is multiplied. I’ve told her to put up a shield, and I’m sure she’s trying.” But was it enough?
His former professor grew quiet for a moment. “Do you know if she’s experienced anything threatening? Something that might explain her unusual behavior?”
Matt thought back to the last time he’d seen her in the jail cell. “She said something about weird thing going on at her house.” What was it? A chair and her cat? “But it didn’t make a lot of sense.” His voice came out croaky, his fear for Gracie escalating.
“You might want to keep a close eye on her, Matt. She could be in more danger than anyone realizes.” He paused. “But remember that sometimes the real culprit is something or someone that no one suspects.”
Panic set in before he finished hanging up the phone, ratcheting upward by the moment. Matt immediately put a call through to Gracie’s house, but it was busy, just like it had been each time he’d tried to call during the past three days. He punched the ‘End Call’ button on his phone with more force than necessary. Andy, he needed to call Andy.
His brother picked up on the first ring. “Hey, bro.”
“Thank goodness I caught you.”
“You okay?” Andy’s concern sounded through the phone.
“Not really. I’m really worried about Gracie.”
The line grew temporarily quiet. “Well, the way I see it, she brought all this on herself.”
Matt strode across the small bedroom, one hand raking through his hair. “I understand why you feel that way, Andy, but I think there’s more at play than what we’re aware of. I’ve tried to call Gracie to warn her, but the line’s busy. Can you go check on her?”
“What?” Anger tinged his voice. “You’re asking me to leave my family on a holiday weekend after the stunt she pulled?”
He stopped pacing, stared up at the ceiling, and sucked in a heavy breath. “Yeah.”
Again the line grew silent. “You think she’s in some kind of danger?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I think it’s possible.”
“Who?”
“Maybe the Delgado lady.”
Andy chuckled. “Elena’s a handful all right, but I don’t think she’s dangerous.” His tone reinforced his words.
A heavy sigh escaped. “Look, Andy, I’m not just asking. I’m begging. Please keep an eye on her while I’m gone. I’d do it myself, but these guys are depending on me. If I back out, they won’t be able to keep their commitments for the holiday season.”
Derek poked his head in the door and tapped his watch. “Rehearsal started five minutes ago.”
Matt nodded and pointed to the phone.
Andy let out a frustrated breath. “Okay. I’ll drive by her house occasionally to check on the place, and I’ll see her at church.”
One more question. If he could get it out. “Um, do you, I mean, could you give Gracie her old job back?”
A curt laugh sounded. “You’ve gotta be kidding.”
“Please, Andy, for me. I’d feel better knowing that during the day she’s in a
safe place.”
“I wish I could, but I can’t. And it’s not that I don’t want to. There are other issues involved. Things I can’t discuss at this point.”
“Got it. Thanks.” Matt hung up, more frustrated with his brother than ever before, and plopped down on the bed, his head in his hands. He somehow had to come to grips with the fact that, like it or not, he was apart from her for the next several weeks. The sooner he faced the facts, the better.
Lord God, help me. Keep her safe while I’m away. Give her Your supernatural wisdom and guidance, and help Andy have a change of heart. No other words came to his prayer, only a groaning from deep within, accompanied with anguished thoughts. He slid from the bed and onto his knees. Never had he felt so torn and afraid.
Grace slipped in the back door of the court room Monday morning just as proceedings began. While she couldn’t keep an eye on Elena in an official capacity, she could at least keep tabs on what went on during public trials. It mattered more now than ever. The only way she’d ever regain her standing in the community was if she could prove what a snake Elena really was. As she took a seat on the back row, a thought stuck in her brain. Never would she have imagined sitting in a trial when she should be out looking for a job, but when everything she cared for hung in the balance, she’d do whatever necessary to make it right.
The morning drug on, but nothing Elena did brought on further suspicions. Grace’s mind wandered to the knotted mess of questions concerning the woman, as she once more tried to make sense of it all. Only when people began to stand and leave the courtroom did Grace snap out of her reverie. She tried to wiggle into a gap to exit, but the crowd was too thick.
Elena spotted her on the way out the door, the shock on her face bringing great satisfaction. The woman stopped in the middle of the aisle, and forced those behind her to move around her to exit. “What are you doing here?”
A tremble began in Grace’s feet and worked its way up, anger unleashing its fury throughout her system. Her hands balled into fists. She didn’t have to explain her actions to anyone, especially not Elena. “I’m on to you, and I won’t rest until I can prove it to the world.”
The woman’s eyes took on a haughty sneer. “As if anyone will believe you.”
So she’d been right about Elena discrediting her. She didn’t back down. “If you thought you could get rid of me that easily, you’re sadly mistaken.”
Andy and Jason walked up in time to hear the comment, and her former boss’ face grew dark and foreboding. “You okay?”
She released a shaky breath and nodded.
Without another word Andy slipped past her and exited the courtroom, Elena on his heels. The door swung shut behind them. Only Jason remained, and he sent a kind smile. “Sounds like you’ve had a rough go of it here lately. Andy told me what happened. I’m so sorry.”
His thoughtful words wrapped around her wounded spirit like a fuzzy blanket on a cold, dark night, the first comforting words she’d heard since before Matt left. Why was it that a virtual stranger was more gracious than people she’d known and loved for years? Tiny needle-like jabs watered her eyes. “Yeah, but I’ll be okay, at least eventually.”
“I have depositions all afternoon here in Morganville, but would you allow me the privilege of taking you to dinner tonight?”
A brief moment of indecision battled inside, as her thoughts flew to Matt. He’d left without saying good-bye. While it was true she hadn’t given him any encouragement for fear of putting him in danger, he’d been mighty quick to go on the road without once mentioning it. Obviously his feelings for her weren’t as deep as he’d professed at the lake house. She smiled into Jason’s handsome face. “I’d love to.” If nothing else, it would provide another opportunity to see if a connection existed between Jason and Elena.
His compassionate smile morphed into a full-blown boyish grin. “Wonderful. It’s a black tie event. May I pick you up at five-thirty?”
Black-tie? “It sounds wonderful, Jason, but I’m not sure I have anything suitable to wear.”
“I’ll take care of it. See you tonight.” He left the room before she could protest, his dimpled smile setting off somersaults in her heart.
Grace checked her watch. Hopefully Andy could give her a few minutes of time to try to set the record straight. She plucked the cell phone from her purse and punched in the number to the law office.
“Tyler, Dent, Snodgrass, and Rowe, this is Sandra.”
Rowe? They’d already hired another attorney? The thought sent a wash of hurt. “Sandra, this is Grace. I’d like to set an appointment to see Andy this afternoon if possible.”
Even through the phone, the air chilled. “He has an opening at 1:30,” Sandra intoned in her best business voice.
No chitchat, no girl talk. Just straight and to-the-point. “I’ll take it, please.”
A few minutes before her appointment time, Grace parked the truck outside the office and made her way into the reception area, familiar smells setting off longing in her heart. How good it felt to be here. Sandra glanced up from her desk as she entered, but said nothing. Grace took a seat.
Five minutes later, Andy, now sporting rolled-up shirt sleeves and a loosened tie, stepped through the swinging door that separated the legal offices from the reception room. “Gracie, you ready?”
She followed him into his office, and took a seat.
He lowered himself to the black leather desk chair and leaned back, his elbows propped on the arm rests and his fingers steepled in front of his chest. “What can I do for you?” Though the words were kind, a certain measure of reserve colored both his tone and expression.
Grace swallowed to moisten her dry throat. “First, let me say again how sorry I am about what I did. I know you don’t believe me, but I was trying to do the right thing. I just went about it in the wrong way.”
He stared back, his face a cold blank slate, but didn’t comment.
“I turned the key into Sandra last week.”
“Yeah, I got it. Thanks.”
She gathered her courage to ask the question at the front of heart and mind. Surely he’d take into consideration the years of faithful service she’d given him, as well as their friendship.
His forehead wrinkled. “Was there something else?”
“Yes. I, um, wanted to know if there was any way I could have my job back. I know I don’t deserve it, but I promise—”
He held up both hands. “Stop right there, Gracie. I can’t give you your job back right now.”
His answer slashed through her hopes and sent tears down her cheeks. She did all she could to bring the traitorous tears in check, but they continued to flood her face as she rose to her feet. “I understand.” Grace made a move for the door.
Andy was around the desk in a flash, and reached the door ahead of her. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
Her throat clogged with more tears, making it impossible to speak. All she managed was a nod.
His ocean-green eyes took on compassion. “I’m not saying ‘never,’ Gracie. I’m just saying ‘not now.’ Please trust that I have my reasons.”
The small flame of hope that flickered inside was quickly doused by ensuing thoughts of what she’d do in the meantime. Grace made it almost to the reception area before she realized she’d failed to ask how Matt was doing. She almost kept going, but decided she’d rather know something than nothing. So she pivoted and returned to his office, the door slightly ajar.
As she raised a fist to knock, Andy’s voice sounded from within. “So you heard everything on the speaker phone?”
“Yep. I think you were wise not to bring her back on, at least for now.” The voice belonged to Ben Snodgrass.
Grace frowned. What did Ben have against her? And why did Andy use his phone to let the man eavesdrop on what she’d assumed was a private conversation?
18
Late that afternoon Grace peered into the mirror, blown away by her reflection. Jason arranged fo
r the dress to be delivered soon after she returned from her failed meeting with Andy. Any bad feelings she carried away from the office of Tyler, Dent, Snodgrass, and Rowe had drained away the minute she opened the package.
The red chiffon evening gown with matching shoes and bag only enhanced her recent hair and makeup overhaul, and now she felt like Cinderella ready for the ball with the handsome prince. She’d swept her hair into a classic chignon by watching a few videos online, and was delighted with the results.
She dabbed perfume below each ear and on her wrists and sighed. Jason’s attention and gifts were pretty heady stuff for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Lord, help me keep my wits about me. An absolute must if she intended to coax information from Jason.
The doorbell rang a few minutes later. Dressed in a black tuxedo that accented his dark good looks, Jason offered his elbow as she locked the front door and made her way down the porch steps. “You look absolutely gorgeous. I knew red would suit you. Hope you weren’t offended that I had the dress sent over.”
She smiled. “Not at all. It’s lovely. Thank you.”
He came to an abrupt halt. “I almost forgot.” He patted her hand. “Stand here a moment while I retrieve something. This will be much easier outside.” Jason hurried to his car and returned with a blue velvet jewelry box. “These belonged to my mother. I thought you might want to borrow them for the evening.” He snapped open the lid to reveal a diamond and ruby necklace and matching earrings.
She gasped and brought a hand to her chest. “They’re beyond description, Jason. I’m honored, but I’m also terrified I might somehow lose them during the evening.”
He smiled and revealed his dimples. “Never fear. They’re insured.”
A slight frown tightened her forehead, but she quickly forced it away lest Jason be offended. Was he only concerned about the monetary value of the necklace? Grace turned her back and held up loose tendrils of hair while he fastened the clasp, his fingers brushing against the nape of her neck.
“As lovely as the woman wearing them.” He handed her the dangly earrings. “It’s probably best if you take care of these.”
The Way of Grace (Miller's Creek Novels) Page 20
