The Stand Read online

  He lifted her off her feet and smoothed one hand down her hair. “It’s really good to see you, too. I had to make myself wait at home until I knew it was time to pick you up.”

  “It’s a good thing you did,” she said with a laugh. He lowered her gently to her feet again, noting she’d left her crutches inside. “Kara took forever to do my hair.”

  “It looks nice.” He turned his face into it, smelling lilacs. Loving that she hadn’t hesitated at all in the embrace. He kissed her. “You look really beautiful.”

  “Thank you.”

  He kept hold of her hand when she stepped back. She still wore a bandage but managed to fit it inside a matching sandal. Red nail polish peeked out from underneath, making him grin.

  She followed his gaze and laughed. “They made me.”

  “I like it.” He gestured toward the door. “Do you want me to get your crutches?”

  “No, not tonight.” She squeezed his hand tighter and pulled him toward the truck. “Please. Where we’re going, we won’t be doing much walking, will we?”

  “Not too much.”

  She smiled at him. “See? No problem, then.”

  Nathan gave in easier than he should have. He opened the passenger side door and helped lift her inside, waiting until she settled before making his way around to his own seat. He didn’t plan on taking her far. But she would have to walk just a bit. He’d wait for her, make her take her time.

  The sun sank closer to the hills and stretched warm rays in their direction, casting away the rest of the clouds from the afternoon. Flipping off the radio, Nathan turned around and drove away from the guesthouse. Gravel crunched beneath the tires and dust billowed up, rolling along the surface of the car.

  “Where are we going?” she asked when they reached the end of the drive and turned left, away from town.

  “Somewhere close.”

  “Nowhere close I know of has hot dogs.”

  He chuckled. “Keep an open mind.”

  Her eyes followed the trees as they rode the edge of the lake. The water rippled smoothly. Canoes and small row boats dotted the surface, reminding him of their Sunday afternoon on the water.

  When he turned onto another familiar dirt road just past the lake, she looked over with curious eyes. “I thought you said this didn’t involve a lot of walking.”

  “I could give you another piggyback.”

  “Nathan.”

  “Just to the clearing,” he assured her.

  She waited until he stopped the car and reached for the door handle before he could get around to the other side. Nathan helped her step from the truck.

  She settled most of her weight on one foot. “To the clearing?”

  He nodded and put an arm around her waist. “Lean on me as much as you need to.”

  He kept his stride short, trying to get her to take her time. The sky was still light enough they saw the path easily. She limped along in her sandals, keeping her eyes on the trail.

  “I won’t let you fall,” he said from her side.

  She laughed, and, to his amusement, it sounded nervous. “Are we going to your parents’ house again?”

  He pointed. “No, we’re stopping right here.”

  In the middle of the clearing lay a wide, square blanket. He’d set rocks on each corner to keep it from blowing away and accompanied those rocks with candles he planned on lighting once they sat down. His mother had loaned him a picnic basket for dinner and he’d propped a vase of flowers next to it.

  Grace froze where she stood, several feet from the blanket.

  “Is your ankle okay?”

  She looked over at him, jewel blue eyes searching his in the dim light. “It’s fine. Nathan…no one’s ever done anything like this for me.”

  He brushed her hair behind her ear, hand lingering in the softness of it. “I wanted to.”

  “But why?”

  Because I love you. She was nothing like Amanda. More, she was the kind of person he could see himself spending forever with.

  “I want to make you happy,” he said softly.

  He shifted to stand directly in front of her and she tipped her chin up.

  “Seems to me like you could make a lot of other women happy.” She smiled. “I don’t know why you’d want to bother with a stubborn one like me.”

  “I hope you’re joking.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s not like that at all.” He slid a hand over her shoulder and down her arm. “I don’t think you’re stubborn–”

  “Liar.”

  “Okay, sometimes I think you’re stubborn. But I also think you’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. One of the most loyal and dedicated. You’re also one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Grace…you’re amazing. I want to make you happy for a long time–”

  She ducked her head, shaking it at the same time. “Don’t say that.”

  “But it’s how I feel.”

  “Please. Don’t say anything else.” She looked up again and he was surprised to find tears in her eyes. She started to turn but he caught her arm lightly.

  “Don’t, Grace. I’m sorry. There’s so much I want to say to you.”

  “I don’t think I can do this,” she whispered, dipping her head again. “I’m trying really hard not to run away–to go back to the car again–”

  “No, don’t go. It’s okay,” he assured her, those familiar words returning. He immediately shoved back the rest and put a finger beneath her chin, tilting her head up. Unable to think of anything else to say, he lowered his mouth to hers, trying to lose himself in the moment.

  She brought her arms around his neck, shifting her weight.

  “Your ankle,” he murmured.

  “I don’t care.”

  He smiled and lifted her, causing her to laugh. He let her feet dangle as he walked until he stood over the blanket. He encouraged her to sit. Then he leaned in close once more and kissed her softly. If he couldn’t tell her he loved her, he could do his best to show her.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, breath mixing with his. “It’s…a lot to handle.”

  Because it was hard for her to hear how he felt. If he said those words, then it would hurt even worse when he left. At least in her mind. She still didn’t trust that he would stick around.

  “Don’t apologize.” He pulled back and smiled. “I brought hot dogs. See? Nothing to be sad about.”

  He reached to the basket and flipped it open. Inside, in a container he’d heated just before he’d dropped off the basket, were four hot dogs covered in foil.

  “Really?” She peeked inside the basket.

  “Among other things.”

  “Strawberries?”

  “I hope you’re not allergic. I should have asked.”

  “No, I’m not.” She smiled at him, then reached out to touch his arm. “Thank you, Nathan. I really appreciate this.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Chapter 24

  Grace reclined on the blanket as candlelight flickered into the night air. She watched Nathan shift over to his basket and grab another blanket, which he spread on her legs.

  “Better?” he asked.

  She nodded, shifting closer to feel the warmth of him against her side. He traced his hand down her arm, giving her goose bumps.

  “We’ll be able to see Saturn later this week,” Nathan said.

  “Are you an amateur stargazer, too?”

  He gave a warm chuckle and Grace found herself drawn to it. Drawn to almost everything about him. “I like to look at the stars.”

  “Estrellas, right?” Grace asked, tilting her head in his direction. “That’s how you say stars in Spanish?”

  “Very good.” He grinned, eyes still trained on the sky. “Been practicing?”

  “I remember from high school.”

  “You took Spanish in high school?”

  “For two years. I hated it, too. I’m definitely nowhere close to being fluent like you.” She look
ed back to the sky. “What about French? How do you say stars in French?”

  “Etoiles.”

  “And Japanese?”

  He laughed again. “I have no idea.”

  “Aha! Finally something you don’t know.” She moved to her side, bringing the blanket with her. Her stomach was full. After two hot dogs, a handful of strawberries and a scoop of coleslaw all she wanted to do was lay and relax.

  But she kept thinking about the star. She kept thinking about her wish.

  “There’re a lot of things I don’t know,” he said. She heard a smile in his voice, but she couldn’t summon one of her own.

  Grace waited several moments, gathering courage as the candles flickered. “Nathan.”

  He angled his face slightly in her direction, and she saw the reflection of light on his cheek. “Yes?”

  “I was…talking with Maddy and Kara about my wish this afternoon.”

  He propped his head on his hand so he could look at her. She lowered her eyes to the blanket. Let her fingers pull at a loose string.

  “Right. About how you wished to make something of yourself here in Serenity Falls. I’ve been thinking about that, too.”

  She frowned. How did he remember so much? “You have?”

  “I have. It’s been bothering me, actually, because I can’t figure out where else you might look for the star or what else besides the youth center might help you find it. And so far, with the bees–”

  “Oh, Nathan,” Grace whispered, feeling guilty. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were thinking about all of this.”

  He reached for her hand, brushed a thumb across her knuckles. “I want to help.”

  “I know you do. I should have said something earlier.”

  “Something about what?”

  “About my wish.”

  He didn’t answer, and she lifted her head, searching his face. “I sort of wished for something else.”

  His tone went serious. “What did you wish for?”

  She swallowed her nervousness. “I wished that I’d never be hurt again by someone leaving.”

  The silence went deep. So quiet she heard a cricket chirp and water from the river squirrel its way through the trees behind them.

  “I know I should have said something sooner. I know everyone is trying to help and I wasn’t really cooperating–”

  “Cooperating? Grace…” Nathan released a breath and wrapped his hand firmly around her own. “I understand why you didn’t say anything.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes. But this changes things.” She waited in silence for him to continue, bracing herself for something she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear. “Your parents might have more to do with this than you think. In fact, I…”

  His voice trailed off and Grace waited once more. His face turned into the shadows and she couldn’t read the expression there.

  “What?”

  His shoulder moved in a shrug. “Just thoughts.”

  “You’re not going to tell me.”

  “You’re not going to like it.”

  Grace drew in a breath and released it with a nod. “Okay, I’ll let you deal with that for now.”

  “Good choice.”

  She watched as he leaned back against his arms again, gaze aimed toward the sky. Something inside her told her to say more. To do something instead of retreating like she normally did.

  “I’m really sorry,” she repeated again, leaning over him so she could see his face.

  He reached up, his thumb brushing her lips. “It’s okay, Grace. I’m not mad.”

  “But…” She secured her hair behind her ear. “I feel like I ruined our evening. I just…felt like I needed to tell you.”

  “I’m glad you did.”

  “It seems like…”

  Like what? He was mad? Thoughtful? He’d been telling her all along that he might have more to do with finding the star, and she’d pushed it away because she was scared. But now he might be right, and she couldn’t seem to acknowledge it. She was still afraid.

  “You’re worried,” he said, smoothing his hand down her cheek.

  She leaned down, her mouth touching his. She slid her tongue along his lips, relishing the catch of his breath, the way his hand came up to tangle in her hair. She pressed closer, wishing she could lose herself in the moment, to forget about the star completely.

  But it wouldn’t go away.

  Nathan twisted and urged her down on the blanket, leaning on his elbow to look at her. “Can we forget this? Just for tonight? Then we can tell the others tomorrow.”

  She made herself nod. Riley wouldn’t be happy. And why should he be? They might have been able to make more progress if she’d been honest.

  Making progress also meant dealing with her parents. Her mother. A woman who was largely responsible for Grace’s wish in the first place.

  Could she forgive her? Was that forgiveness the key to finding the star?

  “I think I’ll visit my mom soon,” she said quietly.

  Nathan’s jaw shifted. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

  “I…want to. Even if it doesn’t help find the star, I’ve wondered about her so much. I want to know why she left. I want to know why she never tried to get in touch with us.”

  “Grace,” Nathan said, voice low. “You’re not relaxing.”

  “I need to figure this out.”

  “I know. And I’ll help you. I promise.”

  “I can’t keep putting it off.” She shifted but he wrapped his arm around her so she couldn’t get up.

  “I understand, trust me. I just…I want you to relax tonight. Not to worry about anything, including the youth center.”

  “That’s another thing,” she began, shifting again.

  She heard the rumble of laughter in his chest. “How about a compromise? We’re good at those.”

  “What?”

  “Relax tonight, work tomorrow.”

  “On everything?”

  “On as much as we can.” She gave a reluctant nod. “We’ll work on the youth center and talk about the star. If you want to visit your mom…let’s talk about that, too.”

  “Riley’s going to be upset.”

  “It’s still your choice. But I’m inclined to agree with him.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me.”

  He laughed. “I know.”

  Grace sighed and nodded. “But I like the rest of this compromise.”

  “I thought you might.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Relax,” he murmured.

  So she did.

  ~ ~ ~

  Maddy walked inside slowly, shadowing Grace as she made her way up the stairs with her crutches. She heard voices and laughter from within the youth center and it brought a brief smile to her face.

  She was tired. They’d gone shopping for the youth center, made some progress but also ended up buying a few baby outfits and lingering over a long lunch. She rubbed her stomach with a slight frown. Lunch definitely hadn’t agreed with her. Not much had today.

  “Are you okay?” Grace leaned her crutches by a chair.

  “I feel…a little nauseous.”

  Kara dragged over another chair. “You think it’s morning sickness?”

  “I don’t know. I hope not. Do you think it’s too early?”

  “Here, sit,” Kara said. “How many weeks along are you?”

  “Seven.”

  “It’s not too early then.”

  Maddy sat in the seat and smiled when Kara made Grace sit as well.

  “At least one of us can still get around.” Kara grinned. “I’ll get you some water and we’ll see how you feel then.”

  Maddy reclined in her seat and stretched her legs out, rubbing her hand over her stomach again.

  Grace leaned her elbow on the table and propped her chin in her hand. “Anything I can do?”

  “No…it’ll pass. I just…” Maddy sat up straighter with a frown. Her stomach clenched tightly. “I thin
k maybe I’ll go out back and get some fresh air.”

  Grace started to rise. “Maddy, are you sure nothing is wrong?”

  “I just feel a little sick.”

  “Are you sure it’s nothing else?”

  “No.” She stood up, took a deep breath and gave Grace a small smile. “No, I don’t think it’s anything else. I’m going to…go out back.”

  “Maybe I should get Riley.”

  She waved a hand in Grace’s direction. “No, don’t. He’ll get worried and it’s nothing. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Maddy moved toward the back door. She passed Elliot on the way and tossed him a smile.

  “How was the trip?” he asked.

  “We got bookshelves. More stuff for you to build.”

  “My dream come true.” He touched her arm, his smile fading. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

  “I’m fine.” She waved him off as well. “Just going to get some fresh air.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yep.”

  By the time she pushed open the screen in the back, Maddy felt dizzy too. She immediately dropped to the step and lowered her forehead to her knees. A breeze moved past, cooling her, making some of the nausea fade. She heard birds chirping around her and raised her head, searching for the sound. When she located a small robin on a branch in a tree to her right without her head spinning, she sat up all the way.

  Her stomach grumbled, and she frowned at it.

  Another noise came, this one nothing like a bird at all. It sounded…like a baby crying. Maddy pushed herself to her feet and turned her head, listening for the noise again. She heard voices faintly from inside, but nothing else.

  Ready to turn back, she lifted her hand for the door and heard the crying again. This time the tiny wail of a newborn. She whirled around, seeking out the noise.

  Forgetting her upset stomach, Maddy moved quickly to the side of the porch. She scanned the ground, the trees, any place she could see, but couldn’t find anything. She moved to the other side and repeated the process, confused.

  She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. Nothing. She was just hearing things.

  Then one more time, the tiny cry of a baby.

  “Where are you?” Maddy whispered, heart aching at the sound. She stepped off the deck and walked to the side of the house.