Adopted Son (12 page)

As he slid into the passenger seat, a tangy male scent filled the car. She swallowed.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I could really use a glass of wine.”

N
EON BEER SIGNS
, country music and laughter greeted them. Grace realized she was in a real Texas honky-tonk, another new experience. Pictures of celebrities from baseball player Bob Gill to singer Dolly Parton and patrons covered the walls.

Straight ahead was a dining room with a bar. She could see pool tables there, too. They sat at a table close together so they could hear each other above the chatter. It was a packed house tonight. She ordered a glass of Merlot and Tuck ordered a longneck. After a couple of sips, she relaxed. Looking into Tuck’s dark eyes she relaxed even more.

Tuck ordered chicken-fried steak and she selected a grilled chicken breast. During the meal they talked. She told him about her father and he understood her decision to resign. Then she told him about Brady and he was surprised.

“I think Jennifer is going to have me barred from the hospital.”

“I doubt it.”

She wondered about his relationship with Jennifer, but she didn’t ask. It didn’t matter.

She took a sip of wine. “I keep thinking there should be sofas in the ward or recliners so mothers could get some rest. If Caroline was there with Jesse, it would be totally unacceptable that she’d get no rest.”

“Grace, it’s an indigent hospital. There aren’t any luxuries. And if, God forbid, Jesse needed medical care, he would be in a state-of-the-art hospital with all the amenities because Caroline and Eli have insurance and they could afford it.”

“I know, but I feel something should be done.” She straightened her napkin in her lap. “I might look into it. I’m going to have a lot of time on my hands.”

“Do you have any idea what you’re going to do?”

“No. Right now I’m just feeling my way through.” She wiped her mouth and laid her napkin on the table. “The dinner was delicious but now I just want to dance.” They went through a door by the bar into a long dance hall with a stage at the back of the room. The band was playing “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” and the crowd was singing along and shouting the punchline.

They took a table on the side of the dance floor and Grace slipped off her jacket and laid it on the back of her chair.

Tuck set their drinks on the table and took her hand, grinning. “Let’s dance.” His feet were already moving to the beat of the music.

As they reached the floor, the band eased into a slow George Strait two-step. “I won’t tell you what my shoes cost,” she said above the noise.

“Good idea.”

“And I don’t care if you step all over them.”

“I think you have a shoe fetish.”

She giggled and went into his arms as if she belonged there. One hand rested on his neck, the other was held firmly in his. Her body molded to his perfectly, sensuously. She felt every muscle, every sinew of his hard body. Her frayed nerves eased and she slid into the most wonderful feeling of her life—that feeling of knowing she’d found the man for her.

Tuck kissed the side of her face. “Feeling better?”

“Yes. Much.” The other couples on the floor seemed to fade away.

“You smell wonderful.”

“So do you.” She moved her head to smile at him.

“Sam didn’t like it. He ran into the other room.”

Her smile broadened. “What does a dog know?”

She locked her hands around his neck and he tightened his around her waist.

“We’re talking too much,” he whispered into her ear.

“Definitely.” She moved against him to the beat of the music. As she turned her head, their lips met in a slow, aching kiss. The music played on, but Grace didn’t hear it. All she heard was the beat of her heart against his, a magical sound that bound them together for this moment in time.

T
HE NEXT MORNING
Grace had coffee ready when her doorbell rang. She took a deep breath and opened the door. Her parents stood there. And to her surprise, so did Caroline. She didn’t think her sister would leave Jesse this early in the morning, but then she remembered it was Saturday and Eli was at home.

It was hard to keep her mind on business because she was floating about three feet off the ground. Last night had been wonderful. They’d shared a long kiss before she got into her car and drove home, alone. It was tempting to ask Tuck to her apartment, but they both knew it was too soon.

Her family walked into her living room without saying a word. She poured coffee and passed it around, not caring they were drinking coffee in her spotless white living room. Well, that wasn’t completely true, but she was forcing herself to be okay with it. She was still taking tiny steps. Each one was getting easier and easier, though.

Stephen sipped from a china cup, his eyes on Grace. Like a dutiful daughter, she waited for him to speak.

“I think you owe me an apology for running out yesterday. Byron had to handle the interview with Mann.”

She ran her thumb and forefinger over the handle of her cup, feeling the dutiful daughter suddenly disappear. “If you came here for an apology, you’re not going to get one.”

Her father frowned. “What’s wrong with you, Grace? You don’t seem to care about your family anymore.”

She carefully placed her cup on the silver tray, trying to maintain control without losing her temper. “Family has nothing to do with this. Your political career does.”

“That’s my life, Grace, and I expected my daughter to step up to the plate and do what she had to in a difficult situation.”

“You expected wrong, then.” She met his eyes squarely. “When you had your heart attack, you said the only thing that mattered was seeing your girls’ faces one more time. You said that in the scheme of your life, we were all that mattered. Was that a lie?”

“Of course not. And I resent…”

Joanna placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “You promised not to get upset.”

Stephen shrugged off her hand, his eyes on Grace. “You’ve had this dream career handed to you on a silver platter and this is the thanks I get. I feel like you’ve stabbed me in the back.”

Grace stood, some of her control slipping. “Maybe that’s it. The job was given to me—
for a reason.
I didn’t earn it. And lately I’ve felt the pressure of that. Please understand I’m not happy doing your bidding anymore. Byron can easily take over. I need some space and time to do my own thing.” She took a long breath. “I will not be coming back to the firm. That’s my final decision.”

Stephen got to his feet. “I expect this kind of behavior from Caroline, but not from you, Grace.”

“I’m sitting right here, Dad!” Caroline had been silent up until now.

“You know what I mean.”

“Sadly, yes, I do.” Caroline rose. “And for what it’s worth, I wouldn’t hire this guy, either.”

Stephen’s eyes bulged. “I can’t believe my ears. What type of daughters have I raised?”

“Daughters with integrity, pride and ethics,” Grace replied. “We got those qualities from our father, but he’s forgotten those essential, important characteristics.”

“How dare you…”

Joanna stood by her husband, rubbing his arm. “Stephen…”

He shook off her hand. “Stop mollycoddling me, Joanna. Sometimes you treat me like a child.”

“Maybe because sometimes you act like one,” Joanna shot back. “Have you ever thought that we raised intelligent, discerning women and that they’re right about Mann? He’s vile, and I’m telling you for about the hundredth time we can win this election without Cavanaugh’s money.”

“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Stephen shouted.

“Fine.” Joanna reached for her purse. “I’m going home. I’ll call a cab from the street.” She glanced at Caroline’s and Grace’s stunned faces. “I’m sure my daughters can take care of themselves because that’s the way
I
raised them—independent and strong, able to stand up for the things they believe in.” With those words, she headed to the door.

“Joanna, don’t you dare walk out that door.”

Joanna kept walking; the door snapped shut behind her.

“Joanna!” When Stephen realized she wasn’t coming back, he quickly went after her.

Grace and Caroline stared at each other in shock. Their mother never stood up to their father. She was the quintessential politician’s wife, and always acquiesced to Stephen’s wishes.

“We need chocolate,” Caroline said, and headed for the kitchen.

Grace kept staring after her parents, not wanting to be the cause of a rift between them. But she wasn’t going back on her decision, either.

Caroline came back with a half gallon of Rocky Road and two spoons. She had a strange look on her face. “There’s a glass, two spoons and a fork in your sink,” Caroline said. “And there’s trash in the trash can.”

For anyone else that statement would sound very stupid, but not for Grace. She was known for not leaving dirty dishes in her sink, or anywhere else for that matter. And she emptied her trash daily. It was important to her to be clean, tidy, neat—perfect. But not anymore.

“There are clothes on the floor in the bedroom, too,” she told her sister.

“You’re joking.” Caroline ran into the bedroom. “Oh my gosh, you’re having a nervous breakdown.”

“I am not,” Grace said. “Bring that ice cream back in here.”

They sat cross-legged on the sofa eating ice cream out of the carton like when they were kids and their parents were away and the nanny was asleep.

“You made the right decision,” Caroline said in between mouthfuls. “Just in case you needed to hear that.”

Grace licked her spoon. “I didn’t know if I had enough strength to stand up to Dad, but it was quite easy. There was no way I’d hire Derek Mann.” She took a bite, savoring the almond and chocolate taste. “I was hoping Dad would trust my judgment. Wrong.”

“Yeah, what planet are you living on?”

Venus and Mars.
Her eyes grew dreamy.

Caroline watched her. “So what’s going on with you?”

Grace stuck her spoon in the ice cream. “I’ve been visiting the pediatric ward and it has opened my eyes.”

Caroline licked her spoon, watching Grace. “How has it done that?”

“There’s this one woman who sits with her daughter, who had a brain tumor removed. The little girl hasn’t woken up yet and Barbara wants to be there when she does. She has three more children at home, so she doesn’t spend money on food for herself. Her kids might need it.” She paused. “I’ve never seen that kind of love before.”

“That’s a mother’s love.”

“I know, and then there’s the flip side. Brady, and what his mother did to him. There’s another baby in a crib who is brain-dead. His father threw him against a wall.”

“Oh, no!”

“It’s heartbreaking and eye opening to see all this.” Grace twirled her spoon in the ice cream. “I spend a fortune on shoes and clothes. Barbara and her family are barely getting by and what I spend on shoes alone they could live on for a month. That makes me feel selfish and worthless as a human being, and as a woman.”

“When I talked to you yesterday, you said you weren’t happy.”

“No, and I haven’t been for a long time, but when I’m on the pediatric ward I feel alive and needed.” She licked her spoon. “I know exactly how Tuck feels. He saw abused kids come through his home as a child. How could he not want to help? It’s second nature to him.”

Caroline paused in taking a bite. “You’re calling him Tuck now?”

“Yes. It’s something I should have done from the start.”

Caroline swallowed a mouthful. “I get the feeling things have changed between you and Tuck.”

Grace couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “We went dancing last night.”

“What?” Caroline sat up straight.

“We had a great time. We didn’t argue at all.”

“Oh, honey, please take it slow,” Caroline advised. “Tuck’s a wonderful man, but he’s not the marrying kind. He has plans and dreams in his head and there’s not much room for a woman. He’s the most self-sufficient man I know and that includes my darling of a husband.”

“We’re just getting to know each other. It’s been nice.” She heard the wistfulness in her voice.

Caroline lifted an eyebrow. “Thinking of sleeping with the enemy, huh?”

Grace grinned. “Maybe.”

“Good for you.” Caroline pointed her spoon at Grace. “You need some excitement in your life. I want to know all the details.”

“Oh, please.” Grace rolled her yes. “We’re not sixteen.”

“No.” Caroline laughed. “Thank God for that.”

Grace joined in the laughter, releasing the last of her pent-up emotions.

Caroline sobered. “You do realize Dad is going to keep pressuring you. He’ll make up with Mom and he’ll continue to try to get you back at the Whitten Law Firm.”

“I’m aware of his tactics. I can handle it.”

“I’m always here for you,” Caroline said.

“I know that.” Grace raised her spoon. “To sisters.”

Caroline tapped her spoon against Grace’s. “Sisters first—sisters always.”

That had been their slogan when they were kids and it still held true today.

A
FTER
C
AROLINE LEFT
, Grace sat for a long time thinking about her life. She wasn’t rushing into anything. She would take this time to get to know herself and find out what she wanted out of life. From now on everything she did would be her decision.

She thought about what Caroline had said about Tuck not being the marrying kind. Well, maybe she wasn’t, either. But she was willing to explore her options.

Later that afternoon, she headed to Tuck’s. He’d told her last night to let him know how the meeting with her father turned out and she wanted to do that in person. She drove into his driveway and saw he was at the barn, leaning on the corral watching a small boy riding a horse.

As she stepped out of her car, the spring day embraced her with a freshness that cleared her mind. She took a deep breath and the scent of budding trees and green grasses filled her lungs, boosting her spirits.

The wind ruffled her hair and she made no move to brush it back as she walked toward him. He wore jeans and a chambray shirt. Her heart wobbled at the sight of his tall, masculine figure.

Tuck watched her sashay toward him in tight-fitting jeans, her hips swinging with an easy rhythm. His lower abdomen tightened. A few days ago he was angry as hell at her. Today he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

All day he kept remembering the taste of her lips, the feel of her body against his. His eyes had strayed to the road several times looking for her white car. He couldn’t believe how much he wanted to see her.

“Hey, Tuck. Look at me,” Dillon shouted.

Tuck turned his attention to the boy. “You’re doing great. Use the reins to turn her just like I taught you.”

Dillon pulled on the reins and the horse turned. “This is fun.”

“Watch what you’re doing,” Tuck instructed.

Her perfume wafted to him a moment before he looked into her green eyes. He was beginning to associate that scent with her and it did crazy things to his senses. His head spun at the brightness in her eyes. The talk with her father must have gone well because she didn’t look upset. She looked wonderful, almost glowing.

“Hi.” She smiled, and his heart fluttered like a bird about to take flight.

“Hi,” he replied. “How did it go?”

She shrugged. “Not good. He doesn’t understand my position and I don’t understand his. We’re at an impasse.”

“So you’re unemployed?”

“Yes, but I’m okay with that.”

He watched the light in her eyes. “I can see that.”

“Hey, Tuck,” Dillon called.

“Come here.” Tuck motioned to the boy, who guided the horse closer to the fence.

“Dillon, I want you to meet Grace.”

Dillon raised a hand. “Hi, Grace.”

“Hi, Dillon.”

“I’m riding.”

“Very well, too.”

“Take the horse to the barn,” Tuck said. “It’s time to rub her down and feed her.”

“Yes, sir,” Dillon responded and slowly made his way into the barn.

“Is he one of the boys from Big Brothers?” she asked, and he sensed her nervousness.

“Yes. His father died from a drug overdose two years ago.”

“Oh, how sad.”

The only way he knew to put her at ease was to tell her about Dillon. “His mother, Sheila, wants a strong male role model in Dillon’s life so I spend a couple days a month with him or whenever he calls. But he’ll be leaving soon.”

“Why?”

“Sheila’s been estranged from her family since she ran away and married Lanny Gibbs against her parents’ wishes. They live on a farm in Kansas and her mother passed away about six months ago. Sheila’s sister tracked her down and it opened the lines of communication again. Her father asked her to come home and Sheila jumped at the invitation. She’s getting a second chance. And so is Dillon.”

Sam whined at Grace’s feet and without having to think about it she reached down and picked him up.

“I guess you know that’s a trick of his,” Tuck told her.

“Yes. I figured that out.” She stroked Sam until he was almost purring.

“Let’s go see what Dillon’s doing,” Tuck suggested.

“I’d better go,” she replied. “I’m sure you have plans.”

“You can’t join us?”

“No.” She shook her head. “That wouldn’t be fair to Dillon. This is his…”

Tuck reached for her hand and pulled her toward the barn. “Come on.” They walked into the barn. Dillon was undoing the saddle straps and Tuck helped him remove the saddle. Dillon ran for a bucket of feed and held it so the horse could eat, then Tuck handed Dillon a brush and together they rubbed down the horse.

“You stay here with Grace and I’ll put Dolly back in the pasture.” Tuck led the horse away, thinking it would give Grace and Dillon time to get acquainted. That was the best way to get to know the boy.

“Okay,” Dillon replied, and sat on a bale of hay.