Through His Grace (11 page)

“I’ve got it.” Danny readjusted his handhold as they lifted in tandem.

“I wasn’t talking about the table.” Nickels stared him down. “Hey, I haven’t made a move on her. You were right in what you said—I’m only here ‘cuz Dylan asked me.”

“I know.” Nickels stayed tense. “That remark at lunch was out of line, Danny.”

“I didn’t mean for it to carry.” His version of an apology seemed sincere.

“Whether you meant it to be heard or not, you had no business sayin’ it.” A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I don’t appreciate being likened to a lovesick pup—especially when Grace’s uncle, who’s dealing with enough change as it is, can hear you.”

“I see.” Danny shot him a knowing look.

“I’m thinking you don’t.” Nickels slammed the gate of his pickup shut.

“You’re riding that horse backward.” Danny leaned against the truck. “I’ve been watching you with her, and I’ve listened as you spoke your piece.”

“Then you won’t be so foolish again.” He turned to leave. “I’m many things, Nickels, but a fool ain’t one of ‘em. See— you said you don’t like being called a lovesick pup.” Danny’s grin spread from ear to ear. “But you didn’t say I was wrong.”

“Wrong again.” Grace herded the children toward the car.

“You might as well quit guessing.”

“Are we going to the zoo?” Jake asked.

“No.” Nickels chuckled. “Your aunt is right not to tell you where we’re going. It would ruin the surprise.”

“But we wanna know
now!
“ Lizzie all but stomped her foot in her excitement.

“Patience is a virtue,” Grace admonished as they stepped into the car.

“Have it if you can.” Nickels shot her a grin before continuing the rhyme. “Seldom in a woman, but never in a man.” His effort was rewarded when she burst out laughing.

“Is it such a difficult fruit to nourish?” Grace asked.

“Patience isn’t a fruit,” Lizzie said. Nickels could hear the frown in her voice.

“It’s a fruit of the spirit, Lizzie,” Grace clarified. “Do you remember them from Sunday school?”

“I do!” Jake began reciting: “Love, joy, peace—” He ground to a halt.

“Patience,” Grace cut in.

“Do you know any more, Lizzie?” Nickels turned to look at the little girl, who bit her lip and thought for a while before nodding.

“Kindness, goodness…” Her voice trailed off, her brow wrinkling.

“Faithfulness, gentleness.” Grace smiled at the kids in the rearview mirror. When she glanced at him, it was all Nickels could do not to plant a kiss on her rosy cheek.

“And self-control,” he finished.

“Grampa’s!” Lizzie squealed as they turned down the road leading to his apartment.

Grace angled into a slim parking spot. The kids hadn’t seen their grandfather’s place since the day they found it.

“Come on in.” Uncle Carl ushered Lizzie and Jake inside and motioned for Grace and Eric to follow.

“You go on ahead.” Grace inclined her head. “I’ll just enjoy the fresh air.”
I’m already going to a pet shop later—best not to set foot in Queenie’s home. I might be frightfully allergic to cats, but that doesn’t mean I can resist petting them
. If she touched Queenie, she’d be in awful shape for the rest of the day.

“I’ll stick around out here.” Eric surprised her by stepping away from the door and closer to her side. “I’ve seen it already—great place, too.” He shared a manly nod with Uncle Carl. “You show the kids while Grace walks me around. I hear a pool and a playground are somewhere around here.”

Uncle Carl gave them a measuring look, and Grace suddenly found the elm tree next to them absolutely fascinating. A dull thud from inside the apartment pulled Uncle Carl away before he’d opened his mouth.

“Which way?” Eric put his hand on her elbow and waited for her to point in the right direction before continuing. “Pity you can’t go in, after you fixed it up so posh.”

“Posh?” She laughed. “I just helped him settle in.”

“You did more than unpack.” He shot her a look that told her not to deny it. “It’s practically a custom-designed palace now.”

“So I brought some curtains.” She shrugged off his compliment.

“And a whole bathroom set.” Eric shook his head. “I couldn’t believe the difference new towels and a bathmat made.”

Grace envisioned her uncle’s new home in her mind’s eye, remembering the loving care she’d put into it. The living room boasted a fireplace on one wall, with the sofa and overstuffed chairs sitting on the rug before it. The bookcases Carl and Jim made covered the back wall of the room, filled with a lifetime’s worth of memories and favorite books. If it weren’t for the television set, the cozy room could almost pass for a library.

They’d set the dining table in the alcove near the kitchen, which Grace stocked with enough food for an army. She’d also gone to a Lawton discount store for curtains, blue dishtowels, and the bathroom set Eric had noticed. She idly wondered if Queenie liked the scratching post and catnip mouse she’d found in the pet department while buying a hamster cage.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” She watched a butterfly flutter around some fragrant jasmine. “How tiny things make a big difference.”

“Agreed.” He stopped to watch the delicate creature’s progress. “You’re a tiny thing.” He shifted closer, as if to emphasize his words, making her aware of how tall and strong he stood. “And you make a very big difference in the lives of those fortunate enough to know you.”

“Thank you.” Now it seemed as though her heartbeat were competing with the beat of the butterfly’s wings. “I do what I can, no less than you.” She looked up into his velvety brown eyes. “You’re always thinking of ways to help me with Lizzie and Jake. I don’t think I’ve told you how much I appreciate that.” “My pleasure.” He moved a step closer. “Grace—”

“There you are!” Lizzie was panting. “Grampa sent me to get you. I like this apartment better than the last one. It’s bigger and cleaner, and he has juice boxes here.” The little girl kept up a steady stream of chatter about the apartment before finishing breathlessly, “He says we’re going to the mall!”

Eric took the little girl’s hand, but his gaze stayed on Grace’s face as he said, “That’s only the beginning.”

“Hold up.” Nickels crawled into the middle of the backseat, slapping on the lap belt. “Okay, kids.”

Grace raised her eyebrows at him as Lizzie and Jake clambered in on either side. He smiled in return.

I must make quite a sight
. His knees poked into the backs of the front seats. He scrunched down so his hat wouldn’t be flattened beyond repair. Jake and Lizzie needed the shoulder straps of the door seats, and Carl could get in and out easier from the front. Besides, if he leaned forward—he tested this as Grace slid into the front seat. He was so close he could smell the fresh, sweet scent of her hair. He wished she would let her curls out of that clip. He itched to feel their silken texture.

“Nickels!” Jake tugged on his shirt, so he leaned back a bit.

“Yeeeess?” He drew out the word.

“Can I wear your hat?” The little boy looked at him with big, round eyes.

“Whoa, there, Jake,” Grace interrupted. “A cowboy’s hat is very important.”

“Sure is, partner.” Nickels plunked it on top of Jake’s chestnut head. “I can’t trust it with very many people. You keep it safe for me, okay?”
At least this way it won’t be crushed by the ceiling of the car
.

“Yee-haw!” Jake bounced up and down, pretending to ride a horse. “Look, Lizzie! I’m a cowboy!”

“You’ve never even ridden a horse,” Lizzie pointed out.

“Neither have you!” Jake retorted.

“We’ll have to fix that,” Nickels commented. He saw Grace’s expression in the rearview mirror. “Someday,” he added hastily, relieved when she nodded at him.

“We’re here.” Carl broke in as they pulled into the mall parking lot. It was packed this Saturday, and they had to hike over the asphalt before they made it inside.

“Can I have an ice cream?” Lizzie was flapping her shirt to cool off.

“That’s not why we’re here,” Grace answered, heading past the ice cream stand toward the escalator.

“Please?” Carl stopped in front of the case, looking longingly at the freezer.

“My treat.” Nickels knew Grace was exhausted and pulled out his wallet before she could say a word. “Single scoop, Vanilla Bean, for me. And you?” He turned to Carl.

“Single scoop, Cookie Dough.” The older man beamed at him with approval.

“I want Bubble Gum!” Lizzie jabbed her finger at the glass case.

“Rainbow Sherbet, please!” Jake grabbed the countertop and tried to peer over it.

“With a scoop of Double Fudge Brownie for the lady.” Nickels winked at Grace as the teenager diligently scooped the icy treats into paper-wrapped cones and passed them to his customers.

“I think we owe Eric a big thank-you.” Grace pulled a handful of napkins from the holder.

“Thanks!” Jake and Lizzie chorused as he handed them their cones.

He laid down the cash and found a table nearby. In the next ten minutes he and Carl were finished. Grace was chewing on a brownie chunk, her eyes closed in bliss. Nickels took advantage of the opportunity, since Lizzie and Jake were happily chomping on their sugar cones, their cheeks smeared with streaks of ice cream. He grabbed some napkins and began wiping their faces.

“All set?” Grace took one last bite and tossed what little was left of hers into the trash can.

“Yeah!”

“Where are we going?” Lizzie was at it again.

“You’ll see. Let’s all stick together.” Grace grabbed the little girl’s hand, and Nickels saw to Jake while Carl brought up the rear.

“I think it’s time we told you why we’re here.” Grace stopped in front of a clothing store.

“Clothes?” Jake’s voice sank with disappointment.

“No, not today.” Nickels laughed.

“Today,” Grace said, “we’re going to get you and Lizzie”— she looked at Carl and Nickels, taking a deep breath before they chorused—“a hamster!”

“Really?!
“ Lizzie sounded for all the world as if someone had told her she was being given a pony.

“Really,” Grace confirmed. “Pet Palooza is next door, and you and Jake get to pick him out. But remember—you have to help take care of your pet, and you have to behave while in the store. Understood?”

The children nodded mutely, their eyes big as they looked at the Pet Palooza sign up ahead. Once in the store they pressed their noses against the plexiglass cases holding the bunnies, whistled at the birds in their cages, and tapped the glass on the fish tanks until an associate asked them not to. Jake looked longingly at the puppies frolicking together amid newspaper shavings, but Lizzie pulled him along.

Nickels hung back with Grace while Carl hustled the children over to the hamster cages. “They’re excited,” he observed needlessly.

“It was a good idea,” she said as the kids came up to them.

“We’ve found him!” Jake announced.

“Come and see!” Lizzie grabbed Grace’s hand and led her over to the cage. Jake followed close on her heels, Nickels in tow. He gestured for an associate to follow.

“That one.” Together they stopped in front of the hamsters, and Jake pointed to a brown-and-white teddy bear hamster, snacking on something up near the glass. The clerk opened the display and pulled him out. Lizzie let Jake hold him first.

“What’re you going to name him?” Nickels asked as Jake generously passed their furry friend to his sister.

“That’s the best part.” Lizzie nestled the ball of fur close to her chest and shared a conspiratorial look with her brother. “We’re gonna call him”—she waited for Jake to join in— “Nibbles.”

“Miss Willard, good to see you again.” Lizzie’s teacher shook her hand enthusiastically. “Why don’t you come over to my desk area while Lizzie relaxes in the reading corner?” Miss Byerly smiled at Lizzie. “Your favorite beanbag is open.”

“Goody!” Lizzie zoomed toward the corner, grabbing a paperback book and settling in to read to Jake.

Grace followed the teacher over to the far corner and took the chair she indicated.

“I’m so glad we could meet before the other parents got here. Back-to-School Night is usually a hard time for private conversation,” Miss Byerly said.

“How is Lizzie adjusting in the classroom?” Grace asked. “She’s doing beautifully, for the most part.” The woman smiled encouragingly. “Much better than I would have expected, given our first conversation about how much she and her brother have been through.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Grace relaxed. “And I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the special care you’re taking with her.”

“Of course. Shall we go into the details?” Miss Byerly pulled out a folder with Lizzie’s name on it. “She does all her work…tells me you’ve made a homework area in the house for her and Jake to use.”

“Yes. Atmosphere is an important part of learning.” Grace looked admiringly at the colorful posters and bulletin boards around the room. “I can see you’re of the same mind.”

“Thank you!” Miss Byerly smiled. “Lizzie’s a bright girl, and she’s making friends and participating in class. But I’ve noticed some things.” She looked at Grace before moving on.

“Lizzie’s drawings for art time are fairly typical—self-portraits, a cat, you, Jake, and her grandpa. More recently there’s been a hamster.” Miss Byerly laid examples on the table. “Most hold something in common—her parents are somewhere in the picture.”