Chapter Seventeen

Honking a horn in traffic never made it move faster. Why did people do that? Grace pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She was hot and sticky from filling her car with supplies she needed for Chloe’s arrival. Now she was stopped on Route 1. The traffic to the airport was backed up. A lane was out, and everyone passing by had to slow down to look. “There’s nothing to see, people.”

Chloe sent several texts wondering where Grace was. Did her daughter think she was arriving late because it might be fun? Didn’t she realize Grace would be there as soon as she could? She wasn’t likely to leave Chloe at the airport indefinitely, though it was tempting after the last text.

How much longer are you going to make me wait?

She found a spot in short-term parking. The doors to the passenger waiting area slid open, and cold air blasted her. Chloe sat in the corner, flipping through her phone with her purple suitcases lined up around her like a fort. Probably texting a friend about the terrible life she had.

Her heart swelled as she watched her daughter. Chloe had dyed her hair back to its natural medium brown, and Grace bit her lip to keep from crying. Was it relief? Maybe a little. Knowing Chloe chose to spend the summer with her was a joy. Even if it was by default.

She folded Chloe in a hug, whether she liked it or not. She missed the vanilla-bean smell of her daughter and inhaled it in. Chloe might not let her get this close again for a while. The nose piercing still took up residence, but Grace could live with that. Chloe could do worse things than wear an earring in her nose.

“How was your flight?”

“There was a kid screaming the whole time and nothing good to eat. I’m starving. Can we get some food?”

Grace checked her watch. She really wanted to get back to the house. Beau was going to need as much help as possible. A sit-down lunch didn’t fit in with her plan. “How about we grab something along the way? I’m hungry too.”

Chloe searched for a sandwich place on her phone while Grace navigated them back onto the highway. They ate while she drove. Chloe filled Grace in on everything going on in town and what her friends were up to awaiting the arrival of that college moving-in day. Grace listened to her daughter prattle on about who was dating whom and who got a brand new car for their birthday.

“I’m so over Silverside,” Chloe said.

“It’s not so bad.” Grace missed her morning walks with Jenn and running into people she knew at the grocery store. She missed her deck but reminded herself it was Larry’s deck. She would have to build a deck on the Disaster House or sit on the porch and hang on for dear life.

“Dad didn’t get me a car for my birthday.” Chloe pulled on the ends of her hair.

“How were you going to put gas into a car if you continued to refuse to get a job?” They had been around this a dozen times. Larry wanted Chloe to work. Grace did too. It would teach her responsibility with money. But Chloe used theater camp, SAT class, tennis lessons, and summer homework as excuses. Maybe she should have forced Chloe the way she was forced to get a job at a young age.

She had her first job at fifteen. She couldn’t count on her mother showing up for work. The fear of not being able to keep the lights on or food in the fridge scared her enough to keep her working. Even in college she worked as many hours and at as many jobs as she could, giving up sleep whenever necessary. She’d even fallen asleep in the shower several times, thinking she was killing two birds with one stone. She’d been working ever since.

“He bought Annie a new minivan.” Chloe stared out the window.

Grace’s insides burned. How many times was Larry going to show his daughter she came in second to this new wife? She’d call him the first chance she got. He’d have to learn to include Chloe, or he’d lose her forever. Unless that was what he wanted. The thought made the sandwich in Grace’s stomach turn sour.

“Well, it isn’t practical to cart a baby around in a sports car. I’m sure if you’d gone out and found a job, your dad would’ve considered buying a car for you.” What else was she going to say? That Larry was a big fat jerk? Tempting.

“I can’t have a car at school this year anyway.”

It wasn’t like Chloe to concede so quickly, but Grace wasn’t going to argue. “You can get a job on campus too. Save a little money and show him you’re serious. He’ll come around.” She only hoped he did and that he didn’t get caught up in paying for baby music classes, high-end strollers, and a tummy tuck for his new wife after the baby was born.

She pulled into the driveway on Dogwood Drive. Debris covered the front lawn like confetti shot from a cannon. What was going on inside? This place was a disaster for sure.

A young man she didn’t recognize came out the front door, dragging a cabinet, and hauled it over the porch onto the lawn.

“Who’s he?” Chloe checked her lip gloss in the mirror.

Before Grace could get out of the car, Beau barreled out onto the porch and waved a finger at the young man. “Jud, how many times do I have to say throw it in the dumpster? You’re making more work for us. Get this mess off the lawn, or you can’t come back tomorrow, and that’s final.”

Cash came out next, hauling a large piece of Sheetrock. He snickered at the young man, then bounced down the steps and tossed the Sheetrock into the dumpster.

“Fag.” The young man named Jud snarled at Cash, yanked the broken wood off the grass, and tossed it in the dumpster. “You won’t be laughing for long.”

She didn’t like threats and name-calling. What kind of thing is that to say? Cash gave Jud a wide berth but didn’t respond.

“Mom, you didn’t tell me you had guys like my age working for you. I would’ve worn something different on the plane.”

“You’re fine.” Grace peeled herself out of the car. “Beau, what’s going on?”

Beau clamored down the steps. “Now, Miss Grace, don’t go getting all upset. It’s not as bad as it looks.” He turned and shot the stink eye to Jud.

“Who is that person helping you?”

Beau leaned in. “That’s Savannah Montgomery’s son, Jud. He’s a good kid, but he’s more brawn than brain. Keep telling him to follow Cash’s lead, but he won’t listen. They’re like two foxes fighting to get in the henhouse. But don’t worry about them. I’ll take care of the boys.”

“Are you sure he can be trusted?” Call it motherly instincts, but Grace got a weird vibe from Jud.

“No need to worry, Miss Grace. I’ve known that boy his whole life.” Beau turned to Chloe. A smile spread across his face. “This must be your daughter.” He wiped his hands on his jeans. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Beau Carroll.”

Chloe shook Beau’s hand, but he held on a little longer before letting her go.

“Beau, did you tear apart every room? How will I live here?”

He patted her shoulder. “Don’t fret. We aren’t touching the bedrooms or the bathrooms. I put your card table in your room with the air mattress. I did my best to keep those pictures in a neat pile, but I’m not sure I did such a good job with that. We sealed off the rooms with plastic to keep the dust out. And I’ve got all the windows open. Now the kitchen and the front room are something altogether different. Keep your shoes on when you walk around. I left your lasagna in the fridge, and that’s still plugged in. I don’t think we’ll have a problem with the electrical, just yet.”

“Just yet?” Her voice climbed a few octaves.

“This is an old house. We’re bound to find some problems hidden behind these walls. But there’s nothing I can’t handle. Anyone in town will tell you that.”

“Mom, why didn’t you tell me this place was so bad?” Chloe took in the mess, then climbed the porch steps. “It’s worse inside the house.”

“I told you it needed work,” Grace said.

“Dad was right. You bit off more than you could chew. Sorry to say.” Chloe flipped her hair over her shoulder and pulled out her phone. “Is there a hotel around?”

The knots in Grace’s neck twisted into a braid. Bit off more than she could chew? Well, she’d show him. How dare he speak that way about her to Chloe? Grace had been trying so hard not to say anything bad about Larry to Chloe, even though she wanted to, and he couldn’t do the same? She hoped there were twins hiding in that bimbo’s belly.

“The house isn’t so bad.” Cash came through the front door with more Sheetrock. He gave Chloe a quick glance but kept walking. “I’ll help clean up, Grace. I sent Aunt Savannah a text and told her I can’t make the library today. I’ll make up the hours another day.”

Jud followed Cash onto the porch. “I can’t believe my mother actually thought you being at the library was a good idea. You should’ve gone to jail for your stupid prank, and the only reason you didn’t is because of who your father is.”

Red splotches bled over Cash’s face and onto his neck. He stole a glance at Chloe, then back at Jud. Cash turned on his heel and marched back into the house.

She hadn’t heard about any prank. She didn’t even really know if Cash lived with Blaise permanently or only part-time. She should have asked more questions. But he seemed like such a nice kid, especially when he came over to help her get the table unstuck. All kids make mistakes. Maybe she shouldn’t be so quick to judge without knowing all the facts.

Jud stopped and gave Chloe the obvious once-over. He soaked in her legs sticking out of shorts too short and dragged his gaze to her bare shoulder. His smile was wide. “Hey,” he said.

Chloe checked him out too, and Grace could watch no longer. “Chloe, let’s get your bags and the things I bought out of the car. We can store them in the garage until the men are done and we’ve cleaned up some.”

Chloe leaned in to the trunk and grabbed her purple suitcase. “Mom, who is that kid’s father? Is he someone important?” She made sure no one was listening.

“His father is Blaise Savage. He lives next door.”

“Who?”

“Never mind.” When Grace turned around, Jud was standing behind them. She jumped.

Jud took Chloe’s bags from her. “I’m Jud.”

“Chloe.” She tugged on her necklace.

Oh brother.

“Jud, stop all that yacking and get back to work. I want everything cleared out before we leave here today,” Beau yelled from inside the house.

Grace changed her clothes and began helping. Beau had her swinging a sledgehammer against the cabinets. He handed a broom to Chloe.

She threw her hands up. “I don’t want to get dirty.”

Beau shook his head and shoved the broom at her. “You plan on living here, don’t you?”

Cash laughed. “Don’t fight him. He always wins.”

Chloe took the broom with two fingers.

“I didn’t know what I was getting into either.” Jud had dirt in his hair, and his T-shirt was torn at the shoulder. “This place is a mess.”

Only Cash didn’t seem to mind the work. That made the knotted braid of her muscles unwind a little. Beau shouted orders, and they followed, working mostly in silence. Several times he had to tell Jud to stop talking to Chloe, but as the sun set behind the poplar trees, the front rooms had been stripped of all signs of their earlier life. Grace had scrapes up and down her arms, and her muscles screamed from all the work she put them through. She’d hurt tomorrow, but her insides were warm with a sense of accomplishment. She had helped with her bare hands, and she was making something new with this house. Something completely hers.

Up until that point, nothing had been just hers. First, she shared everything with her mother—what her mother had, she usually hoarded—and then she shared everything with Larry. Before long Chloe arrived, and Grace was caught up in the tide of motherhood. She dove headfirst into having someone to love unconditionally, hoping to do a better job than her mother had, but somehow over the years, when she wasn’t looking, her identity had slipped away from her.

That thought drew her gaze next door. If she found herself again, would this new person be more interested in Blaise? There had been no sign of him all day. His truck had been missing, so she assumed something had his attention. Was it a woman?

“Well, Miss Grace, looks like we’re done for the evening. I’ll be back bright and early.” Beau limped down the porch steps. He rubbed his lower back. “Have a good night now, ya hear? Come on, Jud. I’ll give you a ride. You earned that much.”

Jud had circles under his eyes, and his hair was stuck to his head from sweating. He used the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face before he gave a small wave to Grace. He ignored Cash, slid in Beau’s truck, and leaned his head back against the rest. Had that young man ever worked that hard before today? Chloe certainly hadn’t. They’d lost her help an hour ago. She had dragged a folding chair into the backyard and shoved her face into her phone.

Cash stood tall, a smile still on his face. “Good night,” he said and crossed the yard, almost bouncing on his feet.

Grace admired the way he kept his cool around Jud. That couldn’t be easy for anyone. What was the story between those two?

“Beau, before you go.” She had tucked this idea away all day. She didn’t want to think much about it, because the answer could void her ownership, but when she tried to force the thought away, it kept coming back. “Do you know whatever happened to Nancy Templeton?”

A darkness passed over Beau’s blue eyes. He looked away, and when he looked back, his eyes were clear again. “How do you know who Nancy Templeton is?”

“I know she owned this house before me. I was wondering where she went. She clearly hasn’t been living here.”

Beau pulled his keys from his pocket and twirled them. “No idea whatever happened to her.” He headed for his truck but said over his shoulder, “Best leave things alone, Miss Grace. Digging where you don’t belong just brings up dead bones. Now get yourself some food and a good night’s sleep.” He slid into his truck, slammed the door, and kicked over the engine.

He pulled out without a look back, but Grace stood there until his taillights turned the corner. “Dead bones, my backside. You know, old man. You know.”