Turning, she quickly headed back downstairs, leaving me standing in the middle of Noah’s room a confused mess.
Noah
Stretching my arms over my head, I let out a soft moan. My eyes sprung open and I quickly looked around. I was in my bedroom. In my bed. And I felt like I’d slept for a week. Sitting up, I looked around before a moment of panic set in.
My mother. Fuck!
Jumping up, I looked down to see I had no clothes on. I raced over to my dresser as I felt my heart pounding practically out of my chest. I opened a drawer and pulled on a pair of sweats and an old T-shirt.
Son-of-a-bitch I can’t believe I left her alone. Quickly making my way downstairs, I headed to my mother’s room. The closer I got, I heard her voice.
Grace.
Everything came flooding back. Grace was here. My heart felt light as a feeling of happiness swept over my body.
Grace was here.
Stopping right outside the door, I heard Grace talking. It sounded as if she was reading something. I k
new for a fact it wasn’t the book I had been reading.
Pushing the door open, I peeked in. Grace’s back was faced toward the door. My mother was looking out the window as Grace read.
“To be sure you have a successful winter garden, you need to prepare it ahead of time. This means work.”
Smiling, I shook my head. Grace was reading something to my mother about gardening.
Clearing my voice, the two loves of my life both turned and looked at me. My mother gave me a huge smile, as Grace jumped up and headed over to me. “Hey, sleepyhead. You must have needed the sleep.”
My smile faded some. “How long was I sleeping for?”
Grace looked back over her shoulder and then back to me. Glancing down to her ever-present watch on her wrist, she said, “Two days.”
Taking a step back, I said, “Impossible.”
Giving me a slight grin, Grace said, “Like I said, you must have needed the rest.”
Narrowing my eyes at her, I asked, “What day is it?”
Grace’s smile faded some as the look in her eyes changed. “It’s Sunday.”
Pushing my hands through my hair, I walked past Grace and up to my mother. “Mom, I’m so sorry. I had no idea I’d sleep like that.”
My mother’s face constricted as she looked at me. “Noah, sweetheart, you needed the sleep. I’m glad you got it. Everything was fine. Grace was here for me if I needed anything.”
“I’m supposed to be here for you, Mom. Not Grace.”
Hearing Grace’s intake of air caused a pain in my chest.
“Excuse me,” Grace whispered as she quickly left the room.
Closing my eyes, I shook the guilt away and looked back at my mother. “I’m sorry, Mom. I swear to you I won’t leave you alone like that again.”
Hurt washed over my mother’s face. “Noah Pete Bennet. I wasn’t alone. Grace was here and I might add, she was a breath of fresh air. Besides, Angela was here as well.”
“What if . . . what if something had happened to you and I was passed out upstairs?”
“You were sleeping, Noah. If anything had happened, Grace would have woken you up.”