“She’s gone, Meg. She’s gone.”
Meagan held onto me tightly as she whispered, “Shh, it’s okay, Grace. She’s in a better place. There’s no more pain.”
Feeling my legs wanting to give out, I fought with all my might to stay standing. “I’m scared for, Noah. I’m so scared for him.”
Meagan continued to talk me down from the ledge I was walking on. When I finally pulled back, I didn’t have any tears left to cry.
“Better?” she asked.
Nodding my head, I wiped my face clear of tears. “Damn, you always did have good timing.”
Meagan shrugged. “What can I say? It’s a gift some of us have. Remember the time I busted into the bathroom right before Drake the mistake almost gave you your first hickey?”
Laughing, I nodded my head. “Yes. I do remember that.”
Meagan looked over my shoulder. Dropping her mouth open, she said, “Holy strip me out of my clothes and take me now.”
Looking back over my shoulder, I saw Grayson standing on the porch. Lifting his hand, he gave a weak smile. “You okay, Grace?”
Barely lifting my hand, I nodded. “Yeah. Sorry, I’ll be right in.”
Grayson nodded and then looked at Meagan. Something passed over his face, but he turned before I could read it. Glancing back at Meagan, I watched as she stared after Grayson.
“Fuck. Me.”
“You wish he would,” I said with a snicker.
Meagan snapped her head back at me and said, “That’s the stripper! The guy who Lauren had wrapped around her finger in Durango.”
Widening my eyes, I said, “Have I not told you about Grayson?”
Meagan’s mouth dropped open as her hands moved to her hips. “Um, no. But considering the circumstances, I’ll let it slide and you can tell me later. There are more important things to deal with rather than the fact that I just found my next mistake.”
Laughing, I wrapped my arm around Meagan’s waist. “Your luggage?”
Meagan motioned for me to walk toward the house. “It can wait. Noah’s going to need you; here come the folks to take his mother’s body.”
Looking down the street, I saw the black hearse pulling up and my stomach instantly recoiled and felt sick.
Meagan guided me back into the house as I softly spoke, “Noah.”
Noah
Numb.
My body felt numb.
But I was relaxed beyond belief as I searched for my seat. Grayson had flown in and was planning on staying with us over the Christmas holidays. He walked beside me as we headed toward the front door of the house Grace grew up in.
The Valium I popped on the way here would help me get through today. It would be the first time I was seeing Grace’s parents, Jeff and Ari again. They had made it known they were not happy about Grace moving in with me.
The front door opened and Alex walked out. I could see the pity etched on her face and I hated it.
“Holy shit. She’s prego,” Grayson said with a chuckle.
Alex walked up to me and gave me a hug. “Hey, Noah. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Smiling, I glanced down to her stomach and shook my head. “March is getting closer, Alex.”