“Reed will drive you home if you want,” she offered. “But I assumed you’d stay the night and drive in with me in the morning.”
“That was my plan.”
I knew we’d be having champagne while trying on dresses, and I wouldn’t want her to drive after or for Reed to have to make the trip in and out when I could stay in the guest room at her place. She and Reed had one of the newer houses in the BAM Compound, set up close to the woodlands. They loved to hike and picked the spot for the farther distance to the water and the close proximity to the trails. Heather preferred woods to water, although she loved the view. Swimming wasn’t her thing, but hiking was. I always thought it was because she could grab a pencil from her backpack and sketch, whereas while in the water, she couldn’t.
Luckily, she’d been too busy talking to ask me too many questions. It had been a strange day with Jaxson running cold again. He’d barely spoken to me except about the case we were working on. He shouted in anger after Helen Fraser, the sister of the Fraser siblings in Las Vegas, hung up on him again, refusing to help. He stormed from his office, slamming out the door, muttering about getting a summons and forcing her to cooperate. He was calmer when he returned, but there was still no personal contact. He often sent a text during the day or a short message to let me know he saw me. He would comment on my outfit or hair, or send a line saying something sweet.
Good job, Gracie.
You’re beautiful.
I can’t wait until tonight.
But my personal phone stayed silent all day. He knew I was going to Port Albany tonight and that I would be staying over. I had frowned when Michael updated his calendar and I saw he had meetings that ran late into the evening both tonight and on Tuesday. That meant Wednesday would be the first chance I would have to talk to him, see him. It felt like an eternity. I was surprised how much his presence filled my life, even if we had to remain hidden. My apartment seemed empty without him there. My life felt brighter when he was with me.
I changed back into my regular clothes, and we sat around chatting, enjoying one another’s company. Sitting beside Heather, I felt a moment of sadness as I watched Cami hug her daughter, Ava. Maddox’s wife and Brayden’s mom, Dee, chatted with his sister, Shelby. Emmy was married to Bentley, and she sat between her daughters, Addi and Chloe. I missed my mom, and I was looking forward to seeing her soon. She gave the best hugs, and I needed one of them. I needed her guidance, even if I couldn’t tell her everything. Maybe I could tell her enough that she would be able to help me. Heather and I exchanged a glance, and I knew she was having the same wistful thoughts of our mom. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, kissing her head. She grinned and elbowed me in the side, teasing me for being sentimental, but I knew she liked it. I adored my adopted aunts and uncles, and was close to my “cousins.” I knew my family was unusual, but it worked for us.
Back at Heather’s, I got ready for bed, sliding into the cool sheets. I stared at the ceiling, startled when my phone chimed with a message.
Jaxson: I hope your evening went well.
I replied.
Grace: Yes. Dresses are lovely. Meeting productive?
Jaxson: Can’t be as lovely as the woman wearing it. Meeting went fine. Appointment at courthouse on Wed at 3. Need you with me.
That little tidbit made me happy. It meant I would be with him most of the afternoon and he would no doubt come home with me.
Grace: Okay, I sent back.
Jaxson: Sleep well.
I waited, but nothing else came through. I sighed as I rolled to my side. Something big was happening at the office that he hadn’t yet shared with me. I knew there was a chance he never would, given that it had to involve someone at the firm. His door had been shut a lot, and I heard the deep timbre of his voice on the phone a great deal of the time. I needed to be patient and understand the fine line he was walking. That we both were. We could discuss it on Wednesday in private.
The client stood and shook Jaxson’s hand. “Thanks, Jaxson. You made this much easier than I expected.”
Jaxson waved him off. “You had all the ammunition. It only had to be sorted. You can thank Ms. VanRyan for her efforts.”
I smiled as Mr. Waters turned to me. “Thank you, Grace.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad things worked out.”