Best Friend's Ex Box Set

"You know, Dat always joked about how you were the angry brother, but I always thought he was doing it in good humor," Grace said chuckling. "I thought since we were all close and could tease each other, Dat must have learned this growing up with you."

Bishop Miller's face began to turn red as he listened to Grace recount the various stories she'd heard about how he and her father had competed for Rebekah's affections and how Eli had finally won.

"You see, I thought it was simply a mythic tale that Dat had woven to entertain us as children," Grace said as her voice took on a hard edge. "Little did I know there was truth in it, and that you would end up being so petty once he was gone."

"Young lady, I think your time away from Corner Grove has turned your mind toward things that are incredibly un-Christian," the bishop hissed.

"No, that would be you," she spat back. "You're a small, petty man who rules with an iron fist and a hardened heart, and I won't have it."

"GRACE MILLER!" the bishop roared. "You have been welcomed here as a guest in our community and tolerated because your parents pleaded your case, but this is beyond the pale, young lady. You are no longer welcome here. You will pack your things and return to the city of sin you call home or I will have you forcibly removed."

"You can't do that, Uncle," Grace smiled. "This home was left to me and my brother and sisters; it's private property, not community assets. I'll stay here if I need to in order to make sure that my family is taken care of."

"Ah, yes," the bishop said as a sinister smile spread across his lips. "But I'm sure you understand that your family is still part of the community, therefore subject to the rules of the community."

"They have nothing to do with my choices," Grace said defiantly.

"That may well be, but they will suffer the consequences of your impulsive acts," the bishop said, pulling himself up to his full height as he tugged on his long scraggy beard before leaning in toward Grace as he spoke. "You are a disrespectful young woman and if you do not leave the community, your entire family will be shunned as punishment for your impulsive acts."

"You can't do that!" Grace protested.

"Oh, but I can," the bishop smiled. "And I will."

He stared at her for a few moments before turning on his heel and striding back toward his buggy where his wife and sons sat staring at Grace with disgust. The bishop swung himself up into the driver's seat, grabbed the reins, and turned the buggy toward the road.

"You know, for someone who claims to be a man of God, you sure are acting in an un-Christian manner!" I shouted before Grace grabbed my arm and shook her head. I looked down at her and said, "What did he mean when he said you have to return to the city of sin?"

"Just don't, Adam," Grace said as she let go of my arm and ran inside the house.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Grace

I stood in the kitchen trying to control the panic th

at was rising in my chest as I replayed the scene in my head. My uncle had threatened not just me, but my family, and I knew that it was about more than my presence in Corner Grove.

"Grace? Grace, are you okay?" Verity asked as she entered the kitchen with a worried look on her face. I nodded without saying anything, knowing that if I opened my mouth, I'd scream. "What's going on, Grace?"

I stood at the kitchen sink staring out the window watching Adam talk with Honor and Danny. I could see that Danny was asking all kinds of questions, and that Adam was doing his best to smile and keep it light. I was going to have to come clean with Adam about my life.

"Verity, do you trust me?" I asked without looking at her.

"Of course, I do, Grace," she said moving closer. "You're my sister."

"But I mean, do you really trust me to do what's right and good for this family," I continued. "Even if it might feel wrong or scare you?"

"I do," Verity said as she took my hand and squeezed it tightly. "I know you'd never intentionally hurt us."

"I wouldn't," I said turning to look at her. "But what I'm going to do is probably going to create waves in the community and will change a lot of things. Are you sure that you and Levi are solid?"

"Levi loves me, and I love him," she said smiling. "We're solid in that respect, and we will withstand whatever waves you make. What are you going to do, Grace?"

"It's probably best that you don't know too much right now," I said thinking ahead to what would happen when I stirred up the nest of hornets that Uncle Amos was leading. "Just trust me. Less is better for you and for Levi. I'll tell you everything when the time is right."

"Okay, I'll trust you," she said solemnly. "In the meantime, what can I do to help?"

"You take care of Honor and Danny," I said as I turned my attention back to the trio standing in the drive. "And make sure the celery is healthy!"