Amazing Grace (The American Soldier Collection 3)

Prologue

“Help me, Grace! Help me please!” Clara called out to her sister who just stood there watching. Grace couldn’t move or speak. Instead she stood frozen as the tears rolled down her cheeks. The faceless monster stole Clara’s last breath and cast his shadow over her body. Grace stood still and stiff. Her body, just a shell around her as she fought with all her might to break through and save her sister, before the monster got her. But it was as if imaginary binds kept her in place and forced her to witness the tragedy. Grace watched the scene unfold. She couldn’t close her eyes and block out the images. She couldn’t cover her ears and diminish the sounds of pain and death. All Grace could do was scream and yell and attempt to break the shell of iron surrounding her.

Suddenly in one quick and angry bang of her fists against the blockade, it shattered, sending her body freefalling toward the darkness and what could only be described as hell.

Grace Thompson jolted awake, stunned at the fact that it was only a dream and hadn’t been real. She looked around her, embarrassed at her actions, but relieved that the male passenger next to her lay undisturbed, snoring away. She felt her body shaking. After all this time, after hundreds of nightmares and waking up in a cold sweat, why was she being hit with this now? It had been months.

She lifted her hands and stared at the perfect manicured fingernails as her fingers trembled. Calming her breathing, Grace couldn’t help but wonder if she made the right decision in taking this trip.

The stale, recycled air filled her senses. She hated airplanes, she hated to fly, and she wished she never left Europe.

Grace knew that she needed to refocus, take her mind off the bad memories, and focus on something positive. Work always made her feel better and always took her mind off of those unwanted memories. She reached down toward the brown leather Pineider laptop carrying case that her boss bought her as a gift. Even making the money she did, she would never think of purchasing the three-thousand-dollar briefcase, no matter who the designer was. She opened up her laptop computer and finished reading her e-mail messages.

She was not the least bit surprised that her brother Peter had sent her another message. The wedding was tomorrow and he wanted to be sure Grace had not changed her mind about attending. Peter knew how difficult coming back home would be for her. She sighed, amazed that nearly two whole years of her life had passed. Two years spent away from the family, the pain.

Her family knew why she left, why she had

not returned and seemed to empathize with her, especially Grace’s cousin and closest friend, Jamie. Grace smiled to herself. My best friend is getting married.

Grace thought about seeing Jamie and the rest of her family. They had kept in touch through e-mails and letters, but that wasn’t the same as seeing them in person. Everyone would be there to celebrate. She instantly thought of her mom, Peter, and her two older brothers, John and Frank. Then of course there was her stepfather Eric. Mom was blessed to have Eric around.

God, how I missed them all.

Looking out the window, she reminisced about her flight away from home two years ago and the long way to Europe. Initially the thoughts had consumed her mind. It was tough, having to leave home at twenty-two years old, after all that happened to her and her poor sister. The memories of their wonderful times together should have overpowered the tragic way her sister Clara died. However, Grace still felt that leaving home was the best decision she had ever made. That tight, insecure feeling crept up into her chest. She hadn’t felt that sensation in months, but considering that she was headed home and about to face her family, she knew why that insecure feeling resurfaced.

She was going to face her mom. As grown-up and mature as Grace was now, there was still that young, college-aged girl who looked for her mom’s approval and encouragement.

Her mother Sarah had been angry with her back then. She had told her repeatedly that running away wasn’t the answer. That no one was making her take her sister Clara’s place. But they were. Everything Grace did was compared to her older sister Clara.

The way Grace dressed, the way she spoke, and the way she did her hair was always compared to her dead sister. It was as if they were twins instead of fourteen months apart. Goddamn it, I can remember it like it was yesterday.

Sighing, Grace reached down under the seat in front of her and pulled out her camera bag. Photography had been her means of escape. Losing herself in the scenes before her and the people and places she shot was her therapy. She took hold of the picture she kept in her camera case, the one from three years ago.

Her sister was gorgeous and her smile at the time, brilliant. She remembered that day at the fair and would cherish the memories. Those were the days when she still believed that the world was a safe place filled with opportunities and good people. Until then she rarely worried about the dangers of the darkness, the evildoers that lurked in the shadows waiting to strike. Until her sister was taken and murdered.

Glancing back at the photograph just as she had done over a million times in the past few years, Grace tried to understand and accept the fact that they looked so much alike and that Clara was really gone. If Clara were alive, she was certain that they would be just as close as they were back then. They would take lots of pictures together. They would probably even go on dates together and hang out in the same crowds. She ran her fingertip gently across the picture. In her mind she wished so very hard that Clara was still alive. Why? Why did this have to happen to Clara?

Whenever she thought about returning home, the anxiety would start. There were so many negatives and so many fears in returning there. She recalled the other reasons for her leaving her home and her family. It was obvious to Grace that her family was comparing her to Clara. Every time they looked at her, their eyes saddened and she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. Although they denied it, Grace could see the sadness, the pain they felt. It was this insecurity and fear that kept her afar. It was also what made her so damn nervous about returning home. She could only hope that the comparison days were over.

Grace couldn’t deal with the memories of that dreadful day she found her sister’s body. No one could understand how that destroyed her. There was something huge taken from her heart, her soul. Something until this day she could feel continuously. Her family tried to console her but they couldn’t comprehend her feelings, her mind, the visions and nightmares she continued to have, not so frequently, but they were there. Being the one to find her sister’s body hardened her heart. She no longer felt that instant connection to anyone. It was a guard, a shield of some sort that kept her from truly opening up her heart and loving again. Which explained the two ex-boyfriends and noncommittal relationships she had. She was scarred for life, so what did it matter anyway?

Grace shook the thoughts from her head then smoothed out her red dress as she looked out the window toward the clear sky. “Almost home,” she whispered, feeling the shaky breath. She was a completely different person now. A mature, sophisticated, worldly woman who probably no longer fit in the small country setting in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. Not that she was stuck up or snobby. No way.

She grabbed the fashion magazine and stared at the gorgeous sunset and equally attractive model posing on the cover. Pride filled her soul.

She remembered the scene, the warmth of the air, the feel of the sand from the Italian beaches as she focused and refocused the lens of the camera to capture the moment perfectly.

In the two years she spent away from home she continued her exciting career as a professional fashion model photographer. Recalling her conversation with the owner of the magazine, she was certain she would win an award for the brilliant photograph.

“Grace…you are amazing, absolutely amazing. There isn’t a soul out there who could have pulled this photo shoot off, never mind capture such a breathtaking scene. Get ready to add another award to your shelf and a nice fat bonus when the issue is released.”

Grace smiled to herself.

“How long are you planning on staying in the States? I want you in Milan in three weeks. We have a tight schedule approaching.”

At the moment three weeks seemed like a lifetime away from Europe and work. There was no reason for her to stay that long. No reason at all.

Besides, she would be lucky if she lasted a few days. As excited as she felt about seeing Jamie, she was dreading the awkward moments among her family when she arrived. Two weeks from today would be the three-year anniversary of the death of her sister Clara. A homecoming visit that could be misconstrued as bad timing.

Grace sensed the plane’s descent and felt her belly drop at the sensation, which added to her anxiety as the wheels touched down and the rush of warm Texas air surrounded her. She was home. She hoped she was ready for this and prayed for her sister’s guidance.

As she walked through the terminal, she saw her brother Peter standing there waiting. The anxiety of seeing her brothers and her family was now overtaken with deep emotion and need. She missed them all so terribly.

Peter was handsome and looked older, more sophisticated, than she recalled. He was only thirty-eight, still as good looking as ever, her oldest brother and her best e-mail friend.

* * * *

Peter stood in the terminal waiting for his baby sister to arrive. He wondered how she would look. His baby sister was now twenty-five years old, a professional photographer, and world traveler. He was going to be so supportive to her. He wanted her to stay here in Texas back home where she was supposed to be. The worry about her being abroad, all alone, and on dangerous photo shoots bothered him. He was always protective of Grace, but now that she was back home, he intended on her visit turning into a complete return. He and his brothers and family missed her way too much.

He was pacing now and his heart was racing as he heard the announcement come across the intercom confirming once again that Grace’s flight had arrived on time. He was excited, he was nervous, and he didn’t know what to expect. Many times he had thought of traveling to London or Paris to visit her and make her come back with him but he knew that would cause a wedge between them. He lost one sister and he didn’t want to lose another. His brothers and mother had discussed the idea plenty of times but their mother just kept saying “She’ll come back when she’s ready.”

Peter wondered how his mother dealt with Grace leaving. She was so understanding and accepting, yet he knew how she would cry herself to sleep at night worrying about Grace’s safety. They all wor

ried about Grace.

Peter knew everyone would be shocked and surprised at the sight of Grace at the wedding. They all missed her so much and wanted her to be home. Their cousin Jamie was sad that her best friend and cousin couldn’t attend her wedding. She wanted her to be her maid of honor but Grace declined. She told her she just wasn’t ready to come home yet. That was when Peter bombarded Grace with e-mails and phone calls insisting that she attend the wedding. Then he would work on keeping her here, in the States.

He smiled, filled with the feelings of success.

Peter looked across the terminal, glanced at his watch, then looked again and saw the most attractive brunette. He watched as others in the airport turned their heads to take a look. Peter thought she was a model, standing at about five foot six, with long legs and a very thin figure. She had on a short one-piece, fitted, floral red dress and matching red heels. It took him a moment. Then his mouth dropped when he realized the beautiful model was his baby sister Grace.

Moments later he was pulling her into his arms, hugging her, and nearly causing her to lose her breath.