Page 113 of Grace on the Rocks

“I don’t.I’msorry.Ionly stopped by for somethingIleft behind,” she half lied. “Wouldyou like to see the rest of the island?Icould point out some of the spots he mentioned as potential building sites?”

“That’d be grand.”

Grace textedElspethto pick them up from the pub in the island cab, then ledJulesdown the beach to avoid the possibility of picketing neighbors.

WhenElpulled up outside the pub, she gaveGracean assessing look before opening the door to helpJulesinto the cab for their grand island tour.Thankfully, she didn’t say a word aboutGraceandBryan, just added local color with stories about the placesGracepointed out as they circumnavigatedBarra.

“I have to ask the elephant in the room,”Julessaid during a lull. “Howdo the residents feel about the disruption a distillery might bring to such a tranquil place?”

El snort-coughed but didn’t comment further.

“Oh, you know,”Gracehedged. “It’shuman nature to fear change, butIthink they’re coming around to it.Theyactually seem to thrive on excitement.”

She eyedElspeth, who held her gaze steadily in the rearview mirror, andJulesnodded as though understanding completely.

They stopped at the pier for a long while to letJulesadmire the castle as though the rest ofScotlandwasn’t chock full of them.

“Too bad the distillery can’t go there,”Julessaid. “Thatwould be brilliant.”

Grace laughed nervously. “Yeah, too bad.”

Finally,Elspethcoughed and said, “Idon’t want to rush you, but you don’t want to be late to your own party.”

“Party?”Julesasked, perking up.

“Oh god, the reception,”Gracesaid, checking the time on her phone.Therewere a dozen missed calls and messages, all variations on a theme.

Where the hell are you?

It’s almost time for the reception

Have you fallen off a cliff and died?

Seriously tho you haven’t right?

Grace?!

OMG text me or else!!!!!!!!

Are youACTUALLYgoing to missBryan’sbig day?

Grace shoved the phone in her pocket and tried to swallow her butterflies asElspethguided them back to the car.

“It’s sort of a reverse housewarming, really.Foryou and the town.Maybedon’t tellBryanIalready gave you the tour,” she added, wrinkling her nose.Shehadn’t meant to steal his thunder.Sheonly wanted to help.

She textedWesa quick apology, explaining about the investor.

Three dots appeared for the longest time, then went away.Finally,Wesmessaged back.

Well thank fuck for that.Yourboy was in a tizzy thinking his investor must have also wandered off and fallen down a well.Seeyou in a few.

The short drive back toBryan’sfelt interminable, asGrace’sbutterflies turned into roaring 747s.HopefullyBryanwouldn’t be angry at her for hijacking his investor.Orletting herself in and messing with his speech.Whenwould she learn not to meddle?Ifshe’d wanted to help, she should have chased the picketers away.

Fortunately, they were nowhere to be seen whenElspethpulled up alongside her grandfather’s old house, so thank you for small mercies.

Wes, of all people, met them at the door. “Jules?” she asked. “Thanksso much for coming.Bryan’sin the kitchen.”

At the sound of his name,Grace’sstomach did an embarrassingly large backflip.

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