Page 35 of Grace on the Rocks

“Are you okay?” she asked, offering a second hand alongsideLùcasto pullWesto her feet. “Wheredoes it hurt?”

“My upper dignity and my lower pride,” she muttered.

Face flaming red against her pale blonde hair,Wesrubbed her hands down her torso, dusting off the sand.

“AndI’vegone and torn the priest’s sweater,” she moaned, noting a hole in the cozy, dark grey cable knit.

“The priest?”Lùcasasked.

“TotalFatherWhat-a-Waste…DidIsay that out loud?”

Grace nodded, trying to keep her face solemn, although it wasn’t as ifWescould have blushed any darker.

“Well, it’s true, he’s very sweet.Andalso quite handsome,” she whispered. “Iran into him, not quite so literally, at the newer old church.Whenhe saw me shivering, he insisted, even thoughI’mthe idiot who left my jacket behind.Sorryabout your ladder.”

“No harm,”Lùcasassured her. “Riosknocked it over first.”

Grace stuck her tongue out at him and he grinned.

“I supposeIshould’ve been wearing my glasses,”Wessighed.

“It’s really all right, long as you are,” their host assured her.

Wes nodded and reached in her pocket, withdrawing the frames she hated so much.Theywere completely smashed, one arm bent at an odd angle, the other lens cracked.

“Oh no,”Gracebreathed, butWessimply pursed her lips like it was the glasses’ fault for misbehaving.

“There’s a shop inCastlebaycan order you new ones,”Lùcassuggested.

“Wanna bet?”Wesleysighed.

“Special prescription,”Graceexplained.

“Oh well.Ididn’t want to wear them anyway.Butit will make mending this a lot harder,” she lamented, peering closely at the hole in her sleeve. “Ican’t give it back toFatherEòghannlike this!”

“Father—?”Lùcasbegan, but his cousin elbowed him, and he shut his mouth.

“Do you want me to try?”Graceoffered, counting onWesto decline.

“No offense, but your knitting is abominable.”

Mr.Beecoughed, trying to cover one of those bursting sort of laughs that just pop out whether you mean them to or not, andGraceglared at him.

“Who could possibly take offense to that?” she muttered.

Wes pattered her arm sympathetically, as though she hadn’t been the one to say it. “I’llsee you later.MaybeI’llhave located my pride by then.”

Once the door closed behind her,Lùcasasked, “Eòghann’sno priest.Ishe?”

His cousin shrugged. “Dressesa little like one.”

“S’pose so,”Lùcassaid, frowning. “Guessshe really did need those specs.”

“It’s calledStargardtdisease,”Graceblurted out before she stopped to think whetherWesleymight not want her private medical history shared with these veritable strangers, no matter howScottishand charming they might be when they wanted to. “Hervision loss was slow at first but, lately…” she explained to their curious stares. “Shesays the glasses don’t really help much.Pleasedon’t say anything to her,” she backpedaled. “It’snot a secret, but… she doesn’t…”

“We’ll keep it to ourselves,”Mr.Beeagreed, looking sharply atLùcas, who nodded.

“She doesn’t… like to be treated as if she needs help.”

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