Page 25 of Halstead House

When we broke for lunch, each with our own to-do lists ready to go, Eliza walked me to the door and put a hand on my arm.

“Dear, I don’t mean to pry, but Lucas mentioned that you seemed upset when he took you the files the other night. Are you okay?”

I was thoroughly shocked that he’d said anything at all. “Oh, really?”

Eliza squeezed my arm lightly. “I hope you’re doing well here. Is there anything I can help with?”

I paused, not used to being open with others. I’d only recently begun showing more of myself in casual conversation or making little jokes here and there. But this was Eliza. She knew my mother—or at least of her—and could understand what I was facing. I had to be brave.

“Did he mention that he caught me right after a phone call with my mother?”

Eliza raised her brows. “Ah, I see.”

“I’ve hurt her with my choice to come here. I didn’t discuss it with her first, or get her permission, so to her it feels as though I took off with no warning and don’t care about her needs or feelings. I’d told her I wouldn’t be returning until June.” I chewed my lip. “I’ve never done anything like this. She’s concerned.”

“I doubt concern is her only emotion,” Eliza stated. I nodded. All was quiet for a moment as her gaze delved into mine. At last her features softened and she said, “Take courage, sweet Grace. You’re wise to trust your heart. We want you here, and we’ll do our best to make your stay a happy one.”

I was unable to answer. A lump had formed in my throat that was impossible to swallow. Eliza seemed to understand and reached out to give my hand a soft squeeze. Then she was gone, leaving me to lean against the door frame while I pulled myself back together—because in one short moment, Eliza had seen more of me than Mother had ever bothered to look for.

Ana informed me over breakfast two days later that therapy session number three would be happening that afternoon.

I looked up from my waffle. “Do I dare ask?”

“New clothes. You can’t live on this island wearing slacks and button-downs all the time. Don’t even get me started on that pencil skirt I saw you in a couple of days ago. Is it fun to have your legs stuck together all day long?”

I pushed down a giggle. Then, my eyes grew round as I realized that my initial reaction had been to laugh rather than worry. It was good to no longer feel threatened by Ana’s pronouncements. “There is nothing wrong with looking professional. I care about my appearance,” I responded with a smile.

“Trust me when I say you need some wardrobe adjustments. Right, Marshall?” Ana elbowed him in the side.

“I think Grace should dress however she wants to dress,” Marshall mumbled through a mouthful of fruit. “She looks nice.”

I rewarded him with one of my full smiles. “Thank you, kind sir.”

Ana rolled her eyes. “Don’t you be giving him one of your smiles. And you, Marshall, do not encourage her or I’ll assign you rain gutter duty for a month. She’s on the island now. She needs to have some casual clothes. She needs to let down that hair and relax into life here.”

Marshall looked at me a little more closely. “My granny used to do her hair just like that. It’s classy.”

I knew he was trying to compliment me, but my heart sank as I maintained a pleasant expression. Being lumped in with someone’s grandmother wasn’t as flattering as he’d meant it to be.

“Oh, boy. Grace, he called your chi-non a ‘granny style’.” Ana sighed playfully.

“My granny was a beautiful woman with classy hair.” Marshall scowled. “If I tell you that you’re anything like my granny, you take that as a straight-up compliment.”

I reached across the table and laid my hand over his larger one, startling myself in the process. When had I started being comfortable initiating affection? “Thank you, Marshall, for saying something so kind about me.” I squeezed. “It’s not our fault that Ana is so uneducated in these things.”

Marshall’s face relaxed, and he patted my hand with his free one. “You’re right, Grace.” Ana slapped his arm. “I guess Ana is a little bit right too. It might be nice for you to get some more casual clothes. You might feel more comfortable on your time off.”

“So this is the next step on your grand therapy plan?” I turned to Ana. “New clothing?” Maybe Ana had a point, at least about my off-work time. A tiny, miniscule, pin-prick of a point, but still a point.

“I’m beginning to think of myself as an archeologist and you’re the long-buried treasure. I’m embarking on the excavation of Grace,” she replied cheerily.

I raised my eyebrows. “So long as you don’t accidentally cut off an important part of me as you dig around.”

“I’ll do my best, but I’ve got to warn you, some days nothing but a jack hammer will do.” She stood to take her plate to the sink. “Meet me near the carriage house at one o’clock sharp. We’ll do some shopping down in the historic distract. You can be touristy at the same time.” She left the room without waiting for an answer.

“Should I be worried about what kind of clothing she’ll insist I buy?” I asked Marshall.

He nodded. “Stay strong, Grace.” His loud sounds of amusement followed him as he too cleared his place and left the kitchen.

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