Page 95 of Forbidden Kisses
Grace shrugged. “My job is good. And I got a new dog.”
“Aww! That’s great! What happened to the guy?”
“Dogs are better,” Grace said, forcing herself not to look around the crowd for Jack.
Tina frowned. “I wouldn’t know. I have neither. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you, though. I’m rooting for you to be happy. You deserve it.”
“Thanks. It’s for the best.” Grace put on a smile. “Anyway, I’m going to head back over to the friend I rode with, but I’ll see you soon. Maybe we can do dinner or something.”
“Sounds great.”
Grace started to walk back to where Krista and Abby stood when she caught sight of someone from the corner of her eye. “Mom?” Grace walked faster. Was her mother completely crazy? Jack would flip if he saw her at his grand opening. “Mom?” Grace called in a harsh whisper, weaving through the crowd of people.
Her mother looked up and smiled. “Oh, hi, honey. I wasn’t sure if you’d be here.”
“What are you doing here?” Grace asked, looking around. She saw Mrs. Smith standing nearby talking to Noah. Grace froze, wondering if she’d entered the twilight zone.
“I’m here for Jack’s grand opening, of course. Isn’t that why you’re here, too?”
“Yes, but—”
“Jack was so sweet to send little Noah over to get us.”
Grace’s brow furrowed. “Jack knows you’re here?”
“Well, of course he does. He invited me.”
Maybe Grace was losing her mind. “Jack invited you?” she asked. Her mother nodded. “My Jack?” she asked without thinking. Because if she were thinking, she’d remember that he wasn’t hers anymore. Maybe he’d never been hers at all. “When?”
“The other day. After he left Mrs. Smith’s house.”
Grace nearly fell over. “He was at your house?” Why was this the first she’d heard that Jack had been to visit her mother?
“I assumed he would’ve told you that,” her mother said.
Grace shook her head as the crowd thickened around her. The turnout for this grand opening was a big one. The community loved the Sawyer family. So did she.
“Jack, Sam, and Noah came over the other day,” her mother continued. “They built me a ramp to walk up. Don’t you remember seeing it?”
Grace’s mouth dropped open. She’d seen the ramp, but she didn’t know how it came to be. She’d been too rattled by her mom’s visitor the other day. Then, when they’d spoken next, she’d been fixated on making sure her mom was taking care of herself. “They what?”
“And Jack fixed a loose footboard on the floor. He changed the lightbulbs. He’s a regular handyman, that one.” Her mother winked. “A good thing for a woman to have around.”
Grace’s head was spinning. Jack had done all of these wonderful things, but hadn’t mentioned a word of it to her—not that she’d spoken to him or given him a chance. “I just assumed your newfrienddid all that work for you.”
Her mother waved a hand. “No. Tim has other talents, dear.”
Grace’s face soured. “Okay,” she said, backing up. Well, if you need me I’ll just be standing in the back with Krista.” Hiding. Because she didn’t know how to feel or act around Jack anymore. She was so confused. He’d helped her mother and then invited her here. What did that mean? If he’d done it for Grace, wouldn’t he have told her?
Someone tapped a microphone at the front of the lot, soliciting the crowd’s attention.
“I’ve got to go, Mom. Love you.” Grace kissed her mother’s cheek and started weaving away from the commotion. A moment later, she took her place standing next to Abby.
“What are you doing back here?” Abby asked.
“I’m hiding. And as soon as that ribbon is cut, I’m out of here.”
“Don’t you want to hug Jack or at least congratulate him?” Abby asked.
