Page 2 of Fall From Grace
My thoughts are interrupted by Dale announcing Grace’s return to Wintervale. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my honor and privilege to welcome home our favorite karaoke queen, Grace Mattson.” I turn my gaze to the stage to see Grace still standing there—her microphone clenched tightly in her hands. “Everybody, put your hands together and give her a big Wintervale welcome home!” The bar erupts in applause, most of it coming from our table—except for me. All I can do is stare at Grace, drinking in the sight of her.
Has she moved on? Did she bring her new boyfriend home with her?
My thoughts are a tangled mess, but she’s no longer my concern. I push my chair back, planning to leave, “I think I’m going to head out.” I say over the protests of everyone sitting there. Without looking back, I walk to the far end of the bar near the back rooms and hide in the darkness, longing for one last look at Grace.
“Alright, everyone, I have a special song that Grace is going to sing for us.” Grace shakes her head, but that doesn’t stop Dale from setting her up. “How about It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, by Celine Dion?” The crowd goes wild because everybody loves to join in with the chorus and sing the baby, baby, baby part at the top of their lungs.
The music begins, and Grace gives in, her voice so strong and confident as she sings about love, loss, and forgiveness. It’s almost as if she’s singing only for me, her eyes fixed on a spot in my direction. But I know she can’t see me with the bright spotlights on her.
I almost step out of the shadows and go to her when she sings about forgiving each other. It isn’t until the last line that I snap out of the spell and walk out of the bar, leaving Grace like she left me.
two
Grace
Iknew returning toWintervale was a mistake, but I wouldn’t miss my best friend’s wedding for anything. I had hoped Travis would have forgiven me by now—like I have forgiven him.
We were both foolish not to discuss our feelings. I shouldn't have used my new nursing assignment as a way to pressure Travis into admitting he wanted me to stay with him forever. It was silly to put him on the spot like that.
The travel nurse assignment to return to Wintervale couldn’t have come at a better time. Instead of the usual twelve weeks, I now have only three weeks to decide whether to stay inWintervale or move on to a new town for my next assignment—and finally forget about Travis once and for all. Being Sky’s maid of honor will definitely help me get close to Travis again since he’s Tucker’s best man. It’ll be almost impossible for Travis to ignore me.
The lights on stage might be bright, but I could still make out Travis leaving the table—I could also feel his eyes on me, so I decide to give the song everything I have, throwing my heart and soul into it as I look out into the darkened room at the spot where I can almost feel Travis watching me.
The crowd joins in shouting outbaby, baby, baby.The lyrics hit me harder than I expected, as I remember our time together. I silently pray that, just as in the song, we will be able to forgive and forget.
And if we.
The final words come out as a sigh—I’m so tired of being angry at Travis, and this song reminded me of everything we had. I’m back and ready to fight for my man—hopefully I’m not too late. But according to Sky, Travis hasn’t dated anyone since me; that doesn’t mean he hasn’t hooked up with some of the tourists passing through. My heart aches at the thought. I haven’t been able to think about anyone but Travis, let alone touch anyone. But it’s not like he was cheating if he did—we were broken up.
The crowd cheers, and I smile, not wanting my sour mood to ruin anyone's fun. I walk over to Dale and hand him the microphone. “Thanks, Dale. I needed that.”
“It’s good to have you back.” He smiles. “Travis will come around, eventually.” Dale turns his attention back to the next singer he’s preparing to announce, leaving me speechless.
My body feels numb as I walk to where Sky is sitting, and I realize the whole town probably knows my plan to win Travis back, even though they don’t, but it feels that way. I take the only open spot at the table. I know everyone here—Hazy, Rayne, and Tessa have all visited me the last time Sky came to see me while she was looking for a wedding gown. And of course, I know Travis and all his brothers.
“Hey, Grace. It’s good to have you back,” Tucker says, running his hand over Sky’s still flat, pregnant belly, like he can’t get enough of touching her.
“It’s nice to be back.” I wish everyone felt that way. Awkward silence fills the air as I wait for someone else to speak.
It might have been my plan to surprise Travis on stage like that, but everyone at the table is acting guilty about the outcome. I’m not sure what I thought I would accomplish by blindsiding Travis like that—he hates surprises.
Ever since Sky told me she and Tucker were engaged, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Travis, which wasn’t much of a stretch before. But now, it’s even more intense. It’s like my biological clock has started ticking, even though I’m only twenty-five. It feels like it’s telling me it’s time to settle down with Travis, and to do that, I need to put the past behind me and claim him—if he even still wants me.
“So, about the bachelorette party.” Tessa breaks the silence. “I was thinking about hiring a male stripper, and since Grace and I are the only two technically single ladies, she is going to help me with the auditions.”
“Auditions?” Tanner says, as Tucker says, “Male strippers?”
“What else are we going to do for entertainment?” Tessa shrugs her shoulders and gives her brothers a look of innocence that I’m sure has gotten her out of trouble many times. “Besides, how am I supposed to build our venue side of the business if we don’t hire what the people want?”
“Sure, if we’re only catering to horny bridesmaids.” Turner snorts, earning him an elbow to the gut from Hazy.
“Historically, wedding receptions have been our top seller, but I want to expand and offer the complete package, from bridal showers and bachelorette parties to rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, baby showers, and anniversaries—covering everything. Maybe even tasteful bachelor parties.”
“Wait a minute, Tessa. You’re planning to have a male stripper at Sky’s bachelorette party, and you think that’s tasteful?”
“As a matter of fact, I do, Tanner.”
Their playful banter is entertaining to watch, but it’s been a long day, and it didn’t end the way I wanted it to. “I’m going to head out.” I give Sky a quick hug.
