Page 57 of More With You

Grace manages a small smile. “Who are you talking to?”

“Anyone who might be listening.” I wink and turn the key in the ignition, ready to zoom away as soon as Ben is in the car. But the parents have caught up to him, and they’re determined to use every trick in the book to get him to stay. Or, rather, to get Grace to stay. They’ve already lost Ben.

“This is insane, Ben!” Mrs. DuCate yells. “She’s our granddaughter. You can’t just take her to some stranger’s house. If you do this, Ben, you mark my words; the authorities will hear about it.”

Ben doubles down. “If you do that, Mother, you mark my words; you’ll never get another summer with my daughter. Lyndsey knows exactly what you’re like. Why do you think she refuses all your invitations to come on vacation? It wouldn’t be a vacation at all; it’d be hell.”

He throws Grace’s things into the trunk and gets in the car, but the DuCates are too aware of their station to start hammering on the windows. It gives me the opportunity I’ve been waiting for, and I’m glad they’ve got a circular driveway, otherwise I’d be three-point-turning for another half-an-hour. That’d just be embarrassing for everyone.

Keeping my eyes on the DuCates, visible in the rearview mirror, I pull around the sweeping gravel driveway and head down the winding trail to the gates. They open automatically from this side, so it’s not long until we’re out onto the open road, hurtling (at the speed limit, of course—there’s a kid in the car) along toward my cottage. Although, I haven’t really thought about what happens next. I don’t have a spare bedroom, and a kid can’t sleep on a sofa forever.

“Where to?” I look at Ben.

“Anywhere. Let’s just… drive around for a while,” he replies, gesturing discreetly at the back seat. I get it. He wants the drive to send his daughter off to sleep. “My parents will think you were bluffing,” he continues, “and we’ve gone to my house. You can bet your butt they’ll be waiting to pounce in the morning. Once we’ve driven around for a bit, we can head to your place. It’ll be safer there.”

Grace leans forward, as far as her little body can go. “Why were you fighting? Did I do something bad?”

“Not at all, Duckling,” Ben insists, reaching his hand back to hold hers. “Grandma and Grandpa did something bad. That’s why we were fighting, but it’s not because of you. They were very mean to Summer, so we’re going to have a sleepover at her house until Mommy comes to get you. Does that sound fun?”

Grace expels a funny little sigh of relief. “Lots of fun!” She jiggles in her seat. “Will you read me a bedtime story, Summer?”

“I was hoping you would read one to me,” I reply, gaining a giggle.

“I’ll tell you about Wispy! I don’t need the book!” Settling back into the seat, she begins to tell a somewhat tragic tale about how Wispy became a ghost.

Gradually, the story tapers off to the sound of soft snoring, and I look back through the rearview to see Grace lolling to one side, fast asleep. It’s past her bedtime, and she’s had an eventful day; it’s no wonder the poor thing is exhausted.

“Are you sure about this?” I whisper to Ben. “There’s probably no going back, you know?”

He takes hold of my hand. “I know, and I’m 100% sure of this.”

“You’re not mad at me?”

He chuckles. “Mad? Why would I be?”

“I said some pretty rude things.” I’m aware that I shouldn’t feel guilty, but it’s a habit I’m working on breaking.

“You said some things that needed to be said,” he replies evenly, turning his attention to the letter he brought with him. “The big question is: what are we going to do about Levi?”

I make sure Grace is still asleep. “Log chain and chicken wire?”

“Gangster. I like it. I was thinking something more along the lines of going to see his father, since mine obviously didn’t make enough of a point.” He grins. “They’ve always had a soft spot for Levi, so I should’ve known they’d go easy on the punishment. I reckon he got a temporary freeze on his account, and he’s distracting himself with this stuff until he gets access back.” He crumples up the offensive letter.

“Why did your dad agree to it in the first place if he thinks I’m a “firecracker fling,” or whatever it was he said?”

Ben cowers slightly in his seat. “When I went to my dad, I asked him to do it for me. I left your name out of it.” I can’t contain my disappointed gasp at this reveal. “I’m sorry, Summer. I wanted them to meet you first. I wanted them to love you as much as I do. Obviously, I realize how stupid that was, but I guess there’s a part of me that wanted to be optimistic. Or naïve. Take your pick.”

He reaches for my hand and I instantly forgive him. What else can I do?

Turning my car onto an unknown back road, I think through the events of the night. “But why couldn’t I get hold of you? I called a bunch of times. Texted, too.”

“I’m not saying my parents were in on some of it, but I’m saying my parents were in on some of it. My mother, at least,” he replies, huffing out a frustrated breath. “My phone disappeared while I was giving Grace her bath. I kept asking where it was, but my mother said, “It’s rude to have your phone at the dinner table.” I let it go to keep the peace, but then it magically reappears while I’m getting ready to leave. Yep, just what I thought.” He shows me the phone, and his mom is blowing it up. Four missed calls already. “She doesn’t want me taking Grace away, but she needs a way to harass me, until I get so fed up that I bring Grace back.”

It's pretty much what I suspected. “Yeah, I had a feeling they were in on it together—Levi and your mother. You’ve just confirmed it.”

Ben shakes his head. “My mom and Levi are a devious pair, but I never thought they’d stoop this low. I know he’s the golden boy she wishes she had for a son, but this is beyond.”

“I’m sorry I fell for it,” I mumble, furious with myself.

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