AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That doesn’t mean they didn’t upset her,” Max murmured. “If she was emotionally compromised, it’s more likely she’d have gotten distracted from the trail.” He pursed his lips. “Maybe she needs a woman to talk to. I could ask Summer to come over.”
“Don’t do that.” When they both stared at me, I added, “If we’re trying not to overwhelm her, then Summer isn’t the best option. She’ll be too forceful. I’ll call Grace. She’s great at listening, so perhaps she’ll get further than us.” She’d messaged earlier to say that Desdemona had joined them for dinner, so Tess wouldn’t be alone if Grace left.
Connor nodded. “Good thinking.”
“Do it,” Max agreed.
I called Grace, telling myself that the little spark in my chest at the sound of her voice was simply an aftereffect of adrenaline. I explained the situation to her and asked if she’d come.
“I’ll be there soon,” she replied. “And she’s welcome to stay at my place if she has nowhere else to go. I have a spare bed made up.”
I relayed her offer to Max, who shook his head.
“I want to monitor her overnight,” he said.
I passed the message back to Grace, and I could tell from the muffled noises coming down the line that she was already preparing to leave. “Drive carefully.”
I ended the call and found my brothers both watching me curiously. “What?” I demanded.
Connor just shook his head, but Max’s amused smirk spoke volumes. They knew I was in knots over Grace. It seemed everyone fucking knew—except Grace.
Damn it.
24
GRACE
I’d been sharingdinner with Desdemona and Tess when Nate called. After we hung up, I cast a longing look at the hearty quiche remaining on my plate and sighed.
“I’m needed at the Medical Center,” I told them. “They’ve found the girl, but there’s something they’ve asked for my help with.”
Tess pushed her chair back. “Can I come?”
I pursed my lips. Nate hadn’t explicitly said anything, but I imagined he’d want Tess to remain here. The back end of search and rescue could be messy and time consuming. “No, sorry, sweetheart. Your dad has to be able to focus on work, and if you’re there, he’s going to want to give you all his attention.”
Tess pouted but didn’t argue. She wasn’t the type to make a fuss, although she was obviously disappointed.
“How about I teach you to do a three-card tarot reading after we’ve finished dinner?” Desdemona asked Tess, meeting my gaze and winking.
“Thank you,” I mouthed, gratitude for my eccentric aunt swelling within me. She’d been the one constant in my life since my parents had left me in Destiny Falls and taken off for one of the most dangerous parts of Africa. She might not be a traditionally maternal figure, with her iron-gray hair and a pair of colored dreadlocks framing her face—not to mention her penchant for fluffy knitted clothes in outrageous colors and the occasional joint she liked to smoke, but she’d given me more unconditional love and support than anyone else ever had.
“You could teach me that?” Tess asked, effectively distracted.
“Easy as pie,” Desdemona said. “Just finish your quiche and let me find my cards. I know I left a set around here somewhere.”
I smirked. I knew exactly where Desdemona’s cards were. She’d stashed them in my nightstand in the hopes I’d eventually take to using them the way she did. The thing was, I’d always been happy not knowing what the future held because if it wasn’t what I wanted, I’d rather be blissfully ignorant.
“I’ll see you two later,” I promised. I carried my plate to the kitchen and stored the leftovers in the fridge, then rinsed the plate and stacked it in the dishwasher. I grabbed a jacket, gloves, and one of the knitted beanies Desdemona had gifted me and went to the door. Duke tried to follow, but I blocked his exit. “Sorry, bud. You’re better off staying here.”
I drove to the Medical Center and entered through the back door, which had been left unlocked. I found Connor and Nate lingering in the hallway outside the overnight observation room.
Nate kissed my cheek in greeting. “Thanks for coming. Max and the girl—her name is Cissy—are in there.” He jerked a thumb at the door. “We didn’t want to leave her alone, but she isn’t talking. Hopefully she’ll open up to you.”
I nodded, nerves swooping in my gut. I wasn’t sure I’d live up to their expectations—I was hardly an expert with teenage girls—but I was willing to try. I opened the door slowly and eased inside. Max was perched at a small desk in the corner, typing on his laptop, while a short, compact girl with damp hair sat on the bed, her knees pulled up to her chest and her back against the wall. She was wrapped in blankets but didn’t look warm. Her dark eyes flicked over to me, then returned to focus on a point just beyond her knees.
Max got up, closed his laptop, and tucked it beneath his arm. “I’ll be in my office if you need me,” he told the girl. “This is Grace. She’s going to sit with you for a while.”
Cissy gave a slight nod, her gaze darting to me and away again. As Max left, I sat on his chair and pulled it closer to the bed.
