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Chapter
Twenty-Four
Grant had readBible stories in his youth.He felt very much like a young Daniel entering the lion’s den as he continued deeper into Bessie Clifton’s house.Six pairs of eyes—twelve orbs—bored into him, and he told himself to simply focus on Bea.
“I came, because I had to see you,” he said.He didn’t have any other words.Julie had given him a hard time for three days until Grant had finally done what she’d suggested and booked a ticket to Texas, figured out how to make sure his rental business kept running, and found a place to stay in Sweet Water Falls.
None of it had been all that hard either.But this?Walking toward Bea while all of her closest friends watched and listened?This was really hard for him.
Not as hard as knocking on her parents’ front door, he told himself.
“I want to see you,” he said again, stopping only a couple of paces from Bea.She wore a dress that belted at her waist, the color like the richest, ripest heirloom tomatoes.It made her blonde hair seem whiter, and she’d styled the front bangs up and to the left today, a real wild style compared to her more conservative clothes.
Big earrings dangled from her earlobes, but she didn’t wear much makeup.
“I can’t stand not seeing you,” he said, his voice going mute.He cleared his throat.“Or talking to you.I’m dying a little bit more every single day—every hour—and I’m wondering if we can work out a way to stay together, even if we’re not in the same state.”
One of the women sighed, and he’d have to tell his sister that her speech had worked.Grant hadn’t gotten all of it exactly right, and he had a feeling he’d left out something really important.But he couldn’t remember what it was right now.
“How did you know where I was?”Bea asked.
After all he’d said, that was what she wanted to know?Grant couldn’t stall the smile, because it was such a Bea-like question.“Your mama,” he said.“I dropped by there a bit ago.”His voice turned a bit cool, and Bea’s eyes rounded as they widened.
“You did not.”
“I sure did,” Grant said.“She said y’all were having your Supper Club tonight, and I should come by about now.”He glanced over to Bessie again, whom he’d met a few hours ago.She braided her fingers together, and Grant remembered his promise to her.“Actually, I called Bessie to make sure it would be okay to come by, because I didn’t want to ruin anything for her.”
All eyes flew to Bessie, including Bea’s.“Bessie?”she asked.
“He’s in love with you,” she blurted, to which Grant chuckled.He couldn’t exactly refute her, so he tucked his hands into his pockets, ducked his head, and waited for Bea to look at him again.
She moved toward Bessie instead.“You knew he was here?”
“Yes,” Bessie said, her voice strong.“I knew.I just texted him that we were having dessert ten minutes ago.Now he’s here.”
“I don’t believe this,” another woman said, and Grant recognized her as Cass.He dared to look up at the awe in her tone, and he found her smile reassuring and hopeful.
Lauren likewise grinned at him, and she reached up to wipe her eyes.That gave Grant even more hope, and he raised his eyebrows at her.She shook her head, and he went back to waiting.
Bea turned back to him, fire in those delicious dark blue eyes.“I can’t believe my mama would just give out Bessie’s phone number and address.”
“She did,” he said, smiling at her.“Wanna know what she said?”
“Boy, do I ever.”Bea folded her arms and cocked her hip, and Grant wasn’t sure why she was so fired up.
“She said I looked trustworthy,” he said, taking a step further into the kitchen.Bea had been closer before, but now he still had miles to go to get to her.“She said she could tell I cared a great deal about you.”
“Oh, this is amazing,” another woman said.
Grant didn’t look away from Bea, who shushed the dark-haired woman.“She said she’d keep my secret when you came by later, and she said I should call Bessie and get her on my side.So I did.”
Bea threw her hands into the air.“I don’t know why you came.Nothing’s changed.”
“I’vechanged,” Grant said, his voice catching on itself.“Your friend is right, Bea.I’m in love with you, and I want to be with you.”He closed the distance to her and gathered her into his arms.She fit there, and he wanted her there for always.
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.“I don’t live in Hilton Head.”
“So we’ll call,” he whispered.“Video chats.Emails.I can come for a weekend or longer.You can come to the island for a few days.We’ll make it work, because we’re meant to be together.”
