“Wow. What’s happened to you? Is she that special?”
“You’ve never seen the real Grace. She’s actually very sweet andcompassionate when you get to know her.”
“You’re right. I’ve never seen that Grace.” The way things weregoing, that was probably never going to happen.
Emma remembered the summer picnic last July. She’d been in chargeof the events for the day. She’d arranged three-legged races, giant Jenga, abean-bag toss tournament, and a giant ring toss, among other games. It was thewater-balloon dodge ball that had gotten Emma into trouble. She’d lobbed aballoon perfectly at Brent, and when he batted it away it had landed squarelyon Grace’s head. She’d picked the fullest balloon in the bucket, and it hadsplattered all over Grace, plastering her hair to her head and completelysoaking her T-shirt. The fire in her eyes was enough to send the fiercest bearrunning. As soon as she eyed the balloon bucket, Emma knew she was in for it.Grace had sprinted to the bucket, filled the bottom of her shirt with waterballoons, and fired each one at Emma at close range until she was soaked almostto the bone.
The whole thing hadn’t even been Emma’s fault because Brent hadbeen the one to hit the balloon her way. Grace had something against her, andthat was just an avenue she’d used to exact her never-ending disrespect. Whenyou were on her bad side, the woman had a temper like a rabid coyote. Emma wassure she’d ended up in that category because of her friendship with Brent. Emmahad shaken the whole incident off immediately, though her clothes had remaineddamp until the picnic ended that day. Emma had to admit that the chafing was asmall price to pay for the scowl on Grace’s face when the balloon came down onher head.
“Are you listening to me?” Brent snapped his fingers in front ofher face. “What’s going on with you today?”
She surfaced from her thoughts again. “Yeah, sorry. Just tiredfrom yesterday.” She leaned on the counter and gave Brent her full attention.“Now what’s going on with Grace?”
“We’ve been fighting about money again.”
“Why?”
“Sometimes I think she cares more about it than me. Her parents use it toget her to do things for them.”
“Like what?”
“There’s some fund-raising event they want her to attend. She hasto schmooze with people and get them to donate. I don’t like them using herlike that.”
“Because she’ll be talking to other men? Young, attractive, richmen?”
“In a nutshell, yes.”
“You told her that and she’s going anyway?”
He nodded. “She wants me to go with her.”
Emma shrugged as she topped off her coffee. “So go with her.”
“I don’t like to watch my wife flirt with other men.” He narrowedhis eyes. “You said she didn’t care about the money. She should care more abouthow I feel than her parents.”
“Well, maybe there’s more to it than money. Maybe she feels anobligation to her parents. They did raise her, you know.” Emma doubted that wasthe case, but she threw it out there to make Brent feel better. “I certainlydidn’t mean you should dictate where she can and can’t go or what herrelationship with her parents should be.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s justridiculous. She’s not a child.”
“I don’t like the way they manipulate her.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to do the same thing.” She popped awayfrom the counter and glanced over her shoulder when she reached the door. “Gowith her to the freaking party. She needs to be escorted, so do it.” She shookher head and walked to her office.
Jesus.Am I the only one around here who has normal parents? That probablywasn’t totally true. Emma’s mom could be ridiculously over the top. Emma hadinvited Dex for Thanksgiving, and her mom had made way too big a deal out ofit. She’d even suggested that her brothers wear ties. Like that would ever fly.
Chapter Nineteen
Grace was frantic when Dex arrived at her house just beforeeleven. The kitchen was a disaster. Grace hadn’t even put the turkey in theoven yet. She’d made the dressing and stuffed it in the turkey somehow, butthere seemed to be more stuffing in the pan than in the bird.
“Dex, where have you been? I’m running so behind. I don’t knowwhat to do first.” Grace’s frazzled expression was totally out of character.
“I’ve been at the homeless shelter, like every Thanksgiving for aslong as I can remember.”
“Oh, shit. I forgot about that.” Grace took in a deep breath andlet it out. “I should’ve come with you.”
“No worries. I knew you were busy.” She’d planned on goingstraight to Emma’s until she received the 911 call from Grace. “We need to getthe bird in the oven. Do you have an extra apron?” Dex rolled up her sleevesand washed her hands.
Grace took one out of the pantry, slid it over Dex’s neck, andreached around to tie it behind her back. She kissed Dex on the cheek andbacked up. “You’re a lifesaver, Dex.”
Dex took in the scent of Grace’s perfume and tried to settle thefeelings it stirred within her. She squatted and took out as many oven-safebowls as she could find. This was going to take some work.
“I need foil,” she said as she swiped a serving spoon from theutensil holder near the stove. She spooned the extra dressing into one of thebowls and slid it over to Grace, who covered it with the foil.
“Sweet potatoes?” Dex scanned the counter.
Grace spun around and took a bowl from the refrigerator. “I bakedthem last night, like you told me.”
“Great. They need to be peeled and cut up.” She slipped the meatof the sweet potato out of the skin, cut it into chunks, and put them inanother dish. “Just like this.” She spun around to the pantry and took out thebrown sugar. “I’ll make the syrup.”
“Okay.” Grace nodded and started working on the remaining sweetpotatoes.
The rest of the food prep went smoothly, and they had all thedishes in the oven within an hour, with the exception of the mashed potatoes.
Grace was clearly frustrated with the whole situation. “This isridiculous. I can’t believe my parents went out of town.” She dropped the lastof
