Page 54 of Fractured Grief (Hope’s Ridge #2)

“Hazel, wait a moment, please,” Seb called out, before turning to me.

“Indy, sweetheart. It’s okay, I’m here. Let’s go greet her together.

” He took the tray from my hands with a dish towel and set it on the stovetop.

He linked my hand with his and guided me to the door.

Hazel was bouncing on her toes with excitement.

“Can I open it now?” she said, exasperatedly, and surprisingly, asking Seb and not me.

Seb glanced at me, and I nodded before he spoke, “Go ahead.”

“Auntie!” Hazel exclaimed, opening the door with a flourish.

On the stoop, looking exhausted, was Grace. She looked so much like Lexi, it was haunting. Her hair was long and curly, like Lexi’s, but Grace’s was lighter, more strawberry blonde than Lexi’s and Hazel’s mahogany waves.

She had delicate, nearly elven features just like her sister, but it was her eyes that stopped me in my tracks.

For a moment, it felt like Lexi was looking back at me.

The same stress and sadness, the exact weight of the world, the same fierce strength.

If not for the way they filled with tears, I probably would have stayed frozen, just staring.

“Come in, come in,” I snapped out of my daze and motioned her inside. She’d clearly tried to cover her injuries haphazardly with makeup, as she pulled her curtain bangs forward to cover her right eye, she side-eyed Hazel.

“It’s okay,” I whispered to Grace as I took her coat. “I explained a little to her, and she’s really good at taking care of people. There’s no judgement here, I promise.”

Grace glanced at me, still unsure. I hadn’t seen her for about nine years, so some skepticism was to be expected.

Seb was staying back by the couch; it was like he was trying to make his giant frame smaller as he hunched his massive shoulders and leaned on his cane.

I was having none of that. “This is my boyfriend, Sebastian. Seb, this is Grace.”

Grace’s gaze snapped to mine, then to Seb, then back to me. “Boyfriend?” she breathed.

I puffed out my chest, drawing myself up, ready for a fight, I hoped I wouldn’t have to have. “Yes, boyfriend. That’s not a problem, right?”

“No, no, of course not. I was just surprised.” She’d shrunk in on herself at my firm tone.

“It makes so much sense. You and Alexandra never seemed to have that sort of connection, but when you got married, everyone stopped talking about that part anyway.” She looked at her shoes, uncomfortable, I was sure.

“Okay, good.” I shook off my nervous energy. “We just finished making cookies.”

“Thank you,” she whispered and followed us into the kitchen.

“Mr. Seb, don’t you think hot cocoa would be great with these cookies?” Hazel asked Seb.

“Why, Miss Hazel, I think you could be right. Should we make everyone some cocoa?” Seb knelt down and opened his arms for Hazel.

She didn’t hesitate to jump into them as he pulled her giggling form onto his left hip.

I watched with pure joy, and a few nerves, as he held her to his larger form and still used his cane to make their way over to the stove, together.

“She looks so much like Alex,” Grace whispered.

“Lexi’s mini me,” I responded. “As you get to know her, you’ll see so much of your sister in her. She’s a chip off the block.”

“I still can’t believe she’s gone. Her birthday was part of the reason for this,” Grace said as she motioned to her partially covered eye. “I was so upset when I realized the date that I burnt our breakfast, and Cain hates to be kept waiting.”

I placed my hand over hers in her lap at the kitchen counter. “None of that was ever your fault. You hear me?”

Silent tears tracked down her cheeks. “On some level, I know that is true, but it’s hard to accept. I’ve been with him since I was sixteen.”

“He wasn’t abusing you this whole time, was he?” Rage boiled my blood at the thought.

“Yes and no. It didn’t get physical until we married. Then, he owned me.” Her voice was so soft and timid I had a hard time hearing her, but I did, and my heart hurt for all that this young woman had been through.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t reach out or do anything to stop Mama and Daddy and all they did to you and Alexandra!

I knew they were wrong, but I was scared.

Daddy changed after that. He and Mama were so angry.

I was, too, but not at you or Alex. I just wish I could have gone with you.

I tried to find you, tried to escape out of Alex’s bedroom window one night, but Daddy caught me and gave me the belt.

” She winced then, either from remembered pain or her current injuries, I wasn’t sure .

“Oh, Grace. I’m so sorry.” I gripped her hand tightly in mine, wanting her to know I was here. She had us now; she wasn’t alone. “If Lexi had known, she would have come to get you. She missed you like crazy, we both did.”

Silence settled over us with the only noise being lighthearted giggles and chatter coming from Seb and Hazel as they added the finishing touches to the cocoa before bringing it over to the counter to pour into mugs.

“Are these Alexandra’s snickerdoodles?” Grace gasped when she was offered the plate of cookies. Tears welled in her eyes. “I never thought I’d get to enjoy these again.” She sent me a watery smile.

“Why do you call Mommy Alexandra?” Hazel asked. “Her name is Lexi or Lex or Mommy for me.”

“Hazel,” I went to admonish, but Grace placed a hand on my arm.

“I’m so sorry, Hazel. You’re right. My parents made me call your mommy that, even when I knew she didn’t like it. It became a habit. I’ll try to break it, but I might need your help.”

“What kind of help?” Hazel probed.

“I just need you to remind me, whenever we talk about Lexi, that I say the right name, okay?”

“Okay. I can do that,’ Hazel chirped, before going back to her cookies and cocoa.