A Gift of Time (The Nine Minutes Trilogy Book 3) (38 page)

“I don’t
hate it, Grizz, I just think it would be nice to see your face clean-shaven
once in a while. That’s all.”

She stood up
and kissed his shoulder. “I’m going to see what we have left in the way of
food.”

A few
minutes later, she called out to him, “Hey, I just noticed a CD player. I
didn’t know the cabin had a sound system. And I can load up to six CDs. We
could’ve been listening to my CDs this whole time!”

“Didn’t
notice it,” he yelled back.

He walked
out of the bathroom ten minutes later. It was obvious she’d gone to the car to
get her CDs. Music was coming through the sound system, and he could hear
“Baby, I Love You,” by The Ronettes. He smiled when he realized he still
recognized some of her music.

She had her
back to him as she stood at the small kitchen stove.

“What are
you cooking?”

She turned
around then. “Grilled chee—. You shaved it all off!”

She stepped
to him and stood on her tiptoes to reach his face, rubbing the smoothness with
both her palms. He bent low then to kiss her.

“Did you
turn off the stove?”

“Yes,” she
said.

“Good.” He
scooped her up in one swift movement and carried her into the bedroom.

A short
while later they were physically spent and lying in each other’s arms when
Grizz decided it was finally time to tell her about the woman he’d met last
year in Louisiana. He should’ve done it sooner, but the time never felt right.

“And you’re
sure, you’re positive it was my twin sister?” she asked him, doubt in her
expression. She wouldn’t allow herself to get too worked up. The chances of
this woman being her twin were pretty slim.

Grizz
explained his encounter in further detail. He told her he hadn’t seen Delia’s
note in years and was only going by memory.

“I feel kind
of bad for not giving that Bible to you sooner, Ginny. Guido had been holding
onto it, and honestly, I forgot about it until he reminded me he still had it
right before the execution. I told him to keep it just a little longer, then
deliver it to Carter’s.”

He asked her
to recount the facts she remembered from Delia’s note, and after comparing them
to his chance encounter with Jodi, he said, “I was sitting at that lunch
counter trying to figure out a way for the two of you to meet when I saw on the
television that Tommy had been shot. And even though I left for Florida
immediately, well, you know I kept my distance from you. There just didn’t seem
like a right time to tell you about her.”

“It’s okay,
Grizz. You’re right. This past year has been—well, let’s just say it’s
been a year of too many changes to count. Thinking my sister might still be
alive would’ve felt like too much. Thank you for telling me now, though.”

They talked
a little more about what they thought the easiest and least disruptive way
would be for Ginny to meet the woman who may or may not have been her twin.

But as
excited as she was at the possibility, she was more than a little anxious for
them to get back to Florida and start making preparations for their future. She
would make time to meet Jodi and see for herself, but not until after they
figured out their plan.

Grizz soon
found himself sitting up, his back against the rustic headboard. She was
standing on the bed, straddling his face and pushing herself against his
tongue. Her arms were braced against the wall she was facing. Her knees almost
buckled when she came, but he caught her and slowly lowered her onto his
erection.

After,
underneath the covers with her head on his chest, her hand tenderly rubbing his
flat stomach, their voices were whispers.

“I’m so glad
I found that CD player, aren’t you?” She sighed as music from the other room
floated into the bedroom.

“What’s the
name of this song, honey?”

“It’s called
‘Baby, I Love Your Way.’ Peter Frampton sings it.” She snuggled closer. “Do you
like it?”

“Not really.
But I like the lyrics. They remind me of you.”

“Isn’t it
nice making love to music that we used to listen to? Music that we used to make
love to? And I bet I have some bands in there you haven’t even heard before.”

He didn’t
answer so she looked at him. “Grizz?”

“What,
baby?”

“Didn’t you
hear me?”

“No. I’m
sorry. I was just thinking.”

“What were
you thinking about?”

“I was just
thinking that after all these years—”

She leaned
up on her elbow and looked at him expectantly. “After all these years, what?”

“That after
all these years, your taste in music still sucks.”

Chapter Sixty-Five

Ginny

2002,
Fort Lauderdale

It wasn’t easy
saying goodbye to Micah and Aunt Tillie, but
they knew we’d already extended our mini vacation, and the kids needed to get
back to school. Besides, we would be back.

Before
leaving the mountains, I’d confided in my new father-in-law that I was uncertain
about Grizz’s revelation concerning my twin sister and wasn’t sure what to do
about it. Especially when I wasn’t really letting myself believe it. Our
transition seemed complicated enough without adding an unlikely unknown. And
truth be told, my emotions were at war. One minute, I could feel the pull to
hop on a plane and go check it out for myself, but then reason would weigh in
telling me I’d spent my entire life without knowing her. If it was true, a few
more months wouldn’t matter.

Micah agreed
and told me it was something I should do after we settled. He gently reminded
me that he’d patiently waited a year to meet his son after I’d visited him that
first time.

“I’m so
sorry I put you through that, Micah. I was so distraught when Tommy died, and I
was really struggling.”

“I’m not
telling you this so you can feel bad and apologize, Ginny. I’m telling you
because I believe it happened the way it was supposed to. His timing is never
wrong.”

Back in
Florida we immediately returned to our regular routines, deciding that it would
be best if we lived apart until after our move. It would be easier to keep our
marriage a secret this way so Grizz went back to his house in Laurel Falls and
his job on Anthony’s landscaping crew and I went back to running my household
and making sure the kids kept up with their schoolwork and continued to
participate in all of their activities.

I didn’t
have to drive Mimi around as much as I used to. She’d finally gotten her
license, and I would let her take my car when I didn’t need it. I’d sold
Tommy’s car the previous year to a man who’d come up from Miami to buy it for
his sister. I could’ve kept it for Mimi, but at that time I couldn’t trust
myself not to fall apart every time I saw it pull into my driveway.

The wide
gold band that now graced my ring finger looked similar to the one I’d always
worn, so I wasn’t concerned that it would be noticed. Slowly I started letting
my friends know my little vacation during spring break had made me realize I’d
wanted to move away from South Florida. I never mentioned there was a man in my
life, especially not a husband, just that I thought it was time to start fresh
somewhere.

And there
was some serious truth in that statement. I’d not grown particularly close to
anybody over the years. I had lots of friends through church or the kids’
social circles, but I couldn’t say they were especially close ones. Of course,
Carter and Christy Bear would know the truth. But I was undecided about Sarah
Jo. We’d grown almost completely apart since the execution, and she seemed to
have distanced herself more since Tommy’s death last year. Maybe it was a good
thing. I didn’t want one more person to know that Grizz had faked his
execution. The less that knew the truth, the better.

The kids
also began dropping hints to their friends, and if that hadn’t been enough, the
real estate sign in my front yard definitely let it be known. Grizz had been
right about Jason. My son wasn’t as naïve as I’d wanted to believe. He would be
a teenager next year, and he took the vow of secrecy we’d asked of him very
seriously. He knew it was important that our private life stay private. I have
to admit, though—I had moments when I was concerned he might slip. But as
far as I could tell, he never did.

I had to
contact Alec to let him know I wanted to sell Tommy’s interest in the
partnership and, of course, I would offer it to him first. He didn’t seem
surprised that I was finally ready to sell, and he agreed to buy me out fairly.
He was surprised when I told him that I wanted to move. But, just like other
friends that asked, I had a “go to” answer for my decision to relocate. I told
everybody that my children and I fell in love with the mid-west when we visited
years earlier with Carter and that it was a well thought out and carefully
planned family decision.

“I don’t
understand,” Alec said over coffee one morning. We’d met at a local cafe to
work out some details about the sale. “This is your home. It’s always been your
home, Ginny. I just can’t see you leaving it for a strange place.”

I knew his
question wasn’t requiring a deep soul-searching answer. He was seriously
concerned that I may have been making the wrong decision.

“I need a
change of scenery, Alec, and so do my children. We’re all ready for something
different. I need to start over somewhere where the memories aren’t so
painful.”

I was being
truthful. It was still difficult sleeping in the bed I’d shared with Tommy for
fifteen years. I didn’t feel guilty about remarrying. My grief at losing Tommy
didn’t take away from what I had with Grizz. But I still felt it. I missed
Tommy. And so did Mimi and Jason.

He avoided
my eyes. “What if I told you Paulina and I aren’t going to work out after all?
Could you stay long enough to maybe give me, give us, a chance?”

He looked at
me, and I know my mouth must’ve been hanging open. I’m certain I was blushing,
but I didn’t need to think about my answer. I knew what it was, I just didn’t
know how to say it. He recognized my discomfort.

“I have it
coming. I know what your answer is, and I’m embarrassed for putting you in the
position of having to let me down easy. I’m sorry, Ginny.”

“No apology
needed, Alec.” Relief washed over me. I started to get up and gather my things
when he asked me one more thing.

“I know we
still have some financials to work out with the business, so we’ll be talking
soon, but will you do me a favor? After you do decide where you’re going to
move and you get settled, will you stay in touch? Will you let me know you’re
okay? Can you promise me that?”

I was
standing now and looked down at him. I was seriously pondering how to answer
him. Was this the Alec who was sincerely concerned for my welfare, or did I
have to worry about him showing up one day? I decided that the best way to
answer him was with honesty.

“Alec,
moving away, starting new like I want to, means I have to break some ties.
Leave some people and relationships behind. I’m sorry.”

“Fair
enough.” He nodded, his small, sad smile said he accepted that boat had sailed
and wouldn’t be coming back.

**********

Two weeks later, Grizz and I
found ourselves in a spacious hotel room on the outskirts of a medium-sized
city in Montana where we could drive forty-five minutes in either direction and
visit several smaller towns. I’d found the Internet was a fabulous resource for
everything I wanted to know about these small communities.

I’d narrowed
our search to three places that met the entire family’s criteria. Mimi and
Jason stayed with Carter and Bill while Grizz and I made the long drive to make
a preliminary visit. If we liked what we saw, we’d bring the kids back on the
next trip.

We’d spent
two days visiting the towns on our list and were now discussing it in the
hotel's oversized tile shower.

“I like all
three,” I told Grizz. “I’d really like to bring the kids back and let them
visit the schools before they let out for the summer. What do you think?”

I had
already washed and was standing back, watching him rinse his hair under the
showerhead. His eyes were closed, and water cascaded down his body. Just
looking at him sent a familiar and welcomed ache through me.

“Sounds like
a plan,” he said.

He turned
the shower off and used his hands to wring out his long hair. I did the same
and reached for a towel I’d hung over the top of the glass door. I bent over
and purposely wiggled my butt at Grizz as I wrapped the towel around my head.
He slapped me hard on my rear end and opened the door to reach for his own
towel.

“A slap
isn’t what I had in mind,” I teased. “And—ouch!”

He smiled at
me as he dried off. “C’mon out to the bedroom.”

Something
occurred to me then. That had to be the third, maybe the fourth time since our
wedding that I’d purposely bent over, offering myself to him, and now that I
gave it some thought, he’d never once accepted. I knew we’d enjoyed that kind
of lovemaking years before. What had changed?

“Oh!” I said
out loud, raising my hand to my mouth as a possible reason occurred to me.

“Oh, what?”
He stood before the mirror, towel-drying his hair.

“I just
realized that when I bend over like that, it must bring back some bad
memories.”

He wrapped
the towel around his waist and looked at me curiously as he reached for his
hairbrush.

“Bad
memories?”

“Yeah, bad
memories. You know—of prison. Bending over. You know.” I made a motion
with my hand. “When men are in prison together, and they want sex, I’m sure
it’s in the shower, and they have to bend over.”

I bit my lip
and he swung around to look at me.

“Did you
have to bend over for someone in prison?” My heart thumped as I waited for his
answer. I didn’t think I could bear to hear Grizz had been ganged up on and
raped in prison.

I don’t know
what I expected from him, but it certainly wasn’t what I got. He burst out
laughing. Not a small chuckle. No. He was laughing so hard the towel around his
waist fell off.

“What is so
darn funny?” I put my hand on my hips.

“God, how I
love you, woman. No. Absolutely no fucking way did I ever get raped in prison.
And before you ask, I didn’t do it to anybody, either. I haven’t been with
anybody else but you since 1975.”

The revelation
that he’d been faithful to me for over twenty-five years brought me up short,
and I started to tell him how moved I was by his admission when he interrupted
me.

“And seeing
your beautiful tight ass is not bringing back bad memories. I can fucking guarantee
that.”

He was still
laughing about it as we fell asleep that night.

The next
morning, I woke up before he did. His arms were wrapped tightly around me from
behind. The digital clock on the nightstand said 7:30 a.m. That was sleeping in
for us. The curtains hadn’t been shut completely, and a slice of sunshine was
cutting through the room. I snuggled in, purposely grinding my rear end, which
I knew would get his attention.

I was right.

“You’re
doing that on purpose,” he said in a groggy voice.

“Sue me.”

“Did you
just say ‘do me’?” he teased.

“No, that’s
not what I said, but yeah, do me,” I laughed over my shoulder.

He scooted
back and softly tugged on my shoulder so I’d be lying on my back, but I stopped
him.

“No, I don’t
want to lie back.”

“No problem,
I’ll lie back. Feel free to jump on board.”

“No, Grizz,”
I told him, looking back over my shoulder so I could see his face. “I want you
to do me from behind. We used to like that. At least, I did, and I thought you
did, too, until last night in the shower.”

Something
was up, and I wanted an answer.

He
forcefully rolled me over then, and his green eyes grew serious as he looked
down at me while leaning on one elbow. His long hair fell onto my chest,
tickling it. I raised my hand and softly stroked his heavily tattooed and
muscular bicep.

“Why, Grizz?
Why won’t you make love to me like that anymore?”

“It’s not
that I don’t want to, Kit,” he said, his voice sounding even deeper than
normal. “I’m just not ready.”

“I don’t
understand.”

“I’m not
ready to make love to you without seeing your face. I’ve gone so long without
you that I guess I still feel the need to look into your eyes, to make sure
you’re real. That’s all it is, honey. Nothing’s wrong.”

“Really?” It
was the last explanation I’d expected, and I had to admit, it really warmed my
heart. Especially coming from him.

“Really,” he
said softly as he kissed the tip of my nose.

I pushed him
away then and threw off the covers. I made my way toward the end of the bed and
got on all fours. Catching his eye in the mirror hung over every dresser in
every hotel room ever, I wiggled my backside at him. He did something I never
expected. He bit me right on my left butt cheek. He’d never done that before.
It wasn’t painful, it just startled me, and I yelped.

“Sorry, Kitten.
You get under my skin,” he said in a low growl. “And I’ve gotta say. I know
cussing isn’t your thing, but if I remember correctly, you used to make an
exception in the bedroom. We used to like that. At least I did, and I thought
you did, too.” He raised a brow, and I smiled to hear my own words thrown back
at me.

I glanced
into the mirror and looked into his eyes as he knelt behind me, his hands
tightly gripping my hips.

“Just shut
up and fuck me,” I told him.