Saving Grace

Acclaim for Saving Grace

Kimberly McKay has truly come into her own as an author with
Saving Grace. 
This book holds just the right balance of suspense and romance, along with a bit of humor and a sprinkling of Kim's unshakable faith in God. The characters are a beautiful blend of human frailty and strength, and I love the way the story emphasizes that no matter who we are, no matter our position or circumstances in this world, the one thing we all want in this life is stability and love.

-
        
Terri Meis, blogger

                 www.intomystic.wordpress.com

Other books

by

Kimberly McKay

FINDING KYLIE

FACING REDEMPTION

COMING HOME

SAVING GRACE

by

Kimberly McKay

Copyright 2015 Kimberly McKay

All rights reserved.  No part of this book my be reproduced or transmitted in any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher or author, except for the inclusion of brief quotation in a review.

              This book is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to places, events, or persons living or deceased is purely coincidental.

ISBN
:
978-1499163513

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition

First Printing, July 2015

Printed in the United States of America

Dedication

To my best friend, Susan Titus, who has survived a rare and aggressive form of cancer.  She lights up every day with a smile, in pursuit of making every day count.  Her faith in God, and in His healing, has motivated so many around her, including me.  Susan, you’re such a treasure in my life and I’m grateful God sent you to be my friend.

To my sister-friend, Maya … thank you for always providing wise words and insight.  Your friendship is very important to me.

To my sister and mom, thank you for being my best friend, motivator, and confidante. To my husband and son, thank you for unconditionally loving me through thick and thin.

And big thank you to Terri Meis, for your friendship and support through this journey.  You are an amazing writer and friend.  Write your book – it’s in there.  Just trust.

Prologue             

              She clasped onto her sister’s hand and ran as fast as her legs would let her, trying to keep up.  The darkness, which had enveloped them, was both a blessing and a curse, as they narrowly and blindly trudged through the sand. 

Dark clouds clung to the night sky masking their escape from the naked eye, but she knew the darkness that followed them wasn’t far behind. Grace looked over her shoulder, her heart racing in fear.

How did it come to this?
She asked herself, recounting the last few months in her head. 

She tried keeping up with her sister, but it felt as though her feet were being sucked down into the sand. 

“Hurry!”  Anne hollered over her shoulder, tugging at Grace in desperation.

“Are you sure he’s after us?”  She yelled back, pulling her hand away from her sister’s grasp.  “We need to go back!  Burke will be home any minute and Zach might hurt him!”

“Trust me!”  Anne stopped for a second only to draw her sister close.  “I’ve dreamt this. I know it may sound strange, but I know he’s coming after us.  We’ve got to get as far away as possible and find some place to hide.”

Grace shook her head and opened her mouth to try talk some sense into her sister when she heard a shot that rang through the air, followed by Zach’s wild voice screaming through the night. 

“Grace!  I know you’re out there and I’m going to find you.”

Both girls screamed, and took off once more into the dark night praying they could get out of this alive.

Chapter 1

3 months earlier

Salty air whipped Grace’s long jet-black hair back as she sat behind her house, in Montauk.  It was times like these, as she watched a few select families walk the shoreline toward the sunset, that she could recall any memories of her parents.

Although flashes of her mother’s smile or the sound of her father’s laughter faded over time, the feelings she had anchored deep within her, from spending time at the beach with her family, did not. 

And as hard as she tried to remember her father’s eyes, the only thing that tied her to him was the way his hand felt while they walked along a beach, similar to this one, so many years ago.

Grace dug her toes deep within the warm sand and wistfully smiled at yet another family as they passed by.  She lifted her hand and half waved at the eight year old, who flashed a toothless grin in her direction, before grabbing her mom’s hand and pulling her down to the beach.

She watched the little girl with interest, reflecting that this month symbolized the thirteenth year since losing her parents.  The pain still hit her, like it was yesterday. 

In her mind’s eye, she could see the four of them … father, mother and two daughters … playing in the ocean and making foot prints in the sand, much like the family, which was running toward the shore.  

Grace sighed and closed her eyes.  In her heart of hearts, she knew her parents were still with her in moments like these.  She only wished her sister, Anne, who was still living, could be. 

Anne had been her rock and only safety net after the loss of their parents.  In a flash, they went from a happy family of four, to being orphaned, unaware of how they were going to make it.  Anne and Grace’s biggest concern was moving into separate foster homes, never to see one another again.

Grace remembered those first few sleepless nights within the system.  She clung to her teddy bear praying all night that she’d not lose her sister too.  She didn’t understand why God took her parents, but begged him to leave her with her sister wherever they went.

Within days, grandparents, whom they never knew existed, stepped forward and moved them to the Hamptons, where they lived on a large estate.  They were led to oversized bedrooms, with overstuffed beds, and had overwhelming options at their disposal.  It was a staggering and whirlwind experience for seven-year old Grace, who felt completely exposed and overwhelmed in this new environment. 

At bedtime, while alone in a large dark room she’d squeeze her teddy bear tightly wondering if her mother was looking down at her.  Unable to sleep, she’d sneak into Anne’s room and cuddle up next to her, grateful that God had answered her prayers.

As her sister pulled her in tight, she could almost picture her mother’s smiling face.  Anne’s embrace was the only way she managed to fight sleeplessness and it was her only comfort in this home … until Lilah found out and encouraged her that ‘big girls’ slept in their own beds. 

In trying to accommodate her newfound grandmother, she did her best, but most nights she found herself in sheer terror of the vast darkness around her.  As if she could feel her sister’s pain, Anne carefully snuck into Grace’s room, to wrap her arms around her and rock her to sleep.

Once Anne was old enough for college, Grace remembered minimal contact.  There were phone calls but no visits home.  And before too long - her sister faded away from the family all together. 

To this day, Grace still didn’t understand how or why Anne disappeared from her life, but one thing was for sure, she never felt more abandoned than she did by her big sister.

Even today, at the fresh young age of twenty, she still wasn’t sure of all the details. As hard as she tried, Grace couldn’t recollect how it all transpired.

Her grandmother took care of her external needs well enough.  Grace ate wonderful meals, could buy what she needed at any given notice, and most recently, was able move into her beachfront home, giving her access to the ocean as much as she wanted.  However, when she tried to express her feelings, or talk about her family - Lilah immediately shut her down. 

Grandmother disapproved of talking about feelings.  She would rather discuss what event the family was expected to attend, to keep up appearances, or how Grace was expected to dress and behave. 

In turn, her grandfather tried to pacify her with pretty trinkets or a new dress, which would thrill most girls – but to Grace it only widened the hole she felt in her heart.

She’d never be able to explain to him that in receiving his gifts, which would have made anyone else happy, Grace felt let down.  Through her dutiful smiles and polite gratitude, she was left completely at a loss.

Young Grace quickly learned that if she were to get along in her new family, she had to live in a very confined box.

She sadly shook her head to rid herself of the memories from her childhood, and focused on why she was here today – to pay homage to her parents. 

She watched as the lip of a large wave began to curl toward the shoreline.  An agile surfer ripped through the clear water and lifted into the air, as if he was flying. 

Grace marveled at how the setting sun shone brilliantly through the crest of the wave.  It was like crystal glass in front of a bright light. 

The solo surfer abruptly landed and broke it into pieces, before sailing over the top.  The scene sent waves of peace through her troubled spirit, and she wondered what it might be like to ride the surf like that on her own someday.

A child’s bubbly laughter broke the spell, as Grace’s view shifted to a nearby father lifting his daughter toward the sky.  The serenity she held in her chest quickly dissipated, as it felt like a forty-ton weight was placed on her heart.  Before she could rein in her emotions, one single tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

Grace quickly brushed it away and sat up straight, letting out a small-resigned sigh.  She would give anything to have that kind of unconditional love in her life, but would not let it hold her back.  She had a good life.  It may not be the life she wanted, but she was blessed.