Saving Grace (5 page)

              In moments like this, he wished he truly did have feelings for her, as she was a very beautiful girl.  It’s not that he wouldn’t mind having his way with her, but gaining her trust and her bank account was the agenda.  If sex became a part of it, then that would be a bonus.

              “You look lovely.” He leaned in for a kiss, but his lips landed promptly on her cheek.  It wasn’t lost on him that she didn’t reciprocate, but to keep up appearances, Zach smiled warmly as they pulled away.

              “Zach …  I didn’t know you were going to be here.”  She gave her grandmother a stern look, as Zach pulled out her chair.  Lilah shrugged and smiled.

              “He’s here because I invited him.  I just ran an idea by Zach and he agreed.”  Lilah said smugly, reaching for her tea.

              Sophie quietly stepped in to serve their soup.  After pulling out Lilah’s napkin and placing it in her lap, she turned to leave but not before she gave Grace a look, which inferred her disapproval. 

As Sophie exited for the kitchen, Grace lifted her napkin to hide her smile before finishing the conversation with her grandmother.

              “Agreed to what?”  She looked to the both of them.  Zach sat smiling like a Cheshire cat, and nodded for Lilah to continue.

              “Well, since that horrid news story speculated on your love life.  I thought a romantic trip was in order.  We need to kill any more rumors.  So, I told Zach I’d pay for a trip to Oahu for the two of you.” 

              Grace almost choked on her soup.  “What?”  She coughed in her napkin.  “Grandmother … It was a stupid story about … nothing.  So I wasn’t with someone that you approve of.  So what?” 

“Grace.  You should be excited.  This will give us some quality time,” Zach said happily, trying to cover his irritation at her lack of excitement.

“You know.  If my boyfriend offered me a romantic trip for two – I think I would be excited.  But this is all about appearances.  Grandmother, you care more about what people think than anyone I’ve ever known.”  Grace stood.  “Excuse me.  I’m no longer hungry.  Zach, we’ll talk later.” 

Sophia watched from the kitchen, proud of her little Grace.  She’d never seen her stand up to her grandmother that way before.

“Getting a good look.”  Andrew snuck up behind her.

“Oh!  Mr. Aundine. I’m so sorry.”  Sophia composed herself.  “I don’t have an excuse for myself.”

“Nothing to apologize for.”  Andrew reassured her.  “You’re just watching out for our best interest, aren’t you?”  He smiled. 

He had such a warm smile.  Sophia always thought it was such a shame he didn’t have anyone to love him the way he deserved. 

“Yes, sir.”  She backed away from the door, letting it swing back in place before turning back to Andrew.  “May I be frank, sir?”

“Yes, but please call me Andrew.  I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that.” 

Sophia chuckled.  “Mrs. Aundine would have my head.”

He chuckled in return.  “You’re probably right.  You were saying?”

“Grace is growing into her own person.  And pretty soon Ms. Lilah won’t be controlling her like she wants to.”

Andrew sighed.  “I sure hope so.  Grace is stronger than she knows.  She was just so young and so lost when she came to us.” 

“I remember.  She and Anne weren’t allowed to speak of Elizabeth or their father … those poor things.  Except they’d confide in me sometimes.”  Sophia smiled in remembrance.  “I’d catch them late at night, raiding the refrigerator.” 

She saw Andrew’s look of confusion and continued. 

There was sadness in her eyes.  “The girls had nightmares … from losing Elizabeth … and couldn’t sleep.  So Anne would bring Grace down to eat my chocolate cake.  I baked it weekly because the girls loved it so much.” 

“I never knew.”  Andrew stared out the window.

“And now, I’m afraid your wife is pushing someone on her that isn’t right for her.  There’s something not right about that boy.  I’m sorry.  That’s not my place.”  Sophia looked to her feet.

Andrew cracked the door and saw the two in question conspiring.  Zach’s head was close, listening to whatever Lilah was speaking of. 

“Sophia.  I’m not a fan either.  I’m going to have a talk with my wife.  Not that it will do a lot of good.”  He sighed and pulled back into the kitchen. 

Andrew smiled sadly and nodded to Sophie, saying, “Thanks for always having their best interest at heart.  I’m glad someone does around here.” 

He felt the bitterness for his wife bubble up in his heart, and turned to retire to his study.

Chapter 6

Zach pulled into his circle drive, as his cell phone started vibrating in his pocket.  He turned off his engine and reached for it.

“Hey ma.  What’s up?” He exited his car and took the stairs to his back deck, to watch the surf.  Before reclining in his patio lounger, he grabbed for a beer from his outdoor mini-fridge, which he kept fully stocked at all times.  It came in handy for parties or for times like this … when he needed to unwind.

Melanie Garret sighed and braced for the conversation that she’d been practicing for days. 

“I’m worried.  When are you coming home?”  She stressed.  “Ever since your dad died, it’s like you’ve been on some other plane, where I’m not sure how to reach you.  Why did you return to the one place, which was so miserable for us?” 

“Look we’ve gone over this a million times.  I needed to get back to my roots to be close to dad … in my own way.”  He lied and took a large swig of his Corona.

“You’re hiding something … I know you.  Listen, I know you didn’t have the most normal upbringing.  I know your dad wasn’t the happiest guy alive.  He wasn’t there in a lot of ways for either of us, but running back to his past won’t help.”

Zach seethed. “You don’t get it.  I couldn’t get his approval no matter how hard I tried.  Now that he’s gone … maybe … just maybe I can do something to win his approval without having to see the regret in his eyes afterward.”

“That doesn’t sound good. What are you up to?”  Melanie’s gut was twisting, as she listened to her son’s desperate tone.  He’d gone off the deep end after his father’s funeral last year, keeping mostly to himself.  Then one day, he unexpectedly packed up and moved back to the Hamptons without a word to anyone.

“Nothing.  I’m just living the life I was meant to have, mom.” 

“Well you should know - I’m putting the family home on the market.  We can’t afford it.  Your dad ran through most of his inheritance, and I need to sell it to keep afloat.” She dropped the news she’d been dreading, and heard nothing in return.  “Zach?  Did you hear me?  I have to sell the house.  It’s going on the market this week.  That means you can’t stay out there much longer.”

Zach’s heart dropped.  He drained his beer as his mind went into overdrive.  His pulse quickened as he searched he shoreline, desperate to find a solution to his problem.

It figured.  He was getting so close only to fail.  She couldn’t sell the house.  If she did … he’d never prove to his dad that he was worthy nor would he fulfill his biggest desire, which was to seek revenge on the Aundine’s.  It was their fault he’d lived a second hand citizenship his whole life … all because their precious Elizabeth broke his father’s heart.

Zach stood and smashed his beer bottle into a thousand pieces against the side of his house, sending beer and shattered glass in every direction.  He quickly shielded his eyes, and wiped his face free from the foam that soaked his skin.  His mother’s voice through the phone brought him back to the present.

“Hey – are you okay?  What was that?  Are you okay?  Did you hear what I said?”  Melanie tried to get her son to respond.

Zach stepped on broken glass and kicked some off his deck, sending it flying off into the sand below.  He mumbled into the phone, “Yeah, I heard.  I think it sucks.  I have a life here and you’re trying to ruin all my plans.  This is where I belong.  This is my destiny mom – and no one, not even you can take it from me!” 

Zach hit the off button and threw his phone into the sand below his deck.  He grabbed another beer, and leaned over his railing, admiring how far down it went. 

He thought he’d eventually marry Grace and make this their home.  He had thought of how she might accidentally trip and fall off its edge, tumbling toward the ground.  He smiled at the thought and then remembered his mother’s words…
selling the family home.

Zach turned to watch the families along the shoreline.  He’d have to come up with another plan.

Chapter 7

After a full day of lounging on the beach, Grace didn’t really care to go out.  She’d rather sit on the lanai with some guava juice, and watch the moon reflect over the water.  The light Hawaiian breeze blowing through her hair had enough of a calming effect that she was content to sit in solace all night.

But this weekend was all about appearances sake, so she went along with Zach’s insistence that they hit a local club in Waikiki.  So now, against her better judgment, she was stepping from a cab to hit the local nightlife.

Zach held his hand to the small of Grace’s back as he escorted her up the lighted escalator, which led to the club’s entrance.  There was a line, but he had called ahead and secured their spot on the VIP list, which guaranteed immediate access.

As his hand ran up her slinky backless dress, he thought the narrow curve of her back felt like velvet against his hand.  Zach licked his lips and thought maybe if he pushed a few drinks down her, she would allow him access to more.

As if she could read his mind, Grace slightly pulled away and sidestepped out of his reach as they moved toward the door.  Zach’s mouth tightened, but when she looked back toward him, he forced a smile. 

When will she let me in? Does she think I’m not good enough?

It wasn’t that Grace minded him touching her back or stroking her waist.  She didn’t.  It just didn’t do anything for her, and she didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.

Why not let him in?
She scolded herself.

Hard as she tried, she couldn’t answer nor could she feel on fire when he touched her.   Mercy had described in passionate detail what she felt for her fiancé, and it made her want nothing less.

And, what she had with Zach was … substantially less.  After this weekend, she knew she had to end it.

After a few hours of dancing and a few drinks, she was done.  Grace admired Zach for his tireless energy, but wondered how he always kept a smile on his face. 

Although he wasn’t ready to go, Zach conceded – after all it was what she wanted and his plan was to keep her happy.  Thankfully before they left, he was able to score some cocaine from a local dealer under Grace’s radar.  And as a result, he was animated and talkative the entire way back to their hotel, discussing random things in passing, like fast cars and running under the stars naked. 

Grace wasn’t sure how many times she had to push his hands away from her legs, but she was about to shove him across the cab if he didn’t slow down.  She shook her head, and was never more grateful she insisted on a hotel suite with adjoining rooms.  She just hoped she could escape to hers without incident.

This was the most time she’d spend with Zach to date, and if she was honest with herself she was kind of creeped out.  Back at the club, she noticed he had a wandering eye more than once when a pretty girl walked by.  And after a long disappearance to the bathroom, he came back agitated.  If she didn’t know any better, she’d have sworn he’d gotten high.

Grace grabbed his hand and held it to keep it from wandering other places.  Anyone from the outside would have assumed they were a couple, holding hands, under the stars.  To Grace, she was trying to keep Zach calm as they walked from the cab back into their hotel. 

As they entered the elevator, Zach reached for her face and closed the gap for an overly aggressive kiss.  He leaned against her, almost trapping her into the corner of the elevator.  She kissed him, as it’s something they’d done often at the end of a date … but this time it was different. 

He reached for the hem of her dress and forced it up.  She quickly pushed at his hands, trying to keep her underwear in tact.