Mom shoots me a look and I give her a sympathetic smile. “It’s really not so bad,” I tell Gretchen. “Stacy, go and get the curling iron.”
Stacy gets up and returns a moment later with her curler. I get to work on Gretchen’s hair, much to her disgust. An hour later I’m done. I step back and smile, I’m impressed. I’ve always been good with tools and equipment. I guess that extends to beauty equipment, too. Her hair now has soft curls at the top instead of a strawy mess.
“Wow,” Mom says. “That actually looks really good.”
“Show me!” Gretchen cries.
Stacy takes a photo with her phone and shows Gretchen. “Well, Grace, you might just have some of our blood in you after all.”
Another smile. Yes, things are definitely better in my world.
Epilogue
“Can I open my eyes?”
“No.”
“Raide!”
“Hush up, woman.”
Raide’s hands are on my shoulders and he’s leading me up the trail where we had our first date, the one near his cabin. We’re up here for the weekend, it has become our thing since we started officially dating. If it wasn’t for my job, I could easily lock myself up here with Raide and never, ever leave.
“Did you buy burgers again?”
He chuckles and slaps my bottom. “Be quiet.”
“Seriously, you’re freaking me out. Are you going to throw me off the cliff?”
“Tempted.”
I laugh and he chuckles, low and sexy. “Right, stand here and don’t fuckin’ move.”
“Swearing is not very romantic.”
He snorts and I hear him shuffling around. After a moment, he takes my shoulders and moves me again. He takes me to another stop. Then he reaches up and takes my blindfold off. I stare at the scene in front of me, and my heart melts. I can tell the effort he’s put in this time, because it looks amazing.
There’s a table for two set up under the stars. Candles and roses are perfectly placed on the top, and the chairs even have their own decorative covers. There are plates covered in silver lids and wine chilling in a bucket beside it. Soft music plays in the background.
My heart melts all over again and I turn to Raide, throwing my arms around his neck. “You did all this?” I breathe.
“Yeah,” he murmurs, looking down at me. “You told me you wanted a romantic date, I’m doin’ it.”
I beam. “I think I love you, Raide Knox.”
“Baby, I know you do.”
I chuckle as he leads me to the table. He sits me down and lifts the lids off our meal. No burgers this time; instead, he’s got steak topped with mushrooms, served with green beans and potato. Yum. He sits and I smile across the table at him, completely blown away.
“Stop smiling at me like that,” he says.
I try. I can’t wipe it from my face. “It’s impossible—you’re too sweet.”
He huffs. “Eat your damned dinner, lady.”
With a grin, I dig in. When we’re finished and we’ve shared a good deal of laughs and wine, Raide stands and stretches his hand out to me. I stand, too, and let myself fall into his arms. I love being here. He’s so strong, so powerful, he makes me feel so safe. He twirls me out and back in, and I laugh loudly. “Raide, you know how to dance!”
Again, he chuckles. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“I think there’s a secret romantic side to you.”
He scoffs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I smile and reach up, cupping his cheek. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
His eyes crinkle and he spins me out again. I let my body go, and twirl back into him. Then, I let him go and find the music, switching it off. He tilts his head to the side and studies me. “What’d you do that for?”
I lean in close, pressing my cheek to his chest and closing my eyes. Raide is everything I need. He might have come from a twisted situation, but he’s found a way to complete me. I don’t want him to pretend. I want him just as he is. A man who steals flowers from his friends’ garden, serves me burgers and shakes, and dances with no music because he can see beauty without it.
“There’s this guy,” I say softly, “and he once told me you don’t need music to enjoy something beautiful.”
“There’s beauty in everything, lady. You just gotta be willing to see it.”
He’s right.
There’s beauty even in the things you can’t see or hear. You just have to open yourself up and let it in.
I’m letting it in.
*
I stare down at the gorgeous headstone. Raide’s hand is clutched in mine and he’s squeezing hard. I read the inscription and my heart aches.
HERE LIES KELLY KNOX, BELOVED SISTER AND FRIEND. TAKEN TOO EARLY. FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS.
Raide places a flower down, and a soft drizzle begins to fall, landing over us and making me shiver. I want to be here, though. I need to be here. Kelly will never be a part of my life, but she was a massive part of his, and he lost her. He deserves this and so does she.
“Do you come and visit her much?” I whisper, still staring down at his sister’s grave.
“Not nearly enough.”
I squeeze his hand. “We’re here now. Tell her what you’re holding on your chest, Raide.”