𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 53: Champagne Problems

Grace watched as the Twinkie sped down the road. Shrinking further and further into the distance. She ran her hands through her tangled hair. "Shit!"

Grace glanced between the house and the road in front of her before pulling out her phone. She opened her contacts and stared down at Kie's number. She couldn't call her. Kie had already risked so much for them. To ask this of her when her parents were already losing it would be too much. But then again, what other option did she have?

Grace moved her finger over the call button while sighing heavily. She almost jumped out of her skin when her phone rang before she could press Kie's name.

'Rick is calling'

Grace's brows furrowed. She hadn't seen or spoken to him since before she left for Nassau. What the hell did he want?

She took a deep breath before answering the call.

"Hello?"

"Grace! Shit! Where are you?"

Grace was caught off guard by his urgent tone.

"Um... I-"

Rick was quick to cut her off, "You're not with Rose, right?"

Grace's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Uh, no. What's going on? Why are you freaking out?" Did he know what Rose and Rafe were up to? Did he know where Sarah was headed?

"I picked up a job at the shipping docks after you left. It was a wakeup call that I really needed. I'm so sorry but we don't have time for that right now," Rick rushed out. One thing caught Grace's attention. He wasn't slurring his words. He was forming coherent sentences and thoughts. He was sober. 

"The other day, I overheard Rose talking to my boss. Something about her name being removed from the passenger list. She wants to get off the island and take you, Sarah, Rafe and Wheezie with her. Her car just got here. I needed to be sure that you weren't in it."

Grace's brain was buzzing. Desperately trying to focus on his quick explanation while processing the fact that he seemed better. He was talking like he did before her mom died. He sounded stressed of course, but his tone, his words, the way he was speaking to her. It was all so familiar.

"I'm not in it but Sarah is. Rick, I need to get to her," Grace spoke into her phone.

"Where are you, kid?"

Grace glanced at the house. "Tannyhill."

To her surprise Rick didn't ask any follow up questions. "I'll be there in 10, stay where you are."

He hung up.

Grace sat down on the curb, trying to sift through her mess of a brain. So much had happened in the last hour. She needed to process it all.

She reached into her back pocket to pull out the engagement ring she had found. She fiddled with it between her fingers before pulling out the piece of paper. She unfolded it to reveal a hand written letter. With nothing to do while she waited and a mind in desperate need of a distraction, she read.

November 15, 2002.

Dear, Rebekah,

I feel like a terrible person but I love you. More than I love my own wife. I want to risk it. I've never been one for taking the easy way out, you know that. I just can't understand why you refuse to see what I see. We could have it all. I'll leave her. Me and you, we can raise Rafe together as if he was yours. I want to be there for you and the baby. I don't care what everyone says, I just want to be with you.