Saving Grace #Wattys2016

Chapter Fifteen

Margot Robbie as Emmaline Hale

This was the happiest I had ever woken up. The sun was shining brightly when my mother came in already dressed.

"Grace, wake up; we're meeting everyone else in town in an hour." I jumped out of bed the minute she left the room and into the bathroom for a shower, going downstairs thirty minutes later.

"Morning." Danny looked up and grinned in his flannel shirt, jeans and sturdy boots. "Hey, Sis. Had a good rest?"

"Perfect, you? You're gonna need today." I asked while getting some of the pancakes on the stove.

"Yes I did." Was it me or did Danny seem happier than he was two days ago? Was him meeting the Hales the source of this new found happiness? Or maybe it was due to my happiness? Whatever it was, I was happy to see him happy. Even Mama ate with us in a happy mood. A mood I was happy to keep my family in.

"Alright guys, I said twelve so let's go." We actually rushed up the stairs to get our stuff and into the truck. The ride to Main Street took so much longer that it usually would. Maybe because I couldn't wait. When we get there, everyone jumped out the car. Danny walked over to the boys Jeep and shook hands, laughing and grinning.We walked to Hardy's car and he jumped out.

"Take care of it with your life." He held up the keys and dropped them in my hand of after kissing me.

"I get to drive?" I asked hopefully.

"Emma's in back with Mom and I'm not driving that speed demon." Olivia replied. "So you're the best person."

"Stay safe. Love you." Hardy kissed me once more and headed back to the boys. Danny came out of Maybelle's where he left his car keys with her and hopped in after Hardy.

"I guess I'm playing driver today." The girls still got in the car and we pulled out.

"Well missy, if I had a camera for these faces." I also looked out the window to all the shocked faces among us. I guess they all saw our little interaction a few minutes ago. The looks we got from regular people were enough but the look the police gave us was enough to stop the car cold. And to make it better, Donald, Hayden and Maria West were standing there with the same look. Maria gave me the look that said 'I can't believe she's driving my ex's car'. And Hayden, his look was just plain mad that I had Hardy. Oh well; he burned my brother's clubhouse so that was already several strikes against him. I didn't let him get in the way of my driving to Houston as us girls chatted and laughed down there.

"My God." Mama breathed, looking out the window to the Houston setting I had become familiar to. "I can't believe I had never been here."

"Yeah, I thought the same thing Hardy first took me." I told her. I finally gota space to park in and we all piled out. "So, what's first?"

"Food or shopping?" Olivia questioned.

"I am hungry." Emma patted her tummy.

"But those are some very nice shoes." Mama pointed at the window.

"Food to go?"

"Fair." Susan decided. "I want those too." We laughed while she pulled us in a chain consisting Olivia, Emma, me and Mama. Meanwhile, the boys were standing at the shore of Lake Craven.

"This is the life." Jack sighed, railing in a big fish.

"I remember my dad used to take me out here every Saturday when Mama and Grace went shopping. It was our 'men time'."

"Well now you got 'group men time.'" Sam corrected. They chuckled and looked back to the serene lake in front.

"It was amazing how we found this." Jack laughed. "Donald and I were driving the countryside and the damn car broke down. There, we found this beauty."

"How did you meet Donald anyways?" Danny also pulled a big one.

"We went to elementary school together. And other mothers knew each other like everyone in this town. Even though we don't follow the same.....paths, he's still a good man. So is Hayden." Hardy made a sound almost like a growl.

"You don't like Hayden?" Danny couldn't hide his amusement. "I used to. 'Till he started circling 'round the wrong girl. In case he can't see properly, Grace is mine. No snooping allowed." He finished then turned to Danny. "Sorry, I'm just really protective of your sister. I love her....a lot."

"I see that." He nodded. "As she loves you too, believe it or not. If she'sfighting me for you, you must be very important."

"Wow." Hardy grinned bright. "That's best thing I've ever heard."

We all meet up at Hardy's house since it was the closet and had enough room to fit us all. Thankfully, we were all dressed good enough to have a picnic in the backyard.

"And....viola!" Mama took off her borrowed apron in the Hales huge kitchen. "That's how you make my pork chops."

"Abby, you're an angel." Susan smiled.

"Alright everyone, outside!" Olivia hollered while us girls carried the foodout. As usual, Hardy pulled me back and wrapped his arms around me.

"Hardison." I cried. "Stop."

"No." He smiled and confined to a kiss and did a number of pleasures on my neck. "Right now, I wanna take you up to my room, lock the door and make sure you never wanna get out."

"Don't tempt." I groaned. I was actually wanting him to not give me a choice, to lift me up on his arms and carry me up the stairs but James's blonde head stuck back inside the door.

"Hardy, come on." He yelled then disappeared again.

"Later." He whispered. "We'll finish this later." Nodding was the only thing Iseemed capable of doing at the time so that was my answer. He pulled me out to the sunny backyard. The girls were placing bowls on the table while the boys with beers were going through the highlights of their day. Hardy sat and pulled me down onto his lap. My brother's eyebrow furred for a second but he recovered.Mama smiled wagging her finger at him. Everything seemed so perfect.Until the gunshots rang.