Faithful Horizons

Chapter 30: Reunion

The streetlights glowed faintly against the quiet evening as Ethan parked his car in front of Grace's house. His knuckles tightened on the steering wheel as he sat there for a moment, staring at the porch light that spilled warmth onto the front steps.

He'd replayed the events of the night a dozen times already - the way he'd stood up for Grace, the look of surprise and gratitude in her eyes, and the whispered "thank you" that lingered in his mind.

It wasn't the confrontation with Josh that stuck with him. It was the way Grace had looked at him afterward like she saw something in him that he hadn't fully seen in himself.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan grabbed the flowers he'd picked up on the way over - a simple bouquet of daisies and lavender - and stepped out of the car.

Diana opened the door, her expression lighting up when she saw him.

"Ethan," she said warmly. "This is a nice surprise."

"Hi, Mrs. Harper," Ethan said, his voice a little tight. "Is Grace home?"

Diana's smile softened. "She is. Let me get her."

Ethan waited on the porch, shifting nervously as Diana disappeared down the hallway. Moments later, Grace appeared in the doorway, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail and her expression curious.

"Ethan," she said, stepping outside and pulling the door shut behind her. "What are doing here?"

Ethan held out the flowers, his cheeks flushing slightly. "These are for you."

Grace blinked, her mouth opening slightly in surprise before she took the bouquet with a soft laugh. "Thank you. They're beautiful."

Ethan shoved his hands into his pockets, his gaze dropping for a moment. "I just... I wanted to talk to you. About tonight."

Grace tilted her head, her smile fading slightly. "You didn't have to do what you did, you know."

"Yes, I did," Ethan said firmly, meeting her eyes. "Grace, you've done so much for me. You've stood by me, and believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. I couldn't just stand there and let them treat you like that. You didn't deserve it."

Grace's expression softened, her fingers tightening around the stems of the flowers. "I know you were trying to help, Ethan. And I appreciate it more than I can say. But..." She hesitated, her voice growing quieter. "I don't want you to feel like you have to protect me all the time."

Ethan frowned slightly. "I don't think I have to. I just want to. You mean so much to me, Grace. And not just because of everything you've done for me, but because of who you are."

Her cheeks flushed, her lips curving into a small, shy smile. "Ethan..."

"I mean it," he said, stepping closer. "You've changed my life in ways I can't even explain. And I know I still have a long way to go, but I want to be the kind of person who stands by you - like you've stood by me."

Grace looked up at him, her eyes glistening. For a moment, the only sound was the faint chirping of crickets in the distance.

"You already are," she said softly.

Ethan's breath caught as her words sank in, and without thinking, he reached for her hand.

Her fingers curled around his, and she smiled, her voice quiet but steady. "You've grown so much, Ethan. And I'm so proud of you."

He swallowed hard, his chest tightening with a mix of emotions - gratitude, relief, and a quiet, steady joy.

"Thank you," he whispered. "For everything."

Grace stepped closer, her free hand resting lightly on his arm. "I think we make a pretty good team."

Ethan chuckled softly, his thumb brushing over her hand. "Yeah. I think we do."

A/N:

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