Saving Grace #Wattys2016

Chapter Twenty Six

Maria sat tapping her perfectly manicured nails on the steering wheel of the Jaguar she parked in front of the Stewart residence, waiting for something to happen. Two seconds later, she saw Daniel's truck pull in and that chick he married opening the front door. She seemed overly happy about something 'cause she couldn't stop jumping while telling her husband the supposedly good news.

His facial expression made her wish she knew what they were talking about but they went inside. Thirty minutes later, the beaming couple came out, suitcase in each person's hands, before tossing them in the back seats and pulling out the driveway.

  "Hey," She said to the voice who picked up the phone. "Something weird just happened; our lovely couple just packed their weekenders and drove off into the sunset."

  "So they just up and left?"

  "Yep."

 "They just made our plans much easier."

   "What plan? Not everyone pulled me into our group meetings." As the caller explained the plan, Maria's smile grew more wicked until she pulled the car away from the curb. "I hope you have a wonderful time wherever you are, Grace, 'cause you won't back here."

The last rumble of the early morning thunderstorm, meant it was safe to come out of the crock of Hardy's arm while he snores like a freight train. One thing I learned about him was that he might have spelt like a bear but I soon as I moved, his eyes would pop open like someone tried to take his teddy bear away.

This time, I move like a ninja and almost broke my ankle but he needed his sleep after all the work he did last night trying to get himself ready for work in San Fran. I still moved light on my feet to the bathroom and turned the water faucet on low to get ready for the day. Walking back into the room, I could see Hardy was already up and on the phone talking about what looked like business. I made a detour into the closet and pulled out an airy cover up and my bathing suit, coming back to find him off the phone with a massive smile on his face.

  "Now I know something's wrong." I joked as he placed me in his lap. "What part of business required you to talk about measurements?"

  "You heard that?" Hardy looked surprised. "I was ordering something for......Emma. Yeah, she wanted this dress and I was just getting it fitted." Now, Hardy doesn't lie to me but I already knew the way he would like. Blue eyes dashing around, stuttering and nervousness that wasn't natural with him.

  "Never mind it though, lets hit the beach; we still have to teach you how to actually get out on the waves and standing. And that same time."

  "Shut up." I sacked him and changed, forgetting about everything else.

Two hours later, I met Anna at the entrance of the Cove in a smooth blue Volvo C70 while Hardy handed more business upstairs.

  "What a wonderful dress." She complimented me as I swooped in and closed door before she set off for the city.

  "Thank you, and thanks for taking me out today, you saved me from another surfing lesson."

  "I'd go cliff diving if my teacher that looked like yours." We both shared a laugh. I knew I would get along good with her. "So I wonder why I'm dropping you off at the city's best saloon today."

  "Knowing Hardy, we're going to some gala or something."

  "Possibly." Anna grinned; she knew exactly what's was going on. Hell, she even planned it and it looked fabulous if she said so herself. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be amazing. He seems to be very much in love with you." She replied as they pulled into a parking space in front of a salon that radiated richness and said a name I wouldn't dare try to pronounce. "Now, I'm only here purely as supervision. And to get my roots touched up by the greatest stylist ever. Macie works magic." The stunning redhead looked up at the sound of her name and beamed at us.