After securing Aubrey in the car seat, Grace slipped in while her mother
took the wheel.
"Go, go, go! Go, fast, Gramma," Aubrey demanded. Carol flushed when
Grace cocked a brow.
"You've been speeding again, haven't you?"
"I know these roads like the back of my hand, and I haven't had a single
ticket in my life."
"Because the cops can't catch you." With a laugh, Grace strapped herself
in.
"When do the newly weds get home?" Not only did Carol want to know, she
preferred to have the conversation veer away from her notoriously heavy
foot.
"I think they're due in about eight tonight. I just want to give the
house a buff, maybe put something on for dinner in case they're hungry
when they get here."
"I imagine Cam's wife'll appreciate it. What a beautiful bride she was.
I've never seen lovelier. Where she managed to get that dress when the
boy gave her so little time to plan a wedding, I don't know."
"Seth said she went to D.C. for it, and the veil was her grandmother's."
"That's fine. I have my wedding veil put aside. I always imagined how
pretty it would look on you on your wedding day." She stopped, and could
cheerfully have bitten her tongue.
"It would have looked a little out of place in the county courthouse."
Carol sighed as she pulled into the Quinns' driveway. "Well, you'll wear
it next time."
"I'll never get married again. I'm not good at it." While her mother
gaped at the statement, Grace climbed quickly out of the car, then
leaned in the window and kissed Aubrey soundly. "You be a good girl, you
hear?
And don't let Grandma feed you too much candy."
"Gramma has chocolate."
"Don't I know it! Bye, baby. Bye, Mama. Thanks."
"Gracea" What could she say? "You, ah, you just call when you're done
here and I'll come by and pick you up."
"We'll see. Don't let her run you ragged," Grace added and hurried up
the steps.
She knew she'd timed it well. Everyone would be at the boatyard working.
She was determined not to feel awkward about what had happened the night
before last. But she did--she felt miserably awkward and she wanted time
to settle before she had to face Ethan again.
This was a home that always felt warm and welcoming. Caring for it
soothed her. Because she knew that a large part of her motivation for
working on it that afternoon was self-serving, she put more effort into
the job. The results would be the same, wouldn't they, she thought
guiltily as she ran the old buffer over the hardwood floors to make the
wax gleam. Anna would come home to a spotless house, with the scents of
fresh flowers, polish, and potpourri perfuming the air.
A woman shouldn't have to come home from her honeymoon to dust and
clutter. And God knew the Quinn men generated plenty of both.
She was needed here, damn it. All she was doing was proving it.