Grace (The Family Simon Book 5) (25 page)

Hell, he didn’t know where to start.

He walked into the bungalow that his father had called home for well over a decade—a house whose threshold he’d never been allowed to cross—and watched Justin head to his room. The door slammed shut, a sad echo in an empty, quiet home.

What the hell was he going to do with this kid?

He stood there in the half light for a good long while and then took off his jacket as he headed down the hall. Matt paused in front of Justin’s door and knocked. “I saw eggs in the fridge. You feel like an omelette?”

He waited, bunching his jacket up in his hands and was finally rewarded with a muffled, ‘yes.’

It wasn’t much. But it was a start.

31

G
race was only in Nashville long enough to gather up her clothes and anything else she might need before heading to New York City. Tucker and Abby had left for the south of France directly after Thanksgiving, and their apartment was hers for the time being.

With only a few weeks until the Christmas Eve gala, she had a ton of work to do, and right now she needed all the distraction she could get. Working from the Simon Foundation office in Manhattan certainly helped. There were always people about, crises to deal with and by the time she got home at night, she was exhausted.

She knew Matt’s father had passed—Betty Jo had called with the news—but that was two weeks ago and she hadn’t heard one word from Matt. She thought that she’d be angry and upset. But all she felt was sad and empty and kind of lost.

With a sigh, Grace glanced out her office window at the spectacular view of Central Park. It was 4:30 in the afternoon and the sky was full of heavy clouds. With evening fast approaching, lights twinkled, reflecting off the snow-topped trees. It was beautiful, a scene that usually brought a smile to her face but tonight it did nothing for her.

Good job she’d worn a green sweater today because she was without a doubt, no better than the Grinch.

The door to her office opened and she smiled for the first time in days as a tall, handsome man walked through. “Cooper! I didn’t know you were in New York City.”

He gave her a hug. “I’m only here overnight. Heading out to New England until after the holidays. Thought you could use some cheering up.”

Her smile faltered. Wow. Did everyone know her sad, pathetic little secret?

“Mom put you up to this.”

Cooper grabbed her jacket and tossed it to her. “She might have mentioned that you could use some fun.”

Fun. “I don’t even know what that means anymore.”

“Then I’m sure as hell glad I stopped by.” He winked. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Cooper Simon had more charm in his little pinky than most men managed to acquire in a lifetime. There was no way she could resist.

“Okay.” She reached for her navy blue trench. “But I might be a drag. Just saying.”

They headed over to The Black Dog, a pub not far from Times Square, one owned by Abby Mathews, Tucker’s wife’s family. Her oldest brother Mitch was behind the bar and he greeted Cooper with a hearty handshake and Grace with a big hug.

“I guess you’ve heard the news?” Mitch said with a smile as he filled a large mug of dark ale for Cooper.

“I was just about to tell Grace.”

Grace looked at Cooper and then back to Mitch. Something was up.

“What’s going on?”

Mitch handed her a blue cocktail—something called a Jack Frost—and then said he’d let Cooper spill. She followed her cousin over to a booth in the corner and once they were settled, she arched an eyebrow and waited.

“You know how Abby and Tucker have been trying for a kid, right?”

She nodded slowly. “I knew there were problems. Tucker told me she’d had a miscarriage in the spring.”

“She’s had several miscarriages, all within a few weeks of getting pregnant. I don’t know the details but she had a procedure last summer and she’s just made it through her first trimester. I don’t think she’s out of the woods yet, but it’s a big win for them.”

“That’s amazing.” Grace was thrilled. No wonder Abby had been so quiet up north. A frown quickly stole her smile. “How long have you known?”

Cooper set his mug down. “A week I guess.”

“And I’m just finding out now?” Okay. Grace had never been the overly emotional type, but what the hell? Why was she the last to know? And why were there tears pricking the corners of her damn eyes? Again?

“Tucker called you, darlin’. He said you didn’t get back to him and asked me to let you know.”

Right. He’d called a few days earlier and she’d been so busy she forgot.

“Oh, sorry. He did call,” she admitted, taking a sip from Jack Frost.

Cooper’s eyes saw too much and she glanced away. Her gaze landed on a couple a few tables over. They were smack dab in the middle of a very busy and very loud pub, yet the two of them were so caught up in each other Grace bet they wouldn’t know if a freaking earthquake ripped The Black Dog in two.

The man held her hand, gently stroking his fingers across her knuckles and he leaned forward, kissing her on the cheek and smiling into her face. It was an intimate moment and Grace felt as if she should look away…yet she couldn’t.

“You want to talk about it?” Cooper asked quietly.

She shook her head and sighed, turning back to her cocktail. “No.”

“Okay. But can I just give you a little piece of advice?”

Grace’s head jerked up and she looked at her cousin in disbelief. “Don’t take this the wrong way Coop, but you’re the last person I’d expect to give any kind of relationship advice I’d actually listen to.”

Cooper took another sip of ale. “I know my track record sucks.”

“Sucks? You’ve never been in a serious relationship, at least not that I’m aware of. It’s not a secret. Everybody knows that.”

Grace fell silent, and she studied her cousin. He looked serious. Dead serious. There was something in his eyes that told her things were a hell of a lot more complicated than what she knew.

“Some people are better at hiding their scars but that doesn’t mean they hurt any less. Doesn’t mean they don’t cut just as deep. What it means is that some of us take longer to deal with stuff. And if you know someone like that…”

His meaning was clear and Grace’s eyes dropped.

“You might need to decide whether they’re worth the wait. Whether the pain they caused is worth the wait. And if they are, and if it is, you’ve got to be patient.”

Grace grabbed her straw and swirled the electric blue drink around the glass. She took a sip and settled back into her chair, watching her cousin closely.

“You started out saying some people and then you said, some of us.” Cooper didn’t look away. “You said some of us take longer to deal with stuff. Are you still dealing with…stuff?”

Cooper glanced away. He caught sight of the couple, still caught up in each other. And then he grabbed his mug and held it up. “I am. Maybe one day I’ll find someone who’s patient enough to deal with my shit.” He took a good, long drink and Grace did the same. “Maybe I won’t.”

Grace finished her drink. “I hope you do,” she said softly, reaching across to squeeze his hand.

He didn’t reply. He ordered another round and the two of them fell into an animated discussion about the gala. He had some great ideas and she was sad to learn he’d be unable to attend.

“I didn’t know you had a place in New England.”

“No?” Cooper grinned. “That’s good. It’s a secret, so don’t go spreading it around.”

She frowned. “You’re not staying with Maverick?”

“Nah. My place is just outside of the town he lives in. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be with family for the holidays.” He paused. “What about you? What are you plans?”

“I’ve got the gala on Christmas eve. Betty Jo and Beau are going to be there and so will Mom and Dad, at least for a while. They’re leaving just before midnight for the south of France to join Tucker and Abby.”

“You’re not going?”

She shook her head. “No. Wasn’t feeling it. I told Mom I’d be with Betty and Beau—they’re heading back to Michigan, but the truth is I’m staying put. Matt will be in New Waterford and I’m not sure I could handle seeing him just yet.” She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t tell Mom because she won’t let it go and I’d rather be alone than stuck with a bunch of people who are in love and complete and, ugh, nauseatingly happy.”

“I get it. I won’t say a thing.”

Cooper kept Grace’s mind off of the sad state of her personal life for the rest of the evening, and it was nearly eleven when his cab dropped her off at her brother’s apartment building. She hugged her cousin fiercely.

“Thanks,” she whispered. “I needed that.”

Cooper kissed her forehead and then gazed down at her. “I don’t know what Matt Hawkins’ deal is. But I do know that he’s got to be a decent guy or Betty Jo would never give him the time of day. Now, knowing that doesn’t change the fact that he might not ever get his shit together. He might not ever deal with whatever it is that’s got him spooked. And that’s not on you. That’s on him. Got it?”

She nodded. “Have a great Christmas, Coop, and tell Rick I said hello.”

She watched the car until it disappeared and then headed into the building. The doorman, Davis, gave her a big smile and a wave and for the first time in days she answered in kind.

She entered her brother’s apartment and wandered through the silent rooms until she stopped at the large window overlooking Central Park. She pressed her heated cheeks against the cool glass and stared down into the darkness, wondering where Matt was. What he was doing? Was he happy? Or was he as miserable as she was?

Christmas lights twinkled from below and she squeezed her eyes shut. What was that she heard? Grace held her breath and concentrated. Music? Someone singing?

She listened carefully and a slow smile spread across her face as she began to hum along. It must be coming from the apartment next door.

I’ll be home for Christmas...

The words sank in. Their
meaning
sank in. And with a start, she jerked back from the glass. What the hell was she doing? She thought back to her mother’s words and felt a jolt of electricity roll through her. No way was Grace going to let Matt dictate her actions. She had some things to say and he was going to listen. Even if she had to tie him down and stick a damn cloth in his mouth.

She knew what she needed to do and it didn’t involve any kind of waiting. She’d get through the gala and head to Michigan with her brother Beau and Betty Jo.

Grace smiled as a surge of the old fire hit her square in the gut. She smiled and hummed a few more bars of the Christmas song.

I’ll be home for Christmas.

She was done waiting. Done being sad and miserable. Life was too short for that kind of apathy.

You can plan on me….

Matt Hawkins wouldn’t know what hit him.

32

M
att brought Justin back to New Waterford right after their father’s funeral. Delilah had been MIA for days until she showed up just in time for the wake. She’d proceeded to get shitfaced drunk and after being inappropriate to several members of his father’s squad, Matt asked her to leave.

She was primed to make a scene but all Matt had to do was mention the fact that she’d abandoned a minor, and he had no problem reporting her to the cop who, only moments earlier, she’d been all over.

“You can’t do that,” she’d spat. But he saw the fear in her eyes.

“Don’t push me.” Matt spied Justin a few feet away. The kid looked so damn lost and angry. “He’s coming back to New Waterford with me.”

She never batted an eye. Hell, she put up no fight whatsoever and now, weeks later, Matt was pretty damn sure it had been her plan all along. The estate was a mess—turns out she had a bit of a gambling problem and Nevada had become her best friend—but he was dealing with it.

Funny how things worked out. Less than two months ago, he’d been alone. Minding his own business, restoring his cars for the clients who paid him well to do so. Playing hockey on Friday nights, hanging with the boys, and occasionally getting busy with whatever woman caught his eyes.

Now look at him.

He had a dog and a kid living in his house. And hell, Dory was here every other night for dinner. All he needed to complete this picture of domestic bliss was…

All he needed was Grace.

“Shit,” he muttered, yanking on his hand and freeing it from under the carburetor he’d been working on. It was bleeding and he swore as he headed over to the sink.

Justin watched him from across the room. The kid had taken to cars like a fish to water and for the past several days, he’d been working on an engine rebuild. Justin had a lot of issues, and most of the time getting the kid to speak was like pulling teeth. But when the two of them were out here, working on the cars, it seemed easier.

“Who’s Grace?” Justin asked, turning back to the engine.

“Huh?” Matt grabbed a towel and leaned against the sink.

“You just swore a blue streak and said the name Grace, like two times. I just wondered who she is.”

“Grace Simon is...”

Justin’s head whipped up so fast Matt was surprised it didn’t snap. He saw the wheels turning—the kid was smart.

“Grace Simon? Like Beau Simon’s sister?” Justin was still amazed that Betty Jo Barker was his best friend, and the fact that she was married to the Hollywood superstar was a bonus.

Matt scooped up a bandage from under the sink. “Yes. That would be the one.”

“She’s hot. Those Kardashian chicks have nothing on her.”

Matt had to agree with Justin there.

“How well do you know her?”

Matt stared down at the blood across his knuckles. “I know her pretty well,” he finally said.

“How well?”

The blood now spilled between his fingers and he watched as a few drops fell to the ground. His chest was tight and all those old feelings came back with a vengeance. Had he really thought to keep them supressed? Was he that dumb?

“I know her well enough to miss her more than I’ve ever missed anyone.”

“So she’s like your girlfriend?” Awe clung to Justin’s words and Matt glanced up at him.