Gracie stepped forward, her face the picture of the very word she was named for…grace.
“It’s okay, Marshall,” she said. “Take Bianca and the kids. They’d hate to be separated tonight. I’ll drive with Red in the Sugarfall van.”
Marshall looked pained. “Gracie, no. Absolutely not.”
Bianca perked up, smug as a cat under a heat lamp. “Now, there’s a plan.”
“No, truly,” Gracie insisted, hiding her hurt like a pro. “You take the kids.” Her voice lowered. “It’s her Christmas Eve, Marshall. It’s fine.”
Red could see it wasn’t fine at all.
Marshall tried again. “Gracie?—”
“I’ll follow behind,” she said, already turning. “See you there!”
Bianca practically floated into the truck, tossing her hair and trilling on about getting the right picture.
Gracie pasted on a smile that fooled absolutely no one as she and Red walked to the van.
The good news, Red decided as he pulled on a seatbelt—besides not being stuck with Bertie—was a chance to talk to Gracie alone and honestly.
They pulled away from the lodge, a light snow swirling in the van’s headlights.
For a full minute, Gracie said nothing, just stared straight ahead, her jaw set.
Red finally broke the silence. “You okay, kiddo?”
“No,” she said bluntly. “I mean…yes. I mean…ugh. Grandpa, I’m crazy about that man and he, well…”
“It goes both ways,” Red said simply. “A blind man could see how he feels about you.”
She sighed and gave a wistful smile. “I think you’re right. And he did want to spend this holiday together to see how serious this relationship could be. But that was when he thought Olivia would be in California with Bianca and we’d have some real quality time.” Her voice cracked. “Then Bianca blows in like a blizzard and we are…hijacked.”
Red made a sympathetic grunt. “She’s truly a pest who won’t go away.”
Gracie moaned. “I’m trying so hard to respect that she’s Olivia’s mother—Ireallyam. But shebulldozesover everyone and everything.”
Red stared out the windshield, debating what and how to tell his tale. His stomach twisted.
Gracie glanced over. “You’re quiet. That’s never good.”
He grunted. “I’m thinking.”
“About what?” she pressed. “Red? Are you all right? Do you feel sick or…”
He rubbed his hands on his thighs. “I’m fine. But, I gotta tell you something, and you’re gonna think…” He huffed out a breath. “I don’t know what you’re going to think, but if I don’t tell you, I’ll go crazy.”
“Red.” Her voice dripped with sympathy and worry. “You can tell me anything. You know that.”
He shifted and pulled the blasted seatbelt off his chest, wishing for the days when those things were optional. “I overheard something weird the other day.”
She frowned, waiting.
He sighed dramatically. “Because I was, uh, hiding in Bianca’s cabin.”
Gracie nearly swerved. “Excuse me?”
He threw both hands up. “Not on purpose! I ducked in because I was escaping Basic Training with Bertie. I literally hid from her in the first available place—moments before you and Bianca entered the cabin. I was in the hall bathroom.”
