Gracie let out a stunned exhale.
“Olivia and I are happy here. We’re building a life. And I’ve met someone very, very special.”
The blood thumped too hard in Gracie’s ears for her to hear Bianca’s response—but she didn’t need to. What she said didn’t matter. But Marshall?Thatmattered.
“The truth is,” he continued. “I’m falling in love.”
Gracie’s knees nearly buckled. She grabbed a nearby branch for balance and felt tears sting her eyes while a clump of snow meandered down her wrist, icy and frozen.
“In love?” Bianca sputtered. “With…with that redheaded bakery girl?”
Gracie fought a laugh that she heard Marshall let out.
“If you mean Gracie McBride, yes,” he said, his voice warm and proud.
“She’s not in your league,” Bianca scoffed.
“She’s way beyond it,” he fired back.
“What could you possibly see in her? She’s scared of her own shadow, blushes if you look sideways, and never fights for you. Have you noticed?”
He laughed again. “Have I noticed that she’s classy, sensitive, and puts other people first? Yes.” He paused, emotion thickening his voice. “I’ve noticed that she’s an incredible mother and a successful business owner and a loving daughter and…and…beautiful inside and out.”
Gracie didn’t know whether to faint with happiness or hold still and listen to the next heartfelt compliment. He really saw her like that?
“And I plan to spend the rest of my life with her,” he said, his sweet words floating on the cold air right into her heart. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”
She absolutely couldn’t breathe.
“By this time next year, I hope we’ll be engaged if not already married.”
A tiny, involuntary sound escaped Gracie’s throat as she stumbled backwards, a twig snapping under her boot.
Bianca shrieked and jumped behind Marshall. “It’s the bear! It’s back!”
Marshall gently peeled her off. “Bianca. There is no bear.”
He frowned and peered into the darkness, where Gracie froze, lungs locked.
If he saw her here—eavesdropping—she’d die on the spot. So much for classy and beautiful. How about meddlesome and insecure?
Gracie stayed rooted in the shadows, silent and still.
Bianca stomped her foot. “You can’t do this to me!” she cried. “I need you! I’m pregnant!”
Marshall jerked backwards. “What?”
“I am but I want you to be the father!”
He choked a laugh. “Well, I’m not and you know it.” He shook his head. “At least now I know your secret agenda.”
“It could work, Marshall. It could?—”
“No, Bianca. You need someone else, but it’s not me. It’ll never be me. But I’m praying for you and will always be there if you need something, but it won’t be my life or heart. Is that clear?”
Red was right! Gracie pressed her hand to her chest, watching Bianca take a few steps backwards and hold up her hands in surrender.
“You know what? You’re right. I should go. In fact, I should leave altogether.”
