Her phone vibrated in her pocket as she walked into the kitchen to feed Lily. She pulled it out to find a text from Damon’s Mom.
Charity:It's your day off tomorrow, isn't it?
Grace:Yes.
Charity:Would you like to drive Damon to his appointment in Richland tomorrow?
Grace was so surprised she nearly dropped her phone.
Would I?
She'd been hoping for an opportunity to talk to Damon, not that she knew what to say to him. Mostly she just wanted him towantto talkto her.
Grace:I doubt Damon wants me to drive him.
Charity:Maybe but he's not in a position to make demands right now.
Grace chewed on her lip as she recalled Damon's words when he broke up with her in the hospital."I don't want you here, Grace."Any time he caught sight of her now, his expression screamed those words.
Charity:How am I supposed to play matchmaker if I can't get the two of you in the same room without him looking like he might explode?"
Grace:Him exploding is what I'm worried about.
Charity:He may be grumpy and sullen, but I don't think he'll take it out on you too badly. I raised him better than that.
That didn't make Grace feel any better. Spending two hours—an hour each direction—cooped up in a car with a sulky Damon was something that would end up on her Dumb Things I Did list.
Grace:I thought you were planning on driving him.
Charity:I was, but I can't now. Something has come up. I don't know what it is yet, but I'm going to be busy tomorrow.
Grace laughed. Not only was Charity playing Damon, she was manipulating Grace as well. She wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Charity:And I'll make sure Steven and Matt and their wives are busy tomorrow too.
Charity:And Faith. And anybody else that he might ask to drive him.
Grace:You're making it very hard for me to say no.
Charity:Of course I am. That's the point.
Mom lookedup from her breakfast plate and grimaced. "By the way, I won't be able to drive you to your appointment this afternoon." She held up a hand as Damon was about to protest. "Don't worry. I've arranged for someone to drive you."
"Who?"
"Grace."
Damon dropped his fork, his appetite vanishing. "No."
She looked at him like he was a petulant child. "I would take you if I could, son, but Amy called me in tears yesterday. There’s been a hiccup in her supply chain and she is freaking out, trying to keep the restaurant open with only half the supplies she usually operates with." Mom's face looked truly contrite. "I told her I'd come in and help her figure things out."
"Then find someone else to take me." His words were sharper than he intended.
She scowled at him. "Your father would tan your hide if he heard you talk to me like that." Then she shook her head. "I'm sorry, I called everyone I could think of, but everybody is busy."
"What about Steven or Matt?"
"They're doing inventory at the store, so Steven isn't able to break away. And Matt is the only pharmacist in town, you know that. He can't just drop everything, not with people depending on him."
