Robert circled the car and studied the tire. "He's right. It's also very worn. You're lucky it didn't blow on you during the drive from Richland."
Grace squeezed her eyes shut. She'd needed new tires for a while now, but the move had made it easy to keep putting it off.
"I just wanted to make sure you made it home safe." Damon rapped his knuckles on her door. "I'd be happy to help you get it fixed tomorrow." Then with a wave to Robert, he was gone, darting back to his car and driving away.
Robert grinned as he looked at Grace. "It wasn't a stalker after all. It was just my cousin, Damon."
The air whooshed from Grace's lungs. "Your cousin?"
I kissed Paige's cousin? The onethat's in the Army and is coming all the way from North Carolina for the wedding?
The one she was supposed to walk down the aisle with?
Damon feltbad for scaring Grace, but the last thing she needed after being trapped in the elevator was to have a flat tire and be stranded with no help.
Her dubious look said she didn't believe his only motive for following her was to make sure she got home safely.
It wasn’t.
He was ninety-nine percent certain Grace was Paige's soon-to-be sister-in-law, but it was that one percent that made him follow her, rather than speeding home to his mom and her cinnamon rolls. He hated to think he’d never see Grace again.
Damon pulled into the driveway of his childhood home—down the street from Robert's—and climbed from his rental car. He studied the neighborhood as he stretched before reminding himself this was Providence, and he didn’t need to be so vigilant.
He grabbed his duffel bag and sucked in a deep breath. It was good to be home. Even the air smelled fresher here. Dry, but clean.
His mom knew he was coming, but he gave a quick knock on the front door before opening it.
"Damon?" Mom met him in the entry way. "I'm so glad you finally made it home."
He dropped his duffel bag and swept his petite mother off the floor. How she'd managed to stay so slender after all these years of owning a diner that served the best food around was beyond him.
"It's so good to be home." He inhaled deeply, soaking in the smell of fresh baked goods and happiness. Mom never wore perfume, but she always smelled so good. Today, cinnamon accompanied the baked goods scent.
His mouth watered. He loved that she never let him down.
She let out an oomph and patted his shoulder. "Okay, I’d like to breath now."
"Sorry." He set her down. He didn't make it home very often, so he had to let the people who mattered most know how much he loved them when hewashere.
"Throw your bag in your room and meet me in the kitchen." She went one way as he headed the other. "I'll reheat your dinner!"
He paused in the doorway of his childhood room. Except for the bedding, little had changed since he left, after high school. He'd told his mom multiple times she could take down the car and sport posters, but it was as if she was afraid of change. After his dad's sudden death five years ago, he didn't blame her.
When he walked out of his room, the empty room across the hall caught his attention. It hadn't been empty for years, and it felt like something was missing.
"Where's Aunt Faith?" He asked as he walked into the kitchen.
After his dad passed away, Aunt Faith, who was also a widow, moved in with Mom so she wouldn't be alone. His two older brothers, who lived in Providence with their families, kept close tabs on Mom, but Damon appreciated knowing she was never alone.
"She bought the Langston house down the street. I told you that two weeks ago."
"That's right." He'd been so distracted by his CO's sudden appearance in the barracks and the orders he barked that he hadn't internalized his mom's words. "I bet it's been quiet around here since she moved out."
Aunt Faith was a talker. She was also generous and selfless, constantly serving and helping others. No one expected her to stay with Charity as long as she did, but without Uncle Blake, she wasn't interested in returning to the ranch. Then when her son Jake took over the ranch and got married, Aunt Faith decided to stay in town indefinitely.
"That's an understatement. It's only been a week since she moved out, so I'm still getting used to the quiet. At least I have you here for the next two weeks while I adjust." Mom set a steaming plate of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli on the table. "Speaking of which, I'd like your help with some projects while you're here. Just some painting and stuff."
"Sure, no problem." Damon sat at the table. "This looks and smells amazing." His salivary glands kicked into high gear, and he had to swallow to keep from drooling. "I'm starving."
