the past few months her reality had shifted, changed to the point she no longer knew what her future held or how to get back to the person she was or the person she’d always thought she’d be.
She pulled the blanket close as she studied the room. It was a tiny apartment, not much bigger than the bedroom she’d had growing up. The sofa she’d slept on and an overstuffed chair were the only furnishings. The small kitchen area was just a counter with a narrow stove, single sink and a dorm-size fridge. Stairs behind the sofa led to a loft.
The inside door opened and a woman with dark hair peeked in, saw that she was awake and entered the room with a smile. She held up a glass coffeepot. “You’re awake. Need coffee?”
Grace shook her head, still holding the blanket tight. “No, thank you. I’m trying to cut back.”
Because she was having a baby. Her heart clenched and she wanted to cry all over again. She drew in a deep breath and managed to smile so the woman in front of her wouldn’t think she was falling apart.
The woman sat on the arm of the chair and set the coffeepot down on a magazine on the table. She studied Grace, her smile kind. “You’ll make it through this.”
Grace wanted to ask if this stranger could promise that. Instead, she managed a smile. “I hope so.”
“You will. And you’ll learn a lot about yourself. By the way, I’m Oregon Jeffries. I’m engaged to Brody’s brother Duke.”
“Grace Thomas. But you probably already know that.”
“Brody did tell me your name. But he didn’t tell me anything else. He keeps things to himself.”
Grace nodded. Yes, that was the Brody she knew. She thought about how she used to try to get him to share gossip about people they met. But he never would. Instead, he’d told her everyone had a story and most didn’t need to be repeated. Brody had his anger, his past, but he also had faith. He had convictions. The whole package that was Brody Martin had scared her a little. Oregon cleared her throat, bringing Grace back to the present.
“Sorry, I got lost in thought.” Grace said. “Is it going to cause you problems, having me here? I wouldn’t want to put you in danger.”
“Of course you’re not a problem. As for danger, Duke is right across the street.”
“Thank you.” Grace looked around the tiny room. She felt safe here.
“Is there anything at all I can get you?”
Grace thought about all of the possible answers to that question. If only this woman, Oregon, could get her what she really needed. She’d start with redoing the past year. That would put her back on track. She’d go back to nursing school. She’d ignore Lincoln’s advances. She’d make better choices.
She would remember the person she’d been raised to be. She’d done her best to run from the gilded cage she’d been in all her life. She’d thought that cage confining. Now she realized it had been safe.
But there were no do-overs in life, only opportunities to move forward. “There’s nothing.”
“Lunch?” Oregon offered with a sweet smile and shrug of slim shoulders. “A hug?”
She almost cried. It made her realize how alone she’d felt for the past few months. She’d climbed inside herself, hiding the secret of Lincoln’s abuse from people who could have helped. She’d lost pieces of herself one bruise at a time. She would put herself back together. For her baby. And for herself.
She moved her hand to her belly.
Oregon moved to the sofa. A slim arm slipped around Grace, pulling her close to the other woman’s side. “It’ll get better. I know people love to use the phrase, ‘I’ve been there.’ But I really have. I had Duke’s child twelve years ago. I was younger than you and very alone.”
Grace’s throat tightened with emotion and tears stung her eyes.
Oregon gave her another quick hug. “It gets easier. And harder. Better. And worse.”
Grace laughed through her tears at that bit of honesty. “Thanks. I think.”
“I won’t lie. It won’t be the easiest thing you’ve ever done. But you’ll have friends. If you stay here, I’ll help you any way that I can.”
Grace tried to find words to respond to this unexpected offer of friendship. She drew in a breath, felt a little stronger. “Thank you. I know I can do this. The past few months have been rough. But it has to get easier.”
“Of course it will. Now let’s have a sandwich and then I’ll show you my store.” Oregon stood and held out a hand to pull Grace to her feet. “If we’re lucky we’ll get a little peace and quiet before one of the Martin men comes storming in to...”
As if on cue the outside door opened. Brody stepped in, his gaze shooting from Oregon to Grace. “I thought I’d check on you before I head out to the ranch. I’ve been rounding up a few supplies for Jake.”
“I’m good,” Grace assured him, standing next to Oregon. “We were just going to get lunch.”
“Yeah, you should eat. I don’t think you kept any of your breakfast down.” His suntanned cheeks turn a little pink. His blue eyes skirted the room, looking at everything but her. “Anyway, if you need anything, Oregon has my number.”
“Brody, you don’t have to...”
“I know that, Grace. But you came here, and I’m not going to turn my back on you.”
“Thanks.”
Oregon touched her arm and left them alone.
He glanced away, but not before she saw the hurt in his eyes. She started to take a step toward him but stopped, because it did a cowboy no good to think he was getting sympathy when that was the last thing he wanted. He didn’t want her hugs or her apologies. He wanted to get on with his life.
He’d help her. She knew that. But she also knew that Brody wouldn’t let her back into his life, not after the way she’d hurt him. That was for the best. She was having a baby. That had to be her focus now.
“Well, I’ve got to run before Jake comes after me. I doubt I’ll be back this evening. If you need anything the store is next door. Put anything you need on my account, and I’ll settle up with them at the end of the week. Or you can run over to Duke’s.”
“Brody, I can take care of myself.”
He looked at her, really looked at her, then gave a curt nod. He adjusted that beat-up white cowboy hat he wouldn’t replace and reached for the door. “Yeah, I know you can.”
With that he walked out the door. Grace was left standing in the center of the small apartment, lost somewhere between needing him to come back and knowing she could do this on her own.
She walked through the door that connected the apartment to the shop and found Oregon arranging paints and brushes on a worktable. Grace entered the room, slightly mesmerized by the merchandise.
“You made all of this?” Grace asked.
Oregon stepped out from behind the worktable. “I did. And you’re the reason Brody came home angry, aren’t you?”
It wasn’t said with malice, just curiosity.
Grace touched a Christmas ornament with a pretty manger scene painted on the front of the glass bulb. “Yes, I’m the reason. I never meant to hurt him. I just wasn’t ready and he was so serious.”
“People seldom do mean to hurt each other.”
At that, Grace touched her bruised cheek. “Oh, some people mean it.”
“Yes, some do. But if you weren’t ready it would have been wrong to lead him on. That would have been another kind of hurt.”
Grace