sin go away. Money doesn't change a betrayal. And that money didn't come from them. It came from Mama and Daddy. So, I receive it in their honor. Not as hush money to make what my siblings did to me and Mama go away. I feel nothing for them."
John hugged her.
"Guts and brains. God, how I love you, girl. I wish I could stay, but I better get to work."
She got out of his lap, and followed him to the door, then hugged him again.
"I love you, Johnny."
"I love you more."
And then he was gone.
Ten days after the tornado, Gracie took herself to the doctor and got her staples out, and then she stopped by the Majestic. Within seconds of walking in the front door, she was mobbed.
"You look great!" Reba said.
"Seriously? I have green circles beneath my eyes," Gracie said.
It made them laugh.
"Were you out shopping?" Donna asked.
"Nope. Making sure my brains were all tucked back in my head before they pulled out the staples."
They laughed again.
"When can you come back to work?" Donna asked.
"I can't lift or reach over my head yet. My ribs aren't fully healed. But I can sit on my butt and put flowers in a vase all day."
Donna cheered. "How about tomorrow from open to noon for the rest of the week? Just to ease yourself back into the routine. I don't want you overdoing anything. If that doesn't stress you in any way, then you can go back to your regular schedule."
"I would love that," Gracie said. "I am going stir crazy."
"Then we'll see you tomorrow!" Donna said. "Welcome back."
"Tomorrow," Gracie said, and left feeling better than she had in days.
Five people had died the day of the storm. Twenty-two were severely injured. All but four had been released from the hospital. Gracie was one of the lucky ones, and she knew it.
When she got in the car to go home, she ran her fingers gingerly along the tender, still healing gash on her head, grateful that the staples were gone.
She could almost hear her Mama's voice. One step, one day at a time, baby girl.
She glanced up at the empty passenger seat, half-expecting to see Delia riding shotgun.
"I know, Mama. I'm just takin' care of business."
It was like the first day of school.
Everything was an unknown.
Gracie had stayed by herself last night because she felt like a fake expecting John to take care of her now when she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself again.
She didn't really want to give up the nights at his home, but he'd offered her shelter because she was hurt, and now she wasn't. She was a Dunham, and Dunham women knew how to take care of themselves. She and John were still falling in love, but that didn't mean they were at the moving in together stage. She knew she was going to miss him, and she did.
The whole evening was both lonesome and eerie. After it got dark, she found herself jumping at every little sound, then thought she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. But every time she looked out, it was peaceful and quiet.
Then John called her, and everything was right in her world.
"Hey darlin'. I sure do miss you. Are you okay?"
Gracie slid into bed and pulled the covers up to her waist.
"I'm fine. I miss you, too...terribly."
"We can fix that," John said. "All you have to do is say the word."
"I know. But I don't want to come to you still broken inside. I want all of me to be present with you."
"I know. It's why I don't push," John said. "Are you looking forward to going back to the Majestic tomorrow?"
"Yes. I love the girls, and I love the work."
"Just half a day, though. Ease yourself back into the routine."
"I will. I'll pick something up for lunch on the way home, and then rest after I eat."
"Get enough for me, and I'll come tuck you in before I go back to work."
"Really?" Gracie said.
He chuckled. "Yes, really. I can stay long enough to eat and steal a kiss, and that's about it."
"Deal," Gracie said. "See you tomorrow."
"Sleep well, sugar. Love you."
"Love you most," she said, and hung up.
After that, the night sounds were just that—nothing scary, nothing ominous. Just the old garage settling, and a tired, wounded city trying to put itself to sleep.
For Gracie, going back to work felt like turning off a switch to being a victim. This was the second time in her life she'd