Grace lowered her head and then looked back up at me. “Yes. ”
“Oh, Grace, I’m so sorry. ” Heather and I both said at the same time.
Grace let out a little laugh and then reached for Heather’s hand. Pulling her over to sit down next to us.
“I was twenty-one and four months pregnant. Drew’s dad was out in the field for a few weeks. I woke up with a terrible pain in my stomach. I didn’t have anyone to call. My mother and father disowned me after I went off and married Drew’s dad. I tried to just push on for most of the day. Gunner was just barely over one at the time. But when I saw the blood. . . ”
Oh. My. God. I couldn’t imagine carrying your child for four months, and then. . .
“Grace, I’m so sorry. That must have been terrible for you,” I said.
Grace let out a sigh and wiped the tears from her face. “Ari, it doesn’t matter if you’re a few weeks pregnant or a few months pregnant; the loss is still the same. You have every right to grieve and miss that child. You will never forget her, and your mind will wonder and think about what might have been. But you will move on, and you will find that joy again. I promise you, sweetheart. You will find that joy again. ”
Grace leaned over and kissed me on the check. Then, she turned to look at Heather. Heather smiled at her, and Grace placed her hand on the side of Heather’s cheek.
“I could never replace your mother, Heather, but I’ll always be here for you. If you ever need to talk or to cry or to just ask why men are such assholes at times, I’m your girl. ”
Heather and I both laughed. I loved Grace already. I knew Ellie didn’t want Grace to leave, and now, neither did I. Leaning over, Heather hugged Grace and whispered something in her ear.
“I’ll leave you two girls alone now to chat. Ari, I made up some chicken and dumplings for y’all. I wasn’t sure,
Heather, how long you and Josh were staying, so I made plenty for all of y’all. Ellie told me to tell you she’ll be over in a few hours. She’s helping Gunner and his dad with the cows today. I love how that girl is not afraid to get down and dirty with the boys. ”
I smiled at Grace and agreed. I wanted to see Ellie so damn bad. I needed to see her. Just the sound of her voice calmed me down and helped me to relax.
After Grace was gone, I looked over at Heather. She attempted to give me a pitiful-ass smile. She moved to the other side of the bed to give me more room to sit back and put my legs out.
“Do you need anything, sweets? Want me to make you something to eat?”
I shook my head. “What happened?”
“What do you mean? What happened with what?” Heather almost had a panicked look on her face.
“You. . . Josh…something happened. I can see it on both of your faces. I could tell that Jeff and I walked in on something. ” I gave her a knowing look.
“Ari, it doesn’t matter. What happened is over. I can’t do anything about it now, so there’s no use in talking about it. Really, I’m just ready to move on. ”
“Really? Because the look in your eyes says you are far from ready to move on, Heather. Please tell me. It will take my mind off of the bab. ” I stopped myself, looking away before I started to cry again.
“Oh, Ari. Sweets, maybe we should talk about the baby. ”
“No! I don’t want to talk about it right now. Just tell me what the fuck happened between you and Josh. ”
Heather let out a sigh and sat down on the bed.
***
By the time she got me up to speed, I was sitting there in shock.
“Wait, let me get this straight. You almost slept with Josh?”
“I wanted to, yes, but he wasn’t having any of it. Then, Garrett just came barging into your house, and all hopes of anything happening went right out the door. Y’all really need to keep your doors locked. . . like all the time. ”
I laughed, holding onto my side. Shit! “So last night, he went after the guy who started to kiss you? Sounds to me like Josh is not so ready to move on, Heather. I don’t think you are either. ”
“Well, I am. It’s pretty clear to me, Ari, that he’s not ever going to change. I mean, he was making out with me when he’d, just sent Lynda a message about hooking up with her! What does that say about him?
“Maybe he was frustrated, trying to move on, but he did it in all the wrong ways. ”