One Wish (Thunder Point #7)(56)

Then Alicia Keys blasted into the arena and Grace put on a show. She didn’t think about anything but skating. She could lose herself so easily. She didn’t try anything fancy, all she wanted to do was make it pretty for Becca. And for Troy. If she were up to speed there would be triple axels and risky jumps, but she was smart enough to know she’d only hurt herself by taking ridiculous chances.

The reason she kept skating was simple. When there was no competition, she felt free, beautiful and fearless. She loved what she could do on the ice.

She’d been on the ice about a half hour, but steady and hard. She skated around the rink to cool down, then she made her way back to her audience, smooth and sleek, hands on her hips.

“Not much, but that’s all I have without training,” she said.

“That was awesome,” Becca said. “I would give anything to be able to skate, even a little bit.”

“Tell you what—when you’re not carrying around a little bump, we’ll get you on skates. It would take about fifteen years of hard training to do some of those moves, but there are some easy things I can show you.”

“I would love that so much.”

Grace looked at Troy and he was smiling. “I guess I understand why people try to get you to skate professionally again. Or coach.”

“I think that was a compliment, so thanks. But I really like what I’m doing now. And I have to be a drudge now—you guys go play. I’m going to have to open the shop for at least a few hours today. I can catch up with you later. You’re in good hands—Troy is the fun coach.”

“Thank you, Grace,” Becca said. “I know you wouldn’t have done that for just anyone.”

“It was time to share that part of me with Troy,” she said. “And now I have to get into the flower business.”

“Do you need me?” Troy asked.

“Nah. It’s a sunny Saturday morning. I’ll let you walk me to my van, though.”

“We’re going to see some more of the coast since we’re this far north. Then tonight I’m cooking for us,” Becca said. “Get your flower chores done and this evening you’re going to relax and let me pamper you.”

“Just a word of warning. When Troy tries to talk you into getting closer to the really big waves, don’t do it.”

“Enough,” he said.

When Grace had her boots on, she left her usual hundred dollars with Jake for his scholarship fund. At the van, Troy gave her a kiss that he didn’t seem to want to stop. She liked that so much.

Thirteen

Grace prepared a special order of four expensive centerpieces for a customer. An exclusive golf resort in Bandon had a guest who was throwing a party in one of the spacious cottages and wanted a delivery on Sunday afternoon. She could have told them she was closed on Sunday, but the resort was a regular customer, had an account with her and it was an easy five hundred dollars. She made up the arrangements on Saturday and put them in the cooler, then enjoyed dinner with Troy and his friends at his apartment. After dinner they played poker, and she cleaned house. She told Troy she was going to be closed on Sunday as usual but would make a delivery to the resort in Bandon in the afternoon.

“Becca and Denny are leaving around noon and spring break is next week—I’m off. I’ll go with you. I love that place. Someday I might even be able to afford to play golf there. Once, though. I’ll only be able to afford it once.”

They set out at about one o’clock on Sunday. The resort was a beautiful place with lodges, cabins and rooms, not to mention fine dining and gorgeous facilities that could be reserved for everything from weddings to business meetings. There were three golf courses and it was expensive. People traveled from all over the country to stay there. And they liked Grace’s flowers. They didn’t use her all the time, but when a guest had a special function that required flowers, they recommended her. She billed the resort and they paid promptly.

She had the unit number for the cottage where the flowers were to be delivered and she knew her way around the country club. As they drove through the property, she had to slow for a couple of deer crossing the road.

“Cottage?” Troy asked.

“I know,” she said, laughing. “I looked it up online. Living room, four bedrooms, galley kitchen, fireplaces in every room, plus four bathrooms. And a view.”

“I’d kill to live in a house that big,” he said.

She backed up to the unit. “You take one, I’ll take one and we’ll go back for the other two. Try not to gawk too much.”

“It’ll be hard.”

She was proud of the flowers she’d put together—lilies, orchids, bird of paradise, roses, baby’s breath and greenery. She balanced her arrangement on one hand and rang the bell. Troy waited right behind her with his flowers. In a moment the door opened. Grace looked into the blue eyes of Winnie Dillon Banks and dropped her floral arrangement. The ceramic dish shattered and water splashed on her jeans, but the flowers stayed in a lump because she had fastened them into the base with tape.

“Mother!”

“Izzy,” she said smoothly.

“Holy shitballs,” Troy said.

There stood the indomitable Winnie, small like Grace, ivory skin, black hair and red lips. She could double for Snow White. Except for the expression, which was not sweet. No, he couldn’t see Winnie singing to the birdies in the forest. But she was so beautiful. And she radiated power.