Her Forever Hero (Unexpected Heroes #3)(72)

Eileen attempted a smile but was unable to pull it off. Grace wrapped her arm around the woman and led her through the hallway to Martin’s room. When they paused in the doorway at the sight of him, such a large, robust man looking so pale and tired with his eyes closed, it brought more tears to Grace’s eyes.

“If he’s sleeping, we shouldn’t disturb him,” Eileen said as fresh tears tracked down her face.

“Eileen? Is that you?” His voice was so hoarse, it broke Grace’s heart. She stood back as Cam and Eileen moved forward.

“I’m here, darling. I’m here,” Eileen whispered. She sat in the chair by the bed and reached out to take his hand.

He opened his eyes and gazed at Eileen with such a look of love that Grace could see the radiance from ten feet away. She felt like an intruder. Cam moved back by her and whispered in her ear.

“How did I miss this?”

“I don’t know how any of us did, Cam.”

“Now, don’t you be crying for me, Eileen,” Martin said. “I’ll be just fine. I wouldn’t leave you or my children. There’s too much life still to be lived.”

“Oh, Martin, I’ve never been so frightened. You’re my life now, and I just . . . I can’t lose you, my love.”

She leaned forward and rested her head on his chest, and he lifted his free arm and wrapped it around her.

“I love you, too, Eileen, so much that my heart aches when you aren’t around. Not everyone gets to find two soul mates in this lifetime, but I’m one of the lucky ones. You bring me joy and there’s no way I would give that up to something as silly as an itty-bitty clot.” His voice was stronger now, love coming through it loud and clear.

“Well, we’re making some changes, Martin. I’m talking to your cook right away, and we’re both going to eat healthier and drink less and get more exercise.”

“I’ve been doing just fine with how I live, Eileen. This was just a little bitty thing, nothing to get so worked up about. I promise you that I’ll still be swinging you around the dance floor when we’re ninety.”

“I’m going to make sure you keep that promise, Martin,” she said, a smile finally filling her lips as she lifted her head and looked into his eyes.

“Then you will have to become my wife so you’re with me every single day.”

Eileen couldn’t speak through her tears, but she nodded, and it was the most beautiful thing Grace had ever witnessed.

“Let’s leave them alone,” Cam whispered as he pulled Grace into the hallway.

“I thought you needed to talk to him,” Grace said.

“I just needed to know he was okay, to see it with my own eyes. My dad has been alone for a very long time. He’s found love again with an amazing woman. This stroke scared him enough, it looks like, to admit it to her—or maybe to us, I don’t know, but I’m grateful. Let’s go tell the rest of them to give the lovebirds a few more minutes.”

“It’s kind of funny, but I think your father and Eileen—the town’s favorite grandparents—are going to have a wedding before I do,” Grace said with a laugh.

“I wouldn’t count on that,” Cam muttered as they pushed through the waiting-room doors.

Grace’s heart nearly stopped with his comment, but before she could ask him to clarify it, they were surrounded by people asking questions about Martin. Soon, Grace was pulled from Cam’s hold, and the crowd between them kept growing wider.

When their gaze connected a few minutes later, she saw something shining in his eyes that gave her hope of finally getting her happy ending. Even though he hadn’t asked her to love him forever yet, her own eyes answered him with a glowing yes.

“I need coffee. Can I get you any?” she asked Sage.

“I’ll follow right behind you,” Sage replied. “I want to chat with the nurse for a minute.”

Grace walked from the room, the quiet a relief after the din of so many people talking at once. But a smile was on her lips. Although the day had taken a scary turn after starting out well, love was in the air right now and the possibilities seemed endless.

She decided to step outside and get a little fresh air. She’d meet Sage in a few minutes. She couldn’t wait to tell all to her best friend—tell her she was going to marry the love of her life even if she had to drag him to the altar, which she didn’t think she’d have to do, and then the two of them could gossip about Martin and Eileen.

Who would have ever imagined that—

“You stupid bitch. You’ve ruined everything for me. Now I’m going to ruin it all for you.”

Grace froze at the sound of that voice—the voice she’d thought was gone from her life. But she’d already decided to face her fears, and she was through with running from people. Her body stiff, she turned and then the blood ran from her face.

“Yeah, you should be afraid, because today you’re going to die—but not until I get something first!”

Before Grace could scream, run, fight, do anything, Jimmy’s arm came up and he hit her in the head with the butt of the gun he’d just been pointing at her. Everything went black.





Grace’s head was pounding and a buzzing was sounding in her ears as she tried to figure out where she was. She could tell even with her eyes still closed that it wasn’t pitch-black, so either night hadn’t fallen yet or she was in a lit room.