Through His Grace (20 page)

“Morning.” He handed her a mug and poured the steamy treat from his thermos.

“A new day.” Grace wrapped her hands around the warmth of the mug.

“The first of many with you, me, Lizzie, and Jake.” He clinked his cup with hers in a toast. He slid his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into the crook of his arm, tucking her feet beneath her as he swung them slowly back and forth.

It was the closest she’d felt to sleeping all night. His very presence calmed her.

“I hope that goes from your lips to God’s ears,” she said quietly.

“God hears us, Grace.” Eric rubbed his hand up and down her arm. “And now I need you to hear me.”

“I’m listening.” She nestled still closer.

“Before the Rockhearts showed up today, I made it clear that I would be with you through the long haul.” When he paused, Grace nodded.

“I told you I’d had to face some things before being able to commit to you and the kids like that.”

“And you did, right?” Grace pulled back a bit. He hadn’t called her up in the middle of the night to say good-bye, so where was this heading?

“Yes.” His single syllable reassured her. “But before we can move forward you need to know what those things were.”

“Not now.” She tried to slide away from him, but he held her close. “I can’t deal with anything more today,” she begged him.

“We’ve made it this far.” Nickels held her gaze. “But to face what lies ahead we need to be honest with each other.”

“I trust you.” She pushed an errant lock of hair from his forehead. “Isn’t that enough?”
Lord, please let it be enough
, she prayed.
If something could cause me to lose him, too, I don’t think I could bear it. Was it only yesterday he kissed me for the first time? Was it mere hours ago that I brought Lizzie and Jake back home? Can’t my love for the children, and for this wonderful man, keep us all together?

“No, Grace.” He caught her hand and held it to his heart.

“You need to know I trust you in return. With my heart, with my mind, and with the secrets of my past.”

At that Grace sighed and put her hot chocolate down. “You have my full attention.”

He could see the walls rising in her eyes, as she guarded her heart against what he was about to tell her.
Lord, let her see the truth in what I say. Help my love break through the barriers between us. Give me the strength to go through with this
.

He kept his arm around her, trying to maintain as much closeness between them as possible.

“Six years ago, before I came to Christ, I worked at a major corporation in Oklahoma City. I knew it was against company policy, but I cultivated a relationship with one of the secretaries.”

“You loved her?” Hurt clouded her expressive eyes, darkening them.

“As much as one selfish person can care for another.” He wouldn’t soften this with half-truths.

“What happened?” She swallowed.

“We moved in together.” He could feel her pulling away, distancing herself emotionally. A small voice inside urged him to stop, but he pushed onward.

“She became pregnant.” He hesitated. “And I asked her to marry me.”

“I don’t want to hear this.” Grace turned away from him, but not before he saw the tears sparkling on her lashes.

“All or nothing, Grace,” he reminded her, willing her to stay.

She didn’t respond, but she didn’t leave him on the porch either. He continued.

“She refused. She wanted to be an actress—said she didn’t have the time to waste. She…she wanted to have an abortion.” The word tasted sour.

“And you agreed?” Horror resounded in her words.

“Never.” He fisted his hand on his knee. “I bargained with her. I’d raise our child and buy her a home in California so she could pursue her dream—as long as she didn’t abort my baby.”

“Where is she now?” Grace choked out the words.

“She died three years ago.”

“And your child?” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“After I bought the house she went ahead with the abortion.” He closed his eyes as he relived the moment she had told him.

“No!” The rage and sorrow in her exclamation were mirrored in her eyes as she stared at him. “No,” she repeated in a whisper.

“Yes.” He hung his head, the old pain throbbing to life.

“I’m so sorry.” Grace embraced him. Her acceptance made him want to cry out in gratitude. Instead he held her tight, refusing to let go.

“I forgave her long ago.” Nickels felt the need to finish it. “But I carried the blame with me all this time.”

“You’re forgiven, Eric.” She stroked his jaw.

“It wasn’t until God brought you into my life that I realized I hadn’t laid that burden down. I had to let go of my selfhatred before being able to love you freely.”

Grace looked at him for a long time in silence, tears tracing silvery lines down her face. Nickels waited—he’d said all he could.

“I love you, too.” Her words soothed his soul. “I loved you before, Eric, and I love you even more, now that I know how hard you’ve worked to become the man I admire.”

“You understand?” He scarcely dared hope.

“I understand what you lost so long ago.” Grace curled up next to him once more. “And I appreciate the strength it took to overcome that and share your pain.”

“Then you understand that I’ve had one child snatched away from me and I will do anything in my power to help Lizzie and Jake.” He kissed the top of her head.

“I never expected less of you, Eric.”

“Then we’re in agreement?” He felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

“About what?” She tilted her head back to look at him.

“You heard what Richard said. We stand a better chance at keeping Lizzie and Jake if there are two adults in the home.” He slid off the porch swing and bent down on his knee in front of her. “We’re not living together as man and wife, but there’s something we can do about that, Grace.” He gestured with his empty hands. “I don’t have a ring yet, but will you marry me and keep our family whole?” He smiled up at her. He longed to show her the depth of his love and dedication.

When she stood, the smile slipped from his face.

“Thank you, Eric—but, no.” She tugged on his arm until he stood beside her.

“But—”

“Shh.” She put her finger to his lips. “I know you mean well, but marriage is sacred. I won’t enter into the holy state of matrimony just to give me an edge in court.”

“It’s not just for the judge,” he protested.

“I know it’s because you genuinely care for us, Eric, but marriage isn’t something to rush into.” She raised up on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With that she went inside, leaving him to pick himself— and his heart—from her porch floor.

“Are you ready?” Nickels asked her on the big day.

“No.” She bit her lip. “I can’t believe their fancy-schmancy lawyer arranged for a court date so soon!”

“We knew it was coming.” He curled his arm around her to pull her close. “And we’ve been praying nonstop. God will be with us in that courtroom.”

“We’re all here for you.” Sondra spoke for all her friends congregated on the courthouse steps.

“Let’s go.” Grace strode into the courthouse, her head held high.

A half hour later they were called to order as the honorable Judge Benson took his seat.

“I’ve reviewed the files regarding this case,” he began without precedent. “It seems fairly clear cut. Both the Rockhearts and Miss Willard are petitioning for legal guardianship of Elizabeth and Jacob Willard.” He glanced at the children.

“I understand the living situations of both parties and their relation to the children. No need to repeat any of that. Before I speak with”—he peered over his glasses at a document— “Lizzie and Jake, there are a few questions I’d like to ask each party. First, the Rockhearts.”

“Yes, your honor,” Celine almost whined. “We’ll do all we can to oil the wheels of justice.”

“Do not speak unless answering a question, please.” Judge Benson didn’t seem to be showing the Rockhearts any favor, which gave Grace hope.

“I understand you live in Maine. How often did you see the children before the deaths of their parents?”

“Oh.” Celine looked at Max. “We flew out shortly after Lizzie was born.”

“And Jake?”

“We happened to be in Tahiti at the time,” Max explained.

“We send cards and presents for every birthday and Christmas,” Celine added.

“It seems as though you are quite well traveled.” The judge didn’t sound enthusiastic about this, but Celine didn’t appear to notice.

“We love to travel. Max and I are working our way through every country in the world.”

“And how often are you home?” Judge Benson queried.

“It varies,” Celine said.

“And how would you be raising two young children when you’re out of the country more often than not?”

Grace refrained from cheering at the judge’s furrowed brows.

“We could cut back a bit,” Max offered.

“And they’d have a nanny, of course.” Celine rallied. “The best money could buy!”

“I see.” Judge Benson turned to Grace. “Miss Willard, a few questions for you.”

Please, Lord, let me have better answers than the Rockhearts. So much is riding on this. Give me Your peace and strength
.

She prayed so fervently she almost missed the judge’s first question of how long she had been taking care of the children.

“Yes, your honor.” She resisted the urge to curtsey. “Jake and Lizzie have been living with me for the past three-and-a-half months.”

“And during that time what have you done to see to their welfare?” Judge Benson’s steely gaze brooked no nonsense.

“I’ve arranged for them to go to school, conferred with their instructors, taken them to doctors’ visits, furnished our home, bought them a pet, and helped relocate their grandfather— who is welcome at our home anytime—so he’d be closer to the children.”

“Very good,” Judge Benson grunted before tapping a sheet of paper. “The Rockhearts contest that, as a single woman, you are unable to bear the responsibility of caring for the children. There is also some mention of your being sickly?” He looked her up and down as though searching for visible signs of illness.

“I recently had an emergency appendectomy,” Grace admitted. “But to call me sickly would be an insult to the many people who bravely live with chronic health problems. As far as my single status, I have a strong community support system in Lasso and Lawton, as evidenced by the character witness statements on record.”

“And you are aware that the children are entitled only to Social Security benefits since their parents passed on without a will?”

“I’ve known that from the start.” She shrugged. “It’s not important.”

“Thank you, Miss Willard.” Judge Benson gave a small smile before addressing the children. “I’ve only one more question for each of you. Lizzie, who would you like to live with?”

“Auntie Grace.” Lizzie didn’t hesitate for an instant, though she held Jake’s hand in a viselike grip. She beamed at Grace before glancing at the Rockhearts and frowning.

Grace heard a murmured “Well!” from Celine and bit back a smile.

“Jake—” Judge Benson didn’t even get a chance to repeat the question before Jake burst out.

“Auntie Grace!” He, too, frowned at the Rockhearts.

“This is where I’d normally adjourn for deliberation, but in this case I see no need to.” Judge Benson looked around the courtroom. “Some of the finest parents I know raise their children alone. Elizabeth and Jacob Willard may not be the daughter and son of Grace Willard, but it is apparent she is raising them as such. It is the opinion of this court that a professional nanny is a poor substitute for that kind of familial love and support. In addition, it does not please the court to move the children from yet another home. It is my ruling that Grace Willard be named legal guardian to both Elizabeth and Jacob Willard.” He banged his gavel. “Court is adjourned.”

Cheers erupted in the courtroom as Uncle Carl, Eric, Mary, Dylan, Sondra, and the entire crew of the Curly Q clapped and hugged each other. Lizzie and Jake broke away from their court-appointed representative to give Grace a huge hug, which she returned wholeheartedly.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me my family
. Her prayer was short on words but filled with emotion. Everyone had left before them, giving them a moment’s privacy.

“Are you ready to get out of here?” she finally asked them.

“Yeah.” Jake beamed.

“Let’s go home.” Lizzie swung her arm around her brother’s shoulders.

As they exited the building, the crowd parted to show Eric, down on one knee, with a ring box in his hand. Grace froze, overwhelmed.

“Get goin’.” Carl gave her a nudge after disentangling Lizzie and Jake.

“Eric?” Grace walked the few steps to meet him.

“Grace.” He looked up at her with adoration in his brown eyes. “Now that you can be certain it isn’t to win the court case, that I’m proposing because I love you and can’t spend another day without you, I want to know one thing.” He flipped open the lid of the box to reveal a sparkling engagement ring. “Grace Willard, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”