Falling With Grace

Would it hurt to let her stay out a little longer?

Long, slender fingers and manicured nails slid around my shoulders, her perfume, a Kurkdjian, wafted around me—a gift for our one-year anniversary she insisted on celebrating. “There you are.” She pressed her lips to my cheek. “What are we looking at?”

“Nothing.”

Iwrapped my arm around her waist and brought her closer, pressing my nose into her throat, and inhaled. I nipped at her flesh with a light growl.

“Ouch.” Her eyes widened as she leaned away with a slight slap to my chest. “What’s gotten into you? You know I don’t like that.” She pushed against me until my hand fell away from her waist, her gaze meeting mine. “I came to find you about a dinner party I’m attending…” Her words faded into a whisper as my sight drifted to the backyard, my attention fixed on Grace devouring the last bite of tomato.

“Hello? Elias?” Nadia’s fingers snapped in my field of vision, bringing me back to the moment.

“Don’t do that.” I scowled, my eyes narrowing at her. “I’m listening.”

“Really? What did I even say then?” Nadia paused, her hand planted on her hip. “What are you staring at?”

She turned and followed my gaze out the window, her expression growing more suspicious by the second.

Tension between us thickened like an impending storm as she turned back to me. “Is that the girl from last week?” Her voice lowered into a tone that dripped with suspicion. “What is she doing here?”

“She’s no one.”

“She’s out there with Rosa. That’s not no one. You don’t letanyonearound her.”

I tore my gaze away from the scene outside. I offered her a tight-lipped smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “It’s a…complicated situation.” I inhaled, my shoulders expanding.

Nadia arched an eyebrow. “Does this complicated situation have a name?”

“Grace.”

“And is shestayinghere?”

I clenched my jaw, the muscle pulsing as I squeezed.

“Nadia, I do not answer to you, nor do you need to know what goes on within my home.”

“This is going to be my home soon too.” Her eyes widened as her mouth dropped. “Shouldn’t I at least have a say?”

I shook my head. “Not even when we’re married.” I gestured toward the couch, which gave me a full view of Grace and anything sinister she may beup to. “Sit.”

Nadia looked at the scene outside and sat beside me, her long, slender legs draped over my lap, my hands moving up and down her smooth skin. Before we could get comfortable, she detailed a dinner party she wanted to attend, complete with guest lists and seating arrangements.

What were they talking about?

Why did Mamá risk all of us to release her?

She’d never pulled something like this before.

Was it her Alzheimer’s?

Would I need to take extensive steps to keep her contained to a certain portion of the house?

The more she aged and lost her way, the more I brought my work home.

Leaving her for long periods was out of the question, but how else could I keep an eye on her when she pulled these stunts?

I had a duty to protect her and ensure her happiness—no one could do it better than me.

Nadia nudged my shoulder. “What are you working on?” She pointed to the table, and Javier glanced up.