Chapter 3

I shut off my phone and started stuffing food in my mouth, swallowing it down along with my tears.

My stomach was full, but my heart felt like it had a hole ripped right through it.

Lucky barked, then lay down at my feet, quietly keeping me company.

At eleven that night, Charles came home, carrying a takeout box.

Lucky circled around his feet, but Charles kicked him away.

Lucky whimpered and hid in my arms.

I held him close, then slowly looked over at the takeout box in Charles's hand. "Late-night snack?"

He set the takeout box down on the dining table. "I found something tasty, so I'll bring it for you."

"I'm not hungry," I said.

He frowned, his tone firm, leaving no room for argument. "I brought this for you. Come eat."

He pretended his takeout leftovers were something he brought for me.

I didn't say a word.

He walked over, grabbed my phone, and stared down at me. "Grace, what's up with you? If you've got something to say, say it. I can't stand it when you get like this."

"Get like what?" I asked.

"Sulking like the world owes you something," he said.

Didn't he owe me?

I didn't argue with him. I got up, walked over, and opened the container.

Inside were butter-poached shrimp, steamed crabs, and seafood chowder.

I pointed at the food, keeping my face calm. "Charles, you brought this for me? I'm allergic to seafood. Did you forget?"

He paused, looking a bit stunned. "I don't know. It was a friend who packed it up for me."

"Julia?" I asked.

He frowned. "Are you checking up on me?"

I held up my phone and opened my social media feed. I scrolled through, and every shot was of him with Lucas. "I can't miss it."

He gave me a long, hard look, then turned to the bar, grabbed a bottle, poured himself a glass, and knocked it back in one go.

His voice was tired. "It's Mr. Grant's birthday, and you didn't call him. You want to act like a kid, but do I have to act like one too?

"If you'd swallowed your pride and made up with Lucas back then, maybe I wouldn't have had to struggle for ten years. Grace, I'm really exhausted."

He was blaming me for not letting him take the easy way out.

I turned and walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind me. "I want to sleep alone tonight."

After last night's argument that fizzled out, we ended up in the worst silent standoff we had ever had.

While he was at work, I started packing up my stash.

I grabbed all the top-shelf dried seafood from the fridge.

I didn't leave a single piece of the fish maw I'd treasured for nearly ten years.

The chopped chili sauce I made last year was finally perfect to eat, so I shipped it out right away.

I even booked a car and sent Lucky off early.

*****

At eight on Saturday night, Charles walked in, still holding his briefcase. "Julia invited my mom over for dinner tomorrow night. Both families are getting together, and you're coming too."

I paused mid-scroll on my phone. "Can I say no?"

He looked straight at me. "Grace, you know what it means when both families sit down for dinner. Don't push your luck."

What did it mean? Was it an engagement or a wedding? But was he going to marry me or Julia?

I didn't ask. I nodded and said, "Okay."

The reason didn't matter. I only wanted to see how far things had gotten between them.

The next day, when I arrived, the private room was already packed with people.

Julia sat in the middle, everyone fawning over her like she was a star. Whatever she said had Charles's mom, Helen Eden, laughing nonstop.

When Helen saw me, her smile disappeared, and she said with a hint of coldness, "You're late."

The father who'd been absent for over twenty years finally put on his fatherly airs.

He slammed his cup down on the table. "What took you so long? Making your elders wait? Do you know how rude that is?"

Before I could respond, Julia stepped over, smiling as she jumped in to smooth things over. "It's not Grace's fault. If Charlie hadn't come to pick me up, Grace wouldn't have been late."

I nodded. "Yeah, so it's your fault then."