Letting go of Grace Read Online Free PDF Page A

admit.
    “Well hop on.” He shifts back in the seat and I climb to the space in front of him. Once again we are in risky territory. He takes my hands in his and wets them. I lean forward and start to work with the clay. Slowly I press my thumbs into the top of the mound and so does Aiden showing off his skills. I take my hands away and watch as he opens the clay and brings it up into a perfect shape. I bring my hands back in to thin it out a bit as he takes his hands and places them on my bare thighs. I sit back down and watch our vase spin on the wheel. Aiden leans his chin onto my shoulder and he brings his arms around my stomach and hugs me. I take his hands in mine and we watch the wheel slowly lose speed and eventually come to a stop. We sit there for a long time, content with our bodies humming against each other. I don’t want to ruin our newfound friendship by treading on temptation, but it doesn’t stop us from holding each other. After some time he pulls his hands away and knocks the vase over.
    “Why did you do that?” I shift forward so I can turn and look at him.
    “I can make another.” He says, like it’s no big deal.
    “I liked that one.” I get up and get off the wheel.
    “I’m sorry. I never save what I make.” He starts taking the clay off the wheel and places it into a white bucket.
    “Why? It’s so beautiful.” I stare at the wheel and wonder how the hell he got into this soothing hobby?
    “I just never do.” He gets up and cleans everything up. I offer to carry stuff but he shoves it all into the large bucket at his side. I follow him back up the trail and all the butterflies are gone. I stop and look around and wonder where they all went? How could they all just disappear? I catch up to Aiden a ways down the trail. There is a little shed off the side of the house. He walks into it. I take that as him not wanting to talk anymore, so I walk back into the house. I try to keep busy making myself lunch. I make him a sandwich and place it all on the table. He comes in a few minutes later and walks past me.
    “I made you lunch,” I yell after his departing body. He looks back at me and makes his way back.
    “Thank you.” He sits and we eat in silence. It kills me that he is being like this, but I have to think of all of us. I can’t keep taking a ride on the Grace merry-go- round. I watch as he finishes up and places his plate in the sink, then he walks down the hallway again and disappears. I sit back in the seat and contemplate things I could do to distract myself. I get up and start to cook dinner. I look in the fridge and start to pull everything out. I cook for the next few hours. I make cookies and brownies but the sweet smell doesn’t lure him out of his hiding. I place the roast in the oven and begin to peel potatoes.
    Once everything is set up I head for the shower. I walk into his room and he is nowhere in sight. I sulk in the shower and tell myself to get over it. I put on a new sundress when I get out and am regretfully reminded of Grant as I put it on. I find my phone and see more missed calls from him and some from Shane. I haven’t talked to him since I yelled at him for luring me into having lunch with Aiden back at their office. I see Becca’s name come up on the screen and answer it.
    “Where the hell are you?” she blurts out.
    “Hello Becca, and how are you?” I let the sarcasm flow.
    “Han, you have been MIA since Thursday. What is going on? Grant has been calling me none stop.”
    “I’m fine, I just took a little vacation by myself.”
    “Where?” I don’t want to answer her.
    “Nowhere.”
    “Hannah, what the fuck is up with you?”
    “Nothing, it’s just… I need to be away from everything.” I go back into the kitchen and turn the pot of potatoes on and check on the roast. I make popovers as I talk to her.
    “What happened?”
    “I saw him with another woman.” I don’t want to admit any of this to her because she is the queen of holding