Saving Grace Read Online Free PDF Page A

spending time with Grace…and the other kids.
    “Really?” HW’s green eyes turned the size of drink coasters. He and Cart exchanged a look, and both nodded excitedly.
    “Think that’s a good idea, Cart?” She wanted him to talk for himself instead of always having his brother do it for him.
    Cart nodded and grinned at her like he knew she wanted him to speak, but he didn’t feel like it.
    He was smart and sneaky—Grace liked that about him.
    “Hey Grace, when you get a chance, can I talk to you,” CoCo eyed her brothers, “in private?”
    “Sure.” Grace knelt down, gathered up the money in her case and shoved it in her pocket. She unhooked her guitar strap, placed it gently in the case, and closed the lid. “I’m parked in the garage. Everyone hold hands.”
    She took Cart’s left hand, HW took his right, and CoCo grabbed HW’s other hand. They walked across the street and down two blocks.
    “So, when was the last time y’all rode the Zilker train?” She made sure everyone stayed together while they walked down the sidewalk. None of the kids had a jacket. Today, the high was in the sixties, but tonight it would be in the forties. She needed to get them home before sunset.
    “Never.” HW looked up at her. “Is it fun? Do they got a conductor?”
    “Do they have a conductor?” She corrected him. “No. It’s a small train that goes around Zilker Park, but it’s so fun. After, we can play at the park if you want.”
    HW and Cart practically vibrated they nodded so violently.
    CoCo’s phone buzzed with a text. They all stopped. She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and checked the screen. “Dad wants you to call him.”
    Grace took her time working her phone out of her back pocket. While she would have loved to have seen his face when he’d read CoCo’s text, she didn’t relish this conversation. Being dismissed or ignored all together wasn’t her favorite way to communicate. She typed in her password to unlock her iPhone. “What’s his number?”
    Coco leaned over and punched the numbers in.
    Grace hit send and put the phone to her ear.
    He answered on the second ring. “Hello.”
    There was a lot of yelling and a whistle blew.
    “This is Grace Kelley. You wanted to speak with me.” She was going for bored, but it came out pissy.
    “I’ll be right with you.” There was some shuffling on his end, and the yelling got fainter and fainter. A door slammed shut, and then he said, “Sorry. I’m running some plays with the offensive line. I’m in the locker room now.”
    “The kids took a taxi to downtown to find me—”
    “I’m not happy about that and…” He took a deep breath. “Sorry about the way I treated you the other night.”
    Grace hadn’t known she was capable of stunned silence, but there it was. After a few seconds, she finally made her mouth work. “That sounded painful. I’m going to need a moment to gloat.”
    Winning was right up there with ice cream on her favorites list, especially when it must have cost him dearly.
    “Ha ha, very funny.” Nervous laughter boomed through the phone. “You should know, I don’t apologize often.”
    “That’s why I’m gloating.” She smiled to herself. “I’m maximizing your feeling of discomfort. Is it working?”
    “Yes. How long does this gloating process take?” The laughter was gone, but his tone was genial. “I’m on the clock. I’ve got drills to finish, a coaches meeting, an owner’s meeting, and game films to watch.”
    “It’s March that’s the off season, right?” Grace didn’t know much about football except what she’d picked up waitressing at a sports bar.
    “Sweetheart, for me, there is no off season. This just happens to be the time of year when there aren’t any games.” When he wasn’t busy being an ass, he was kind of a nice guy.
    “We too are very busy. We’re headed to Zilker Park to ride the train, and eat snow cones, and then I’m taking the Robbins brood home where we hope