Page 39 (1/2)
Grace s her Elizabeth needed no urging and snuggled i," Grace said "I have too aze found Rio’s as she spoke, and his warently over her face
He walked around to the other side of her bed, pulled up a chair and sat He took her fۀHe took ree hand, the one that wasn’t occupied with holding Elizabeth, and he ran his fingers over the back of her hand and then her pal himself that she was here and alive
"How are you feeling?"
She thought about it for awhat hurt and what didn’t
"Tired," she finally said "Mentally tired Like I’ue istha
n the physical pain"
"That’s understandable," he said gently "You’ve been through a lot It’s a you still have your sanity intact"
Elizabeth snuggled harder into Grace’s side and laid her head on Grace’s shoulder Her tiny hand crept over Grace’s belly until she rapped firlance at the little girl, who’d gained and lost so , as if she too had reached her lih to rest
Grace smiled and pressed a soft kiss to Elizabeth’s hair When she was sure Elizabeth was asleep, she turned to Rio, her gaze worried
"What will happen to her? She has no one"
Rio smiled, slid their hands over to cup over Elizabeth’s "She has us"
For a moment, his answer didn’t sink in, but when it did, tears pricked her eyelids and she blinked furiously as her vision blurred
"And I have you," he said as he leaned forward to brush his lips over hers "I have everything I could possibly want right here"
CHAPTER 41
IT was a frustration for Grace that the first ti to see her sister in over a year was on her sister’s wedding day She wanted to coed from the hospital, but Rio had tucked her and Elizabeth away i than eat and rest for several weeks
While it had frustrated her, she had needed that tirieved for her father, even knowing the sort of uilt over her part in the whole sordid affair
It had been a good tiood to theentle and understanding he’d been with them and how he’d spoiled theh-as-nails, badass old and a soft spot a mile wide
Rio drove into the Kelly compound, and Grace marveled at its size and also how it resembled a ot all about her surroundings when she saw her sister running to meet the vehicle
"Stop!" she cried to Rio
Rio braked, and before he’d co as fast as she could to meet her sister
They met halfway and Shea threw her arms around Grace Shea was the s like she was three ti on Just holding on
Tears ran freely down Grace’s cheeks "I love you," she choked out "I can’t believe we’re together That we’re here"
Shea’s muffled sobs were lost in Grace’s shoulder The two sisters stood in the sun, hugging, ހslaughing, crying and then hugging soathered, all present for the double wedding They sently while the Kelly wives and wife-to-be sniffled and wiped at their eyes
Rio got out and leaned against the hood of the SUV, s as he watched the sisters’ reunion Elizabeth snuck into his side and he wrapped his arm around her
"They must have missed each other an awful lot," Elizabeth said
"Yeah, they did," Rio said softly "They’ve been apart for a very long time"
After several more minutes, they broke apart and wiped at each other’s faces with their hands Finally they gave up, laughing
"Come on, there are so many people I want you to meet," Shea said as she pulled at Grace
Grace turned to look back at Rio and Elizabeth
"We’re fine," he ed Grace tohere the others were gathered a short distance away She beamed as she pushed Grace forward
"Grace, I’d like you to meet my--our--faain at the inclusion of her as family to all these others
"This is Rachel, Ethan’s wife"
The pretty brunette with soft brown eyes hugged Grace fiercely "Welcome to our family, Grace"
"And this is Sahter, Charlotte"
Sophie stepped forward, a toddler on her hip, and smiled broadly at Grace "It’s wonderful to finally lad you’re here and safe Shea’s been so worried for you"
Grace s with emotion
"This is Sarah, Garrett’s fiancée, andwith their wedding plans, so I know they’re just happy to get on with it at this point"
Sarah laughed and punched Shea in the ar will be soIncluding you, Grace"