Grace noticed the yard was much improved since she's seen it last. Either Jack had been planting or he'd had landscapers come create the lovely gardens. Plants lined the walkway to the pool. There was also a new pristine white canopy out on the lawn that was strung with twinkle lights that Jack seemed to be testing. The tiny white lights came to life and they flickered on and off randomly, like stars in the night sky. There was a fire pit she hadn't noticed before, as well.
Was Jack planning a romantic homecoming for her? Grace was so full of hope for the future that tears sprang to her eyes. She couldn't wait any longer, so she sprinted down the hall. Grace was sure once Jack knew she was home he'd get rid of his company. She didn't want to be rude, but sometimes there was no help for it. She and Jack needed to talk. But first she wanted to get him in that huge cozy bed for a few hours.
Grace raced down stairs without making any effort at being quiet. She rounded the corner and crossed the formal living room to the connecting family room where Jack often relaxed in front of the television. In the kitchen she found a recipe book open on the counter and various grocery bags full of ingredients waiting to be put away or used in a delicious meal. It did look like her sweet man had planned a beautiful welcome home celebration for the two of them. She wasn't sure she could be polite to Jack's company but she would have to try. Her emotions were all over the charts and she needed Jack to help her make order of the chaos in her mind.
The sliding door to the back porch was open as she approached but the conversation she overheard brought Grace up short.
"What the fuck do you mean you're getting married? You can't get married! I will kill the son of a bitch."
Grace couldn't see the speaker's face. He was a big man with broad shoulders. His back was to her, blocking her view of Jack.
"I'm getting married, Matthew, I think. My proposal hasn't exactly been accepted, yet, but it will be. And you aren't killing anyone." Jack sounded calm. His companion sounded ready to murder.
"Try and stop me!" Matthew's huge hands were fists at his sides. His body vibrated with anger. "You're mine, Jackson! Did you forget that? Because I didn't!"
"You won't be hurting anyone, much less my wife. I haven't seen you or heard a word from you since our break up." Now Jack's annoyance was evident. "You walked out on me, Matthew! I'm sorry I forgot to roll over and die."
"I was giving you time to cool off and reconsider!" Matthew was nearly shouting. He turned suddenly and smashed a beefy fist into one of the concrete supports that held the balcony above. He let out an animalistic sounding roar of frustration. His back expanded rapidly with his agitated breathing. He shook out his hand and blood dripped from his fingers onto the pavers. Grace shuddered. She wondered if Matthew would actually try to hurt her.
"Did that make you feel better?" Jack retrieved a towel from the stack he kept ready for pool use and handed it to Matthew. She could see him now. He looked sad instead of angry as his voice implied.
Grace thought she should give them privacy. Matthew was clearly hurt by Jack's decision to carry on with his life. Jack was trying to make Matthew see that they were really over. It was wrong of her to listen in on this private moment, but she was frozen in place. This was her greatest fear. Jack loved Matthew. You didn't forget the person you intended to spend your life with, even if they broke your heart. What if he changed his mind? What if Jack wanted Matthew back now that he was here looking for a second chance.
She was captivated by the magnificence of the two men. They were both breathtaking in their own way. Jack was elegant with an air of power and control, even in his jeans and a t-shirt while he worked in the yard. Matthew in his jeans, riding boots, and black tank top were just as commanding in a different way. The man's arms were the size of Grace's waist.
Matthew's stance was so aggressive she feared he might hurt Jack. Jack could take care of himself, but if Matthew laid a hand on Jack, Grace was going to intervene. Jack shook his head looking regretful and moved out into the yard. He resumed his work, placing solar lights along the edge of the now lushly planted walkway leading to the pool area.
"Did you say w-wife?" Matthew seemed to have finally absorbed Jack's words. There was dawning horror in that last word.
"Yes, my soon to be wife – I hope – will be home tomorrow," Jack replied without pausing in his task.
"Are you that desperate to have a baby?"
Grace jerked liked she'd been slapped and her hand automatically flew to her still very flat belly. As if she were protecting the child Jack still had no idea was on the way. She'd rushed home early to tell him the news she'd only learned the day before.
"Fuck you, man! This has nothing to do with having kids! I love Grace. I have always loved Grace! You say that shit again and I'll take off your fucking head!" Jack was in a fury. "You can leave now. There's nothing left to say." Jack stormed down the path to the pool. Matthew followed.
"It's Grace?" Matthew asked. He sounded defeated now. Grace moved closer to the door so she could hear them out in the yard. Wrong or not, she had a child to protect now. So she needed to hear it all.
"I said leave, Matthew." Jack refused to look at the other man.
"I . . ." Matthew's shoulders slumped. It was like the big man had folded in on himself. He seemed to be struggling for words. "I'm sorry I said that. I'm just so frustrated, Jack. I love you. You know I love you."
Jack made no reply at all. She'd never seen him look so livid. He was making his way down the path with a tape measure getting the distance between lights exactly equal before planting them in the soil with far more force than was needed for the job. She felt better knowing he would defend their love and take offense at the implication that she was nothing more than a means to an end.
"You told me all about Grace. She's the reason you never dated women, wasn't she?" Matthew asked but he didn't seem to need an answer.
"I have nothing left to say to you."
"Nothing? After two years together you have nothing left to say?" Matthew's voice broke. Jack jerked his head around to glare at Matthew. Matthew was now standing in the thick carpet of grass. Jack was parallel to him on the pavers. Grace had a side view of them now.
"You didn't have anything left to say when our engagement ended. What do you expect me to say now? We are over. I have started a life with someone who I love very much. She's beautiful and open-minded. She accepts me for who I am. She loves me for who I am."
"I love you, too." Matthew interjected. Jack kept talking like he hadn't heard the heart felt words.
"My feelings are as important to Grace as hers are to me. What you did was emotional terrorism in my mind, Matthew. So what, your plan was to withhold your love until I learn my lesson, until I see things your way? Grace would never do that to me." He paused and turned away from Matthew. Silent tears ran down his ruggedly handsome face. "And, yes, I hope we do have children when the time is right. That's what married people do. They make a family together."
Jack sounded exhausted. He looked aimlessly around the lawn seeming lost and unsure what to do next. He changed direction and came toward the house. Grace took several hasty steps backward.
"I said I love you, Jackson. Did you hear me?"
"I heard you." Jack was passing Matthew but he didn't look at him.
Grace could see the tears glistening on Jack's lashes and her confidence fractured a bit. He was hurting. He was hurting over Matthew.
"Tell me you don't love me, Jackson. I need to hear it. You've given me every reason in the world to leave, except for the one I need. If you still love me we have a chance to make this right."
"I love Grace. It's too late for us."
Jack was almost to the patio when Matthew took three long strides and grabbed Jack's arm. He looked ready to fight. Grace stepped forward. If Matthew thought to hit Jack she would make her presence known. She couldn't get involved physically but she could call for help. Grace's hand moved back to the place where her baby grew safe and warm inside her. She quickly pulled her cell from her back pocket and prepared to dial 911.
Matthew forced Jack to turn and look at him. "I asked if you love me, not Grace. That was a non-answer, Jackson. Maybe I need to remind you."
Matthew wrapped one giant hand around the nape of Jack's neck and gripped his hair to hold him still. He fisted the other hand in Jack's shirt and took his mouth in a forceful kiss. Grace watched in shock. Jack struggled and pushed at Matthew's chest. He made sounds of protest. Matthew growled into Jack's mouth and fisted the hand in his hair tighter. Matthew tugged harshly on that hair until Jack's head was tilted back, giving Matthew a better angle from his impressive height.