A sheriff for Grace

Chapter 17

Steven pov

I wake up in an empty bed. Grace, I'm sure will make breakfast. I go for a shower and when I finish I go to the kitchen.

“Baby?” Where is she?

“Baby, where are you?” I look all the house downstairs and then I go to the bedroom to call her. I see a note in the drawer.

For Steven it says and I open it.

It’s from Grace

“I was an independent lonely girl without attachments, but suddenly you came into my life and changed my world completely. As we looked at each other, my heart pounded. I began to feel things with an intensity that I never thought my heart was capable of feeling. Your love had a magnetic attraction that slowly and drastically changed me for the better. It somehow broke the walls I built around my heart over the years. In all honesty, my uncontrollable and simple ways were just a way to protect myself from love. It was crazy how long it took me to fix these walls, but it only took you a few weeks to tear them down.

You taught me that there was something important that was missing from my life. Maybe I had no one to ignite my soul. One thing is for sure, you ignited every part of my being and I fell in love with you. You spoke to me in a way that no one else has spoken to me, you made me realize my worth as a person and as a woman. You have made me feel emotions on a deep level. You made me feel love in its purest and purest meaning.

I have to admit, I questioned our love more than I should because it's too hard to believe that this amazing thing we're doing is happening to us.

At the same time, I think about my life without you and I feel like a part of me is missing if we take different paths. At the end of it all, things happen for a reason, and all you have to do is go with the flow of events and see what happens. I choose to continue to love you. I know I don't want someone else's lips to kiss me if they are not yours. I don't want someone else's hands to hold me if they are not yours. I love everything about you. Every virtue, every flaw, I love you whole.

I never imagined that would happen to me, but it did. The day came when I wanted to love and feel loved and for that I thank you. One thing is for sure, I enjoy every second with you. I appreciate every breath I take next to you and I will live it to the fullest until the end. Thank you for loving me, thank you for making me forget the world when I'm with you, and thank you for throwing down my walls.

We love each other deeply, I know. It cant be possible that what we experienced was fake. We fell in love so much that a flame penetrated our whole body every time we met. It was love in every sense of the word, with absolutely no discount. This doesn't happen often. I didn't know it existed. I considered loving a fairy tale, which some people created to publish and to write screenplays. And if I have ever tried to convince myself that it exists, I have always failed. I have been trying to fall in love for a long time. To believe that this feeling is magic and not just pain or mediocrity.

It's time, then, that I said I would stop chasing it. If there is what is called "love" let it come by itself, let it work. I confess that a long time passed and he remained missing. I tried to ignore him and accept that he does not exist. But he did not leave me. It came at the most unexpected moment and indeed its entrance was spectacular.

I saw you by chance at the hospital. I felt the click to which so many are referring. I understood immediately. Nobody let me think about it. I didn't manage to hesitate, to have suspensions, to process facts and situations.

It was not something like love. He was himself. Because you simply felt the same. I was happy for as long as it lasted. I felt happy for a while. I didn't care about anything else. No worries, no obligations tormented my mind. Everything was magically erased. Everything looked a little prettier than usual.

It was, however, so intense that it could not last any longer. It was like living all the hymns at the same time. I wanted to go out on the street, run, and shout that I was in love. I lived the dream and I am happy about it. When we were together there was nothing else. It was just us, the love, the passion, the momentum. We spent wonderful evenings together cuddling.

Now I know it exists. There is the absolute, the one that comes like a torrent drags you, and leaves you - when it dries - alone with your wounds. Love is a fairy tale. I lived it too. We lived it together. What to say, my heart, and those who are unaware of its existence. Such is the dishonorable one. It lifts you quickly and throws you at the same speed. I will never forget you. I will always remember you. I will always love you even if I don't have you. You are the strongest I have ever lived. And you will have a special place in my heart. Don’t ask why I have to leave. Don’t come to find me. I’m going to do anything for you to be ok. I don’t want a day to come and hate me for what I cost you. I hope deep in my heart to find what you want. Please don’t hate me. Continue with your life. As for me

Always I will think about you

Always I will miss you

Always I will love you”

What the f**k is that? I tried to call her many times but it's off. What’s the meaning of this? Until yesterday she was happy. We talked about the future. What is this? Is the reason for her straight behavior?

I get dressed and I drive to Sally’s. Janet will be there I’m sure she knows something. I park and I go inside when she sees me, she looks like she knows what I want.

“Janet I need to talk to you”

“I know. Give me one minute” I nod and I go outside. After a few minutes, she comes out too.

“What is this Janet? Why did she leave?” I show her the letter and she sighs

“She didn’t tell me why. Only that she has to leave you. Everything here. I’m sure is about her dad but I swear she didn’t tell me. She didn’t want you to know” I run my fingers in my hair. She says the truth I can see it.

“I don’t understand Janet. We were perfect, she was unhappy?”

“No. She was very happy for the first time in her life I saw her”

“Then why?” I ask and I’m sure I’m crying

“She will not leave you without a reason, Steven. You should remember that. She didn’t talk to anyone so I believe that she was the only way.”

“f**k how I’m going to live without her?”

“Steven please don’t hate her”

“She said the same in the letter. Whatever is it we have to find a solution together. Why did she leave?”

“Maybe there wasn’t another solution”

I went to the station, didn’t know what to do I worked. I tried to call her many times but nothing. She vanished, maybe I go to find her. Janet knows her address. Now I will have driven to the hospital for our lunch break. I look at our picture on my office desk

“Why baby?” I say and I caress the photograph. My phones ring

“Yes Dad”

“How are you, son?”

“No good”

“Why? Are you ok?”

“Is...” I start crying but I hold it

“Grace left”

“What? Where did she go?”

“I don’t know dad. I guess back to California”

“Why?”

“Dad, please. I don’t know. She left a letter that she was leaving and not coming back. I don’t know anything else”

“She was acting weird when she came Saturday”

“What she said?”

“That she is very happy that she met us. She thanked us that we welcome her into the family and things like that”

“I don’t get it”

“Son. I’m sure there is a reason”

“I know but why she didn’t say it”

“I don’t know son”

After a while, I end the call. I can’t talk right now. My mom, Aiden, and Becca tried to call but I didn’t answer. I finished the work, most of it, and then I went to Janet's house. Maybe she finds out something.

“Janet please tell me that you find something?”

“I’m sorry. She didn’t call. All I know is what she told me two days ago” she says and she sniffs. I see that she says the truth.

“I don’t understand either Steven. She was so happy. I know for sure. She left because there was a reason.” She says and she walks up and down in the living room

“And she didn’t tell me anything. That’s serious. She always tells me everything. When you had your first date she called me and she was so excited. She loved her life here” she says and she sits down. Jeremy is coming downstairs

“Honey, are you ok?” He asks and sits next to her

“No, I’m not. Grace was so happy here. Why did she leave?”

“Ok let's put everything in place,” Jeremy says

“You notice a straight behavior in her?” He asks me. I try to think and then it hit me

“Friday morning. She was as always. Every morning she makes breakfast and then we go to work. When I called her for lunch break she sounded weird. And then when I went to the hospital she was sad for some reason. She didn’t want to tell so I didn’t press her” I sigh

“I should have pressed her to tell me”

“She wouldn’t tell you,” Janet says

“Something happens between when she left for the hospital and when you call her,” Jeremy said

“You can ask at the hospital. Someone calls her or sees her?” Jeremy continues. He sees everything from the outside and he can think clearly

“Ok. I will call Dr.Smith and I will go there tomorrow. I hope to find something” I say and I take a deep breath

“If she calls you Janet please tell me”

“I will,” she says and I leave for home. I called Dr. Smith but the only he told me was that Friday she quit the hospital. She didn’t say why. But Dr. Smith said she was unhappy with that decision.

“f**k Grace why?” I yell and I break a jar from the table. The whole night I didn’t sleep well thinking about the reasons why she left. I go to the hospital early in the morning I ask who worked with Grace on Friday and I find the nurse.

“I don’t know who he is. A man in his early sixties asked to see her. I led him to her office and then I informed Dr. MacLean. After that visit she was different and then I learned that she quit.” a nurse Carol said

“She didn’t tell you anything?”

“No. I’m sorry. But I believe that man has to do something about Dr. MacLean leaving the hospital”

“Thank you,” I say and I leave. Who was that guy? I called Janet and I described the guy.

“I don’t like that I going to say but it looks like Mr. MacLean is visiting Grace”

“You sure?”

“Yes, Steven. Im sure and now I know a reason that might she left”

“Who is that?”

“He threatened her with something. Grace will not leave you like that”

I thanked her and I went to the station. I sit at the office and I rest my head on my palms. What he will possibly tell her and make her leave?