She slowly pulled back from his embrace.
“I think I need to be alone, Sandman. I need some time alone.”
He nodded his head and accepted her request. He was too good to be true. Too perfect for the likes of her and this situation.
“Call me if you need anything.” He softly kissed her lips. She watched him leave the room then touched fingers to her lips. She loved his kisses. She loved the connection she felt for him, Big Jay, and Duke.
Grace walked back to the desk and sat down, reading over the e-mails again. It was too much to take in and to accept as reality.
She laid her head down on the desk and closed her eyes as she began to think about growing up with her mom and dad, brothers, and Clara.
Grace was only three years old when her father Frank Sr. had passed away from cancer. She had a good memory and recalled a lot of good times with him and her siblings.
He was a sheriff for many years until he got sick, became weak and had to retire early. He loved being a lawman. It was in his blood. She guessed it ran in the family considering John, Frank, and even Peter’s choice of careers.
Her mom had a hard time dealing with the loss of her husband. It took her more than ten years to finally start dating. One day her mom told her that since Grace was fifteen years old, she could start to focus on herself. Her wants and needs in life.
That was when she met Eric. He was a nice man who was married once before and had lost his wife to cancer as well. They met at some community volunteer event and that was how they began dating.
He opened a hardware store in town, after buying out and taking over the small, beat-up old one Henry Tucker used to own.
Eric tore the building down and renovated the whole place. It was very well known in the area and he actually opened up two others.
They got married that same year after Grace’s sixteenth birthday.
They made a very nice couple and Eric was pretty decent. He did, however, want the kids to call him dad, but they refused.
As far as they were concerned, they had a dad. His name was Frank Thompson Sr. and he was their only dad.
Finally after many discussions they opted for “Eric” and that was final.
As the years went on Eric traveled a lot between stores and her mom would sometimes travel with him. Then they decided to get involved with politics.
Eric figured with Mom’s great personality and his good business sense they would make the perfect local, political couple.
Grace’s mom started getting involved in charity organizations and was Eric’s campaign manager. She also helped Donald out a lot with different fundraisers and community welfare programs.
Grace remembered one time she and Clara got mad at Eric because he told them they couldn’t go out on a double date with these two boys they liked.
He said he didn’t trust them and that she and Clara were way too young to date. They laughed at him saying they were seventeen and eighteen years old, old enough to live out on their own and do as they pleased. Grace laughed as she recalled her and her sister’s stubbornness.
Eric wouldn’t budge. He sent them to their rooms and of course, being defiant teenagers they snuck out.
Eric found out and was furious and unfortunately their mom agreed with him. They were so upset with Eric that they snuck out again and drew funny faces on all his political posters that hung near the hardware store.
At the time it was very funny and they both felt they achieved their revenge on him. Eric was really angry.
As time went on Eric became a little more controlling of their mother, wanting her to be the best-dressed politician’s wife, have the best car, act a certain way…and so on. Grace’s mom didn’t have a day off but she claimed she wouldn’t have it any other way.
When Grace’s brothers made their achievements, graduating from the police academy, passing the bar exam, and becoming first grade detective it only added to their perfect political family.
Then that early June only three years ago, when her older sister Clara disappeared, their perfect little family fell apart.
The media went crazy. The town was swarming with investigators, reporters, camera crews, and television vans. It was crazier than when the carnival came to town and it pulled in just as much attention and people.
She didn’t want to relive any of it as she changed her thoughts back to Clara.
She went over their conversations in her head. First when she called to say she was coming home, then after she arrived and they hung out together talking about Alan. Poor Alan was even investigated and was called a possible suspect in Clara’s murder by the media before the police even questioned Alan.