Chapter 12

“Do you want some eggs?” Grace asked her brother.

Steve adjusted his tie, pausing for a moment in front of the mirror. It took him a few seconds to recognize the man staring back. He had finally shaved off his summer beard, and the change made him look unfamiliar—even to himself.

He turned and smiled at his younger sister. “No, thanks. I’ll grab a cup of coffee on the way to school.”

“Well, you’d better be off. Don’t want to keep you from that cute new redhead teacher.”

Ever since he’d casually mentioned his conversation with Diana, Grace hadn’t missed a chance to tease him. Steve stuffed his teacher binder into his backpack, rolling his eyes.

“Did I tell you she wants to volunteer at Equal Opportunity?”

Grace gave an exaggerated eye roll. “Only about seven times.”

“Well, she does,” he muttered, opening the fridge and pulling out his lunch. The rest of the shelves were almost bare. “Want me to grab something for dinner on my way home? I can stop and pick up groceries if you send me a list.”

“You’ll be on your own for dinner tonight,” Grace said, her voice just a bit too casual as she picked at her nails—a telltale sign she was nervous.

Steve set his bags on the counter and narrowed his eyes slightly. “So you’ve got plans tonight? Going out with one of your girlfriends?”

Grace avoided his gaze, looking out the kitchen window. “A guy is taking me out. He seems nice.”

Steve crossed his arms, battling the papa-bear instinct that always rose when it came to Grace. The kind that made him want to scare off any man within a ten-foot radius. She was an adult now, but she’d always be his little sister.

She should’ve been married by now—if Peggy hadn’t died. If he hadn’t needed Grace so badly. After Peggy’s death, Steve had spiraled into depression, barely functioning. Grace had moved in when she realized he couldn’t manage on his own.

“Do you like him?” he asked, keeping his tone neutral.

“Down, boy. It’s just dinner, not a proposal.” She clutched her purse tightly in one hand. “What’s your problem anyway? I didn’t ask for your approval. And I definitely don’t need you to protect me—I can take care of myself.”

Steve reached out and gently caught her arm before she could leave the room.

“Just ... be careful, okay? You’re all I’ve got. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I know,” Grace said softly. “But you can’t protect me forever. Love is a risk worth taking.”

She slipped out of his grasp and brushed past him toward the front door. “You’re going to be late for work,” she added, jerking a thumb toward the oversized clock on the wall.

Technically, he still had twenty minutes before he needed to be in his classroom. But she was right—he should get going.

He paused with his hand on the door. “Grace,” he called.

She turned slightly, her expression softer now.

“I love you.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I love you too.”

Steve stepped back and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Have a good day.”

He climbed into his truck and backed out of the driveway.

“You can’t protect me forever.”

It wasn’t the first time Grace had said those words. But today, they echoed in his mind differently—more clearly. Maybe because deep down, he knew she was right.

He’d spent years trying to shield the people he loved—Peggy, Grace, even Diana lately—from pain, danger, loss. He’d carried the burden like it was his alone to bear. But the truth was no amount of protection could stop the world from spinning the way it wanted to.

Peggy had made her own choice that night. And Grace was making hers now.

He couldn’t keep everyone safe. He couldn’t control what life threw at them. And maybe it was time he stopped trying.

Maybe love wasn’t about shielding people from the fall.

Maybe it was just about being there to help them stand back up.