Free The Way of Grace (Miller's Creek Novels) by Cathy Bryant

d thrown the surprise party —but now she couldn’t help wondering if Papa was right.
    Grace checked the time again. 3:45. Matt was staying tru e to form, and without knowing it, giving v alidity to Papa’s opinion .
    One way or an other, once he arrived, she had to find a way to let him know she was only interested i n friend ship.  I t would b e hard, but it was the right thing to do.
    Just as s he began to lay down her things , a yuc ky green car pulled into the driveway. Matt?
    Rather than embarrass him with Papa’s rude treatment, she opted to let herself out the front door and met him as he climbed from the pea-green car. “ Where’ d you get this ?”
    Matt squinted against the sun. “ I gather from the look on your face that you don’t like it?”
    “The color is . . . um, rather institutional, don’t you think?” Grace moved to the passenger side, and Matt followed.
    “At one time, someone probably paid a lot of money for this custom color.”
    “I sure hope they got a good price.” She eyed the beat-up car and the brown rusty hole in the back fender. Maybe no one would notice her in the car. She scrunched up her nose. Yeah, right . It wasn’t the kind of car people didn’t notice.
    “ All right , little Miss Perfect, may I remind you that you drive around in a beat-up wh ite farm truck from the sixties? ”
    She glared at him. “That’s different. Everyone in Texas drives a pick up.”
    “Not me.” He stood with arms crossed and his chin lifted.
    Grace rolled her eyes and opened the door. “No, you drive the puke-mobile.”
    Matt laughed and held the door while she climbed in. “Hey, I like that name!” He closed the door and moved to the driver’s side.
    She glanced around the shabby interior . F igured he was the kind of guy who actually enjoy ed the derogatory nickname .
    A few minutes lat er they parked close to Granny’s Kitchen. Grac e couldn’t help but smile as she cross ed Main Street to her hometown café, where l ight shone f rom the plate glass windows. Sh e could smell the mouth-watering food from outside .
    T he bell above the door announce d t he i r arrival , and the usual crew looked up and waved . As Grace scooted into the booth she and Matt always occupied , a feeling of contentment washed over her. How she loved these people!
    Mama Beth and Big Bo sat at a table with Steve and Dani , or “Mr. and Mrs . Mayor ” as the townspeople call ed them. A loud burst of laughter echoed from nearby. Grace knew it was Coot without even l ooking. She turned her head their direction. J.C., Coot, Otis , and the rest of the old geeze rs congregated at a booth , most likely discussing the latest gossip .
    One of the Grannies zigzagged through the tables to where they sat. “Hey, kiddos, what can I git cha ?”
    “Two h ot chocolate s , please, and bring them in cups with lids. ” As she bustl ed away, Matt made eye contact with Grace, his sandy brown eyes ap ologetic. “Sorry I was late, but I can explain. I went to see Trish, but she had to go pick up Bo. The baby was asleep and she needed me to stay with Bra —”
    “ No excuses necessary .”
    “But they’re not excuses. I really did have to baby sit. ”
    Grace pointed a finger at him. “ Just stop already .”
    He raised both hands in surrender. She could practically see words slamming into each other behind h is teeth, but he kept his lips clamped in a tight smile.
    The Granny arrived with two large cup s of steaming hot cocoa and placed them on the table , the chocolaty aroma teas ing Grace’s nose.
    Across the table, Matt grew unusually quiet. He stared at nothing , his eyes glazed . Uh oh. This couldn’t be good. Something was brewing in that head of his.
    “Earth to Matt.”
    He blinked and sat up straighter. “Sorry. Guess I kinda zoned out there.”
    She gingerly sip ped the cocoa , careful not to burn her mouth. Dare she ask? “What’s on your mind?”
    As expected, he jumped on the invitation. “Remember