Free 47 Destinies: Finding Grace by Marlies Schmudlach Perez

crush for sure.  She felt like she was a schoolgirl all over again.  The sensations were surprising and felt so incredibly good.  But was it a rebound after her love for Derek?  Grace was filled with fear and doubt.
    She put her nerves aside and just as a young teenager would primp for a weekend date, Grace found herself taking twice as long to get ready.  Since she had plenty of choices for outfits, she waited until Saturday to make the final selection in order to fit her exact mood.  While she was jittery with anticipation, her mood was also confident.  She chose a pair of skinny jeans and a sea green blouse that matched her eyes.  Instead of putting her hair up like she normally did when going out, she curled it slightly so it hung seductively around her flawless skin, barely skimming her cheekbones.  Her coffee colored eye shadow and chocolate brown eyeliner caused her eyes to pop.  She looked exotic and sexy.  It was a daring look for Grace, but she wore it well.  She hoped that Todd would notice the change.
    Todd’s nerves also began to act up as he drove to Grace’s house.  What happened to the idea that he wasn’t dating ever again?  Where was his resolve to live his life alone?  What was Grace Locke doing to him?  She wove some magical spell of innocence and desire over him without even knowing it.  His heart was in huge trouble and he knew it.
    Grace jumped and then giggled when she heard the doorbell.  She opened the door with the sweetest smile.
    “Hi!” Grace said like a little girl.  She even twirled around as she moved forward to hug Todd.
    Todd lost his words.  The woman in front of him was even more alluring than when he last saw her.  She looked like a princess straight out of a fairytale. 
    “Grace,” was all Todd managed to say. “You literally took my breath away,” he admitted without hesitation.
    Grace melted.  She took her hand and gently brushed his cheek.  “Thank you, Todd.”
    Grace’s touch was electric.  It sent shocks of desire throughout his system.  Todd had to resist every urge in his body to sweep Grace up in his arms and lay her down on the couch so he could kiss her from head to toe.  However, Grace was not that type of woman.  She had depth, morals and children to consider.  Todd wanted to move things slowly so she wouldn’t be scared off.  Grace deserved a considerate man. 
    “Grace, these are for you,” Todd said.
    Grace turned and faced Todd.  “They are beautiful.  I love pink stargazer lilies!  How did you know that they are one of my favorite flowers?”
    “A good guess on my part and a little help from our mutual friend, Cora,” Todd admitted with a chuckle. 
    “Let me place these in water and then we can leave,” Grace said, dashing off into the kitchen.  “Please make yourself at home.”
    The place was exactly as Todd expected.  Clean, organized and classy.  While her home was very large, it held the feeling of a beachside cottage.  It was relaxing and refreshing all at the same time.  Pillows dominated every room, yet nothing was overdone.  Toys outnumbered the pillows.  There was no doubt that children lived here. 
    Todd inspected a few pictures while he waited.  He was drawn especially to the family portrait that hung in the hallway.  Grace was holding a baby and a little boy stood next to her.  A very handsome man with black hair held Grace in his arms.  The look on his face radiated pure love for the woman he held in his arms and the children by his side.  Derek Locke: the man who still held Grace’s heart.  Todd wasn’t jealous when he saw Derek.  He felt pain for Grace.  To have known such a deep love only to lose it must have crushed her spirit.
    Grace walked up next to Todd.  “This was my life,” Grace said as she hooked her arm into Todd’s.  “I look at it every day and wonder why it turned out so differently than I imagined back then.”
    “There are many questions in life with so few