Kimberly Grace’s Stories

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear my latest short fiction story, Grandma’s Prayer Porch… Counting to three in her head, Caroline pursed her lips in an attempt to remain patient. Her six-year-old daughter, Olivia, lay at her feet, kicking and screaming in protest. Caroline had tried several times to quiet her child as her mother sat just outside the open door on the front porch, rocking back and forth quietly. She knew her mom loved it when Olivia came to visit, but her daughter was unfortunately not in a very receptive, happy mood today.“I don’t want to be here! I want to go home now! It’s so boring here.”Olivia pounded her tiny, balled-up fists against the hardwood floor. Caroline crouched down to get more on her level. Her daughter turned her head the other way and sobbed.“Honey, Grandma loves it when we come to visit. She lives here all alone, so it’s nice for her to have some company, right?”“But it’s boring here! All she does is sit on that porch and rock. I wanted to play with Jenny today. She has a pool!”Caroline tried to rub her back, but Olivia pushed her hand away. Reaching for one of the dolls they brought, she tried to pretend the dolly was asking her to play. Olivia took the doll and threw it across the room. It landed hard against the wall with a loud thud that even the hard of hearing would find difficult to ignore. Caroline heard her mother call for her instantly. She got up from her knees and sighed in resignation as she crossed the small front threshold to the open door. Poking her head out, Caroline was greeted with a gentle breeze that only temporarily relieved the heat of the day. Despite it being a humid 82 degrees out, Caroline smiled at her mother, who was nestled happily in her polka dot afghan. “Sorry, Mom. I don’t think Olivia is in the mood for a visit today. Perhaps we should try another day later this week?”Caroline watched as her mother folded and unfolded the end of the blanket with her trembling hands. Those hands that once were the strong, capable providers of carrying so much now looked so fragile and unpredictable. Her heart hurt seeing how much her mom had changed since the last visit. The new medication appeared to be working, but of course, there were always unwanted side effects involved.“Plea-please have her come out-outside, d-dear?”A lump formed in Caroline’s throat as her mother coughed for a long moment. It was hard watching the woman who did so much in her life be reduced to only being able to do so little. She nodded and turned around to go find Olivia. On the way, she prayed her stubborn child would grant her grandmother’s request. She had no idea how many more chances they would get to meet like this, and Caroline wished her daughter would realize just how special her grandma was to all of them.“Olivia?”Olivia raised her head from the spot where she lay on the floor and revealed one of her eyes with a quizzical, raised eyebrow in response.“Grandma wants to see you. Please go to her. I promise, we can leave after that.”To Caroline’s great shock, Olivia jumped up quickly and hurried to the front. Hopefully, she would at least give her grandma a hug goodbye. It was clear to Caroline that her daughter’s sudden burst of energy was due more to the fact that Olivia had latched onto the “leaving soon” part of the deal. Caroline walked over to the door but hung back just a bit to not intrude on their time together. However, a frown creased her face when she heard Olivia telling her grandmother she thought her rocking on the porch was boring.“B-boring? Oh, my sweet child. Did no one ever tell you what I do out here? No, no. This is very important work I’m doing out here, Olivia.”Olivia cocked her head to the side, and Caroline had to stiffle a laugh. Her mom didn’t hold hers in, though. She laughed and gave her signature smile that had always made Caroline feel safe and at ease growing up.“Are you sure you want to know? Because if I tell you, you have to promise to help me with my mission. It’s very important work.”Even though Caroline couldn’t see Olivia’s eyes, she knew that they had to be as wide as saucers now. She saw her child’s head nod up and down in a rapid, serious manner. Caroline’s mom clapped her hands.“Good. Now that’s the spirit. Come here and look over there. Do you see that woman? That’s Ms. Jacobs. She lives across the street with her three boys. She’s a single mother. Do you know what we have to do for her?”Olivia shook her head no and waited with great anticipation to find out. Caroline’s mother adjusted the afghan once more, but let it fall once Olivia decided to climb into her lap.“We need to pray for her. And do you see that man, by the mailboxes? He’s on crutches. That’s Mr. Nelson. I haven’t found out how he hurt himself, but we must pray for him, too. Now your turn. Do you see anyone we can pray for?”Olivia turned her head back and forth to look around the entire neighborhood. Caroline looked too. She saw a lady walking a dog and a man riding a bicycle.“The man riding the bike. We should pray he doesn’t get hurt. I fell off my bike once, and it hurt really bad.”“Absolutely. Good job, Olivia. I often pray for the safety of those I see out here. So what do you think of Grandma’s mission? I call this my prayer porch, and I pray for everybody I see.”Later that night, when Caroline and Olivia had long gone home, they had just finished supper, and it was almost time for bed. Caroline walked around to the familiar places she usually found her daughter before bedtime. She wasn’t sitting in front of the TV or playing in the finished basement with all of her toys. Caroline couldn’t seem to find her anywhere. She finally had a thought and decided to check the front porch.After stepping out onto their large wraparound porch, she grinned upon finding Olivia wrapped up in one of her blankets, sitting on one of their rocking chairs. Caroline came over and sat down in the chair next to hers. She didn’t even need to ask her what she was doing.“I’m praying for our neighbors, Mommy—just like Grandma! I already prayed for Mrs. Stevens, Mr. Baker, and Jimmy. Jimmy was riding his bike without a helmet. I gave him some extra prayers for safety and wisdom.”Caroline felt the tears welling in the corner of her eyes. How quickly one’s mood could change with a new perspective. She prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude for her sweet Momma.“Can we visit Grandma tomorrow?”“I thought you had a playdate with Jenny tomorrow. You were excited to go swimming.”“Can we move it to another day, Mom? I really want to tell Grandma about all the people I prayed for tonight!”Caroline got up and kissed the top of her sweet child’s head. Then she lifted her yawning, very sleepy girl up into her arms.“Of course, honey. We can visit Grandma tomorrow. She will be so proud of you.”Caroline’s heart felt full of such gratitude. That night, she held tightly to the great love and care her daughter compassionately exemplified for her mother, a woman who did not waste her time wallowing in all she had lost, but still offered up her time and heart for others.“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”2 Corinthians 4:18“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.”1 Timothy 2:1“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”Galatians 6:2Kimberly’s ReflectionThere are many times throughout our lives when we have to do things we don’t want to do. One thing I try to do, and I’m not perfect in this, is that when I have to run a particular errand or go to an unpleasant appointment, I try to take the opportunity to people-watch in the waiting rooms. It’s interesting to me to see all the different people gathered there together. Most people who are waiting go on their phones, but some chat or read. I try to think about what may be going on in their lives and use what they're wearing or have with them as clues. Then I pray for them, striving to ask for provision according to each of their unique needs. It gives the waiting time a purpose. It also helps me keep my mind off the wait. I chose to illustrate my story with a grandma and a porch because I believe a lot of older people get categorized as not very useful in their old age. It’s almost as if once someone reaches a certain age, they just fade into the background and can be forgotten. I heard a pastor say, “If you have a pulse, you have a purpose,” and I could not agree more. Everyone can notice those around them, no matter where you are, and offer up prayers for others—yes, even for strangers. May we remember that no matter our age, we offer a valuable service to others when we lift them up in prayer. They may never know what we’re doing, but our Heavenly Father certainly does. Amen.As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you!Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”Hebrews 10:24Substack Recommendations💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Haven, Mandy, and Jillian! 💖You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:🌟Just Because🌟You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here:🌟A Holy Ache🌟You can check out Jillian’s insightful and thoughtful scripture reading Substack, Thorns to a Myrtle Tree, here:🌟Thorns to a Myrtle Tree🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear my latest flash fiction story, Into His protective fog… Kara gripped the side door handle tightly as the car swerved slowly around another curve. Her husband of eleven years, Tyler, appeared much too relaxed for her liking. The dense fog had quickly enveloped their car, leaving only a few feet in front of them clear. It had not been in the forecast when they had planned this trip, but it was here now, and there was nothing they could do about it.Glancing a quick peek into the rearview mirror, Kara released a small sigh of relief to see that their son Silas was still fast asleep. She prayed he would stay resting peacefully, for she knew that as soon as he woke up, there would be no end to his curious questioning of them. Kara switched her focus back to the road. She scanned the narrow field of vision along the sides of the road for any signs of deer or other wildlife. Unfortunately, it was starting to get dark, making it even harder to make out the large shadows she saw along the road. Tyler placed his hand gently on top of her knee to reassure her. While Kara appreciated his attempt to calm her nerves, she would much rather he keep both hands firmly gripped on the steering wheel instead. He must have gotten her silent message because his hand did not linger on top of hers long. At least they were really close to their destination now. Taking a deep breath, Kara prayed God would keep them safe the rest of the way and that He would also calm her nerves. This was their first church retreat with the congregation of the new church they had been attending for almost six months. Kara reminded herself that she was stepping out in faith when she and Tyler had decided to join the retreat weekend away in the mountains. Being relatively new to the church had made her hesitate at first, but they had decided that stepping out of their comfort zones would prove far more fruitful. She and Tyler longed to build close relationships with this church, so they knew the best way to do that was to spend more time with the congregation.Suddenly, Kara was shaken from her thoughts when Silas shouted loudly and gleefully, “We’re here!” Kara blinked her eyes and strained to read the sign through the misty vapor: Pinewood Retreat. They had, in fact, finally arrived. She let herself release the breath that she had not realized she’d been holding in for almost the whole trip up there. Kara gulped nervously and quickly looked into the mirror from the pulled-down car visor. She tried to pull and will her frizzy hair into submission, but her frantic swatting at it did not seem to quell it into order.“Honey, you look beautiful.”Kara tried to meet his sweet, kind eyes with a smile, but it faltered with only a glance at his nose. “Thank you, but I think you might be a bit biased. My hair is sticking up in all different directions. I wish I could get it to look better before we go in and meet everyone. Perhaps I should apply some makeup?”“But you don’t like wearing that stuff. You always complain that it makes your skin feel itchy. Sweetie, just be yourself. Trust me, they’re going to love you.”Kara tried to smile again, but this time she could not muster even a pretend one for her always optimistic husband. Her voice wavered slightly when she had finally worked up the courage to say what was on her mind.“How…how can you be so sure?”At this point, Silas had unbuckled his seat belt and had his head poking up into the front seats between them. Kara looked anxiously over her cute six-year-old’s blond head. Tyler chuckled at the bedhead nest of hair that their son now exhibited proudly as the back hairs on his head stuck out every which way.“Kara, I know because we love you, and God loves you even more. Remember, He is in control, and He is faithful to bring about good works on our behalf. We trusted Him when we said yes to this, and we trusted Him to get us here safely. And look? The fog is even starting to lift. It’s a sign, Kara. We were wandering in the wilderness, but we found our way out.”Kara took in her husband’s wise words and let them settle in her heart. She suddenly felt at peace and was able to meet his gaze with a genuine smile this time.“Just like He did for the Israelites, all those years ago. Thanks, Tyler. I needed that reminder. I was so scared of the fog and what it held behind its thick walls, but the truth is, it was a test. A reminder for us to trust God to guide our steps forward. He only illuminates the path so far, and it is up to us to rely on Him fully to lead us to safety.”Silas suddenly stuck his head right in front of his dad’s and then swiveled it quickly to the right in front of Kara’s. He huffed dramatically.“Can we go in now? I’m ready to do something fun!”Both Kara and Tyler locked eyes and laughed together. They nodded their heads and opened their doors. Although they did not know exactly what the weekend retreat had in store for them, they committed themselves to step out in faith and to embrace the wonderful things God had for them by their obedience.“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”2 Corinthians 5:7“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”Psalm 119:105Kimberly’s ReflectionThis flash fiction story is a slightly altered version of a recent event in my life. My family did just attend our first church retreat (with all the fog! That is a picture from our drive up) with the new church we have been attending for almost six months now. As most of you will recall from my story, Church hurt, my family has been searching for our church home. I was quite nervous at first, because I had no idea what to expect. Walking into a room where people don’t know you or only barely know you has always been hard for me. Yet, I trusted Jesus. Every step of the way, through the fog and through the entire weekend. And you know what? He did not disappoint. He showed up for us in so many ways. For the first time in a long while, I felt peace, comfortable, and included at church.That’s the power of stepping out in faith, especially when you’re unsure how it’s going to go. When we do that, we provide the necessary obedience and space for God to show up big for us. It’s the time when He can do what only He can do. We obey His will, and all we have to do is watch His mercies bloom for us. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were hesitant to do something, but obeyed God by stepping out in faith anyway? How did it go? I’d love to hear your experiences of how God showed up for you. May we be faithful to take the courageous leap into the unknown because what He has for us is far more than we could ever have dreamed or imagined. Amen.As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you!Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”Hebrews 10:24Substack Recommendations💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Haven, Mandy, and Jillian! 💖You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:🌟Just Because🌟You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here:🌟A Holy Ache🌟You can check out Jillian’s insightful and thoughtful scripture reading Substack, Thorns to a Myrtle Tree, here:🌟Thorns to a Myrtle Tree🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear my latest flash fiction story, His Forever Valentine… Glancing at his watch, Ben hurried down the sidewalk. He was already running late to begin with, and now he risked missing his train. Onlookers gawked as he certainly looked out of place. He wore a dark black tuxedo and was carrying a rather large bouquet of mixed roses. With his other hand, he wrestled with his laptop bag and huge box of Gertrude Hawk chocolates. A few of the women watching him sighed dreamily and elbowed their partners. Ben hid a smile as the ladies pointed in his direction and the men barely looked up from their phones. Valentine’s Day certainly brought out the gamut of celebrations—from the simple to the extravagant. Ben slipped through the closing doors of the train just in time. Panting, he looked around for an available seat, but quickly realized he would have to stand the whole way. He carefully tried to balance the bouquet on top of the chocolates, but felt his laptop bag slipping from his shoulder. When he tried to adjust himself to fix it, the flowers suddenly started sliding faster off the box than he could quickly react. Luckily, a sweet, young woman caught them just before they completely took a nosedive and would have crashed messily onto the subway floor. She took a quick sniff of them and smiled at Ben as she handed them back to him. He returned her gorgeous smile with a quick grin of his own, but faltered slightly due to embarrassment. Thankfully, the beautiful woman didn’t seem to notice.“You must have someone pretty special you’re going to celebrate with tonight. Girlfriend?” she asked, slowly putting more weight and emphasis on the last word so it sounded both like an accusation and a question.“I do, but not a girlfriend.”The woman batted her eyelashes and leaned in closer to Ben, causing him to lean back the other way. He glanced up to see how many more stops there were until it would be his turn. He gulped, wondering if he and his special gifts would be able to survive five more stops.“So, what is it then, a first date? You’re too young to be married.”Ben swiftly and awkwardly held up his left hand. The woman stepped back once she saw the gold band gleaming in the low-lit train car. She smirked and nodded her head, signaling that she would leave him alone. Ben let out a sigh of relief. The rest of the ride thankfully went smoothly without any further unwanted conversation regarding his attire or his obnoxiously large special Valentine’s Day gifts. Finally, it was his stop, and thankfully, it was only a short walk to his destination. The famous Italian restaurant was, of course, jampacked tonight. Ben had been disappointed not to pick up his date for this evening, but she had talked him into meeting him there, arguing it would be more practical. He reached up onto his tiptoes to get a better look over the crowd. Unfortunately, his date was rather petite and it would be nigh impossible to spot her in a crowd. That is, until he heard her sweet voice carry loudly over the sound of the live jazz band playing. Ben shook his head. He should have known he’d find her dancing and grooving to the music. He had to squeeze his way between patrons to force his way over to her. Of course, she looked radiant as always in her shimmering red sequined dress. It was the dress she chose every Valentine’s Day. Ben sidled up beside her and bent down to give her a soft, gentle kiss on the cheek. Then he gently guided her over to their table. The waiters helped them get seated and after they were all settled, Ben handed her the chocolates and the flowers.“Roses for my Rosie girl. And sweets for my sweetie.”“Oh, Ben, you shouldn’t have! Whatever did I do to deserve you?”“It’s our tradition, remember? I’ve never missed a single one in the last five years and I don’t plan to ever.”Ben watched as Rose took a shaky sip from her glass of water. He could tell she had tears welling in the corners of her eyes.“Benji, you’re the absolute sweetest, but you shouldn’t be here with me. What about Ava? I’m sure she’s missing you.”“Ava knows about our tradition and she was the one who insisted I keep it. Besides, I get to celebrate Valentine’s Day with her every day. This is our special day.”Not wanting to waste their time arguing the matter any further, Ben stood up and reached out his hand to Rose.“Care to dance?”The light dancing in Rose’s eyes told him that she would be delighted and he moved his way around the table to help her up. Then they made a beeline straight for the dance floor. They danced to the fast songs until a slower song came on. Ben gently held Rose close to him and softly twirled her around. Then she leaned her head against his chest.“Oh, Benji. Your grandfather would be so proud of the man you’ve become. Thanks for helping an old gal feel young again.”“Always, Grandma. Forever and always.”“Let all that you do be done in love.”1 Corinthians 16:14“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”1 John 3:18Kimberly’s ReflectionValentine’s Day can stir up a lot of complicated emotions. It’s typically the day that celebrates couples, but I like to think of it as the day we celebrate all the love in our lives. Whether we’re single or not, we can be grateful for the wonderful relationships that pour into our lives. That’s why on Valentine’s Day, I not only celebrate the love I share with my husband, but also my son, my family, and my friends. It’s okay not to have a date for Valentine’s Day. Take the day to honor the love you have in your life, even including pets! And above all, may we remember to thank our Heavenly Father for loving us so much. God’s love is the source of the love we share with others. May we share His sweet heart with the world on Valentine’s Day and every day. Amen.As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you!Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”Hebrews 10:24Substack Recommendations💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Haven, Mandy, and Jillian! 💖You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:🌟Just Because🌟You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here:🌟A Holy Ache🌟You can check out Jillian’s insightful and thoughtful scripture reading Substack, Thorns to a Myrtle Tree, here:🌟Thorns to a Myrtle Tree🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear the second part of my short fiction story, Escaping New Year’s. Here is the link to the first part in case you missed it:Now, let’s hear Part 2…Josh practically floated on air as he made his way to class that morning. He was grinning from ear to ear after the amazing night he had with Mia. They had stayed up watching another movie after It’s a Wonderful Life and ended up falling asleep together on the couch. Josh hated to leave her, but when they woke up, it was nearly four in the morning. His cheeks burned at the memory of giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Luckily, there weren’t too many people milling around campus when he left her dorm room.As he replayed their first sweet date over again in his head, Josh nearly lost his footing when a hand slapped him on his back loudly. He looked around, bewildered and riddled with confusion, until his eyes landed on his friend, Zach. He had a weird look on his face that immediately alerted Josh that something was up and by the looks of it, Zach couldn’t hold it in for another second longer.“Buddy, you’re the man! Everyone’s talking about you.”Josh rubbed his shoulder as his friend hit him once more in congratulations. He laughed nervously as he had absolutely no clue what Zach was talking about.“Why? I didn’t do anything.”“Oh c’mon, man. Don’t lie to me. Everyone’s talking about how you spent the night with Mia.”Josh immediately stopped walking and froze. Someone must have seen him exit Mia’s place after all. He tried to gasp for air as suddenly it felt as if all the wind had been knocked out of him. Mia is going to be humiliated. Without another word to his friend, Josh took off sprinting across the quad. He needed to find Mia before anyone else talked to her.As soon as he burst through the class doors, Josh wheezed, trying to suck in a big breath of air. He was not used to running like that and made a quick mental note to hit the gym more often this year. When he looked up, Josh noticed that everyone in the lecture hall was staring at him. Then, much to his chagrin, they all started clapping for him. He scanned the room for Mia, but he didn’t see her.He grimaced as his classmates started whooping and hollering. Josh turned his head to the top of the stairs to see Mia. Her face quickly turned a bright shade of crimson. Then Josh saw it. His eyes stung with shock and his face burned with anger. Someone had written a message on the whiteboard: Good Morning, Mia the slut.It took everything in Josh’s body not to yell at his disgusting, immature classmates. Instead, he focused his attention on helping Mia. She stood there for only a second, like a deer caught in headlights, and then darted quickly out of the room. Letting out an exasperated sigh since he was exhausted, Josh ran up the steps after her.Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.She had made it halfway to the middle of the quad when Josh started calling her name and begging her to stop. Much to Josh’s relief, she finally slowed down and surrendered in a heap on the cold, frozen grass. Josh jogged the rest of the way and plopped down beside her, wrapping his arms tightly around her shoulders. She sat there in silence with a far-off look on her face, her eyes glistening with moisture. A couple of students passed them and snickered. That elicited a few tears to fall.“I am so humiliated. Everyone thinks I’m a..a..”“But you’re not, Mia. They have it all wrong.”“It doesn’t matter. You spent the night at my place, and they know it. The damage is done.”Josh suddenly stood up and held out his hand to help her up. Mia hesitated, but ultimately placed her small hand in his as he gently lifted her. Then he softly wiped the tears from her cheeks.“Mia, listen to me. You know the truth. That is all that matters. It doesn’t matter what they think happened; you know what happened. You know the real story. You’re a good girl with high morals. Don’t let what others think of you distort the truth. If you run away, then they win the narrative. You can’t let them get to you. Stay true to yourself and be confident in the wonderful person you are. You’re Mia. And you’re amazing.”Josh’s heart somersaulted when Mia let out a soft laugh in response to his pep talk. He was so happy to see her smiling again. He reached up and slowly moved a loose strand of hair off her face. Mia placed her hand on top of his and held it for a moment. Then she nodded her head that she was ready to go, so they walked hand in hand back to class together.When they reentered the classroom, the professor was standing at the front, about to start class. The message had apparently been erased already. Josh and Mia slipped into two open seats toward the back. A boy sitting near smirked and made a mocking kissing face in their direction. Josh felt his body stiffen and his jaw clenched. He had just told Mia to ignore the immature behavior and here he was not being able to take his own advice. He was pulled from his thoughts when he suddenly noticed that Mia had apparently raised her hand and stood up to speak to the class.“I just want to address something real quick and clear up some rumors that are going around. Yes, it’s true that Josh came over to my apartment, and yes, he stayed late on New Year’s Eve. We watched some movies and fell asleep on the couch. That’s it. That’s the truth. It’s honestly hardly worth this much attention. Your time would be better spent learning real facts and working to help one another—not tear others down. So in closing, please be kind. You wouldn’t want people to spread lies about you, so just don’t do it.”Mia sat back down and smiled at Josh. He returned her grin, and then, to everyone’s shock, he stood up and started applauding her. Slowly, a few others joined in and then soon after, almost the entire class was giving her a standing ovation. The boy who had recently mocked Mia had a deflated look on his face as he slumped further down in his seat.Josh’s heart swelled witnessing Mia’s dignity be restored. He gently pulled her up to a standing position and gave her a big hug. Josh had never met anyone so brave to be themselves, and he could not wait to get to know her even better over the course of the new year.“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”Proverbs 12:22Kimberly’s ReflectionOne of the hardest things to navigate in life is when people speak lies about you. Even though you know they are wrong, you can still feel ashamed for something that you didn’t even do and that isn’t true. We must gain confidence in who we are as a person and learn to love ourselves. Whether you’re a Christian or not, this is imperative. This is not to build up a prideful or pompous view of ourselves, but rather to appreciate the unique gifts each of us possesses. We all have value and we all deserve respect, kindness, and love. I pray that we learn to love who we are so much that we can stand firmly in the truths about ourselves when lies threaten our character. Know your truths and may you always know your worth.I’m praying you all have a blessed 2026! May it be a year that you grow stronger in the truth of who you are in Christ. Amen.As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you!Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”Hebrews 10:24Substack Recommendations💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Haven, Mandy, Ali, and Jillian! 💖You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:🌟Just Because🌟You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here:🌟A Holy Ache🌟You can check out Ali’s inspiring and hope-filled Substack, OpenHanded Hope, here:🌟OpenHanded Hope🌟You can check out Jillian’s insightful and thoughtful scripture reading Substack, Thorns to a Myrtle Tree, here:🌟Thorns to a Myrtle Tree🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Hi, and welcome back to Kimberly Grace’s Stories Podcast. I’m Kimberly and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for tuning in to hear my stories. Today, you’re in for a special treat as we hear my latest short fiction story, Escaping New Year’s…“Are you sure you’re not coming with me?”Mia heard her roommate Emma’s question floating sweetly out of their shared dormroom. She was currently sitting on the couch in the small living room under a pile of blankets. The warmth and merriment of Christmas had passed and now there were only gray skies and plunging cold temperatures. She tucked herself in tighter and pretended not to hear Emma. Part of her felt guilty for not joining her friend for a night out on the town to ring in the new year, but she remained resolute in her decision not to partake in the revelry this year. How could she, especially after the year she had experienced? Nope, Mia was content to let 2025 slip away and hopefully become a long-faded memory sooner rather than later. Emma appeared just then in the door frame. She looked beautiful, as always. Wearing a shimmering, sparkly gold dress matched with just the right gold high heels, Emma looked like a trophy topper. Mia stifled a laugh at that thought and instead held two thumbs up from under her blanket cave. She felt the whole couch shake when Emma plopped unceremoniously down beside her. She had that puppy dog look plastered on her face—the very one she always pulled out when she wanted someone to do something for her.“Mia, you can’t stay in. It’s New Year’s Eve, for goodness sake! What if you miss your chance at finding true love at midnight?”The pile of blankets snorted and cackled in response. Mia popped her head out just enough so Emma could see her serious expression. She knew her friend meant well, but her mind was absolutely made up. There was nothing she could say that would change it.“Emma, I appreciate your concern about my love life, really I do, but you of all people should know that that is the last thing I need right now. I’m not ready.”“Not ready? It’s been six months! Gabe has already moved on. You need to show him that you have too.”“Nope, not gonna happen.”Emma jumped up off the couch so fast that it nearly caused Mia to fall to the floor. She resettled her nest of blankets and picked up the remote from the coffee table. Her pizza would be arriving shortly, and she was about to watch a movie marathon of all of her favorite Christmas movies, starting with her all-time favorite, It’s a Wonderful Life. Mia ignored Emma’s huffing and fake pouting performance.“Mia Gertrude Petrone, you are going to end up all alone if you stay in. Who are you going to meet here? George Bailey is not going to climb through the television screen and rescue you.”Nearly spitting out her gulp of water, Mia stifled another laugh. Emma could be quite the drama queen when she wanted to be, but even that had to be hilarious sounding to her. Emma let out a giggle, but then immediately switched her expression back to serious. It was a good thing she was a theatre major, Mia pondered.“Fine. Suit yourself. I hope you, George, and the blanket blob monster will all be very happy together.”Mia watched as her roommate hurried across the room to retrieve her purse from the chair near the door. Then, after slipping on her cozy, designer black jacket, she watched as Emma disappeared out the front door, not before flipping her curly brown hair back and blowing a kiss to Mia. Right on cue, Mia pretended to catch it, and just like that, it was finally quiet in their apartment. After fluffing her blanket nest one more time, Mia settled in and turned on the movie. She had just made it through the beginning credits when the doorbell rang. Reluctant to leave her comfy haven, the thought of a warm, delicious pizza from Michaelangelo’s finally lured her out of her warm comfort briefly. Mia shoved on her pink fluffy bunny slippers and tightened her Winnie-the-Pooh bathrobe as she shuffled her way across the room to answer the door. She prayed that the delivery person had left the pizza at the door per her detailed instructions. Mia was in no mood to make small talk with anyone else today, let alone have them judge her childlike attire. She didn’t care what they would think, though, as honestly, Mia cared more about wearing what made her happy. That was the era she wanted to head into in the new year: her comfort era.However, when Mia raised up onto her tippy toes, she groaned internally to not only see a person standing there waiting, but it was a young man who had an air of familiarity about him. Mia debated asking him through the door to leave the pizza, but ultimately decided to open it when he started knocking again, this time even louder. Mia flung open the door and immediately stretched out her hands to reach for the pizza. The young man’s eyes grew wide when he took in Mia and her unique attire. Unfortunately for Mia, he moved the pizza box back and out of her reach.“Whoa! Not feeling well, Mia? It makes sense now why you weren’t in class this morning.”Mia’s mouth dropped open in shock. Not only did this boy know who she was, but he apparently was also in one of her classes. Mia tried to rack her brain as to who he was and which class. Unfortunately, nothing was ringing a bell and even worse, the young man was quite handsome. Mia felt her cheeks immediately flush red from embarrassment as the cute guy laughed softly.“It’s okay. I sit way in the back. I’m Josh. Josh Bolt.”“Oh, uh…hi, Josh. And I’m sorry, what class is it again?”“History. You’re really good at remembering dates.”Mia opened her mouth and gaped a little. Another wave of heat rose through her body. It was already embarrassing enough that she didn’t really remember him, let alone that he probably only sees her as a know-it-all.“Yes, well…I like dates.”Josh flashed a smile while Mia felt a wave of horror wash over her. She could not understand why she was acting so silly in front of him. “That’s good to hear, Mia. I see you’re not out on one, though, unless your date also likes to dress… casually.”He looked down at her pink character slippers and then landed on her bathrobe. Mia tried to tighten her robe more, but it did not help that the cord to close it was the black and orange tail of Tigger. Mia lunged for the pizza box once more, but Josh again held it up out of her reach.“Just give me my pizza, please. I’m sure you want to finish your rounds so you can go party.”“Actually, I don’t have any plans. Your delivery was my last stop for the night. Say, wait a minute. Is that George Bailey I hear? Are you watching It’s a Wonderful Life?”Much to Mia’s surprise and annoyance, Josh pushed past her and walked into her apartment, handing her the pizza box as he passed by. He looked around the place and his eyes grew wide as they landed on the movie playing on the big television screen.“Isn’t it a little late to be watching Christmas movies, or are you just getting a head start on next year?”Suddenly, Mia had had enough. This humiliation was the cherry on top of the worst year of her life. Her dad had a heart attack at the beginning of the year, then her beloved Grandfather died in May, and to top it all off, her boyfriend of five years broke up with her in June. Mia had chosen not to go out tonight to avoid any further anguish. All she wanted was one night to escape, one night to not live in her current, stressful and depressed life. She was crying so hard, she did not even realize that Josh had come over and wrapped his arms around her.“Mia, I’m so sorry. Please stop crying. I was just teasing, okay? This is a very nice way to spend New Year’s Eve. I love It’s a Wonderful Life—honestly, it’s actually my favorite Christmas movie.”“You’re…you’re just saying that. Please leave me alone. Take the pizza, I’m not even hungry anymore.”Mia pushed Josh away and crashed onto the couch. She placed a pillow over her head, shaking as she continued to cry silently. Mia heard Josh start to turn the doorknob, but then stop.Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“I meant what I said, Mia. It really is my favorite.”Mia stopped crying, but did not poke her head out of her cocoon. Even though she didn’t know Josh, there was something about him that made her want to trust him. Yet, her heart was so broken and fragile. She had promised herself not to make the same mistake she had made with her ex-boyfriend. He had pretended to like what she was interested in, but later Mia had found out that he had despised all her movie tastes and hobbies. He had even taken the appalling liberty of announcing all of her childish ways in front of their friends at a birthday party. She held her breath and wished Josh would just go away.“What is it you want, Mia? The moon? Say the word, Mia. I’ll throw a lasso around it and—”“—and pull it down.”Mia’s head emerged from her hiding spot. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were stained wet from tears. Josh walked over slowly and sat down next to her. He gently took a tissue and wiped her face.“Mia, I have a confession to make. I don’t work for Michaelangelo’s. My friend John does. He saw your name and let me know so I could deliver your pizza to you.”Shaking her head, Mia blinked her tear-stained lashes in confusion.“I don’t understand. Why?”“Because I have a huge crush on you. I had one on the very first day I saw you in class. You were wearing a Winnie-the-Pooh hat that day, of course. Your boyfriend made fun of you for it, but I thought you looked so cute. You always wear what you like and you don’t care what others think about you. And if you know the answer, your hand is always the first to go up in class. You know what you want and you go after it.”“Well…I don’t know about all that…”“And even tonight. You’re doing your own thing. I’m sorry, Mia. I wasn’t trying to ruin your night. If anything, my intent was to ask you out, but I get it. I’ll leave you alone now. I hope you have a nice evening, Mia.”Mia watched as Josh got up from the couch and made his way to the door. He had the knob turned and was about to walkout when Mia found herself calling out for him to stop. He paused and turned his head to look at her. His gentle blue eyes were calm and inviting. Mia knew there was no guarantee with Josh. She knew this could lead to more heartache, yet his gentle nature made her want to try anyway.“I seem to have ordered way too much pizza for myself. Would you, maybe, want to help me out? And if you stay, I suppose it would only be fair that you get to watch the movie with me—since it’s your favorite and all.”Josh’s eyes immediately lit up and the biggest smile formed on his cute face. He nodded his head enthusiastically and made his way over to the pizza. Mia jumped up and grabbed two plates and some napkins. They settled onto the couch together and even did a cheers with their pizzas before eating and starting the movie. Josh looked over at Mia and, with a saucy mustache to boot, said the most cheesy, adorable line Mia had ever heard.“Remember, Mia: No man is a failure who has pizza.”Mia giggled and smiled as she took another warm, satisfying bite. Then she snuggled in against his arm as they watched the rest of the movie together. Despite trying to escape celebrating New Year’s, it turned out that the new year would be starting off on a bright note afterall. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29“Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, ‘I was only joking.’”Proverbs 26:18-19Kimberly’s Reflection: At any age, teasing and making fun of others is hurtful—especially when it comes from someone you love and never expected to hurt you in that way. Mia’s story reminds us that it is okay to be different and it is also okay not to do what everyone else is doing, especially if you do not feel up to it. Honor your feelings and seek rest. We do not have to be on the go all the time. We also must be more careful with our speech. I know some people find it fun to single out one person, and perhaps they see nothing wrong with their joking around, but let this story be a lesson that words matter. We should work harder to speak words of affirmation that build up one another, not tear each other down.I pray you all have a blessed 2026, and may you celebrate in any form or fashion that feels right to you. Cheers to a Happy New Year!As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. If you enjoyed my story, please also consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you!Kimberly Grace’s Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”Hebrews 10:24Substack Recommendations💖 Thank you so much to my incredibly amazing, supportive paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Cathy, Haven, Mandy, and Emily! 💖You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh’s Substack🌟You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:🌟Just Because🌟You can check out Mandy’s inspiring, insightful, and soul-changing Substack, A Holy Ache, here:🌟A Holy Ache🌟You can check out Emily’s sweet and encouraging parenting Substack, Re:Motherhood, here:🌟Re:Motherhood🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Claire Danes attempted to straighten her back as her tense, aching muscles found a new way to contort in her left shoulder, creating a fresh wave of pain and misery. Her too-high, sleek, black heels made her toes go numb, causing her almost to lose her balance. Clenching a bobby pin precariously between her front teeth, Claire yanked back a section of blond, uneven hair. “Ow! You’re hurting me,” Claire’s youngest daughter, Olivia, squawked. “Sorry, honey. If you could just hold still for 5 more seconds, then we will be done.”Olivia danced and wiggled while her mother bounced back and forth behind her, determined to tame her daughter’s wild locks. Claire’s difficulty did not stem just from Olivia’s movements, which were a daily acrobatic occurrence in the Danes’ household. What made this venture even more difficult was the young, precocious five-year-old’s decision to cut half her hair off this morning. She had righteously claimed that it was the look she wanted before bursting into a million tears. Claire had to choke back her own tears of frustration as today just so happened to be the Danes’ family Christmas picture photoshoot.After another minute of song and dance between mother and daughter, Claire released her and stepped back to look at her handiwork. It was not perfect by any means, nor was it the look she had hoped to style her little girl’s hair in for the photoshoot. A braid would never work with the uneven locks jutting out everywhere. Claire had to begrudgingly settle for two simple pigtails, low on the back of the nape of Olivia’s neck. The one was noticeably shorter than the other. She would just have to advise the photographer to capture her daughter’s face only from the right side. A throbbing headache started to pound in the center of Claire’s forehead. One down, two more to wrangle. In all honesty, even despite Olivia’s propensity to never stay still for more than a few seconds, she was considered one of the easier ones to deal with and Claire’s first choice any day. Glancing down at her rose gold Rolex, Claire let a small gasp of exasperation escape. It was already ten minutes after their appointed photo time. Picking up the bottom edges of her flowy, blue silk dress, Claire hurried out onto the veranda. The Balston Mansion was the favorite spot in town for photos, with its expansive landscape overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Carefully watching her step so as not to step in the large holes the construction crew had left in the wake of their work on building a new visitor center on the property, Claire took in a large, salty, fresh breath of air once she reached the immaculate section of the yard. She knew she couldn’t linger in this state for much longer. Claire temporarily arched up onto her tip toes, but quickly fell back down as shooting pain immediately reminded her of the fancy shoes she was currently wearing that offered no form of mercy. She pulled out her phone and glided her fingers over the keyboard, at the ready to type a stern message, when she heard his boisterous shout coming from around the corner. Knowing they were already almost fifteen minutes late and about to run out of time, Claire picked up her dress and did a weird hop-run-skip across the yard toward the male voice.“Yes! Now that’s what I’m talking about, baby,” the man said as he enthusiastically pumped his left fist several times into the air. Claire pursed her lips with agitation. Her husband, Erick, seemed to always be attached to his phone or the TV. Claire smirked as she remembered the one time she told her girlfriends she would be better off getting a job as a sports commentator so her husband would finally listen to her. She braced herself for the inevitable pushback she was about to receive. Sucking a huge, courageous breath of air, Claire positioned herself in front of his phone screen. He jumped back a little, as if surprised to see her and clearly not remembering at all where he was right now. Not speaking a word, Claire simply held up her watch and pointed to the time.Erick let out a grumpy ‘hrrmph’ and turned around to start walking back to the gazebo. Their middle child, Emma, was already there, trying to corral Olivia into position. Atta girl, Emma, Claire mused to herself. She knew she could always count on good old Emma. She was the reliable, steady one of the family. Always quiet and reserved, Emma’s strength lay in her dependability and her strict adherence to following rules. If only her responsible nature had rubbed off on their eldest son, Seth. Of course, he was nowhere to be found and Claire’s heart rate started skyrocketing at the reality that they may have to take the family picture without him. This would actually probably please Seth, no doubt, but ruin everything for Claire’s vision.Faking a smile, Claire hurried to join her disjointed family. A light breeze flowed out of the south and gently caressed her bare shoulders. The summery nights were slipping away fast as chillier, darker ones of autumn began unceremoniously to take their place. It did not matter how old Claire got, she would always treasure the longer, warmer days of summer. They were the days when the family slowed down a little. Not too much, though, as various camps and lessons reigned over their daily schedules. The one tradition remained, however, and it was secretly Claire’s favorite. Every Friday, the family would swim in their big, private pool and have pizza for dinner, followed by a family movie night. Of course, there was always fighting over which movie they would watch, even though she had made a rotation chart. She couldn’t help but smile to herself, recalling those days anyway. She sighed and choked back a sob threatening to rise up in her throat. It was the only time her family had been truly happy together, squabbles and all. Now it was a major struggle just to get everyone to show up for a family photo. Claire stuck out her chin high in protest. Even though the truth taunted her under the surface every day, she was too proud to admit it. The Danes family would have a picture-perfect Christmas family photo, even if she had to doctor it with AI to fix the flaws. Anger surged in her veins as she squinted toward the large house. There was no sign of Seth and the photographer’s very thin patience was up.Kimberly Grace’s Christian Romance Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“Ma’am, shall I take the photo then? I told you, I have more appointments after this and I cannot be late.”Just then, Erick yelled in triumph as presumably his team had scored another goal. Olivia jumped and shrieked, clearly startled by her father’s loud cry. He had his head turned away from the family, looking down toward his pocket where his phone was not so discreetly sticking out. Emma hugged her little sister and patted her back with small, gentle movements. Claire knew she should be the one doing that, but she had delegated the care of Olivia to Emma years ago. She would admit to no one, least her own self, that raising three children was terribly overwhelming for her. Her jealousy roared just then and she found her biting words vomiting out of her mouth before she could stop them.“Emma, fix your makeup. You look like a clown reject.”The immediate guilt and regret rocked Claire hard inside. She watched as her daughter nodded silently and hurried off to fix herself, but undoubtedly to have a good cry as well. Claire felt her jaw lock from the stress she was putting on it. Oh well, a small lip smile is all the rage now anyway, she thought to herself, as she nonchalantly absolved herself of all wrongdoing. Her jaw even loosened slightly so she could talk.“Ma’am, your daughter has one minute. Then I’m taking the photo whether she’s back or not.”“Of course. No worry, she’ll be back in time.”Claire meant it, too. Despite how awful she had spoken to Emma, she always obeyed and did what she was told. She knew her daughter’s behavior stemmed from fear of failure. The Danes children had to adhere to high standards with their school grades. Emma did not struggle in that department, but she did socially. She was often being left out by her friend circle, the very group her mother had worked so hard to make sure she was in. Claire could not understand why Emma complained so much about her friends when she should be grateful that her mother had had the wherewithal to get her daughter in with the popular girls. She had set her up beautifully for a successful life, yet she floundered with blushed, red cheeks every time she tried to talk.Just then, Emma reappeared and slipped back into position. Her eyes were slightly swollen and red. Claire looked away and did not dare to meet them. She knew if she locked eyes with her daughter, she would be forced to see all the pain she had caused her over the years firsthand. There would be no place to run from that monster. It was better to pretend everything was fine. Claire gasped quietly, her breath getting caught in her throat momentarily. She had been raised to fake it until you make it. She truly believed that if everything looked perfect on the outside, it would all fall into place eventually.“All right, everyone smile and say che—”“Wait! He’s coming!” Claire bellowed. She saw him, a tiny speck off in the distance. Most of the time, he did not show up, but today he was actually here. She had to contain her excitement. He was late, but her firstborn son was going to make the picture after all. As he came closer into view, however, Claire’s secret happiness melted into disappointment. Seth was wearing a black t-shirt with a vulgar word scribbled across it. His jeans were ripped, and his hair was soaking wet with sweat. Claire’s body tensed and her mind froze. This was just like Seth. He had always been the one to rebel and defy her. Even as a little boy, Seth would take his clothes off and throw them in the trash can outside and proceed to run through the neighbor’s yards. Everyone told Claire he was just being a silly kid, but she had been incredibly embarrassed. However, the more she tried to control him, the worse his behavior and antics got over the years.She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists. Claire tried to contain her utter rage and disdain, but she could not hold it in any longer. She fell right into Seth’s trap.“You cannot wear that for the family picture!” Claire screeched shrilly. Seth smirked playfully and furrowed his eyebrows. He had a menacing stare and he knew how to use it to his advantage at will.“And pretell, dearest mother, why ever not?”“Seth, you know exactly why. I told you to wear church clothes in the text.”“Yeah, and these are my—”“Stop it! This is unacceptable, Seth, and you know it. Erick, tell him? Erick!”Erick briefly glanced up with a confused look on his face. He clearly had not been listening to their conversation, but smiled when he saw his son. He had always been soft on him. Seth walked over to Erick, gave him a fist bump as his dad handed him the other headphone so he could listen to the game with him. Claire felt her entire body begin to shake and it had nothing to do with the cooler weather. Her insides buzzed from the constant turmoil that she could never quell. She wanted to run, but her feet were numb. She was becoming numb. Numb to everything, and worst of all, to her family.“Fine! Take the picture. Seth, you stand behind me.”Surprisingly, he did as he was told. She could feel his dark, terrifying eyes penetrating through the back of her skull. Claire tried to calm her racing heart. She told herself to be happy because at least Seth was here. Her tall frame would block most of his shirt and she would touch up the rest in post production. ‘Post production.’ She pondered that word. It was a bit of an odd choice for a family, but Claire had been editing her life for so long that there was simply no other way now. “Okay, finally. On the count of three, everyone say, ‘happy family’.” The photographer counted to three, but no one said his suggestion, not even sweet, innocent Olivia. It was then that a seismic crack broke inside Claire. She knew right in that moment there could be no more denying or hiding it. No amount of doctoring or perfecting the photo would be able to cover up the truth from Claire’s eyes now. Her picture-perfect family was a mirage and she feared it had always been. . . . Author’s Note: The personalities of the Danes’ family are based on those I have encountered in my life, but not on specific people in my family. This piece came from the desire to discuss the truth about the perfect pictures we see on social media. They conceal a great deal beneath the surface. I also wanted to show that none of these people are necessarily bad or good people. They are all trying to do what they think is right, even if it directly clashes with another family member. The big takeaway is that the more we try to control others and shape them into our expectations, the more they will pull away and resist. Love is not control and constraints. Love is freedom with guidance. To love someone truly is to love them without any strings or conditions attached. I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. What did you think of Claire Danes? As you were reading the story, did you view her as a villain or a victim? And did that view of her change at all for you by the end? Do you agree or disagree with my statement above that people are not necessarily bad or good?Please drop your thoughts and answers in the comments. As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! If you enjoyed my story, please consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you!Kimberly Grace’s Christian Romance Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Cathy, and Haven! 💖You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:🌟Just Because🌟 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Panting heavily, Emeline stopped to lean against the railing to catch her breath. She wanted to curse, but there was not enough air in her lungs for that. It had been Albert’s idea to get the apartment on the top floor. He had persuaded her easily by promising to carry all the groceries up for them and talked enthusiastically about the free exercise aspect of it. All had been well for the first six months, except that Albert had not factored in one growing problem. Emeline was pregnant. Being their first, apparently, she had also grossly underestimated the taxing strain the baby weight would cause on her body. Albert couldn’t carry her and today it felt like Emeline could not carry her own weight either.She closed her eyes just before a bead of sweat dripped slowly over her right eye. Her clothes clung to her in the stifling stairwell. Gulping down her frustration, she had to mentally force herself to start climbing again. Emeline knew if she stayed in that moment any longer, her knees would buckle and she would be stuck. For the past three days, she had told Albert that it was the last time she would be able to make that trip up, and every time he would laugh, thinking she was only joking. It seemed this was going to be it, though, as a shooting pain brought her to an immediate halt. Doubling over, she cried out like a wounded animal. She wanted to kick herself because she had foolishly left her phone upstairs in the apartment, forgetting momentarily that she was almost six months pregnant and should know better.“Are you okay?”A young, twenty-something, pretty woman wearing a bright pink workout outfit had popped her head out into the stairwell. She was holding a small towel in one hand and one of her earbuds in the other. Emeline choked down her embarrassment as she tried to straighten out her back. She must look like a gross, sweaty cow to this slender, fit lady. She waved her hand, trying to dismiss her need for help, and she had almost pulled it off, too, when suddenly another sharp pain hit her square in her lower abdomen, completely blowing her cover. The workout lady rushed to Emeline’s side and helped to get her to a middle platform. “Should I call you an ambulance?”“No, I’m not in labor. At least, I don’t think so. My child is doing acrobatics in my stomach these days. It makes it harder to concentrate on the stairs.”“Where’s your phone? At least call your husband or partner.”Emeline started climbing the steps. Each one she took was painful, but now she had another motivation to make it—she did not care for fake, small talk with gorgeous people who looked like models. She plastered the most authentic smile on her face that she could muster and turned to hurry up the stairs. She had only gone two steps when she felt the woman’s arm slip under and around hers. It appeared Emeline was not getting rid of this lady anytime soon. Without speaking, the two women made their way up the staircase at a tortoise’s slow pace.“My name’s Jolie, by the way. What’s yours?”“Eme…line.”It took everything just to say her own name. Emeline was getting close to being out of breath again. She wished Jolie would give up trying to be helpful and leave her alone. This climb was torturous enough—she definitely did not need a front-row spectator.“Emeline! That is such a pretty name. My cousin’s friend’s sister is named Emeline. Who would have thought? Such a small world. Have you lived here long, Emeline?”Kimberly Grace’s Christian Romance Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Emeline could only nod her head as she took deep breaths and long exhales. It was probably good practice for when she actually did go into labor, but she did not see it that way. The only thing she could see was the impossible number of stairs she had left to climb and the annoying bright pink ray of sunshine babbling on nonstop beside her. At first, she tried to tune Jolie out, but after a minute, she found herself lost in her tale about how she had accidentally applied for an apartment in this building when she actually had wanted one a couple of blocks down. It was quite incredulous to Emeline how Jolie made it through life with the monster mistakes she so willingly and unfazedly committed frequently.“Well, we’re here. Can I do anything else for you?”Emeline stared and blinked a few times. She could not believe she was standing at the top of the stairwell outside her apartment door. She had been so captivated by Jolie’s story that the time had flown right by, and she hardly even noticed her pain as they walked together. Emeline opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it. She shook her head no. Jolie shrugged, smiled, and then waved as she began to descend back down the stairs. A flush of pink reddened Emeline’s cheeks as she realized that Jolie did not live on the top floor. She had sacrificed her time to help her, and all she could do was grumble and judge her. A wave of guilt crashed over her.“Um, Jolie? Wait, Jolie!”Emeline heard the echo of footsteps stop and then reverse back up the stairs. Not long after, the gorgeous blonde had emerged at the top of the stairwell. This time, instead of the pang of jealousy hitting Emeline in the face, it was a wave of relief and happiness.“I’m sorry to make you come back up here, but I just wanted to say thank you. I…I honestly don’t know if I would have made it up those steps without you.”“My pleasure. I like meeting new people and helping people is a great way to meet new people!”Emeline smiled geninuely and felt her baby somersault inside her. This time, instead of feeling annoyance, she felt gratitude for the reminder that she was not alone. She would never be alone. She placed her hand over her growing bump and gently patted her precious gift from God.“Well, I'd better get going. My exercise class is about to start. I teach spin every Tuesday and Thursday in the workout room. Holler if you need anything, Em!”Emeline waved goodbye and smiled as she turned to open her door. She was about to go in when an urgent thought flooded her mind.“Jolie?”She did not say it loudly this time, as her confidence had begun to waver, and the fact that she was sure her new fit friend was probably already halfway back down the stairwell by now. Emeline shook her head, realizing she was too late and it was not meant to be. As she opened her front door and was about to step in, she heard a familiar voice calling up to her.“Yeah? Emeline? Did you call me?”“Oh, uh, yes! Hi Jolie. I, um, I just had one more quick thing to ask you.”“Oh sure, what’s that?”Emeline rocked back and forth on her heels a little. She hesitated slightly, as she was not one to ask anyone for help or anything, yet Jolie had been there for her even when she was not showing up for herself the way she would like. Despite her fear of rejection, Emeline heard the words coming out of her mouth before she could stop them.“Same time and place tomorrow?”There was silence for a moment. Emeline’s heartbeat quickened as she realized perhaps Jolie really did not intend to see her again. Perhaps the idea of them becoming friends was all an imaginative fantasy inside Emeline’s head. Her mind started spiraling over her mistake when Jolie’s lovely, reassuring voice floated up the stairwell, stopping the panic in its tracks.“You bet! I was just checking my calendar. See you tomorrow, Emeline.”“See you tomorrow, Jolie.”. . . I wrote this story because I wanted to show how two women in different life stages can meet and become friends. Going a little out of our way to do a kind act for another person can mean the world to someone else who may be struggling under visible and invisible weights. Be curious about others—even if they are different than you. Everyone needs help sometimes, and it can be fun to make a new friend in the process, too. :) I’d love to hear your thoughts on my story in the comments. Which personality would you say you identify with more—quiet and private like Emeline, or outgoing like Jolie? And have you ever made a new friend in a surprising situation? Please drop your thoughts and answers in the comments. As always, I am incredibly thankful for you taking the time to read my words! If you enjoyed my story, please consider subscribing or sharing to support me in my writing endeavors. Thank you!Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Cathy, and Haven! 💖You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:🌟Just Because🌟🕊️✨If you’re thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, here are some of the fantastic perks you’ll receive:* Full access to the book manuscripts I am currently writing;* Your name and Substack advertised on all my posts;* Full participation in my book-making decisions;* Your name featured on my book’s dedication pages once published;* Paid subscriber-only Behind the Scenes posts;* Full access to paid subscriber-only chat; and* Editing/feedback for one draft Substack post per monthClick here or below to claim your discounted annual subscription! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Start at the beginning!Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I will be sharing with you the first couple of chapters from my self-published book, A Paws in Life can Lead to Love. If you love the Beatles, the beach, and a cute, lovable dog, then this is the perfect romance book to cozy up with and enjoy on your next vacation or stay-cation! **Please note that this is the last excerpt that I will be sharing from my book. I truly hope you have enjoyed listening along to Jude and Dylan’s story. If you wish to hear the rest of their tale, please click below to purchase it on Amazon:Following the tragic death of her parents and the ending of her decade-long relationship with the man she thought was her soulmate, Jude struggles to rebuild a new life for herself. Between an overbearing sister, the recurring nightmares of her parents’ deaths, and the shambles of her love life, Jude feels completely lost and overwhelmed. She thinks she has finally found a way to cope with everything by returning to her passion of painting on the beach, but it seems Jude can’t catch a break when a dog starts showing up to cause mischief by stealing her paint brushes. When the dog’s owner finally intervenes, Jude is taken aback by her immediate attraction to him and the unabating feeling that she has met him once before. Her head cautions her against pursuing a relationship with him, but her heart leaps every time he is near. Jude’s new four-legged friend catapults her onto a roller coaster ride of emotions and self-discovery, which ultimately forces her to face past mysteries and future possibilities.Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Cathy, and Haven! 💖You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:🌟Just Because🌟🕊️✨If you’re thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, here are some of the fantastic perks you’ll receive:* Full access to the book manuscripts I am currently writing;* Your name and Substack advertised on all my posts;* Full participation in my book-making decisions;* Your name featured on my book’s dedication pages once published;* Paid subscriber-only Behind the Scenes posts;* Full access to paid subscriber-only chat; and* Editing/feedback for one draft Substack post per monthClick here or below to claim your discounted annual subscription! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Start at the beginning!Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I will be sharing with you the first couple of chapters from my self-published book, A Paws in Life can Lead to Love. If you love the Beatles, the beach, and a cute, lovable dog, then this is the perfect romance book to cozy up with and enjoy on your next vacation or stay-cation! Please note that since I already published this book, I will not be including the written transcript, nor will this book be shared in full with my paid subscribers. If you wish to purchase, please click below to buy it on Amazon:Following the tragic death of her parents and the ending of her decade-long relationship with the man she thought was her soulmate, Jude struggles to rebuild a new life for herself. Between an overbearing sister, the recurring nightmares of her parents’ deaths, and the shambles of her love life, Jude feels completely lost and overwhelmed. She thinks she has finally found a way to cope with everything by returning to her passion of painting on the beach, but it seems Jude can’t catch a break when a dog starts showing up to cause mischief by stealing her paint brushes. When the dog’s owner finally intervenes, Jude is taken aback by her immediate attraction to him and the unabating feeling that she has met him once before. Her head cautions her against pursuing a relationship with him, but her heart leaps every time he is near. Jude’s new four-legged friend catapults her onto a roller coaster ride of emotions and self-discovery, which ultimately forces her to face past mysteries and future possibilities.Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Need to get caught up on the latest part of A Cop’s Crossroads with Love? You can find it here:💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, Cathy, and Haven! 💖You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟You can check out Haven’s magical and adventurous Substack, Just Because, here:🌟Just Because🌟🕊️✨If you’re thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, here are some of the fantastic perks you’ll receive:* Full access to the book manuscripts I am currently writing;* Your name and Substack advertised on all my posts;* Full participation in my book-making decisions;* Your name featured on my book’s dedication pages once published;* Paid subscriber-only Behind the Scenes posts;* Full access to paid subscriber-only chat; and* Editing/feedback for one draft Substack post per monthClick here or below to claim your discounted annual subscription! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Start at the beginning!Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I will be sharing with you the first couple of chapters from my self-published book, A Paws in Life can Lead to Love. If you love the Beatles, the beach, and a cute, lovable dog, then this is the perfect romance book to cozy up with and enjoy on your next vacation or stay-cation! Please note that since I already published this book, I will not be including the written transcript, nor will this book be shared in full with my paid subscribers. If you wish to purchase, please click below to buy it on Amazon:Following the tragic death of her parents and the ending of her decade-long relationship with the man she thought was her soulmate, Jude struggles to rebuild a new life for herself. Between an overbearing sister, the recurring nightmares of her parents’ deaths, and the shambles of her love life, Jude feels completely lost and overwhelmed. She thinks she has finally found a way to cope with everything by returning to her passion of painting on the beach, but it seems Jude can’t catch a break when a dog starts showing up to cause mischief by stealing her paint brushes. When the dog’s owner finally intervenes, Jude is taken aback by her immediate attraction to him and the unabating feeling that she has met him once before. Her head cautions her against pursuing a relationship with him, but her heart leaps every time he is near. Jude’s new four-legged friend catapults her onto a roller coaster ride of emotions and self-discovery, which ultimately forces her to face past mysteries and future possibilities.Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Need to get caught up on the latest part of A Cop’s Crossroads with Love? You can find it here:💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, and Cathy! 💖You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟🕊️✨If you’re thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, here are some of the fantastic perks you’ll receive:* Full access to the book manuscripts I am currently writing;* Your name and Substack advertised on all my posts;* Full participation in my book-making decisions;* Your name featured on my book’s dedication pages once published;* Paid subscriber-only Behind the Scenes posts;* Full access to paid subscriber-only chat; and* Editing/feedback for one draft Substack post per monthRight now take advantage of my annual subscription price being only $30 for the entire year and you will receive all of the awesome benefits listed above! 🙌🏻Click here or below to claim your discounted annual subscription! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.comStart at the beginning!Previous Part!Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for continuing to follow my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. I want to give an extra special thank you to my paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, and Cathy! Your support means the absolute world to me. There are no words to express the true depth of my gratitude. Now, let’s continue with Part 8…Jacob watched the flicker of brilliant light dance in Cassidy’s eyes when she saw the flowers. They were a bouquet of white and pink peonies, along with a few strands of baby’s breath mixed in. He had carefully clipped the prettiest ones from his mother’s garden. Most were starting to droop, but a couple still bloomed tall and beautiful. Their long stems and big, puffy flowers reminded him of the cotton candy they used to inhale when the carnival came to Haven Park during the summer. Jacob knew they were her favorite flowers, and watching her delight made his heart leap with joy. Yet, the moment was fleeting as his muscles tensed, reminding him of the reason for this meeting.“They’re gorgeous, Jacob. I can’t believe you remembered. Thank you.”He watched the way she held the flowers gingerly, as if afraid she might break them with her touch. Jacob loved Cassidy’s gentle spirit and the great care she exuded effortlessly with everything that came across her path. Her vulnerable side was magnetic, yet Jacob could tell she was putting up walls left and right to protect herself. He wanted so badly to smash them down and be her knight in shining armor, but he knew that would prove a difficult task given that his employee was creating trouble for her. Cassidy then smiled at him with genuine gratitude. He was about to return her happy grin when he heard a raucous laughter erupt from the front door of the precinct. A growing gathering was forming there with many officers making kissy faces and fake swooning sighs. Cassidy’s demeanor immediately flipped on a dime as she shoved the flowers down at her side to try and hide them. They both knew it was too late, however, as the police officers continued to carry on with even more teasing and taunting behavior.Jacob led Cassidy around to the other side of his truck, where the policemen would not have a clear view of them. He could tell she was feeling deflated by their childish actions, but there was no time to address those emotions. Right now, Jacob needed Cassidy to focus only on the task of finding Carlos, and he had a plan that he believed would help her with just that. There was one big snag in his grand idea, though, and he gulped as an unsure feeling started to take root in his stomach. After praying a quick, silent prayer asking God to provide him with the right words to say what he needed to say, he exhaled deeply before beginning the tough conversation.Kimberly Grace’s Christian Romance Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I will be sharing with you the first couple of chapters from my self-published book, A Paws in Life can Lead to Love. If you love the Beatles, the beach, and a cute, lovable dog, then this is the perfect romance book to cozy up with and enjoy on your next vacation or stay-cation! Please note that since I already published this book, I will not be including the written transcript, nor will this book be shared in full with my paid subscribers. If you wish to purchase, please click below to buy it on Amazon:Following the tragic death of her parents and the ending of her decade-long relationship with the man she thought was her soulmate, Jude struggles to rebuild a new life for herself. Between an overbearing sister, the recurring nightmares of her parents’ deaths, and the shambles of her love life, Jude feels completely lost and overwhelmed. She thinks she has finally found a way to cope with everything by returning to her passion of painting on the beach, but it seems Jude can’t catch a break when a dog starts showing up to cause mischief by stealing her paint brushes. When the dog’s owner finally intervenes, Jude is taken aback by her immediate attraction to him and the unabating feeling that she has met him once before. Her head cautions her against pursuing a relationship with him, but her heart leaps every time he is near. Jude’s new four-legged friend catapults her onto a roller coaster ride of emotions and self-discovery, which ultimately forces her to face past mysteries and future possibilities.Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Need to get caught up on the latest part of A Cop’s Crossroads with Love? You can find it here:💖 Thank you so much to my amazing paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, Theresa, and Cathy! 💖You can check out Cathy’s inspiring and thought-provoking Substack here:🌟Cathy Ben-Ameh's Substack🌟🕊️✨If you’re thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, here are some of the fantastic perks you’ll receive:* Full access to the book manuscripts I am currently writing;* Your name and Substack advertised on all my posts;* Full participation in my book-making decisions;* Your name featured on my book’s dedication pages once published;* Paid subscriber-only Behind the Scenes posts;* Full access to paid subscriber-only chat; and* Editing/feedback for one draft Substack post per monthRight now take advantage of my annual subscription price being only $30 for the entire year and you will receive all of the awesome benefits listed above! 🙌🏻Click here or below to claim your discounted annual subscription! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.comStart at the beginning!Previous Part!Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for continuing to follow my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. I want to give an extra special thank you to my paid sponsors: Tom, Hank, and Theresa. Your support means the absolute world to me. There are no words to express the true depth of my gratitude. Now, let’s continue with Part 7…Cassidy held her breath, trying not to gag on the awful, pungent smell. Her nostrils begged for a reprieve from the repulsive scent of wet socks left out in the rain. It was clear to Cassidy that Detective Landry had mixed two of his musk colognes, creating a horrible concoction that should never be repeated. She cracked her window down and leaned her head as close to the opening as she could. Thankfully, Bill Landry rambled on incessantly and did not notice what Cassidy was doing. In fact, she probably could stick her whole head out the window like a dog and Bill would have no clue. His obliviousness to his surroundings made Cassidy question his merit for being a detective, but as if right on cue, Bill started listing his lengthy track record of accolades.“Not to brag, but I’ve solved over 30 cases in the past year. Of course, it’s much slower here in Haven, but with this crazy thief on the loose, who knows how many more cases will spawn from this? Yep, it’s all just getting started now.”Cassidy bit her lower lip to keep from talking. She was in no position to talk back to her superior on the case, yet she had never wanted to punch someone more than she did Detective Landry right now. His arrogant way of demeaning others grated on her soul. Even though she knew Carlos was guilty, her stomach churned uneasily at the way Bill Landry spoke about him. He was still a person and deserved a fair trial regardless of the incriminating evidence. Detective Landry rained down judgment as if he were king of the law and that did not sit well with Cassidy. She had taken the oath to serve the public with moral aptitude in mind while upholding the laws to the highest standard. Instead of encouraging Detective Landry to expound any further, she decided the best tactic was to switch subjects.“Did you call the landlord to let him know we were coming?”Bill sighed with exasperation, as if he was about to explain something to a toddler for the millionth time. He drummed his fingers in irritation on the steering wheel.“Yes, of course. This is not my first rodeo, remember? Jack Harrison knows and is expecting our arrival any minute now. We would have been there already if you hadn’t taken the time to talk to the roofing company owner. Honestly, Burns, I don’t know why you waste your time with him. There are plenty of more accomplished men than that guy. Obviously, I for one—but sorry, you know the office no-dating policy.”Cassidy rolled her eyes internally and suppressed a laugh that was building inside of her. There had never been a need for a dating policy until Cassidy joined the precinct. The only reason for its creation was that too many of the single men kept asking Cassidy out. She had had the most awkward conversation with the head of H.R. and he sheepishly drafted the clause. At the time, she hadn’t minded the suitors too much but was definitely relieved for it now. There was no way in hell Cassidy would ever go on a date with Bill Landry. After trying to remove that asinine thought from her brain, Cassidy replayed what Detective Landry had said about the landlord. Jack Harrison? Had she heard the name correctly? It cannot be him, she hoped.“I’m sorry, did you say Jack Harrison?”“Yes, Jack. J-A-C-K. Harrison. H-A-R—”“I know how to spell his name.”“Well, gee, Burns, I thought I had to spell it out for you since you made me repeat myself so many times. Or maybe you just love hearing me talk.”He gave her the most flirtatious smile and winked at her. The sick feeling was starting to bubble up again and this time Cassidy had to lower her window all the way down. A sharp blast of wind hit her square in the face. She didn’t care one bit, though, as the air was refreshing and she gulped it in a welcoming gasp. She knew they did not have long until they were at the Ramirez apartment building. Cassidy’s mind spun as she had not heard the name Jack Harrison in ages. After running into Jacob this morning, it apparently was turning into a Haven High class reunion.

Start at the beginning!Previous Part!Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for continuing to follow my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. Now it’s time for me to give you fair warning—after this section (Part 6), the rest of this story will only be accessible to my paid subscribers. I genuinely hope you have enjoyed hearing my story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I pray you will continue to follow Cassidy and Jacob as more twists and turns are revealed in their story. Now, let’s continue with Part 6…Jacob leaned against the side of his work truck. He had been pacing for the past five minutes and was a bit beside himself with what he should do. His crew was already working on replacing the roof despite not having Carlos and Rosalina’s help. Jacob had insisted that he jump in to help as well, but Diego, Pedro, and Antonio physically blocked him from coming up the ladder. They wanted their boss to support Rosalina and help her in any way he could. As hardheaded as he could be, Jacob obliged their request, knowing how much they deeply cared for both Carlos and Rosalina. They were not just coworkers. They were like family and family supports each other during tough times.Yet, it was agonizing for him to have nothing to do but wait. Jacob leaned his head back and placed his hands behind his head as a makeshift pillow. He closed his eyes and remembered how cross Chief Braxton had appeared while talking with Cassidy a little while ago. Although he could not hear what he had said to her, he watched her body language carefully. Cassidy stood with her head bent downward while she wrapped her arms across her chest protectively. She appeared to be nodding and shaking a bit. Oh, how Jacob wished he could wake up the strong, smart Cassidy hiding inside of her. The one who was always respectful but would stand her ground.When she had turned around from what looked like an awful and degrading diatribe, Jacob tried to lock eyes with her, but she never looked his way. Her face was sullen and downcast. Jacob watched her walk slowly, as if every step took massive effort. He watched her join Rosalina and another man, whom Jacob presumed was the interpreter, as the trio climbed into a police van to talk. Jacob had asked if he could be Rosalina’s interpreter, but the police officers laughed at him for quite some while until they realized that he had been serious. Then they matter-of-factly explained to him that it would be inappropriate for her boss to play a neutral role in the case. He knew they were right, but still, Jacob desperately wanted to be by Rosalina’s side to help her during this scary time. And by Cassidy’s. That thought stirred up the longing feelings Jacob had experienced while he had comforted her after her nightmare. He missed her like a boat stranded on the shore, desperate to feel the lapping, cool waves against its hull again. Jacob was shipwrecked and powerless to do anything about it. He shook his head, knowing that Cassidy would think he was crazy for even contemplating dating right now. There were many more pressing matters at hand, like finding Carlos. A lot about this situation did not add up right. All Jacob could do was hope and pray that Rosalina would be able to provide Cassidy with some valuable information that would help shift the matter to a happy outcome. As helpless as he felt, Jacob knew there was still one thing he could do to help everyone and he was about to do it. Kneeling down in the grass, Jacob bowed his head low and pressed his palms together firmly. The best way that he could help was to begin interceding on Rosalina and Cassidy’s behalf. His lips moved silently as he lifted them up to the Father, praising Him first for his steadfast faithfulness. Jacob prayed for wisdom and confidence over Cassidy while also lifting Rosalina up to be brave, forthcoming, and cooperative. He had just finished saying his prayers for them and was about to begin praying specifically for Carlos when a man came up to him and spoke out so loudly, it startled him and nearly caused him to fall backwards.“What are you doing? That’s an interesting way to take a nap.”Jacob opened one eye and was surprised to see Detective Bill Landry looming in front of him. He had a smirk on his face that lit up like a billboard, advertising his number one status to all passersby. Jacob had learned from Cassidy that Bill had moved to the area only a month ago from the city. It was quite apparent that Bill thought very highly of himself, as he proudly displayed his oversized, shiny detective badge with built-in reflective bling like a gaudy trophy. Jacob held his breath, hoping it was just a one-off comment and that Detective Landry would soon be on his way. However, that was not the case, as he continued to stand right in front of him. Without request, Jacob got up while Bill watched him with an intensity that made him feel a bit uncomfortable.“I was praying.”“Oh, is that what you call it? Because your eyes were definitely closed. Anyway, we need to have a little chat.”Jacob wanted to respond to his napping comment because clearly Detective Landry had never witnessed someone praying before, but there was no use trying to interrupt him now. He had already moved on and trying to backtrack the conversation would be like a fish trying to swim upstream.“As I was saying, it would be best to terminate Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez from your roofing team. One’s a fugitive on the lam and the other is definitely an accomplice of some sort. It’s sad, really, but it’s a textbook case. I’ve seen it a dozen times over the course of my illustrious career.”Jacob was dumbfounded at first. He could not believe the gall of this guy. Why was he speaking as if Carlos and Rosalina were already convicted? What happened to innocent until proven guilty?“Excuse me? I may not have all the facts about what is going on here, but I know one thing for certain. Carlos and Rosalina are good people. This has to be a big misunderstanding.”Detective Landry grinned at Jacob, not in a friendly way but in a manner that stated dominance and control. He took out a cigarette and lit a match to light it. He took a big drag on his cig to draw out the suspense even longer and then finally puffed it out directly into Jacob’s face. Jacob coughed and felt his eyes water from the dirty cloud of toxic air. Stepping back a few steps, Jacob disliked the man even more. He was about to walk away as he could no longer see this conversation bearing any good fruit, when Detective Landry’s chilling words sliced the cool, spring air with pompous intent.“You might want to check your tools and supplies. Count them two or three times to make sure everything is all there.”Jacob clenched his fists and felt his jaw tighten. He turned around and tried to appear unfazed by Detective Landry’s arrogant assumptions about his friend.“I know they're all there, but do tell Detective Landry, what makes you so confident that you can talk about someone with such brazen accusations? Carlos is not a thief.”To Jacob’s surprise, Detective Landry started laughing. Then he took two steps forward to close the gap between them. He lowered his voice and said, “This case is done and over before it began. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, as you seem like a nice guy, but there is undeniable proof that wanted fugitive Carlos Ramirez is a thief. Not a very sneaky thief, though. There is irrefutable video evidence catching him in the act. He stole a $50,000 painting. I don’t blame the guy. He had a clear motive, what with his growing debt and all. Anyway, don’t say I didn’t warn ya. It’s up to you if you want to keep company with the likes of thieves and criminals.”Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.With that, Detective Landry strode away laughing before Jacob could even open his mouth to reply. He did not trust him and therefore, Jacob refused to believe any of the malarkey he just told him. Moving back toward the other side of the van, Jacob was about to resume praying, even more fervently now after his unpleasant talk with Detective Landry, when he noticed Cassidy and Rosalina had exited the police van. Both women appeared to be exhausted and the worried look on their faces caused Jacob’s heart to beat faster. Cassidy was moving rather quickly and appeared to be avoiding eye contact with Jacob. She had just passed him, so he reached out his hand to stop her. She looked down at the ground at first, but then she timidly met his gaze. He saw a swirl of emotions jockeying for control. She looked conflicted, hurt, and sad. Jacob longed to soothe the raging sea swirling inside her, but this time he sensed he had better not embrace her. She spoke first, her voice raspy and thick with emotion.“Jacob, I’m sorry, but I can’t see you anymore.”“What? Why? I thought we were a team. I can help you find Carlos.”“If you want to help me, then stay away from me. And if you do find Carlos…tell him to turn himself in. That’s how you can really help me.”Without another word, Cassidy hurried away to join her fellow police officers, Detective Landry, and Chief Braxton to discuss her talk with Mrs. Ramirez. Jacob watched her go and wished she would turn back, just once, to check on him. However, she did not. Not long after, Jacob caught a familiar whiff of something that smelled like oranges. Without looking, he knew Rosalina had joined him. He turned toward her and opened his arms for a hug. Rosalina fell into them willingly and heaved a heavy sigh. She was as tough as they come, but Jacob knew this ordeal was her breaking point. He spoke to her in Spanish.“Are you okay, Rosa?”“Si. Yes. I trust the lady cop. I do not trust the detective.”Jacob quite agreed, yet he felt his stomach turning in knots. He did not want to pry as the Ramirez family was typically quite private, but at this point, he had to know everything. His heart ached that Cassidy no longer wanted to even talk to him and he would do everything within his power to fix this. All of it.“Rosalina, what happened?”She shifted her weight from side to side, creating a gentle rocking motion. A rhythmic swaying to soothe her stress and fears. Rosalina rummaged inside her purse until she produced a small, yellow and red polka dot handkerchief that she used to dab her eyes. She cleared her throat a few times before garnering the strength to tell Jacob the tale.“After you left this morning, we began working on the house. Everything was normal. Until our landlord showed up. He appeared to be very angry. I watched Carlos speak with him. I could not hear what was being said, but they were both shouting at the end. Carlos came over to me and told me we were being evicted.”“Evicted?! Why?”“We had fallen behind on our rent for the past couple of months. You know it’s been hard since Mama’s diagnosis and treatments. Our landlord agreed to allow Mama to live with us, but he doubled our rent. When we couldn’t pay, Carlos asked if he could do some maintenance around the apartments to cut down on our debt. Our landlord agreed. He wanted Carlos to start by painting his house nearby first, though.”“Detective Landry told me that he stole a $50,000 painting. I don’t believe Carlos would do that.”“No, he wouldn’t. That I am sure.”“How do you know?”Rosalina’s gentle swaying came to an abrupt stop. She looked at Jacob with such fragile hope that he was sure the next smallest gust of wind would break her into a million pieces.“The last thing he told me this morning was that he is innocent. He wanted me to tell you that.”“Okay…but Rosa? If he’s innocent, why did he run away?”With that last sentence, Rosalina burst into tears and started sobbing uncontrollably. Jacob wrapped her tighter in his arms to try and console her. Although he didn’t know how to comfort her as he was now unsure about everything. Had he been too trusting of Carlos and missed the signs? This nightmare seemed so surreal and he wished he could wake up from it. The only saving grace in this mess was his faith in God, so he did the only thing he could think to do.Jacob whispered quietly, “Oh Lord, help us.”To be continued…Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Start at the beginning!Previous Part!Hi, this is Kimberly Grace and I want to thank all my readers/listeners for continuing to follow my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. Just a friendly reminder that at some point, the rest of this story will only be accessible to my paid subscribers. Don’t worry, there is still more story for me to share with you before that happens. Now, let’s continue with Part 5 — Cassidy’s nightmare begins…Peeling left out of the station, Cassidy and Jacob sped down Main Street as fast as Cassidy’s stomach could handle. Although she was feeling slightly better, her insides lurched with every turn. Pushing the nausea out of her mind, Cassidy tried to find something else to concentrate on. Reaching down, she turned the volume up all the way on her radio. Jacob leaned in slightly to listen to the chatter on the channel. So many voices were chiming in at once that it was hard to make out what was happening. The only thing they could gather from the gargled mess of voices was that Carlos had not been found yet and someone named Rosalina was at the house. Good, there’s still time to find him first, Cassidy thought. She stole a glance at Jacob, who was typing intensely on his phone. Cassidy knew he was trying to get more information on Carlos’s whereabouts. He had tried calling him directly when they left the precinct, but the call had gone straight to voicemail. With sweaty palms, Cassidy tightened her grip and pushed the pedal down as hard as she could muster. She knew it wouldn’t get them there any faster than they were already going, but it made her feel better for some reason. A pounding headache formed in the upper right corner of her forehead, drumming loudly on her temple. She strained her ear towards the radio and heard that name again. Rosalina. Who is she?“Um, Jacob?”“Hmm?”Jacob did not look up from his phone. He cradled it like a precious sleeping child, as he gently coaxed it to give him the answers he sought. “Do you know who Rosalina is?” “Yes, she’s one of my crew members. She’s also Carlos’s wife. She’s amazing—an extremely hard worker and a dedicated team member.”Cassidy nodded, as the realization dawned on her that Rosalina was the woman roofer she had seen this morning. She worked a very tough job and Cassidy respected that. Jacob was clearly not a partial participant in this case and she needed to keep reminding herself of that fact. A good cop sticks to the facts and doesn’t let emotions get in the way. Biting her lip, Cassidy choked back a wave of guilt, remembering that it was precisely her emotional attachment to Jacob that got them into this mess. All she could do now was hope that Rosalina would be able to help shed some light not only on her husband’s current location, but also on the truth of the situation. She just needed five minutes with her. That’s all Cassidy asked. Yet, she knew it would not be easy with Chief Braxton now directly involved. He most certainly already had Detective Landry on the case, and judging by his reaction earlier to her disobedience, Cassidy knew she would have to be careful not to be caught stepping out of line again.“Ships and chips, no one is picking up.”Jacob pounded his thigh in frustration. Despite the serious and somewhat awkward circumstance they found themselves in, Cassidy couldn’t help but smile. She watched Jacob scrunch his nose in concentration and scratch his chin absentmindedly, as if he could somehow extract the solution that way. His hair was a tousled mess of curls from him bending forward so much to look at his phone. Cassidy had to resist the urge to run her fingers through it. Her heart pounded in her chest so fast that she was sure he could hear it. Turning her full attention back to the road, she shook herself, trying desperately to stop her longing for him. She sighed and noticed Jacob was now staring at her. She blushed and quickly tried to think of something that would distract his attention away from her.“Ships and chips, eh? What are you, a salty pirate?”Jacob’s laugh soothed her soul and tamed the panic that threatened to rise up inside of her. She loved that his laugh was so light and wholesome. It reminded her of the days growing up when they would play board games together. Cassidy never liked to lose and neither did Jacob, although he had always been much more gracious than she. Cassidy had seized every opportunity that she could to gloat about her wins over him. She cringed slightly now, realizing how childish and embarrassing she had acted. Jacob didn’t seem to notice her remorse or uncomfortable shift. He was back to typing on his phone again.“No, not a pirate. It’s just a saying my dad likes to use, especially when playing Pinochle.”“Oh, but…”“…but what does it mean? Haha, good question. I don’t know exactly. It’s just an expression he decided to use when the game wasn’t going his way. I think he said something about a ship made of chips wouldn’t sail well, or was it a ship sailing in a sea of chips? I don’t know, but anyway, he said it so often, I guess it got ingrained in me. Either that or I’m getting old.”“I like it. It’s a cute saying, old timer.”Jacob chuckled and locked eyes with Cassidy for a moment. Suddenly, the anxious feelings and nausea settled instantly. For whatever reason, Jacob had always made her feel safe, and a wave of gratitude swept over her. It was as if they were suddenly back in high school, or maybe time had frozen until they reconnected again. Whichever it was, Cassidy felt both a little better and overwhelmingly nervous at the same time. Oh great, even the high school insecurities and emotions have followed me, she thought. There was no time to ponder what could or could not happen between them, though. They were almost to the house and Cassidy’s stress level started to rise. She slowed up as they pulled onto the street where the house sat at the end of the cul-de-sac. Bright red and blue lights flashed like a rave up and down the street. Cassidy pulled over, way farther back up the road. She couldn’t risk being caught by her boss here. She motioned for Jacob to go on ahead of her. He climbed out of the car but stopped with the passenger door open. He ducked his head back in and moved in slightly so they were eye level with each other. Cassidy held her breath as the closeness to him was making her feel dizzy.“Aren’t you coming with me?”“I can’t. The chief is there. What if he sees me?”Jacob placed his hand on hers. She felt a jolt of excitement shoot up her arm from his warm touch. Jacob was such an encourager, believer, and doer, so much so that it made Cassidy want to step out of the car. Yet, fear and doubt kept her captive enough to resist his charm.“Cass, I promise it will be fine. What can he do? He didn’t tell you not to look for Carlos.”Cassidy sighed. He definitely was somebody who did not like to give up easily.“No, but it was implied, Jacob. I know the look he gave me, and trust me, it was not a good one.”Jacob released her hand and raised both his arms up in the air as a sign of surrender. She secretly missed the warmth and closeness of him.“Fair enough. I can’t argue with the police. Well…not too much anyway.”With that, he gave a wink and his signature grin before turning around to head in the direction of the commotion. A dozen officers were milling around the houses. Some were talking to the neighbors while others were just shooting the breeze. She watched as Jacob disappeared into the crowd. Cassidy then slumped back in her seat and closed her eyes for a second. It was in that moment she realized just how tired she really was and at first, she tried not to drift off. However, she gave up the fight eventually and fell into a deep sleep.Cassidy dreamed that she was in a dark room with a bright light hanging above her head. It was stifling hot in the room and when she tried to move to get up, she realized that she was handcuffed to the chair. No matter how hard she tugged and twisted her body, she could not break free. Suddenly, a voice spoke out from the shadows.“You disobeyed me and now you’re going to pay the price.”Cassidy recognized the voice. It was Chief Braxton. Then two other people spoke up.“We told you, but you didn’t listen. Now look what you’ve done?”“You’ve ruined your uncle’s legacy. You should be ashamed of yourself.”Cassidy felt tears sting her eyes. Those were her parents’ voices. Then the last voice spoke, but Cassidy didn’t recognize it.“You believed in fairytales as a little girl, but wake up! This is real life and you’ll never have a knight in shining armor. Your puppy dog love for Jacob is pathetic. You deserve this. Guards, lock her up and seal the door. She’s never getting out now.”Cassidy wanted to scream, but her throat was dry and a lump made it hard for her to even breathe. She watched as the shadowy figures started to move out of the room. She mustered enough strength to cry out, “wait!”Then, out from the darkness, emerged the last person to speak to her. Cassidy trembled at the sight of her. Her eyes were dark and soulless while her jet-black hair was sleeked back and wrapped in a tight bun. She had a sense of familiarity with her, though. Cassidy could not place how she knew this woman until she stepped closer to her. She bent down and gave Cassidy the most sinister-looking grin. When Cassidy met her gaze, not willingly, as the woman forced her chin up, Cassidy’s eyes grew wide in terror. The woman was…Cassidy! Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.She was staring at a very dark version of herself. Her mouth dropped open and the evil Cassidy cackled loudly. It was so loud that it began to hurt Cassidy’s ears. She wanted to cover them, but her forearms were still chained to the chair. She shut her eyes instead, but the menacing laughter echoed inside her head. Cassidy’s head pounded with every booming sound of her own maniacal laughter. She did not know how much more she could take and was losing hope fast. Suddenly, a scream pierced loudly, silencing the laughter at once. It was Cassidy’s own voice. She continued to scream and couldn’t stop herself. The next thing she knew, she heard a different but familiar voice calling her name.“Cass, wake up! It’s okay, just please, wake up!”Cassidy opened her eyes and to her shock, she was back in her police cruiser and Jacob was standing next to her door with a very concerned look on his face. Cassidy gulped, gasping for air. Her heart was racing. She looked around wildly for a moment, just to make sure she was actually awake. Jacob handed her a water bottle, which she gladly downed in almost two gulps.“Are you okay, Cass? You were shaking and moaning loudly in your sleep.”“Yeah, I uh…thanks, Jacob. I had a nightmare. That’s all.”“Oh, I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about it?”“No! I mean, thank you, but really, I’m fine. Did you find anything out?”Jacob nodded with a serious expression that made Cassidy’s stomach churn. She knew it was not going to be good news.“Carlos is gone. No one knows where he went, but he took a backpack full of supplies.”Cassidy put her head down on her steering wheel. The weight of the guilt she felt for letting Carlos escape was too much for her right now. She felt Jacob gently pat her shoulder.“There is some good news, though. Rosalina is here. She doesn’t speak much English, but she wants to talk to you.”“To me? I’m sure Detective Landry is the one she needs to talk to right now.”“Yes, he tried. He even got an interpreter, but she refused to speak to him. She said she would only speak with the lady cop from this morning.”Cassidy popped her head up so fast that Jacob stepped back a little. Her eyes searched his to confirm that what he told her was true. He nodded and smiled at her. Cassidy breathed a sigh of relief but did not return the smile. Her doubts about being a cop started plaguing her mind again. A worry line crossed the top of her forehead. Jacob seemed to be reading her mind as he took her hand again.“Don’t worry, you’re going to do great. Rosalina is a sweet woman and I know why she chose to talk to you.”“Oh yeah, and why’s that?”“Because you’re the best cop in town.”Cassidy began to roll her eyes, but the look on Jacob’s face stopped her.“I mean it. You care deeply for others and your empathy is what makes you a really great cop. And it’s not because you’re a woman. You’ve always helped others, especially the ones who get overlooked. It’s who you are, Cass. I’m not sure why you doubt yourself, but it’s okay. You’ll remember. You’ll find the old fierce, sweet Cassidy again.”Cassidy wanted to freeze time. Jacob’s words were so tender and healing to her soul. She wanted to reply, but didn’t know what to say. Before she could even think of anything, Chief Braxton’s loud voice shook both of them out of their trance.“Burns! Get over here now!”To be continued…Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Start at the beginning!Previous Part!Announcement: Hi, I’m Kimberly Grace and I want to thank you so much for your continued support of my story, A Cop’s Crossroads with Love. I wanted to let you know that at some point the rest of this story will only be accessible to my paid subscribers. Creating this story and audio recordings takes a lot of time and hard work. It is time away from my primary role as a wife and mother. I owe it to my family and to myself to place value on what I’m creating here. Don’t worry, I will give you fair warning when the paid portion will be coming. I pray you will continue to come along with me on this journey as we discover more questions and answers in Cassidy and Jacob’s story.An arrest warrant? Jacob stared at the door that Chief Braxton had exited, probably a good couple of minutes ago. He blinked rapidly while he tried to make sense of what he had just heard. It did not make sense at all. Even though Jacob hadn’t known Carlos for a very long time, he had spent almost every day with him. They’ve bonded over their fishing expeditions and lamented when their favorite sports teams failed to clinch division championships. Their friendship was light and easy. Jacob could not even grasp the concept of a reality where Carlos was a criminal. The unpaid parking tickets only added up to $500. Something was not right here and Jacob was determined to get to the bottom of it.Finally able to pull himself out of his stupor, Jacob turned his focus and gaze to Cassidy. She, too, looked rather shellshocked and frozen in place. His heart softened at the sight of her and he had to hold himself back from rushing to her side and wrapping his arms around her. Cassidy looked so fragile right now that even the smallest breath of air would cause her to break into a million pieces. Without thinking, Jacob reached his hand across the table and lightly placed it on her arm. For a brief second, Cassidy seemed to relax but then she jumped up so fast, it made Jacob retract his hand quickly as if he had just been bitten by a rattlesnake. Cassidy’s eyes were brimming with a burning anger that pierced him so intensely, he had to look away for a moment. It bewildered Jacob as to why Cassidy was treating him as an enemy and not a friend. He closed his eyes and prayed that God would illuminate a step for him—just one step, that’s all he needed right now. Jacob did not plead for all the answers, not even what to do about Carlos. Instead, his prayer centered on Cassidy. He prayed that they could at least be friends again. With his eyes still shut, he heard Cassidy speak in an almost unrecognizable tone. It was one almost devoid of emotion, but he detected the smallest bit of care in it, which gave him a glimmer of hope.“You’ve meddled enough here, Jacob. It’s time for you to go.”Jacob kept his eyes shut and continued to pray. A warm, calming presence eased the tension in his forehead and back. His strength and confidence in his Savior were being renewed by the Holy Spirit. He sat silently for a moment, not moving an inch, but his lips continued to whisper quietly his prayer offering to God. He heard Cassidy start to walk toward the door. Now feeling more centered, he opened his eyes and spoke the only thing he could think of to encourage his friend.“You didn’t do anything wrong, Cass. It’s the chief’s fault for not telling you about the arrest warrant.”Cassidy paused in the doorframe with her one hand holding tightly near the top of the door jamb. Her body looked tense and Jacob thought he saw a slight tremor in the other hand that hung defeatedly by her thigh. Jacob did not dare to even think about getting up and moving closer to her. He knew Cassidy would have none of his sympathy right now. Without turning her head to look at him, she replied in a low, flat voice.“It doesn’t matter. I was given specific orders and I didn’t follow them. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go clean out my desk.”Upon hearing the last remark, Jacob shot up in horror and hurried after her. She was already down the hall and making a right toward the big open space filled with rows and rows of desks. Jacob tried to pick up his pace, but surprisingly, Cassidy could move rather fast for her petite size. Perhaps the anger helped fuel her speed, Jacob thought. He was not expecting to find the office so empty and quiet when he entered the big room. It was just the two of them, except for an older gentleman typing slowly on a computer in the corner. He had so many stacks of piled-up manila folders on his desk that you could barely see his little head poking above them. Jacob’s voice rang out louder than intended, clearly catching the attention of the older police officer in the corner as his clickety clacking stopped immediately, leaving a deafening, ominous silence in the room.“What do you mean, clean out your desk? You can’t quit, Cass!”Cassidy glared at Jacob for a moment but then pretended as if she hadn’t heard him and went back to collecting her things. Jacob watched her pause when she picked up a picture of her uncle. He noticed the silent tears falling down her cheeks as she put it in a box, only offering up a quick wipe of her sleeve for the occasion and it was over. Cassidy was back to being a stoic wall, devoid of emotion. It unnerved Jacob to see her this way. This was certainly not the Cassidy that he grew up with and it was driving him mad that she was acting this way. She used to be fierce and determined. She would never back down from a challenge and loved to play games competitively. Suddenly, Jacob had an idea. He walked over to her and put his hand on hers to momentarily stop her from putting another one of her possessions in the box. He searched her face until she was finally willing to lock eyes with his and then he noticed it—the smallest spark of light in them. Now he knew it wouldn’t last long, but for now, he knew he held her attention.“The Cassidy I know would never even think of giving up. She is smart, tenacious, and would never let anyone else define her destiny other than herself.”He could tell she wanted to believe him and was hanging on his every word like a child waiting expectantly for the ice cream man to drive down her street. Her eyes welled again with tears and this time, she could not hold back the floodgates. Cassidy started sobbing quietly, so Jacob instinctively wrapped his arms around her. She felt good against his chest and, strangely, everything felt better when he held her. It didn’t take away the uphill battle or mess of a situation they found themselves in, but it did feel more manageable, to him at least. He thought he had understood what it felt like to be in love. Jacob came close in college once with his then-longtime girlfriend, but now holding Cassidy, he realized that he’d been mistaken. The way he felt being with Cassidy was unlike anything else. He never wanted to let her go. He yearned to be her protector, even though he knew she was fully capable of taking care of herself. The moment was brief yet also felt like a lifetime had passed by between them, instantly solidifying a bond that neither one would be able to easily push away or deny now. Cassidy pulled back slightly, her beautiful green eyes shimmered with tear drops laced between her eyelashes. She met his gaze and parted her lips slightly, as if offering an invitation. Jacob naturally started to lean down to meet them, but was abruptly stopped by the sound of the old man in the corner clearing his throat. As quickly as the two had found themselves wrapped in each other’s arms, they were separated instantly now. He noticed Cassidy’s cheeks were flushed, so he dropped his head downward to keep his gaze toward the checkered floor pattern and scratched the back of his neck with the full palm of his hand. He felt bad for putting her in a compromising position, but gave himself a little grace given the fact that it was thankfully only just one police officer who saw them together. Cassidy went back to clearing out her desk as though nothing had just happened and Jacob joined in to help her. At this point, what more could he do? He had tried everything he could think of to stop her from quitting. The least he could do was be supportive of her decision, even if he didn’t agree with it.“Thanks for helping, Jacob. I made a huge mistake and now I need to take responsibility for it. My partner would have done what we were told. I should have followed the chief’s explicit instructions. I…I just don’t think I’m cut out to be a cop. They were right.”Before Jacob could even inquire about who “they” are, both of them were startled when the sound of the older police man across the room boomed in a raspy voice.“Before you close up that box for good, Burns, there’s something you ought to know.”Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Struggling to regain her composure, Cassidy rested her left arm on the top of the box and turned her attention to her colleague with a placid expression on her face. Even though she appeared calm, Jacob knew she was hanging on by a thread at this point. Her body trembled ever so slightly as the anticipation began to build and a palpable tension filled the nearly empty room. Jacob wondered where all the other officers had gone, but gulped when he realized that they were probably all out looking for Carlos. Both Jacob and Cassidy had to stay in their suspense a little while longer while the man slowly made his way over to them. Apparently, what he had to say could not be shouted across the room. Either that, or this man lived for dramatic theatrics. He walked with a limp and had a cane to help him maneuver around. Jacob weighed the likelihood that the injury might have occurred while he was on duty. The man had a stern scowl and his breath was heavily labored with every step. Jacob easily concluded that he would not dare venture a word to him. Finally, after what felt like the longest walk ever, he made it to them. Jacob said a silent prayer for the man as he could tell he suffered greatly every day from his pain.Cassidy rolled her chair over for him and helped him to sit down. It was clear to Jacob that she very much respected her older colleague. She had always had a kind, caring nature and Jacob’s heart leaped a little to see the old Cassidy shining through again. Cassidy kneeled down like a child would, waiting for their papa to tell them a bedtime story. “It’s okay, Schmitty. What is it? What do I need to know?”Now that Officer Schmitty was right up close with Cassidy and Jacob, he appeared to falter in his confidence a little. He clutched his cane with both hands and looked around wildly for a moment. Cassidy placed her hand gently on his arm and gave it a few small pats, signaling her support for him to share what he knew with them. That seemed to do the trick, as he cleared his throat once more before speaking.“The arrest warrant.”“Yes? What about it?”“It was filed this morning. You had already left.”Jacob’s wheels were spinning. Why would an arrest warrant be filed for a mere $500? He could tell Cassidy was thinking the same thing as she put her index finger up to her lips in contemplation.“Why didn’t Chief Braxton radio me then?”Officer Schmitty shrugged his shoulders and scoffed. He apparently felt that he had said enough as he started to struggle to get out of the chair. Jacob swooped in to help the man up and then he was able to steady himself with his cane. Schmitty began making his way back slowly to his desk. “It beats me, Burns. But the docket is locked. Can’t even read the charges against him. You’ll have to talk to Judge Weston about it.”Jacob knew Judge Weston. He played golf with his dad and occasionally had dinner with his family. He was one of only two judges in town and although he was a man who greatly respected upholding the law, he always tried to help people learn from their mistakes and give them options that would lead to making better choices. This was the first time Jacob could recall there ever being an arrest warrant issued in the town of Naven. Jacob’s stomach turned as he realized this was either a grave misunderstanding or…no, Jacob refused to believe Carlos had done something nefarious. He needed to find him and he needed to find him quickly. He turned around to tell Cassidy and nearly bumped into her. She had already placed her stuff back on her desk and was pulling on her jacket while grabbing her radio along with a few other items. At the same time, they spoke to each other.“We need to find Carlos.”Jacob smiled broadly. He could see the fire was relit in her eyes and was thrilled to see the brave and determined Cassidy had returned.“I thought you were quitting?”Cassidy smirked at him and smiled in a way that made Jacob’s heart soar. They appeared to be back in sync and he could not ask for more. Well, at least not right now. Jacob knew not to push his luck. They both started heading toward the front door, walking faster as if everything they had ever dreamed stood right outside of it.“I’m no quitter, Roberts. Besides, this case just got interesting.”Jacob wanted to reply ‘that’s my girl' or even ‘atta girl’, but he couldn’t risk messing up the huge progress they had made. It definitely would not be easy to hide his growing feelings for her, yet he would while they solved what was going on with Carlos. After all, they needed to focus and work together as a team. The thought of them as a team caused him to smile so much that Cassidy pretended to punch him in the arm.“Get your head in the game, Roberts. We got work to do.”“Copy that, Officer Burns, copy that.”To be continued…Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Start at the beginning!Previous Part!“Yes, Ma’am. I’m ready, Officer Burns.”Cassidy gripped the steering wheel tighter after hearing Jacob refer to her as ma’am. She clenched her teeth, seething with frustration toward him as she sped a little faster down Main Street. The station was not far away, but with the constant construction going on, she knew it would take longer to get there than she’d like. Her face reddened and her palms began to sweat due to the tension. The tension that she had inadvertently helped to create. She quickly reached over to adjust the fan on the air conditioning. Immediately, a cool blast of air hit her face. This temporarily soothed the burning sensation radiating down her neck and chest. It did not, however, stop Cassidy’s mind from racing nor the strange pulsation feeling throughout her legs and back. It was like a constant buzzing sensation that made her feel weird and tingly. Cassidy tried to remind herself that these were routine charges being brought against Jacob’s crew member and his wife. Still, she was a bit confused by the chief’s specific order to bring Mr. Ramirez in for questioning about them. She took in a sharp inhalation and held her breath. Not obeying the chief’s explicit orders was causing chaos inside her body. Cassidy needed to get out of the car fast. She needed to not be locked in such a tight space with Jacob either. She was desperate for a distraction, so Cassidy reluctantly settled on small talk.“How are your parents doing? Are they still working?”“They’re both doing well. Thanks for asking, Cass—I mean, Officer Burns. My mom retired two years ago from teaching and now she is very much enjoying her book and garden clubs. My dad, on the other hand, is adamant that he’s still a spring chicken. Dr. Roberts is still seeing patients at the blessed age of 80, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He keeps Mondays open for Pinochle and Fridays for golf, of course.”Cassidy smiled, remembering Jacob’s parents fondly. They were always active and social people, so she could clearly picture them as Jacob just described.“Wait, what about Wednesdays?”“Ah, good catch. Wednesdays are for Mom. She insisted that they have a day to do something together, since usually the weekends are filled with seeing friends and family, and going to church.”Cassidy nodded. The buzzing sound began to grow louder in her ears and for a brief moment, she heard ringing in her left ear. It thankfully subsided quickly. She took a large sip of her water, trying to do everything she could to keep her composure. Yet, Jacob’s obvious reciprocal question back to Cassidy nearly made her spit out her water.“So how are your parents?”Her whole body tensed up and Cassidy shifted in her seat anxiously, trying to calm her nerves. A sharp pain cascaded down her spine like a lightning bolt, reigniting the fresh wound she had endured only a couple days ago. Cassidy had gone over to her parents for dinner, but the conversation had turned south rather quickly with little warning, causing harsh words to be exchanged. She wished they hadn’t departed on such bad terms. Her mood shifted back to darkness as she continued to wrestle with the hurt. Her answer was muted and short.“They’re away on a two-month cruise.”“Wow, that’s exciting! Where are they going?”Cassidy shrugged and simply replied, “I guess.”Jacob must have sensed her tone, as he did not say anything else. Cassidy couldn’t even steal a glance his way, but his pine scent filled her nostrils, making her stomach do somersaults of both joy and dread. Cassidy thought she was going to be sick, but a wave of relief rolled over her once the station came into view. The good old 29. Cassidy remembered the first time she had walked through those doors. She was ten and her Uncle Jared was beaming with pride as he gave his favorite niece a tour of the place. Cassidy smiled, remembering how in awe she had felt that day and the way her uncle had made police work seem so exciting and rewarding. It was that day that Cassidy had secretly decided she wanted to follow in her Uncle Jared’s footsteps and become a cop. Unfortunately, her plans were put on hold due to her parents’ insistence on college first. Cassidy didn’t regret her degree in criminal justice, though, as she knew it would eventually help her with her end goal of becoming a detective one day. She just wished that her Uncle Jared could have lived long enough to see her graduate from the police academy. Cassidy was proud to be a part of the family of blue and vowed to continue his impeccable legacy. “We better hurry, Jacob. I’m running behind schedule now, so hopefully, this won’t take long.”“Copy that, Officer Burns, I copy, do you? Over.”Cassidy shot Jacob a stern look for that sassy comment but couldn’t help but smile a little anyway. Jacob had always been able to make her laugh, which both made her happy and a bit infuriated by his charm at the same time. Without further prompting or silliness, Jacob and Cassidy got out of the cruiser and headed inside quickly. She led Jacob down a crowded hallway with cops and administrative workers crisscrossing paths everywhere. It was a decently large building for the small town of Naven. Nestled on the outskirts of Lake Glenoake and the Dovetail Mountains, the small town of Naven beckons many tourists in the summer for its serenity and secret nature hideaways. Around 500 people call it home, so everyone knows everybody. Not a lot of crime happens in the tight-knit town of Naven, but often, Cassidy’s precinct gets enlisted to help with the three other neighboring towns nearby— even though the closest one is 45 minutes away.Cassidy was surprised to see Jacob back in their hometown. Last she had heard, he had been living out west somewhere after attending college in California to become an architect. She wanted to ask him what had made him move back and start a roofing company, but her stomach was churning in knots, so Cassidy dared not say a word. They made their way toward the back of the station and down a corridor with several offices and meeting rooms. Cassidy led Jacob inside one of the open meeting spaces and closed the door mostly, leaving it slightly ajar. She needed that little opening as a reminder that she could leave at any moment and be free of Jacob’s intoxicating enchantment over her.Fumbling with her clipboard, she laid out five pieces of paper on the table. Jacob rolled his chair closer to take a look. He was now right next to her, and that made Cassidy lose her concentration for a moment. She took a deep breath to regain her composure and used all her strength to stay focused on the task at hand. She had been given specific orders from the chief with this visit and although she technically did not follow them exactly, Cassidy knew Jacob was a man of honor and would help fix the mess that his two crew members created. At least she hoped. Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine as her body felt damp and cold. This time, it was not Jacob’s doing. Cassidy clenched her teeth tight to prevent her body from retching. Her eyes grew wide and fear froze her as she watched in horror when her boss burst through the door. He did not look angry. Not yet, anyway. Good, maybe there’s time for me to explain, Cassidy thought. Before Cassidy could even open her mouth, Chief Braxton boomed loudly.“Mr. Ramirez, I think you know why you’re here—wait, who are you? Burns, this is not Mr. Ramirez!”Cassidy trembled and felt her knees buckle beneath her. She was about to faint when she felt a gentle hand touch her arm. Jacob’s sweet gesture of support helped Cassidy regain enough strength to answer her boss.“Chief, I know you had given me specific orders to bring Mr. Ramirez in, but—”“But you didn’t do it! You didn’t follow what I asked you to do. This is very serious, Burns.”At this point, Cassidy sank down into her chair. Tears welled in her eyes as she fought desperately to hold them back. She could not allow herself to be seen crying right now. That would make this whole thing so much worse. Cassidy stared down at the large oak conference table before her. She knew she would break if she made eye contact with either man. She was lost in her racing thoughts until Jacob startled her with his voice.“Sir, if I may, Officer Burns tried to talk to Carlos, but I prevented her. I asked her to take me instead. I don’t understand why everyone is getting so worked up over a couple of unpaid parking tickets, but I will pay them. It’s fine.”Chief Braxton slammed his fist on the table, causing both Cassidy and Jacob to jump. Her heart was pounding so hard that she was sure everyone in the room could hear it—maybe even the entire precinct. She tried to take a breath in, but it was difficult. Cassidy hoped that this nightmare would be over soon because she desperately needed to get outside for some fresh air.“Fine, you say? It is not fine! It is quite the opposite. Mr. Ramirez was not being brought in today because of a ‘few unpaid parking tickets.’”Cassidy’s face turned ghost-white now. She heard her voice speak out meekly, but at this point, she felt so numb; it was like an out-of-body experience.“Why was Mr. Ramirez being brought in today?”Chief Braxton was now moving swiftly towards the door while typing fiercely fast on his tablet. He didn’t even turn his head as he yelled the answer back to them on his way out.“There’s an arrest warrant out for him.”Placing both her hands over her mouth, Cassidy stifled the scream that was building inside of her. She had failed her duty as an officer. She had let a criminal go free and it was all her fault. Even worse than that, Cassidy had failed to uphold her Uncle Jared’s legacy. Her instincts had been wrong to trust Jacob and there was no way to undo what she had done. Cassidy felt the weight of it all crashing down on her as she realized everything she had worked for had been lost.To be continued…Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Start at the beginning!“Take me instead, Cass.” Jacob stood completely still, not daring to move even an inch. He knew he had meant what he just said, but a small tingling of fear was now starting to grow inside of him. The tension was so palpable that even the birds in the nearby tree had stopped singing, and a squirrel prancing across the yard paused with an acorn in his mouth, as if he thought Cassidy was going to arrest him too. Jacob kept his eyes steady and fixed on Cassidy Burns. He hated to admit it, but she had a really good poker face. It was as if they were in a Western standoff, except Jacob had no idea why they were no longer friends and not on the same side anymore. Jacob knew what he was risking—his impeccable reputation for his roofing company could be completely lost because of this, but that didn’t matter to him. Jacob cared more for his team than he did for himself. Besides, Carlos had told him it was only a few unpaid parking tickets. He reasoned that this should all really be taken care of rather quickly. Jacob considered the megaphone and possible arrest to be a bit dramatic for such a simple problem.He watched as Cassidy glanced briefly down at her clipboard and then back to him. She pursed her lips together and furrowed her brow. Without saying a word, she turned on her heel and walked back to her cruiser, leaving Jacob standing there alone and confused. She turned around and put her hand on her hip, her expression turning to one of frustration. Jacob had to hold in a chuckle as he remembered how cute Cassidy always looked when she would make her mad face. Her tiny, scrunched-up nose would look like a rabbit’s when it’s about to chew a tasty blade of grass. The thought made him want to smile, but the strong clearing of her throat made that thought disappear quickly.“Okay, Mr. Roberts. You talked the talk; now, let’s see you walk the walk. Get in.”Jacob gulped, not knowing what he had fully gotten himself into, but he reassured himself that God was with him always and He would go with him even now. Jacob was grateful that his parents had raised him in the faith, and he knew that as long as he strived to stay close to God every day, then what evil could man do to him? Or, in this case, a woman. A very beautiful woman, one might add. Jacob shook himself as he had no idea where that thought had come from. Cassidy was one of his close childhood friends, and he had never looked at her romantically before. Although, he had always secretly admired how brave she was to ask boys out and tell funny stories to the audience to open up their school assemblies. Was this God’s prompting, or was he now seeing his old friend in a new light? It didn’t really matter, though, given the current situation between them there was a slim to zero chance that it would be appropriate for him to ask Cassidy out on a date. Still, as Jacob was walking over to Cassidy, he was caught off guard when he got a brief whiff of her citrusy lemon shampoo. He liked being close to her and realized in that moment that maybe he had made a mistake volunteering to go with her—not because he wasn’t willing to put his career on the line for his crew, Jacob knew he was doing the right thing there, but because he suddenly couldn’t stop thinking about Cassidy. “Well, are you going to get in?”Cassidy tapped her foot impatiently. Jacob started forward and then stopped. He wasn’t sure if she wanted him to ride in the back and he definitely did not want to make the wrong assumption again, like he’d done earlier when he had tried to hug her. He winced slightly, remembering that fresh rejection.“Officer Burns, do you want me to ride in the back? Or do you need to handcuff me first?”To Jacob’s great surprise, Cassidy smirked and a tiny smile formed on her face. The tension in his body started to ease a little. She shook her head and walked around to the front passenger door and held it open for him. Jacob walked at a quick clip to get over to the car now. He waved to his crew as a signal that everything was going to be okay, at least he prayed it would be. After he got in, Cassidy shut the door but stayed standing in front of it. The window was down and she leaned in slightly.“You really thought I was going to handcuff you? I’m sorry— I think I may have been a little too hard on you, Jacob. Let’s take a ride down to the station and see if we can get this all sorted out, okay?”She touched his arm gently and flashed a quick smile, but as fast as it had appeared, it went away as she hurried around the front of the vehicle to resume her primary role. Jacob lightly rubbed the spot where Cassidy’s hand had just lingered. He could not understand why he was feeling so tender and connected to Cassidy. They hadn’t even seen each other in years, but he knew by her reaction just now that she felt something too, and that reassured Jacob that everything was going to work out somehow. Jacob was fully invested now and was prepared to take the fall for his crew instead. His team was like his second family, and he wanted to be there for them 100 percent. It was his job to make sure that they had everything they needed to complete their jobs safely and efficiently. Jacob was quick and eager to always lend a hand, moving materials or running out to get something that may have been overlooked. He also insisted that his crew take mandatory breaks throughout the day. Jacob knew the harsh realities of working in this line of work as his first job out of college was working on a construction site. Unlike Jacob, his boss was largely driven by money and inflicted a harsh and punitive work environment. Jacob vowed never to create such an atmosphere for his company and would go above and beyond to ensure that his crews’ needs were met, not only physically but emotionally too.Cassidy started up the vehicle and nodded at Jacob. Her demeanor had switched back to stoic and stern, creating a fresh new wave of tension in the air between them. Cassidy cleared her throat loudly, causing the hairs on Jacob’s arms to stand up a little. He wished that they could go back to the sweet moment they had just shared only minutes ago. Apparently, that was not going to happen now, as Cassidy had obviously put a wall back up between them and was all business. “Ready, Mr. Roberts?”Jacob’s mind began to race with a few what-if scenarios, but he stopped it by ruminating on a few of his favorite Bible verses, including the one about God directing the steps of His people. This instantly calmed him with the peace and reassurance that no person could give but only Jacob’s Lord and Savior. He relaxed back in his seat and closed his eyes. His response was confident but gentle.“Yes, Ma’am. I’m ready, Officer Burns.”To be continued…Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Kimberly Grace’s Substack at authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe

Cassidy threw up her hands in anger. Today was already not going well and now to have this random jerk blocking her from a routine traffic ticket was just the tipping point. She released her seat belt and twisted her body to the side as she rummaged through her duffle bag on the passenger seat. Not only was it hard enough being the only female in this precinct but to make matters worse, today her partner had called out sick. Cassidy was one tough cookie, though. She knew exactly what she was going to do in order to regain control over the situation. Her side ached as she reached her small five-foot-three frame up and over the center console. She could just barely manage to grip the one loop of her bag with her pointer finger but was relieved to be able to hold it up long enough to allow her other hand access to the bag’s contents. Finally, she felt her hand graze over the item she had been searching for with quick intention. Cassidy grabbed it and, without hesitation, jumped out of her police cruiser. Without a moment to waste, she raised the item to her lips and proceeded to yell into the megaphone. “This is the police. I am ordering you to move your truck now or risk being arrested. I am not joking around. You have until the count of five. One…two…”Cassidy barely got to three when suddenly the man jumped out of the front of his truck. She dropped the megaphone and reached instead for her revolver. She had her hand on it, ready to draw it at any moment, but when she saw the man’s face, her body reacted in a peculiar way. Suddenly, Cassidy had lost her spunk and control. Immediately she was thrown back to her high school days as none other than Jacob Roberts was walking towards her, just as he had done many times in the hallway. Jacob had been in the grade above Cassidy’s and almost everyone had had a crush on him—including Cassidy. It was hard not to fall for the man as he was a top-A student, captain of the varsity soccer team, and an all-around gentleman. Cassidy had tried so many times not to like him but she failed every time. To make matters worse, their families were friends and that meant Cassidy had spent a lot of time with Jacob growing up. Their families had even vacationed together for several summers. She knew he only viewed her as a little sister, though, which hurt Cassidy more than she liked to admit.Cassidy caught her breath and turned her face away for a brief moment. She could tell her cheeks were hot and turning a bit of a rosy color. She felt silly for feeling this way and chided herself for acting like a foolish schoolgirl. Cassidy managed to regain her composure just as Jacob walked up to her. He towered over her slightly, with his six-foot-four muscular frame. Jacob flashed his winning smile and beamed his trusting blue eyes right at her. Cassidy made sure not to react to his cute grin or the adorable dimples that appeared when he smiled broadly. Instead, she doubled down on her stern demeanor and debated for a moment if she should wait for him to say something. The decision ended up not being up to her as Jacob spoke first and he did not even pretend not to know her.“Cassidy Burns? I almost didn’t recognize you, Cass! How’ve you been?”He started to lean down into a hug, to which Cassidy promptly stepped back and began waving a clipboard in front of him. She tried not to see the hurt look in his eyes as it was important to her that he know that although they may have a past together, it definitely does not affect their roles or the outcome of the infraction that has taken place. Cassidy cleared her throat and clicked her pen in such a serious manner that Jacob did a double take of the situation and withdrew himself backward a few steps. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and then swatted a few beads of sweat that were coming down above his brow. Cassidy felt her power and control return and she smiled on the inside.“Mr. Roberts, it is good to see you after so many years. However, are you aware of the charges being brought against your crew?”Cassidy watched as Jacob looked over his truck to see the members of his roofing company cowering near their work van. There looked to be about five of them. Four men and one female. Cassidy was impressed to see the woman but knew she had to remain focused on the task at hand. It was clear that Jacob was trying to prevent her from talking to them and that made her a bit suspicious of him. Even though growing up Jacob had always done the right thing and had been chivalrous, it had been more than ten years now since they last saw each other. Cassidy prayed that Jacob was still that man today because otherwise, this was about to get even more awkward fast.“Yeah, I know about the charges, Ms. Cassidy.”“That’s Officer Burns, thank you. Well then Mr. Roberts, you know what I need you to do then. Move your truck so we can just get this over with and go on with our lives.”“Go on with our lives? How exactly is that going to work out for my crew if I move my truck, Officer Burns? Don’t you see I’m protecting them?”Cassidy sighed. Clearly Jacob still saw himself as the hero and she admired his care for his crew, but the law is the law. He has to understand that, right?“Mr. Roberts, it is very noble of you to want to protect your crew, but my time and patience are wearing thin now.”Cassidy said a silent prayer that she would not have to call for backup. She knew what it would look like to the other officers and she wanted to prove that she could handle these types of situations on her own. She breathed a sigh of relief as Jacob turned and started walking to the driver's side of his truck. Atta-boy, she thought. Cassidy was just about to resume writing up the ticket when all of a sudden Jacob appeared standing right next to her. Very close to her. Too close to her, she thought. Her head began to spin a little as she took in his fresh pine aftershave scent. He looked at her with an intensity and sincerity that made her feel weird. No one ever looked much more than noticing her uniform, but the way Jacob looked at her was different. He saw her. He could see the real Cassidy and no cop uniform could hide her from him. She clung to her clipboard as it was the only barrier between them. He leaned down close and said something that completely caught her off guard. “Take me instead, Cass.”To be continued…Kimberly Grace’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Kimberly Grace’s Substack at authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit authorkimberlygrace.substack.com/subscribe