Worrying my bottom lip, I whispered, “How do you know?”
Grayson looked over to Noah and smiled as he shook his head. “One look at him and it’s written all over his face.”
Glancing over to Noah, he was walking slightly ahead of us while texting someone. Most likely his sister to let her know we were on our way.
“What is?” I asked.
Grayson looked at me and winked. “Noah is clearly in love with you, Grace. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
Feeling my face turn hot, I looked back at Noah as a calmness swept through my body. “The feeling is mutual.”
“And Aunt Lisa is going to see it the moment the two of you walk in to the room. Trust me.”
I would have been nervous as hell meeting Noah’s mother just under normal circumstances. Meeting her knowing she was dying heightened my nerves. Giving Grayson a weak smile, I nodded slightly and said under my breath, “I hope you’re right.”
Noah and I walked hand in hand as we approached his mother’s hospital room. My feet felt as if I were walking through thick mud the closer I got. Stopping right before her room, I stood frozen.
What if I she hated me?
Oh God, please don’t let her hate me.
Grayson and Noah stopped and looked at me. Grayson hit Noah on the back and said, “I’ll go in first and say hi. Y’all take your time.”
Noah continued to look at me as he nodded in acknowledgment to his cousin. “Sounds good,” he said with a smile. Slowly walking up to me, Noah placed his hands on my arms and gave me the most breathtaking smile. I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Talk to me, Grace.”
Looking down the hallway, I swallowed hard. “What if I’m not what your mother wants for you?” Looking into Noah’s eyes, I waited to see what he said. “What if she doesn’t like me, Noah?”
Noah’s eyes lit up with something I’d never seen before. I was instantly calmed, and somehow in that moment I knew no matter what, Noah loved me and I loved him. I was a strong person; I knew I would never let my fears push him away again. I was going to fight for our love.
I smiled as I leaned up and kissed him gently on the lips. Pulling slightly back, I spoke against his lips, “I love you, Noah.”
“It’s you and me, Grace.”
Feeling tears threaten, I nodded my head and said, “You and me.”
Noah kissed the back of my hand before he slowly pushed the door open. I took in a deep breath as I said a quick prayer.
Stepping into the room, I quickly looked around. Grayson was sitting next to the bed holding Noah’s mothers hand as Noah’s sister stood behind him leaning against the windowsill. Looking into her eyes, I could see how tired she looked. No, stressed was more like it.
Glancing to Lisa, our eyes met. They were a beautiful green and they were filled with tears.
“Mom, how are you feeling?” Noah asked as he dropped my hand and moved toward his mother. Taking a quick look at Grayson, he winked at me and nodded. Giving him a quick nod, I glanced back over to Emily. She pushed off the windowsill and moved toward me with a huge smile on her face. Pulling me into an embrace, she whispered in my ear, “Thank you so much for coming. You’ll never know what this means to my mother and Noah.”
Pulling back, I smiled and said, “Of course.”
Emily squeezed my hand slightly and stepped out of the way as Noah motioned for me to walk up next to him.
My pulse raced as my heartbeat thrashed in my ears. Stopping next to Noah, I looked at the woman who Noah resembled so much. Her beautiful emerald eyes stood out and I could tell at one point she must have had dark hair like Noah’s.
Noah cleared his throat before he spoke. “Mom, this is Grace Johnson. Grace, this is my mother, Lisa Bennet.”
Smiling, I dug deep to find my voice. “Hello, Mrs. Bennet. It’s such a pleasure meeting you.”
And there is where Noah got his amazing smile. From his mother. She smiled so big I couldn’t help but smile bigger myself. “Grace, such a beautiful name. What’s your middle name, sweetheart?”
Noah ran his thumb quickly over my hand. “Hope. It’s Grace Hope. My mother always told me it was by the grace of God that I was born. That I gave my parents hope.”
Nodding her head, Lisa smiled. “I prayed my Noah would find a beautiful, strong, independent woman. It seems God answered my prayers. He gave me hope.”
A single tear rolled down my cheek as I quickly wiped it away.
Lisa turned and looked at Noah. “May I have a few minutes alone with Grace?”