Late that evening, Kingston walked over with Maverick to Mrs. Thornton's cottage and knocked.
He heard coughing and then the door opened. "Hi, Mrs. Thornton! I'm Kingston Grant. This is my dog Maverick. I'm so sorry that he knocked you over and if dogs could say it, I'd make him tell you."
"That's okay," she told him, her throat raspy, but she smiled.
"Um, I like to cook and I made you some peanut butter cookies." He handed her a large baggie full. "I hope you like them. Just a suggestion, I like mine dunked in cold milk."
"Thank you, Kingston." Then the poor woman sneezed and coughed.
"Are you sick, Mrs. Thornton?"
"I seem to have caught a cold, yes."
"Well, I hope you feel better. Maverick does too."
"Thank you and thank you for the cookies."
"You're welcome!"
"Dad, she has a bad cold or something." King pushed things around in the cupboard. "Can we take her some soup?"
"You are a good boy, King. Yes, tomorrow we can take her some soup."
"Before school?"
"I was thinking after."
"But what if she gets hungry before I get done with school? Maybe I should stay home."
"Miss school to cook soup for someone who can take care of herself? Nice try, bud."
"I thought so."
"Now run off to finish studying. History test tomorrow, remember?"
"Yeah yeah."
Nathan put the can of soup back in the cupboard. He was not giving her soup from a can. He had to think of something else. The woman had been plowed down by their crazy dog after all. He'd think of something.
Lunch time, Buzz, Nevada
Jude and Gracie finished their coffee and then just sat in their booth, staring at each other. "So, I was thinking we could go to Simon's after Charlotte's," he mentioned, speaking of a nice restaurant on The Strip.
"Okay."
She would pretty much go anywhere with him, just wanting to finally be able to hold his hand or flirt and not be concerned he might not feel the same way. Her cheeks turned hot as her mind drifted to possibly sharing their first kiss that night.
"Wow, whatever is going on in your head right now must be pretty good."
She covered her face and giggled. "Its nothing."
"If you say so."
"I do. I'm going to go," she told him, squeezing his hand.
"I'll pick you up at 4:30, right?"
"Yep."
He stood too. "May I walk you to your car?"
She smiled and accepted his hand when he held it out.
Of course Jake walked by as they walked out, hand in hand. "Hey, Gracie."
"Hi, Jake."
"You must be Jude," Jake said, shaking his hand. "I'm Gracie's big brother, Jake."
"Nice to meet you."
Jake eyed their still joined hands and smirked. "Shush, Jake."
"I didn't say anything but I didn't know people who were just friends held hands."
"Gotta go. Talk to you later, Jake!" she said as she pulled Jude down the sidewalk.
Jude chuckled. "Always the big brother, huh?"
"Something like that."
Jude stepped forward and put his hands on her hips. "See you later?"
She nodded and kissed his cheek. "Can't wait."
Jake wandered back into the station a few moments later with his coffee and a caramel latte for Tara.
"Here you go, babe," he told her, setting her latte next to her.
"Thank you," she said quietly, keeping her eyes on her computer. Then she got up, put her hat on and walked off, taking her latte with her.
"Hey, Tara? What's going on?"
He followed her out the door and around the corner to the squad car lot.
"Jake, you know how I feel about our privacy. I don't want people to know we are together. Not work people. Especially not Chief."
"Babe, it's not against policy to date each other."
"I know but there's a line to draw between our personal business and being professional."
He crossed his arms and leaned back against her car. "So I can't call you babe or buy you coffee...am I even allowed to talk to you?"
"Jake…"
"Tara," he said, shaking his head. "I need to go."
"Jake, can't we talk about this?"
He thought for a long moment. "Sure. Go ahead."
"I love you. I just...I don't want other people knowing our business. I...work hard to gain people's, the other guys, respect and if we go around flaunting our relationship, I might end up with the opposite problem."
"Yeah, I get that. I'm sorry. Just know that loving you makes me want to tell everyone how amazing I know you are."
She looked around and seeing no one, she gave him a brief but powerful kiss. "After work, let's go to dinner, alright?"
"Why don't you just come over? We can make dinner together."
"Deal." She winked and headed back inside.
At 5pm on the nose, Gracie and Jude parked in Charlotte's driveway.
"Okay, so my Gram...she's kind of interesting."
"Meaning…."
"She's 79 and always cold so it's probably like 95 degrees in the house." He chuckled. "And...she will likely say something to embarrass me and by extension you. I apologize in advance."
"Don't worry, Gracie. I can handle it. Let's just go in."
"Alright."
"Gram?" Gracie shouted as they walked in. "We're here."
"Right here, Gracie," she said from her rocking chair. "Jude, I presume. Charlotte Thornton."
"Pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
"Now tell me about this non-profit."
After his explanation, he pulled out his laptop with his business plan. He moved over closer to Charlotte so she could see.
Gracie watched, grateful for her Gram's restraint from embarrassing questions.
Then…"You're a handsome one, aren't you?" Charlotte said, smiling at him.
"Gram," Gracie said, her jaw dropping.
"I don't know, you tell me," he responded with a laugh.
"You certainly are and you have a good head on your shoulders. You asked my Gracie Rose out yet?"
"Gram!"
"Actually, she asked me."
"And you said…"
"Well, I'd be crazy to say no, wouldn't I?"
"Agreed. Now where are you taking her?"
"I give up," Gracie moaned.
"Hush now, dear. I'm talking to your young man now."
A little later as they walked out to the car, he laughed. And laughed. "Okay, she is wonderful and the fact that you are related to her and the fact that she is my newest investor is just icing on the proverbial cake."
"I'm glad you liked her."
"She loves you a lot."
"I love her a lot too."
He opened her door for her but she hesitated before getting in. "Jude?"
"Yeah."
"Will you tell me sometime?"
"Tell what?"
"The reason for your non-profit. Not tonight maybe. We are going to be celebrating. But soon?"
"Yes. I'll tell you."
In fact, while they celebrated Gram's investment and their first official date, they talked about a lot of stuff. Things like that he had a four year old niece who lived with his parents outside the city. Her name was Kylie and he promised to introduce them at some point soon.
He learned about her Dad and how sometimes she missed him so much it felt like he had just passed away, not five years before.
"He wrote me a letter...right before he passed. Mom gave it to me and...I can't read it," she admitted.
"Why?"
"I don't want to miss him even more. What if all it does is make me sad?"
"What if it also helps you move on?"
He held her hand as they walked to the Bellagio so they could watch the fountains. She'd seen them before but never with Jude.
"Kylie's mom, my sister, Kate...she's the reason I'm doing the non-profit. I'm naming it Kate's House, as a tribute."
She squeezed his hand and turned to look at him. His eyes had filled with tears.
"Jude, we can wait. I don't want you to be upset."
"Its okay. I want to tell you." She leaned against his shoulder and listened to his painful story.
How Kate's boyfriend, Kylie's dad had abused her. Repeatedly and she told no one. Jude had known, asking her over and over to go to the police and report him. He offered to go with her but she always made excuses. Blamed herself.
"She was planning to leave him. Taking Kylie with her of course. One day, she dropped Kylie off at my parent's house and then left, promising to be back later that day."
He stopped talking as the fountains started their musical dance.
Once they stopped, she squeezed his hand and looked up at him, his tears had fallen. "What happened?"
"She never came for her. My parents took care of Kylie, hoping and praying Kate would come back...a week later, someone found her body…"
"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry."
"Me too. I wish she would have listened to me. Maybe I could have saved her. Kylie would still have a mother and...I'd still have my big sister." He wiped his eyes. "Anyway, this non-profit is my way of making it up to her. Protecting kids like Kylie and women like Kate. Giving them a safe haven, you know?"
"You are amazing, Jude Wyatt." She knew right then that she was going to help him help others. Whatever she could do, maybe telling their stories, while at the same time, keeping them anonymous. No pictures. Just powerful words.
"I don't know about that."
"You are. Trust me." When they got back to their car, she turned to him. "I want to see it, Jude. Kate's House."
"It needs a lot of work."
"I don't care. I can imagine how wonderful it will be."
Jake's house
"You're not going to stay?" Jake asked Tara as she put her shoes on.
"Not tonight."
"Are you mad? From before?"
"Of course not. I was never mad."
"Tara, I'd love for you to live here with me."
"I know. I don't...I'd like to live alone for a bit."
"The whole independent thing?"
"Don't say it like that. It makes me feel like you think it's crazy."
"I just don't understand why you can't live here and still be independent."
"Because I'd be relying on you."
"I want you to rely on me, babe."
She stepped forward and kissed him twice. "I love you. Thank you for dinner."
"You'll think about it?"
"I promise."
Kate's House
Jude led her through the large two story home, pointing out what he envisioned for each room.
There were four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large kitchen and living room. The basement was where he planned on having support group meetings and a couple offices where one on one meetings would be held.
"This will be the laundry room, two sets of washers and dryers."
The next room just off the kitchen was the dining room.
"Jude, I can see it. This is going to be so great."
"I hope so."
"It will be."
He stepped in front of her and took both of her hands. "How do you know?"
"Because it's for Kate and Kylie and people like them. It's important that we keep them safe, even just until they can move on."
"We?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you? I'm going to help too. Tell their stories so that maybe more women will know they aren't alone."
"Its confidential, Gracie."
"It will be anonymous."
He didn't know what to say. This woman was his girl...she was strong and lovely and willing to move heaven and earth to help others. Not surprising considering Charlotte was her grandmother.
"I'd be happy to work with you on this."
She smiled and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Good. Tonight was good, don't you think?"
"Only one thing would make it better," he told her, tightening his own arms around her waist. He only had to move slightly before his lips touched hers in a slow, purposeful embrace.
Yeah, it was a good night.