Chapter 3 – Surprises

Present Day (November 2005)…

Bobby cursed loudly and threw his hammer down in frustration. "I'm leaving," he barked, nursing his wounded thumb.

"Man, what the hell is wrong with you today?" Angel asked looking up from the wood he was sanding. "That's like the fifth time you hurt yourself."

"I dunno, but I'm taking it as a sign that it's time for me to go home and start dinner," Bobby answered, putting on his coat.

"Hey, it's Jerry's week to cook," Angel protested hopefully.

"No, it's not," Bobby argued, tapping the calendar with his finger.

"Damn," Angel muttered and went back to his work. Bobby couldn't cook for shit.

Bobby grinned triumphantly. "Tell Jerry I'm out and that I'll see you ladies at Café Bobby. 7:00 sharp. Don't be late."

As soon as Bobby turned to leave, Angel threw him the bird. Shaking his head at his cocky brother, Angel grinned and turned the sander back on.

Once Bobby stepped outside into the icy blast of a Detroit November, he turned around to look at the building he'd just exited. It may not have looked like much at that moment in time, but Bobby could see its potential. The marquee would eventually read, 'EVELYN'S ESCAPE: a safe haven' and that's exactly what it would be.

The Evelyn's Escape Project had been put on hold for several months in order for the boys to put their house back together after last year's attack. Now they were able to concentrate all of their time on the project, and luckily they were well-funded, but the brothers definitely had their work cut out for them.

Bobby started down the sidewalk towards the market. He had to go pick up some things for dinner. As he entered the store, the bell tinkled, and he smiled. He always thought of his mother when he heard that sound. After Evelyn's died, Bobby hadn't ever wanted to step foot in the store again. Only when he and his brothers had gone there to watch the surveillance video of her death did Bobby realize that much of her essence remained in the store. He supposed it had something to do with it being the place where she'd lived out her last moments.

It took Bobby over a half hour to make all of his selections and pay. Once he'd checked out, Bobby left the store and headed to the discount liquor store for some beer and a bottle of whiskey.

When Bobby finally reached the house over an hour after he'd left work, he noticed a strange car parked across the street. Having become a bit paranoid since the house was assaulted last year; Bobby went to check it out. It was one of those funky Toyotas that supposedly got like 50 miles to the gallon, and it was stuffed with someone's belongings. Deciding it was probably not a threat; Bobby jogged up the steps to the house and unlocked the door.

He hoisted the grocery bags onto the counter and put the beer in the fridge. He threw his jacket on the hall tree and kicked off his shoes, before plodding up the stairs to his bedroom. He could hear the shower going as he walked down the hall and wondered what his brother was doing home so early. Dinner was not for another hour and a half. Irritated, he stalked to his room and stripped, then tossed his clothes into the laundry basket on his way to the bathroom.

"Hurry the fuck up," Bobby growled at the shower curtain as he strode to the toilet and proceeded to pee.

"Jesus," came a feminine gasp followed by the jangle of the shower curtain being yanked open. "You scared the shit outta me."

Bobby stared at the woman for a moment and stopped pissing midstream. "Holy fuck," he muttered. Bobby clamored into the tub and whisked her off her feet. He crushed her naked body to his own and spattered kisses all over her face. "I love you," he murmured. "I love you more than anyone has ever loved anyone. I love you, I love you, I love you, I lov-."

Grace interrupted by kissing him full on the mouth as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He returned her kiss with enthusiasm as his hands slid down her back to cup her rump.

When Grace finally broke the kiss to breathe, Bobby's cock was stiff against her belly. "Damn, you filled out," he commented as he glanced down at her breasts.

"So did you," she answered slyly as she gave her hips a thrust indicating that she was well aware of his arousal.

Bobby just grunted something in reply as he gently placed Grace back onto her feet. "Were you on shampoo or conditioner?"

"I was just enjoying my final rinse."

"Good, then you can wash my hair," Bobby suggested. Grace just looked at him for a moment. She watched the water cascade down his well-developed chest and incredibly rippled abs. Her eyes lowered to his thick erection which jutted invitingly towards her. "While you talk," Bobby added.

"About what?" Grace asked, her eyes snapping up to his face as she swallowed guiltily.

"Where you've been for the last six years because your parents told everyone you were dead," Bobby answered passing her the bottle of shampoo.

"I know," Grace said with a sigh as she squeezed a blob of shampoo onto her palm. "That's what they told me they would do if I left."

"Why did you leave?" Bobby asked as Grace began to lather his hair.

"So I could start over. You must realize it had nothing to do with you or your family, Bobby."

"It's your family too, and you're sure it had nothing to do with Jack walking in on us?"

"Of course not!" Grace snapped, tugging hard at his hair.

"Ouch," Bobby protested.

"I'm sorry that he saw us, but that's not why I left. I left because once Gloria died; my parents made my life a living hell. They had no use for me, and they took every opportunity to tell me so. You know that, Bobby."

"I didn't know you were going to leave. Wash my back, will ya?" he requested, handing her the Mercer boys communal soap. Grace stared at it a minute thinking about the other men it had touched. "Grace?"

"Yeah," she said beginning to soap his back. "I left because it was time. I had been debating over whether or not to leave since my sister's death. The only thing that would have kept me here was the Mercer family, but unfortunately the bad outweighed the good."

"Where did you go?" Bobby asked, jumping when Grace slid the soap over his ass.

"Florida," Grace answered with a grin.

"You hitched all the way to Florida?"

"Yep. Miami."

"Jesus Christ, Gracie. What is the matter with you?"

"What?" Grace's hands faltered at his question.

"You were fucking seventeen."

"So? I knew how to protect myself. You taught me, remember?" Grace said irritably then began scrubbing his back again.

"It was still dangerous. You should have come and lived with us."

"My parents would not have allowed it. They hated me, but they would not stand for me leaving them. That's why they told everyone I killed myself."

"That's fucking terrible," Bobby sighed.

"Don't I know it."

"What made you come back?"

Grace didn't answer at first. Instead she yanked Bobby around so he was facing her and slapped him hard across his cheek.