Chapter Fifty-Nine
Four years later …
Kelley was now twenty-four and he had successfully completed his degree in Economics two weeks earlier. He was packed and ready to move back to Yorkdare Bay to implement the next phase of his plan. It was his last night in St. John’s City and one he planned to remember. A lot of things had changed in the past six years and he was ready to take his seat at the table.
His time at St. John’s University had been fruitful. He and Grace went to every football game and Mason patted his heart before the time, signaling to Grace. Kelley had also resigned himself to his life and as time passed it didn’t sting as much when he thought about Jule. It was a regret he would carry with him for a long time and a memory he kept alive to fuel the silent rage that burned for the Elites.
His decision hadn’t come lightly, he’d taken his time in thinking through it all. He vowed never to fall in love again, never to put someone’s life in danger like that again. Kelley believed that Jule had been a target with every fibre of his being. Petey had seen his opening and had taken it.
They had only been together for five months before she died and he knew that at some point he’d move on. That time wasn’t now though and his plan for Petey Johnson was still intact. He had taken Jesse’s advice to heart. He'd taught himself patience and the skill had come in handy.
Kelley wasn’t celibate by any means but not once in the six years he’d been in St. John’s City did he date or have a girl sleep over in his bed. He was very clear from the start, it was fun only and he wasn’t going to call the next day.
“You heading out?” Mason yelled from the kitchen.
“In a bit, why?” Kelley leaned in the doorway and looked at little Grace where she sat at the counter.
“We’re making popcorn, Uncle Kelley.”
“Tell Daddy to give you extra sugar …”
“Because I’m so sweet!” Grace finished and Kelley smiled.
“That’s right, you are.”
“You spoil her too much.” Mason turned to look at him and wiped his hands on a stark green apron that already had streaks of sugar on it.
“She’s a Nascosto Princess.”
Grace grinned widely showing the gaps of where her two front teeth should be. The tooth fairy had certainly spoiled her and Kelley smiled as he thought back to that night. Grace had been asleep when he snuck in and placed the hundred-dollar bill under her pillow.
Mason had done the same, adding to Kelley’s pile and then Lee had added his own hundred-dollar bill. When Grace woke up she screamed with delight and demanded to be taken to the candy store immediately.
“About your offer …” Mason's words trailed off into silence.
Kelley looked at Mason, already knowing what he was going to say. “You’re going to find your own place.”
“I’ve got my eye on a place close to my mom and John. She’s missed a lot in the last six years with her and Grace needs a feminine hand, you know.”
Kelley knew that Mason was right. Grace was a little tomboy even if she wore pink, she always had something black on. She did martial arts and threatened the boys in her kindergarten class with broken noses any time they irritated her.
“I get it, Mason, and you’re right. Carey would skin us alive if we kept her from her grandmotherly spoils.”
Kelley watched Grace for another few minutes before pushing himself off the counter where he’d been leaning. Mason was making macaroni and cheese for dinner and Grace was playing with two army action figures. She really didn’t care much for dolls and every time Mason sighed about it Kelley would laugh.
“Who are you hooking up with tonight, Uncle Kelley?”
Kelley blinked and Mason’s shoulders started shaking as he laughed silently. “What?”
“Uncle Lee said you hook up most nights. He was talking to Aunt Marella.”
“It means I’m going to go see my friend.”
“I want to hook up with Jeremy!”
“Absolutely not!” Mason’s voice had taken on an edge and all amusement had been wiped from his face.
“It’s something grownups do, Gracie, it’s not for kids.”
Grace pouted and continued her assault on the two action figures as Mason glared at him. He chuckled and shook his head before leaving the kitchen with Mason hot on his heels. In the living room, he took his keys from the bowl and turned towards Mason.
“It’s not like she heard it from me.”
Mason's frown had replaced his earlier smile and thoughts of his daughter hooking up were now Kelley's fault. “Yeah, but if you weren’t hooking up all the time she wouldn’t have heard Lee say it.”
“Says the hookup king.”
“That was a long time ago, Kelley, you know it’s been all about Grace ever since I got her.”
“Just because you’re celibate doesn’t mean I have to be.”
Mason smiled then and Kelley took a step closer and placed his hand on Mason’s shoulder. “If you need a night to hook up you know I’ll watch her.”
“I know. It’s just whenever I say I have a daughter they usually run in the other direction.”
“The right woman will accept and love Grace.”
“Yeah, but I’m just interested in the one willing to take her clothes off right now.”
Kelley grinned again and shrugged his jacket on. “Try not telling her off the bat that Grace is waiting for you at home.”
“Lee and Marella said they’d watch her tonight if I wanted to go out.”
“Call me if you head out and I’ll tell you where I’m at.”
Mason nodded and turned back to the kitchen. Kelley left the house and climbed into his Escalade. He had at least four hours before Mason would call him if he did at all. Mason had rejected plenty of offers for hookups, Kelley knew that.
