Saving Grace
Stealing Pork
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Grace sat
on her bed for a moment, unable to hold back a few more tears.
understood, had done some rather despicable things…but she couldn’t help
herself from feeling heartbroken for him.
Yesterday he could see the ocean…
Today, he had to settle for hearing it.
She closed her eyes, and focused on the darkness before her; she tried
to keep them closed, but couldn’t. They
opened again and she saw light, furniture, walls…as hard as she tried, she
could not fathom opening them and seeing only darkness – but for Sands,
that darkness was going to be eternal.
She began
to unpack her things – still wondering how they grom rom her old hotel room to
the town car. A thought then came to
her mind: Cassie. Grace and Cassie,
Grace’s best friend (more like her former best friend now), had decided to
vacation in Mexico together. They
planned their trip for months, then on the third night of their stay, Cassie
ran off with one of the waiters from their hotel. She left a note saying something along the lines of, “Off with
Miguel – have fun!” The next morning,
Grace had found Sands.
Wonder
if I should bother trying to call her?
She put the last of her clothes into the dresser, deciding that she’d
simply leave a voicemail message on Cassie’s cell phone.
dialed. She was dumped directly into
Cassie’s voicemail. Good, I was
worried that hell might have frozen over and she’d answer.
Cassie’s
messags shs short and to the point.
“This is Cass, you know what to do.”
“Hey, Cass,
it’s Grace. You know, the person you
came to Mexico with? Look, I…I’m at a
different hotel. I figured it wouldn’t
matter since you bailed on me anyway.
Just wanted to let you know I’m not dead or anything.
Wow, I sounded pretty bitchy.
Oh well… She heard a knock
at the door then, the food came a bit faster than she thought it would and she
was grateful; Sands needed his medication.
She quickly
made her way to the door, and a middle-aged man brought their meals
inside. Grace signed for his tip and
walked Sands’ plate over to the couch.
She placed his meal on the coffee table and he sat up.
“I can eat
at the table,” he said softly.
“Stay here,
Sands, you’ll be more comfortable.
After a few bites, I’ll give you your pills and…”
“You’ll eat
here too, right? I mean, you wouldn’t
want me stabbing myself with the fork or anything, would you?”
“Well, that
might not be such a bad thing,” she joked.
“But, again, the government could get on my case, so I guess I will.”
Sands
smiled. “You’re getting a bit too
serious with me, Gracie. What’s wrong?”
“I just
know that…you have to hurt a lot. Not
fair to be cruel when you’re not being the same way.” She got up and retrieved her plate.
“No
tequila?”
“Drop it.”
He
smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
seat next to him; she was about to hand it to him when he found it.
“Oh?
“I may give
you one of my guns and ask you to shoot the cook.”
Grace was
unsure of whether he was joking or not.
“Be honest with me. Are you a
psychopath?”
He shrugged
and smiled. “Guess that’s all up to
your perception, Gracie. Eh, since I’m assuming
that where we are is more of a resort than anything, I’ll let it slide this
time.”
“You’ve
really done that haven’t you?” Grace asked, wide-eyed.
“Just
keeping the balance.”
“Should I
be running out the door?”
“Nah…”
door of this room, but into my bedroom…”
“And he’s
back,” she laughed. “I was wondering
where you went.”
“I knew you
liked me.”
“No, I just
think I’m more comfortable with ‘raunchy’ you than…freaky ‘kill the cook’ you.”
“I’m a man
of many flavors, Gracie. Want a taste?”
Grace
laughed. “Hmm…don’t mind if I do.”
Sands’ pork. “Mm, not bad.”
“Hey!” he
said, trying to sound angry. “Don’t
touch a man’s pork unless he offers.”
“You asked
if I wanted a taste,” she replied innocently.
“Of me,
Gracie, not the pork.”
“Oh…I
misunderstood.” Test the waters…he
might just be all talk. God, what am I
thinking? She leaned in closer to
him and felt her heart rate increase. Grace,
you are a stupid woman. She let her
lips touch the side of his neck , her tongue swirling in a quick circle around
the flesh there, then pulled back. Shit…shouldn’t
have done that. Say something that
shows you weren’t being serious.
“Eh, the pork’s better.” Yeah,
that was good, Grace.
Sands took
a bite of his food, acting as though nothing had happened.
have anything to compare it to at the moment.”
My God, woman…you’re killing me.
First you stand a few feet away from me - naked…then you bathe me…now
this? Not giving in to you,
sugarbutt. It has to be the other way
around. He heard a rattling and
knew that Grace was getting his pills.
“Be a good
boy and take these.” She took his hand
in hers and put the two pills in his palm.
“No coaxing
needed, Gracie.” He immediately put
them in his mouth and gulped a mouthful of Sprite. “Do your thing, boys.”
“They might
make you drowsy.”
“Well, if I
get tired, you’ll just have to tuck me in, won’t you?”
“I’ll help
you to your room – you’ll tuck yourself in.”
The two finished their meals, trading a bit more banter as they
ate. Grace found herself wanting to
hear him talk; she was growing quite fond of the sound of his voice.
After they
had finished, Sands was indeed feeling the effects of the drugs.
into his room and getting him situated.
“King-sized?”
Sands asked, referring to the bed.
She shook
her head. “Yeah.”
He stifled
a yawn. “Mm…Gracie, the fun we could
have…”
“Sands, you
couldn’t handle me in your condition.”
A wide
smile appeared on his face. “That
sounds very much like a challenge.”
“Good
night, Sheldon,” she said leaving the room.
“I still
say you’re a tease!” he shouted after her, chuckling. Won’t be long…
Despite how
exhausted she was. Grace wasn’t ready for bed.
She went back out to the couch and turned on the television.
choose from and after finding one she liked…she fell asleep in the middle of
it. She was in a dreamless sleep when
she was awoken. Sands was screaming…