Granted Wishes (The Granted Series Book 1) Read online

  Granted Wishes

  Tanya Vought

  Booktrope Editions

  Seattle WA 2015

  Copyright 2015 Tanya Vought

  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

  Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

  Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.

  No Derivative Works — You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

  Inquiries about additional permissions should be directed to: [email protected]

  Cover Design by Shari Ryan

  Edited by Majanka Verstraete

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.

  Print ISBN 978-1-62015-713-8

  EPUB ISBN 978-1-62015-735-0

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2015901348

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  More Great Reads from Booktrope

  To Dylan & Mary

  You both amaze and inspire me each day!

  I want you both to know that you can achieve any goal/dream you wish for!

  So wish and dream big! Love you both to the moon and back!

  Xo

  **AND**

  To C&C

  My two amazing author besties!

  I love you both madly. Without your love, support, friendship and belief in my story… I wouldn’t be here today!

  I’m forever grateful to you both… and can’t thank you enough!

  Chapter 1

  THE DARK, SOMBER SKY matches Gracelynn Calhoun’s disposition. Her heart beats rapidly in her chest as she grips the steering wheel of her Hyundai Accent. From her windshield, she notices the barren trees that once held her favorite fall foliage. Looking at them makes her feel just as empty as the trees in the Layton Hills Cemetery. She releases her right hand from the steering wheel, and clutches her angel necklace as tears pour down her cheeks. She closes her eyes, continuing to hold the necklace, remembering the day her beloved gave it to her. She lets go of her necklace, opens her green-grey eyes and wipes her cheeks.

  While walking to her beloved’s tomb, leaves crinkle under her favorite pair of black, high-heeled shoes. As she reaches the stone, tears trickle down her face and she drops to her knees. She immediately starts cleaning around his grave, removing all debris.

  She stares at the gravestone, and drags her fingers over the intricately carved angel wings. She reads aloud, even though she doesn’t need to. “Angelo Grant Calhoun. 11/28/1980 – 11/30/2012. “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” More tears stream down her face. She reaches up and touches the top of the stone, resting her hand in the middle of the stone, like she’d be touching Angelo’s heart. “I miss you so much, Angelo. How can I move on with my life…move on without you?” she cries to the gravestone. “I love you so much. I wore your favorite dress and shoes, hoping that you’d see me today. How crazy is that?” She laughs through tears, wipes her cheeks with her hand and grabs her necklace. “I still remember the day you gave me this,” she expresses to the gravestone. “How can I move on when you were my whole life? I’ll love you forever and always.” The wind picks up suddenly and all the leaves that she had just cleaned up go flying around her. She looks around now, with the leaves in her hair, and hears disembodied laughing. She tries to pick the leaves out of her hair, now full of dead foliage. She looks around the stones, but spots no one else. “I’m losing it. No one is here, Gracelynn. Get a grip,” she tells herself as she stands back up, and continues to clean herself off.

  She bends down to wipe her beloved’s stone again, and her phone rings. Startled, she falls down and lands on her butt. “Good grief,” she shrieks. Her phone rings again, and she opens her small purse to take out the phone. It’s Ben calling. She stands up and looks around, hoping there isn’t anyone around who witnessed the entire ordeal. “Hello, Ben. What can I do for you?” she asks as she brushes the back of her behind, wondering what he wants.

  “Hello, Gracie,” he purrs into the phone. Oh boy. This must be a doozy for him to talk like this on the phone. “Cassie and I have some things we’d like to go over with you. When are you coming in?” This time around, he sounds monotone, neutral. She glances at her watch, and realizes she’s late for work. “Oh man, Ben, I’m sorry I’m late. I didn’t realize the time. I’m at the cemetery and I’ll be there as soon as I can,” she tells him while wiping her right hand down her dress in a nervous gesture.

  “Oh, Gracelynn. I’m such an ass,” Ben says through the phone. “I forgot you were going there this morning. Take all the time you need and I’ll see you in say, a half hour?” he asks her and hangs up, leaving Gracelynn more confused than before.

  She kneels back on the ground, places her phone back into her purse, and talks to her beloved, telling him everything that has been going on. She realizes fifteen minutes later that she should go. She places a kiss on her fingers and puts her hand on the front of the stone. “I love you, Angelo. Until we meet again,” she says through tears as she leaves him, knowing she has to head into work, unsure of what’s to come.

  * * *

  Driving away from the cemetery leaves Gracelynn heavy-hearted. She pulls up to the Layton Hills Pain Management Clinic and parks in the far back lot. She parks her car, clutches her necklace and gives herself a pep talk. “You got this, G. Whatever Ben has to say, it’ll be okay.” She lets go of her necklace, removes her high-heeled shoes, grabs her black-laced flats from the passenger seat, and slips them on. She quickly grabs her name badge, purse and keys before leaving her car.

  Entering the Pain Clinic, even after ten years of employment, she’s still in awe of the architecture of the building. Large, glass windows showcase this building
with tall columns. Rich mahogany desks, filing cabinets and a wishing well on the far back wall give the entrance a positive and uplifting feeling. As she continues to walk through the sliding glass doors, the young receptionist smiles and wishes her a wonderful day.

  She walks down the hall to her small corner office. She opens the door, turns the light on and removes her coat and purse. Just as she is about to sit down at her desk to get started for the day, a knock on the door alerts her. “Come in.” Ben and Cassie, walk into the room, their faces a mask of pain. They try to smile at her, but neither smile reaches their eyes.

  Ben clears his throat. “Hi, Gracie. Is this a good time for Cassie and I to speak with you?”

  Gracelynn closes her eyes and sniffs, smiling. Oh boy, he’s brought the big guns out for whatever he has to tell her. But at the moment, she doesn’t care because she can smell her favorite pumpkin spiced latte.

  She opens her eyes and smiles, this one almost reaching her eyes. Almost. “Sure. Don’t mind the clutter,” she tells them as she clears off her two chairs in front of her desk. Ben smiles and shows her the coffee he had hidden behind his back. “To what do I owe the honor of seeing you both today?” Gracelynn asks.

  Ben coughs and sits down and Cassie immediately follows. Ben casually looks around Gracelynn’s small, disorganized space. “I love what you’ve done with the new office space, G.”

  She laughs. “Close your mouth, Ben.”

  He chuckles. “Why don’t you close yours with this?” he asks her as he finally hands her the coffee. That gets a snicker from her as she tips the coffee to her lips and closes her eyes, enjoying her drink.

  “Thanks for my caffeine fix, guys. What can I do for you both?” she asks as she opens her eyes and sets the coffee down. Ben and Cassie look at one another, as if waiting for who will speak first. It instantly makes Gracelynn nervous.

  Cassie looks directly at her. “There’s no easy way to say this, but we need to discuss your job performance.”

  Oh dear! What did I do now? I knew it. I should’ve looked for another job… Gracelynn places her hands in her lap, gripping her dark dress for comfort.

  “Gracelynn, stop. We’re here to help and want the best for you,” Cassie tells her kindly.

  “Please breathe, and don’t worry what we have to say…. it isn’t that bad,” Ben chimes in.

  Gracelynn looks at him, takes a deep breath and before she can take it back says, “Okay, guys, get it off your chests.”

  Cassie shuffles a few papers in her hand. “You know we both love you, right, G?”

  “We want you to live and experience joy again, sweetheart. We want you to enjoy life again and we have something for you.”

  Now that does it. Who do they think they are? Don’t they know what happened to me? What I’ve had to endure? They should be lucky I didn’t pick up alcohol instead of just working my butt off all the darn time! She keeps gripping her dress, which will probably be completely disheveled by the time Ben and Cassie leave the office.

  Trying to maintain her composure, she grits her teeth, looking them both square in the eye. “Okay, now while I appreciate this ‘we love you and care about you’ stuff, what are you actually trying to say?” Tears prickle in her eyes. “I thought you both were my best friends, the very people who would support me no matter what, so why now?” She wipes her eyes.

  “Let me say this, Gracelynn,” Ben tells her. “You’re a fabulous person. I love and respect you as a friend. I know the pain and suffering you’ve had to endure, and are still enduring. It’s been three years. I loved Angelo too.” Gracelynn trembles at the name, recalling the death of her husband. “He was a wonderful man and friend of mine, and I know you miss him, G. But it’s been three years. We’ve given you time. We’ve supported you. But…it doesn’t seem to get better. You’re not performing your job duties to the best of your ability. You’re neglectful, sloppy, and careless. I’ve never seen you like this. And quite frankly, it pisses me off.” Ben never curses, let alone at her, so Gracelynn knows she’s in trouble for real this time. He leans over her desk and grabs the photo of her and Angelo. “See this happy person? I miss her, as does everyone else. I want you to shine and allow life to go on, despite your loss. It’s easier said than done, I know. But if you were anyone else, I would have had you fired a while ago.” He sets the photo down, sits back into his seat, and tells her she needs to take a four week vacation.

  Now she’s truly upset. Her mind races at a million miles an hour. Why, why today? Why when it is this close to the holidays, are they making me leave my job? Leave to go God knows where and be alone for Christmas? Why would they do that to me? She clenches her hands together.

  “You want me to take a vacation, Ben? You do realize that it’s the end of November? Where will I go?” She crosses her arms again, making her look like a bratty child rather than the thirty-two-year-old woman she is. Ben stares at her and does the same. “Gracelynn, I need you to take this vacation. Think of it as time off to find yourself. Let go of all the anger, frustration and loss. Get it out of your system once and for all.”

  Gracelynn tries to reason with what he’s saying, but she’s livid. So much for trying to stay rational and accept what Ben had to say, she lets the rage of her red hot-headed temper take over. “What do you mean, Ben? I’m here early every morning and late every night.” Her hands come flying out from her desk in frustration. “I love my job. And what if I choose to not take this so-called vacation? What then, Ben?” Ben leans over the desk, closes his baby-blue eyes, pulls his honey-blonde hair between his fingers and opens his eyes again. This time, a devilish flicker shines in his eyes.

  “Well, then we may have a problem.”

  She ignores his statement. “What if I’m fine with the way things are? I like my life and the way I’ve been living. I don’t have a social life, but who cares? All I need is a good bottle of wine occasionally, my Kindle and the both of you! You can’t force me to leave for four weeks,” she yells at the two of them. “You can’t make me leave my job, you can’t!” She gasps, placing a hand over her mouth, realizing she’s just yelled at her best friends. She runs out of her office, leaving Ben and Cassie speechless. She runs down the corridor and enters the women’s restroom hoping that no one else is witnessing her unprofessional emotional meltdown.

  Chapter 2

  WHY TODAY OF ALL DAYS and at this time of the year would they think I should take a vacation? How can they think that would be a good idea? Let’s send Gracelynn to God knows where for the holidays alone, that sounds like a wonderful idea.

  Gracelynn rocks back and forth on the soft plush chair near the window. As she tries to regain her strength to go and apologize to Ben and Cassie, they both enter the bathroom. Cassie checks all the stalls to see if no one else is inside, and then locks the door.

  “I’m sorry, guys. I shouldn’t have yelled. I know you’re trying to help me, but why? I’m trying to understand why you want me to take a vacation before Christmas, alone? Unless you two decided to take some time off with me?”

  They shake their heads. Ben and Cassie look at each again with something that resembles compassion and longing, which definitely doesn’t go unnoticed by Gracelynn. “I love you and hate everything that happened to you,” Cassie says. “I wish I could take some of your pain away, but you won’t let me. I miss my best friend. My friend, who loved to go out, having fun and talking about the sexy men in our romance books. I miss her so much!” By now, tears run down Cassie’s cheeks. Ben pulls his arm around Cassie’s shoulders to comfort her. “Gracelynn, Ben and I need you to take a trip we’ve set up for you. It’s a place you’ll love, where you can read your books and have no worries of cleaning or even being dressed.”

  “And we know how kinky you can get, sweetheart,” Ben reminds her.

  “That was one time. One time and you both know it, you jerk!”

  “I kno
w, Gracelynn. I wanted to see you smile again. We both know that was a onetime deal. We all know what happened and how Angelo reacted that night. I’m glad to see you smile; you need to do it more often.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Seriously, and I mean this as your friend not as your boss at the moment. I need you to take this vacation, Gracie. Your bags are packed; we’ll program your car GPS and everything will be taken care of.” He exhales. “Oh and you’ll leave at the end of the day, today.”

  Did he say it would be the end of the day, today? In a defensive gesture, she crosses her arms over her chest. “What If I refuse, Ben? Are going to fire me if I don’t agree to your terms?”

  Ben glares at Gracelynn. “I told you before—you’re my friend and I love you. But honestly, yes! Your work has been mediocre at best and your appearance is ragged. Other staff have brought it to my attention and have gone as far as to tell Cassie they feel you get special treatment around the office and I will not have it. You need to perform your job to the best of your abilities, just like everyone else. Since that isn’t happening, you’ll be on a four week leave slash vacation.” Gracelynn looks to Cassie and she nods her head in agreement with what Ben’s saying. She looks back to Ben as he continues.

  “You have until five pm today to let me know if you’re taking this vacation. If you don’t agree, I’ll write you a letter of recommendation elsewhere.” Gracelynn gasps while clutching her necklace.

  Cassie, moves around Ben and grabs her best friend’s hand and hugs her. “We want you back,” she whispers. “We aren’t saying to forget the life you had with Angelo but to move on, accept the things that come your way and cherish the amazing memories.” Ben grabs Cassie’s arm and tells her it’s time to get back to work. They both leave, and Gracelynn sits alone in the cold bathroom.

  * * *

  Alone and speechless, Gracelynn clasps her necklace between her fingers. She knows her friends are right. But her worst fear is that peace will make her forget and she doesn’t want to forget, ever. Gracelynn lets go of her necklace and glances at herself in the mirror.