The Falling of Love Read Online Free Page B

shaking.
    Michelle skips into the bathroom. “He’s here.”
    Grace looks at her fearfully.
    “Are you nervous?” Michelle asks, her blue eyes growing wide in anticipation of Grace’s response.
    “Umm yeah, I’m shaking!” she says, holding her hands out to show Michelle. Grace takes a deep breath and says, “Okay! Here I go.”
    “What’s the big deal, Grace? It’s not like you have never dated before.”
    Grace pauses to think about Michelle’s question. “He’s different.”
    Michelle giggles. “Yeah, we established that the day we met him.”
    Grace snaps. “Not like that! He makes me feel different. There is just something special about him.” She grabs her purse and heads down to greet Ian.

 
 
 
    Ian sits comfortably on the living room couch with James taking his usual seat in his easy chair.
    “Grace tells me you’re a mechanic,” James says, with an eyebrow raised.
    “Yeah, I’ve been working on cars since I was twelve.”
    Ian can feel James looking him over. Ian is wearing worn out jeans, a rock t-shirt, and a leather jacket. When James let him in the door a few minutes before, the first thing that Ian noticed was his Aerosmith t-shirt and it made him feel a little better about his outfit.
    “Can you do an oil change for me? I never have time to do it myself.”
    “Sure!” Ian says, excitedly.
    “I’ll pay you twenty dollars.”
    “That would be awesome!”
    Ian looks at his watch, wondering what is taking Grace so long, feeling nervous that she may have changed her mind about their date.
    “You might be sitting there for a while.” He chuckles. “My sister can take a long time to get ready.”
    Just as James utters those words, Grace glides down the stairs. She is dressed in a gray turtleneck sweater that falls into folds around her neck, dark blue skinny jeans, and a pair of dark brown boots that end at the middle of her calves. Her long blonde hair falls over her shoulders, looks clean, and is shining with healthiness. Ian's heart thuds in his chest. Am I the luckiest guy in the world or what?
    “Hi,” she says, sounding breathy.
    “Hey!” he says, as he stands and rushes to the edge of the stairs to take her hand. “You look so beautiful!” The words just shoot from his mouth before he can think.
    Ian hears James chuckle in the living room as he rises out of his chair and walks over to them. “Home by ten o’clock.”
    “Home by eleven o’clock.” Grace teases.
    “Ten thirty and no later.” James smiles. “Just where do you intend to take my sister, young man?”
    Ian is disappointed and ashamed. “First, to the park and then I was hoping we could take a walk up by the lake.”
    Grace smiles at him with reassurance in her eyes.
    James looks at Ian with a hint of confusion. “Not dinner and a movie, huh?”
    “No, sir. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten my paycheck yet.”
    “The park and lake sound amazing, Ian,” Grace says, beaming.
    Her smile makes him feel at ease about the date he has planned.

 
 
 
    Grace’s feelings for Ian strengthen in this moment, which only adds to her anxiety over going on her first date with him. She can see the embarrassment on his face, but finds it admirable that he actually cares that he cannot afford dinner and a movie.
    Ian walks Grace around to the passenger side of his 1975 Chevy Nova. The car is in desperate need of a paint job. Grace is unclear if the car is gray or silver due to its dull appearance. He opens the door for her, and she slides into the car.
    He smiles at her after he climbs into the driver's seat. “Ready?”
    “Ready!” she says, smiling back.
    Ian pulls into the parking lot of the park downtown. Grace looks around, and the light outside is an amazing orange glow with hints of purple and pink painting the sky.
    “It’s beautiful tonight. I wish I could paint it,” she says, softly.
    Ian cocks his head to the side, stares out of his window then turns, and gives Grace a glorious smile. “It