The Gate to Everything (Once Upon a Dare Book 1) by Ava Miles Page A

one thing that had always given her joy. And it would put Tony in a bind, which made her feel guilty. She knew Tony wouldn’t care about that, but she did.
    In the cab on the way home, Grace called her mom and gave her the update.   Her mom said she would fly out to see her as soon as she could get a ticket. The relief was so staggering, she almost wept. Then she called Tony and told him the news. His sigh was heartfelt, and he said he would come over to her place shortly.
    He arrived with Italian wedding soup and Grace’s current addiction—freshly made chocolate Italian gelato. He assured her that everything at the restaurant would be fine. She could work on their new menu while at home. That soothed her a bit. Right now, she couldn’t imagine lying in bed all day, every day, doing nothing but worrying if she would miscarry.  
    She knew she should call Jordan—she owed him that much—but she was in full-on avoidance mode. To his texts, she responded briefly that she was taking care of herself. She wasn’t sure of what else to say.
    Her mom arrived the next day, and Tony picked her up at the airport. She heard them enter the apartment together, but Tony must have realized they needed some time alone because her mom appeared solo in the bedroom doorway. Grace fought tears at seeing her. Her mom’s red hair was streaked with gray and cut in a fashionable bob that fell to her chin. Shorter than Grace and just as petite, she usually had a smile filled with sunshine, but her expression today was all concern
    “Hi, honey,” her mom said and then crossed to the bed and pulled Grace into her arms.  
    “Oh, Mom,” she said, snuggling her face into her neck and bursting into tears.  
    Her mom didn’t say anything, just rubbed her shoulder. After a few minutes, Grace lifted her head and dashed at the tears streaming down her face.  
    “I’m so glad you came, Mom.”
    “Where else would I be? Now, let me look at you.” Her mom gently rested her hand on her belly. “You’re still pretty small for thirty weeks. You’re not eating enough.”
    “You sound like Tony. This media thing…it knocked me flat on my back. Literally.”
    Her mom’s eyes narrowed. “You father and I watched the video clip on YouTube. I wanted to tear their hearts out for hounding you like that. I won’t say what your dad and the boys wanted to do.”
    “Worse than tear their hearts out?” she asked, feeling the briefest smile touch her lips. “I got scared, Mom. They surround you and push you and call you names…when that guy tried to touch my belly…”
    “No one should subject you to that kind of harassment,” her mom said, “and when I see Jordan, I plan to tell him to do a better job of protecting you and my grandbaby.”
    Grace hated that they had to be protected at all. “I was scared for me, but then it hit me that they might hound our baby like that. I can’t stand the thought of it, Mom. It’s not the kind of life I want for my child. I had so much freedom when I was younger. Riding my bike in the street with other kids or running through the fields.”
    Her mom reached for her hand. “You don’t live in South Dakota anymore, Grace, and there’s no use hoping for what might have been. Don’t do that to yourself—or Jordan.”
    She knew it wasn’t fair, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. “I haven’t always wanted this baby, Mom. Without Jordan…I thought we would get married and then have a baby, but he never asked me. Well, not until he found out about the baby, and we both know that doesn’t count.”
    Her mom’s frown spoke volumes on that subject. “He’s an idiot.”
    “But as it’s grown and moved around inside me,” she continued, “I’ve started to imagine what he or she will look like. I see other kids when I’m out running errands and I think, I’m going to have one of those. It overwhelms me sometimes. But then I think about being alone and wonder if I can do it by myself. I’m