“I hate him for doing this to you. I’d never seen you so happy and now…”

Grace fought the knot that began to form in her throat now that she refused to cry. “He’s not the only man in the world.” It hurt to even say the words, because she knew without a doubt she’d never love another man like she did Sal. “I’ll get over him.”

She glanced up at Taylor whose smile didn’t even begin to hide the sorrow in his eyes. Though he hadn’t wept for her like Joey did, she’d felt the emotion in his touch when she’d sobbed so hopelessly in his arms. She took another long and determined breath. Just like she had when she was younger she’d save her sobbing from here on for the shower or when she knew none of them were around. Just because Sal had shredded her heart didn’t mean they all had to suffer with her.

“That’s enough, Rose.” She pulled away gently then wiped the tears from Rose’s face. “This is just another turning point in my life. One I wanna move on from as quickly as possible. We’re not going to stand around and cry about this for weeks or even days. Okay?” She gulped hard, trying to focus on something—anything else. “I need to find a job.” She turned to Taylor. “That’s what I’ll pour my energy into from here on.”

He nodded just as Joey walked in the front room from the hallway still looking very somber. “We’re moving on, Joey,” Taylor informed him with a look. “Gracie is gonna focus on getting a job.”

Joey seemed confused at first but when Taylor gave him another warning look he nodded. Grace could see he couldn’t even muster up a smile but silently agreed.

“Rose brought you a change of clothes, Grace,” Taylor said, pulling out a frying pan from the cabinet. “In case you wanna shower and get out of those clothes. I’m gonna make us dinner.” He turned to Joey. “I bought stuff so you could make something for desert. I think we can all use a good dose of chocolate tonight.”

Rose handed Grace the small bag of clothes. None of them mentioned it but it had just dawned on Grace that she was still wearing the polo with the restaurant’s logo on it. She gulped, trying not to think about how she’d never step foot in that restaurant again. In fact if she hadn’t just promised she was moving on, she’d suggest they all take a drive to the beach and burn the damn polo in a bonfire.

With a small smile she took the clothes. “Thanks, I think I will take a shower if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Joey said. “There’s a brand new loofah under the sink, if you wanna use it.”

He snuck in a quick hug as she walked by him before Taylor called him off. “Joey.”

He pulled his arms away quickly. “Okay, okay.”

Grace smiled but hurried to the restroom, locking the door and turning on the shower as quickly as possible. She was only in there for a minute before she buried her face in one of the towels, praying it would muffle her crying. How in the world would she ever survive this? The deafening pain she felt when Sal confirmed he had slept with Melissa was back and she could barely catch her breath again.

Get over him? Move on? Impossible.

~*~

A week later Sal dropped by his parent’s house for lunch. His dad said he wanted to talk to him. He hadn’t heard a thing from Melissa since the day he called her and he was still numb from the damage she’d caused to his life. He’d hardly slept or eaten that entire week and he wondered if maybe Alex had told his parents. Just the other day Alex sympathetically let Sal know he looked like shit.

To his surprise Alex was at his parent’s when he got there, looking just as unaware as Sal was about why they’d been asked to come over. Then his dad dropped an unexpected and unpleasant surprise on them both. Their uncle had asked him for a favor and he had agreed. Their cousin Vincent would be staying with his parents over the summer and he’d be working at the restaurant.

Both Sal and Alex had protested that Vincent couldn’t be trusted, to which their dad informed them he’d already warned their uncle. “First sign of trouble, he’s gone.”

That conversation had been a few days ago. Now Sal sat in the back office, adding Vincent to the payroll and the schedule. He’d be there today and even though Sal wasn’t looking forward to it, they could use the extra help. Alex was still only coming in part-time. He had school and the babies were a handful.

Something this simple Sal usually got done within minutes but he’d been at it for over a half hour now. His mind constantly wanderrf off into thoughts of Grace and how his heart ached to be with her. A few days ago he’d lost the ability to even listen to her voicemail message once she changed her number. She’d completely cut him off now.

He’d tried once again out of sheer desperation stopping by Joey and Taylor’s to beg Grace for forgiveness but she hadn’t even come to the door. Taylor had stepped outside to let him know it was best if he just stayed away. Grace had made her decision and it was final. He said if Sal really cared about her he’d make it easier on her by not coming around anymore.

As an adult, Sal couldn’t even remember going through motions of crying but the pain he’d been feeling all week and hearing Taylor so grimly inform him of Grace’s decision, had finally done him in. Of course he’d waited until he was home alone, and ever since he’d been dead inside.

The knocking pulled him out of his painful thoughts. He’d spaced out again. Vincent stood by the door. “Hey, Sal. Here I am. Reporting for duty.”