Her mother seemed almost giddy about the fact that Ruben would be working and not able to go with them. Grace had sat on her bed, feeling the hollow inside her deepen. Not even her dream of having her own restaurant was enough to snap her out of it. But she’d taken the trip anyway. She needed to get out of her room, needed to feel normal again. If only it didn’t feel like an impossibility. She’d never be normal again.

The answer to the age old question, was it better to have loved and lost than never loved at all, if anyone asked Grace, was a resounding no! Even as beautiful as her time with Sal had been, and as happy as she’d been with him, she truly wished now she’d never been lifted so high. The drop was so profoundly bottomless, the climb back up would be brutal, if at all possible.

She tried her best to at least appear to be having a good time in Laughlin but she got the feeling Rose wasn’t buying it. Though she had moments where she thought she might be relapsing into her fits of nausea and even thought she felt a little feverish, she was able to function better than that first horrendous week after breaking up with Sal.

Her mother tried relentlessly to get her and Frank alone. She was determined to arrange a business partnership between the two of them. Grace had only agreed to be out there for a few days. By her third day her mother succeeded in getting her alone with Frank.

To her surprise, Frank had been more than modest when describing his hotel. It was far more fancier than he’d made it out to be. He had even reserved private huts by the pool for them for the entire week. Not that Grace planned on staying out there that long.

When he stepped in their hut that evening to say hello and ask if they needed anything, Grace’s mother invited him in to join them. As soon as he took a seat next to Grace, her mother excused herself and Rose, saying they needed to go grab a few things from their room. Grace started to get up to go with them but her mother immediately rebuffed the idea saying she should stay and keep Frank company until they got back.

Frank ordered them both drinks. “Your mother tells me you’re looking for a possible partner to help you get your restaurant going.” He crossed his leg over his knee and sat back. “Did she mention I’m looking for projects to invest in? I think a restaurant would be a great investment.”

Grace sat up straight. “My ultimate dream is to have my own restaurant. But I’m not sure if I’m up for it right now.” That was putting it lightly. Just getting out of bed without falling apart was a struggle for her right now.

“Oh, I think you have it in you and your mom says your talent in the kitchen is something you were born with. A gift like that shouldn’t be wasted.”

Their drinks arrived. He’d taken the liberty to order her their signature specialty drink. Carrot cake martini. Grace had never been into the milky drinks but she wouldn’t insult him by refusing it. She reached for it off the waiter’s tray with a smile. The smell alone caused something in her stomach to stir .

“Your mom also told me about your falling out with your boyfriend. I’m sorry you’re hurt, but I can’t say I’m sorry to hear it, for personal reasons.”

Thoughts of Sal weren’t just painful, they literally sucked the air out of her. She closed her eyes desperate to will away the emotion even the mention of him brought her, then took a sip of the drink. Cinnamon overpowered the drink. The entire blend of milky sweetness, cinnamon and alcohol, along with the sudden heartache that stabbed at her made her stomach turn and she nearly gagged. Pulling her legs over the side of the ottoman, she stood up in a panic.

Frank sat on the edge of his seat. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, holding her hand over her mouth, unable to speak. Shit. It was happening again. Unable to even look at the drink anymore, she set it down on the small table next to the ottoman. “I’ll be back.”

Her stomach roiled and she barely made it to the ladies’ room, before throwing up her entire lunch. Rose rushed in as Grace finished rinsing her face in one of the sinks.

“Grace, I thought you were better.” She walked up to her, placing her hand on Grace’s back.

“I am. It was just the drink that Frank gave me. I’ve never liked those kinds of drinks and it didn’t sit well with my stomach.” She clutched her clammy hands together before Rose could see how they still shook. Rose’s troubled eyed tugged at her heart. She hated for her to be so worried. “I’m fine. I promise.” She smiled, ignoring another wave a nausea. “Lets go sit in the Jacuzzi.”

Finally, Rose’s expression softened a bit. “You sure?”

“Yep.”

One way or another Grace was going to have to snap out of this. It had gone on long enough and she hated what it was doing to Rose. Nothing could be done about the way things had turned out, but she had to find the strength to push past this.

Instead of letting yet another excruciating facet in her life define it, she had to turn it around and somehow make it the new beginning. There was no such thing as the perfect life and she’d been a fool to think she could have it all. But she would certainly make the most of what she could have.

“Let’s ask Frank and mom if they want to join us.” Rose’s scandalized expression made her laugh. “It was a little rude of me to run away and be sick when he was trying to impress me with their signature drink.” She shrugged, taking a deep breath. “Least I can do is offer to spend a little time with the man. He is footing the bill for this entire vacation, Rose.”