Raising Cain

by Scarlett Jade

  Grabbing his guitar, he hurried downstairs and sat on the couch. His fingers toyed with the strings, and he had an idea. He got up and looked for a notepad. Finding one by the phone, he sat back on the couch and began to strum again, writing occasionally as he worked. Finally, Grace’s next song was done.

  Drake finished the song with a smile and tore the sheet off the notepad, folding it and tucking it in his guitar case. His pen poised over the notepad, and he decided what to write.

  Dear Grace,

  I hated to leave you. You were sleeping peacefully and I didn’t want to wake you up. You need your rest. I’ll see you soon. Hey, I’d tune into Jerome Bryant’s late night show tonight at eleven. Do it for me, okay?

  I love you.

  Drake

  He ripped off the note, tiptoed up the stairs, and put the note beside her. He knew that the song was pushing her, and he didn’t expect a yes. Not yet, anyway. He was hopeful. Holding his breath wasn’t wise, though. He just hoped that when she heard the song, she’d consider a future between them. Something a little more permanent than just exclusively dating.

  As he moved back downstairs, he made a quick call to his driver, and he sat down to wait for him in the kitchen. Within twenty minutes, he was in the back of his limo and on his way to the airport.

  As the sun rose, he climbed on the plane and he collapsed in his seat. Catching a nap on the way to New York sounded like a perfect plan.

  See you later, Grace and Cain.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Grace rolled over in the bed and opened her eyes, fully expecting to see Drake curled up beside her. Disappointment filled her, and she rolled back, her face crunching on paper. Pulling the paper from beneath her cheek, she read it quickly. He was gone, and she wasn’t too sure how it made her feel. Checking the time on the clock, she frowned seeing that it was seven. His flight left at six, and she’d wanted to get up and send him off with a special farewell.

  She sat up and stretched, pleasantly sore. A soft cry pierced the air, and she left the bed and hurried to Cain’s side. “Hey, sweetie.” He continued to sob through her changing his diaper and getting him dressed for the day. She cuddled him into her arms. “What’s the matter with my boy?”

  Rushing downstairs, she readied a bottle for Cain and tried to console him. “Why are you so fussy, Cain?” All day he seemed miserable, not wanting to eat or be soothed. After five hours of sobbing, her phone rang. She picked it up without checking to see who it was. “Hello?”

  “Hey, it’s me,” Drake said. “What in the world is going on? Is everything okay?”

  “No, it’s been horrible today. Cain won’t stop crying,” Grace murmured tiredly.

  “Put the phone on speaker.”

  “What? Why?” Grace snapped.

  “Just do it…” Drake sighed.

  She poked the speaker on the phone and spoke over Cain’s wails, “There you go!”

  “Hey, little man!” Drake called. “Listen little man!” He sang “The Wheels on the Bus,” and Grace stared in awe as Cain stopped crying immediately.

  “Don’t stop singing!” she hissed.

  Drake sang “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Ring Around the Rosie.” Cain giggled and cooed happily. As Drake stopped singing, Cain began screaming again, his little face turning red with his anger.

  “Don’t stop singing!” Grace begged.

  Drake chuckled and sang again, and within minutes, the screams stopped. He sang endlessly, silly songs that made no sense. “I’m running dry here!” he sang loudly. “Hey, Toby, come give me a hand, I need a song to keep little man happy.”

  “Uh, hey,” Toby muttered, and Cain’s screaming started again. “Oh my God, what’s wrong with him?” Toby tried to sing, coming up with “Old McDonald Had a Farm”. Cain continued to scream. When Drake’s voice joined in the chorus, his screams abated.

  “He wants you, Drake!” Grace called over the singing.

  “I know! It’s pretty awesome! I feel so special!” Drake sang.

  “We could record you singing for little dude so she can play it…” Toby suggested, yelling over the din.

  “That is a great idea!” Grace replied.

  Drake continued to sing in the background, and each time he paused to take a breath, Cain would scream again. “I’m going to record him!” Toby hollered.

  Drake sang endlessly. “I gotta quit, my throat hurts,” he finally sang.

  “I’ve got it recorded,” Toby said as Drake finished.

  “Send it to me,” Drake sang.

  “Thank you!” Grace laughed and hung up the phone. In the moments between Toby sending the songs to Drake and Drake sending them to her, Cain cried. “Honey, you gotta calm down!” Her phone buzzed and she opened the file of Drake singing. Cain’s sobs subsided immediately. She texted Drake while it played in the background.

  G: Apparently, he wants to hear you.

  D: Did you get my note? I’m sorry I didn’t wake you.

  G: I did!

  D: Watch it, will you?

  G: Okay.

  Grace spent the rest of the day rocking Cain and listening to the same songs by Drake, over and over again. By nightfall, she was nearly crazy. As Damien walked in the house, looking exhausted, he took Cain from her.

  “How’s my favorite boy?”

  Grace pointed at the phone, which still played. “If I turn this off, he cries. Incessantly.”

  “Oh ho boy. Someone likes Drake.” Damien snuggled him, and Cain laughed.

  “I know! This could be a problem.” Grace sighed.

  “Well, maybe he is telling you something. Ya know, something more permanent,” Damien suggested.

  “I don’t know if I’m ready!”

  “Well…” Damien started. “I-uh, there may be some changes here.”

  “What are you talking about?” Grace took Cain back from him and kissed his cheek.

  “Ah…so...as you well know, I met someone.” Damien shifted on his feet, seeming nervous all of a sudden.

  “Yeah. What about it?” Grace asked.

  “Well, Ellie is…let’s just say she’s something really special. I think she’s going to be moving in here in the next few weeks.” Damien tugged at his collar.

  “Are you kicking me out?” Grace murmured sadly.

  “No! What? No! I’m just saying I think I love her, and she’s going to be moving in. I finally think I’m ready to let someone in my life again,” Damien replied.

  “I’m happy for you.” Grace touched his arm lovingly. “Maybe Cain and I should move out.”

  “No! I’m not saying that at all. I’m saying maybe you should consider something more permanent yourself. That boy loves you and Cain. Life is short, Grace. You and Cain always have a home with me. I don’t want to see you skulking around here anymore. When you were getting ready for that boy to come, you just had this light in your eyes, this happiness. I want to see that Grace all the time, and I think Cain does too.”

  Grace shrugged sadly and sighed. “I’ll think about it. I told him we were exclusively dating. I mean, that’s a lot.”

  “Yeah, I think he was planning on a little more than that. I mean, hey, I could be wrong, but I’ve got a feeling he was hoping to pop the question.”

  Grace’s mouth fell open. “What?”

  “Hey, like I said, I could be wrong. I know that boy loves you.” Damien leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I just want you to be happy like I am. That’s all.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  She couldn’t stop thinking about her father’s words. Could Drake seriously be considering asking me to marry him? No, that’s not possible. Why is Cain acting like this? Come on, it’s coincidence. She bit her bottom lip and blushed hot as she thought about the night before. It didn’t just feel like something casual last night. Then again, it never felt casual. Not even the first time. We’re attracted to each other. I love him. Cain loves him. I don’t know if this could work. Why is Dad moving his lady friend
in? I mean, how does one just know when it’s right? The right person, the right time? When?

  Her phone played Drake’s voice constantly while she readied Cain for bed. Finally, after he dozed, she shut the songs off and blew out a breath of relief. It had been a long day, ridiculously long. Drake wanted her to stay up late and watch some guy’s late night show and frankly, it was the last thing she wanted to do. She wanted to take a long bubble bath, read a smutty romance novel, and sleep.

  Instead, at eleven at night, she turned the TV on and found Jerome Bryant’s show. The middle-aged comedian made a few jokes she found halfway funny, and she was to the point of being ready to shut it off when he said that Jacob’s Ladder was next.

  Grace scrambled to sitting and her pulse picked up as the commercial ended and Drake stood on stage. Her phone started to ring, and she picked it up off her nightstand. A number from New York was calling that she didn’t recognize. “Hello?”

  “Hi, this is Jerome Bryant. Is this Grace?” The camera panned to Jerome, who held a phone.

  “This is Grace,” she squeaked.

  “There’s a young man here who has something to tell you.”

  The camera swung back to Drake, who began to strum his guitar. Her heart pounded in her chest as he began to sing.

  “I never knew what it could be like to love someone like you

  It happened, quickly, and I know it’s true.

  I can’t stop thinking about you

  I can’t stop dreaming about you

  I just want the best for you

  I think they call that love

  Love

  l-o-v-e love, love

  truer than the only truth

  yeah love, love

  I know Grace that I’m in love with you

  I’ll wait a million years until you love me too

  As completely as I’m in love with you

  I’ll wait a lifetime and a day

  Until you’ll say

  Yes, I’ll marry you, I’ll be yours forever

  No I won’t stop never because

  I think they call that love

  Love

  l-o-v-e love, love

  truer than the only truth

  yeah love, love

  I know Grace that I’m in love with you

  This song might be simple, but I know that it’s true

  I know the way I feel about you

  All I ask, so listen please

  I’m down here on my knees.

  Marry me, marry me today.

  Let’s run away, so far away

  Where there’s only me and only you

  I think they call that love

  Love

  l-o-v-e, love, love

  truer than the only truth

  yeah love, love,

  Grace, I know that I’m in love with you.”

  The song drew to a close.

  Tears pooled in her eyes, and she pressed her fist to her mouth. How does someone know when the right time is? Who the right person is? Is anyone ever really sure? The camera switched to Drake, who was now kneeling with a ring in hand. “Will you marry me, Grace? Will you and Cain become my family?”

  Her breath came fast, and finally she squealed with no doubts left in her mind, “YES! Yes, Drake, I’ll marry you!”

  Jerome laughed. “Well, there you go, ladies and gentlemen, the little lady said yes! Congratulations, Drake and Grace! I hope to have an invitation to the wedding! Grace, it was lovely to talk to you. Have a great night. We’re going to play you out with more Jacob’s Ladder!” He hung up the phone, and Grace sat frozen as she stared at Drake on the screen. He was playing while Toby sang now, another ballad about love.

  “I hear congratulations are in order…” Damien stood in her doorway, and Grace leapt off the bed and into his arms.

  “Did you know?” Grace squealed.

  “Well, he may have called and asked my permission. Maybe.” Damien chuckled as he squeezed her tight.

  “You hinted at it, and I thought you were just being silly, but you knew the whole time! Oh my God, I’m engaged!” Grace hissed. “What if I’m making a mistake?” Dread filled her.

  “Look at me. When you see that man, what do you feel?”

  Grace turned to look back at the TV, where the band still played. Staring at Drake, her heart swelled with pleasure. “I feel…happiness.”

  “Then that’s all you need to worry about. The rest of life has a way of figuring things out. Love doesn’t pay the bills. It makes things cozy even when times are hard. I have no doubts in my mind that Drake loves both you and Cain. He’ll make you a good husband. You’ll make him a wonderful wife, and you’ll be great parents to Cain and any future babies you both have. Congratulations, Grace. You deserve all the happiness in the world. After the hell you’ve gone through, you deserve it. I’ve worried about you so much since Christina’s death, and now I feel like I don’t have to worry anymore.” Damien pulled her into his arms again, and Grace hugged him tight.

  “It’s scary and exciting,” she admitted.

  “Yeah, it is. Everything worth having in life is scary,” Damien assured her. “Good night, sweetheart.”

  “Night, Dad.” She crawled up on the bed and pulled out her diary, needing to relieve her tumultuous thoughts somehow.

  Dear Diary,

  I’m engaged! To Drake Stone! This is crazy. I was so sure I wasn’t ready for a commitment. Dad’s right. Life is short. Christina’s death proved that to me, and I’m tired of living like I’m scared. I’m ready to have a future. I’ve been given the gift of time, and I can’t waste it. Not anymore. Cain deserves a dad in his life, and I deserve to be happy too. Christina would want that. I want that. I don’t know how things will end up, if I’ll live here with Dad, if I’ll get a place with Drake, or what. I just know that I’m terrified and excited all at the same time.

  Grace

  Her phone rang, and Drake’s name flashed across the screen. She picked it up and breathlessly whispered, “You proposed!”

  “I know I pushed you, and I’m sorry. I couldn’t leave things the way they were after last night. It was too special to me. I want you to be my wife.” She grinned as she heard catcalls in the background.

  “Tell the boys I said hi.” She giggled.

  “They’re so immature. Toby’s pretending to hump Jordan, and I sort of think they both like it!” There was a laugh, and she heard muffled sounds.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, is this Grace? This is Toby. I’d like to tell you that there is no way in hell I like humping Jordan’s ass. I just wanted to make that clear. Oh, shit! He’s gonna get me! Bye!” The phone disconnected, and she snorted with laughter.

  A few moments later, it rang again, and Drake hollered, “I told you she was off limits, dammit!”

  “You are an asshole!” Toby whined.

  “What’s going on?” Grace laughed again.

  “I kicked his ass,” Drake crowed.

  “You guys are something else…” She giggled.

  “I’m sorry, I just couldn’t wait anymore. I know it put a lot of pressure on you…” Drake apologized.

  “Sometimes I need a little push. I’m content with my answer.”

  “Well, do you have a date in mind?” Drake asked.

  “I do. How does March 14th sound?” Grace’s throat closed a little, and she choked back tears.

  “Aw, babe. If you want it then, I’ll be there,” Drake murmured.

  “I want it then.” Grace sniffled, wiping her eyes. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “I’ll try to get back between now and then. Ah, hell, it’s my mom…can I let you go?” Drake asked.

  “Sure, go talk to her. I bet she’s heard you’re engaged.” Grace laughed through her tears.

  “I know. She’ll never let me live it down that I didn’t tell her first.” Drake chuckled. “I love you, Mrs. Drake Stone.”

  “I love you.” Grace hung up the phone and fell back against her pillow
s. Mrs. Drake Stone…

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Grace sat in front of her mirror. The day was bittersweet. Tears filled her eyes again and coursed down her cheeks, smearing her makeup once again. Today, one year ago, her best friend left the earth, and gave her the greatest gift of all, Cain. Raising Cain in the last year had been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. Now, on his birthday, and the day of his mother’s death, she was getting married to Drake Stone.

  It was the only day that had made sense, considering Christina’s lies had brought them together. As much as hearing Christina had lied about Drake had hurt, she was grateful now for the time apart. They’d both grown up and found themselves.

  “Oh, sweetie, crying again?” Her grandma, Annie, stood at the door, resplendent in a pale rose-colored dress.

  “I’m probably going to cry all day,” Grace admitted.

  “Well, then we’ll wait to fix your makeup until the last minute. You shouldn’t be crying, sweetheart. You should be blissfully happy.” Annie stepped into the room and wrapped her arms around Grace’s shoulders. Grace leaned back into her grandma’s embrace.

  “I am. I can’t believe it’s been a year since Christina died, and that Cain is a year old today! Time has flown.”

  Annie kissed the top of her head. “I know, sweetheart. I’m sitting here looking at you in your wedding gown and thinking the same thing. Time has flown since we got you. I know your mother would be so proud of you. You’ve turned into an amazing woman.”

  Grace wept then, turning into Annie’s embrace and soaking the shoulder of her dress. “Christina was my life’s catalyst. She changed my life. I just wish she could be here today.”

  “I know, sweetheart. Your mama and Christina are both here. There’s no doubt in my mind they’re watching, and they would want to see you smiling and happy. You’re about to go marry the man you love.” Annie rubbed her back, and Grace pulled back and wiped her eyes.