by Young, Alexa
“Pwesent?” Gracie asks, pulling away to look at Dray, eyes wide.
“Yes, and it was a really good present, but only big girls can have this.” He’s trying to keep a straight face, but I can see his mouth twitching slightly.
“I lub pwesents.”
“I know you do, but you can’t have this present until you stop sucking your dummy.”
It’s one hell of an ultimatum, I hope it works.
She gives Dray a pleading look then turns to me.
“You will really love this present, Gracie.” I smile.
She pouts and sighs before pulling the dummy from her mouth and handing it over to Dray.
“Do you have any more?” Dray asks.
“No.” She pouts and sinks into him, looking sad.
“I promise you, it will be worth it,” Dray whispers.
She pulls away. “Pwesent.”
“Daddy will pick it up tomorrow.”
“Now.” She frowns, pleading with her eyes.
“It won’t be here till tomorrow, baby.” He runs his hand along her chubby little cheek. She looks down at the dummy in Dray’s hand and sighs.
“Okay.”
He tickles her and she giggles. “Come on, I have some nice chocolate buttons and some Peppa Pig to keep you occupied.”
“Peppa.” Her face lights up. I swear she could watch it twenty-four hours a day.
“Yep, come on then.”
“C’mon Lex.”
Oh, God.
“Yeah, you too, Lex. We know how much you love Peppa."
I shoot him a glare then smile at Gracie.
For her, I would do anything.
* * *
I wake to Gracie staring back at me.
“Pwesent?” she asks.
My eyes flick to my watch. “Gracie, it’s only six o’clock, you can’t have your present yet. Do you need a wee-wee?”
She nods so I take her to the toilet, and then we head back to my bed. Cuddling in beside me, her curly hair is all dishevelled. She looks so damn cute. I know she’s missing her dummy, as she’s always slept with it every night.
“What do you think your present will be?” I whisper.
“Doll.”
“A doll?”
Why am I not surprised?
She nods.
“No, I think it’s going to be much better than that. How about a football?”
“No yacky football.” She shakes her head in annoyance.
“An action man.”
“No, no achun man.”
I chuckle as she scowls; she doesn’t like the sound of that.
“Dodo,” she sighs, pouting.
“I know, darling, but the present will be worth it.” I stroke her hair as she lies there staring. There’s no chance of her getting back to sleep now.
“Come on, let’s get up, get you some milk and watch Peppa, sound good?”
“Yes, peas.” She smiles and I kiss her hair before scooping her up as we make our way downstairs.
It’s going to be a long morning.
* * *
My text alert pings and I check my phone. It’s Dray to tell me they’ve just pulled up outside. We’ve sat for the last few hours playing and watching Peppa Pig. Even Gracie is starting to get restless, so I’m more than happy it’s finally time. The front door opens and Gracie’s eyes widen in excitement.
“Are you ready for your present, Gracie?” Dray asks, grinning.
She scuttles down off my knee and runs towards the door. “I ready, pwesent.” She frowns when she sees Dray isn’t holding anything. “No pwesent.” Her lip pops out and she’s on the verge of tears.
He scoops her into his arms and kisses her cheek. “It’s in the car, angel. Go sit on Uncle Lex’s knee and close your eyes, no peeking.”
“Okay.” Dray places her back down and she runs over, almost leaping into my arms. She’s beyond giddy. I’m so pleased to be part of this moment.
“Are those eyes shut, Gracie?” Dray asks moments later as she giggles. We all know she’s peeking, so I cover her eyes with my hand. She fidgets and tries to move so she can see.
Luce walks in, turning on the video on her phone to capture the moment as Dray holds little Max in his arms. He’s shaking slightly, so Dray strokes him. It’s all new to him, but I know he’ll soon settle in.
Dray bends down in front of Gracie so he’s at the same height. “Open your eyes, angel, and see what we’ve got you.”
I move my hand away and Gracie gasps. “Doggie.”
“Yes, it’s Gracie’s doggie,” Luce replies with a huge smile on her face, watching on in awe at her daughter’s reaction.
“My doggie?” Gracie turns to look at Dray, not quite believing it.
“Yes, this is your doggie for being such a big girl and giving up your dummy. His name is Max. He used to be someone else’s doggie, but they went to Heaven and now Max needs a new home. So we’re going to take care of him now.”
“I stwoke him?”
“Sure,” he replies, smiling.
Gracie holds out a hand to touch his head, but Max has other ideas and licks her palm.
“He lick me,” she squeals, giggling, and we all laugh at her reaction.
“He licked you?” Luce asks, walking closer.
She nods. “He lick me, Mamma.” Her eyes shine bright with delight.
“Oh, that’s him telling you he likes you.” She bends and kisses her hair as Gracie’s eyes stay fixed on Max.
“He like me?” She turns to look at Luce.
“Yes, he’s your friend.” Luce’s fingers stroke through her soft curls.
“Fwiend.”
“Here, let him sit beside you and you can pet him,” I suggest, moving Gracie off my knee onto the sofa as Dray places Max beside her. He sniffs her hand before she strokes his head, like he’s almost giving her the go ahead. He pants, and the tip of his tongue hang outs as he sits contentedly being stroked.
“I lub him,” Gracie says, turning to Dray. He lifts her off the sofa into his arms.
“Did Daddy do good, baby?”
Gracie nods, giving him a thank you kiss as Luce wipes a tear from her eye.
“My baby is growing up,” she says, sighing.
“Now, where is Max going to sleep? Down here?” Dray asks.
Gracie’s eyes widen in horror. “No, I show you.”
“Are you going to show us where to put his bed?” Dray grins, knowing exactly where she’ll want it to be.
She points upstairs, and Dray chuckles as we head towards her bedroom, Dray carrying the bed. Once inside, she points to the space beside her bed.
“Here?” Dray confirms.
“Peas.”
“Aww, you want him right beside you.” I smile, tickling Max on the head, holding him in my arms.
“Yep.” She nods again.
“Now, we need to find him a teddy to snuggle into at night. Can we give him one of yours?” Dray scans the room, but Gracie soon points over to her toy shelf. Dray
walks over, and she bites her lip in contemplation before lifting up her grey bear.
“Can Max have Bob?” Dray asks, making sure.
“Max have Bob,” Gracie confirms.
“Aww, he’ll love snuggling into him at night.” Dray kisses her hair as Gracie holds Bob in her arms.
“My bed?”
“No, Max has his own bed here, but he’ll sleep right beside you. Come and let us get all his things out.”
Luce hands over the carrier containing a blanket, toys and doggie treats. Dray and Gracie lay them out and Max contentedly hops into the bed, sniffing Bob several times before nuzzling into him and lying down.
“He lubs Bob,” Gracie says, grinning.
Max looks more than happy in his new bed, in his new home. I turn and see Luce smiling as she watches on. I love that I get to be a part of all this. It’s moments like this I will always cherish.
Chapter Twelve
“I’m nervous,” Abbie m
umbles, biting her nails. I’ve just picked her up, and we’re on our way to Dray’s for Sunday lunch. Of course, as soon as Luce got wind I was officially dating, she gave me the full-on interrogation. I think she’s happy to see me settle down. I have to admit, playing the field was not for me, and I’ve always been secretly envious of what Dray and Luce have. Craving the kind of love I never received from my own parents.
“You’ll be fine.” I reach over, grab her hand and give it a squeeze, hoping it will give her some reassurance. She’s white as a ghost having never done the whole ‘meet the family’ bit before.
“But what if they don’t like me?” she whispers, eyes wide in horror with that exact thought. She looks like she’s about to hyperventilate.
“Well, you already know Dray,” I say reassuringly. But come to think about it, that might not be a good thing.
“I know, but this is different.”
“You’ll be fine.” I squeeze her hand once more, hoping she’ll calm down.
“But Dray can be scary.”
“Trust me, he’s under Luce’s thumb. She’ll just as soon tell him off if he makes any rude remarks. He’s different to how he is at work.”
“I hope so,” she whispers, frowning.
“Wait till Gracie sees you again. That girl steals my heart every time.”
God, I love the kid.
“She’s something special, that’s for sure. I can’t wait to see her again. I wore my hair down so she can ‘pwetty’ me up.” Her fingers twist through the ends of her hair, and I know Gracie will have a field day working her magic.
“You’re already gorgeous, but Gracie will add a little glamour,” I say, winking.
“She’s really obsessed with hair.” She giggles.
“Yeah, you know just how much we love her when all the men sit with butterfly and flower clips in just to make her happy.” I cringe just thinking about it, but for Gracie I do it to make her happy, and for the fact of the lack of females in our home.
“Oh, you’re giving me valuable information to use if I ever need it,” Abbie adds with a grin.
What the fuck?
“Err, don’t you fucking dare. I already know ways to torture you,” I say with a smirk.
“How?” She narrows her eyes and I see her brain ticking over, wondering when she leaked such valuable information.
“I know you hate having your feet tickled.”
She looks at me in complete horror. “But I’ve never told you that.”
“No, but when we snuggle up on the sofa and my feet entwine with yours, you always flinch, so I have to keep mine still.”
“Dammit! I do not like you knowing that kind of information.” She pouts, looking out the window to avoid my smirking face.
“Same goes with the butterfly clips. If you keep shtum then I don’t have to inflict any torture.” It works both ways.
“Fine,” she snaps, but her lips quirk up slightly before turning to the window.
“Here we are.” I pull into the driveway and continue up the long and winding path before the house comes into view.
Abbie’s eyes widen in amazement. “Wow, I know Dray’s a millionaire, but that’s one hell of a house.”
I smile at her reaction; it was the same as mine when I first got here. Her mouth remains open the closer we get. I’m still the same; despite living here, it always surprises me. I never take it for granted – it’s down to Dray’s hard work, not mine. His generosity as a brother still astounds me.
I pull the car into the garage and notice Abbie has turned a queer shade of green. I turn off the engine, unclip my belt and grab her hands. “It’s going to be okay,” I reassure her, but she doesn’t look quite convinced.
I get out the car, walk over to her side and open the door. I’m pretty sure she’d stay there all day if she could. She reluctantly unbuckles her seatbelt and I help her out, pulling her into a hug.
“They won’t bite, but I might later. Now come on, I’m hungry.” I tug on her arm to lead her inside.
“You’re always hungry,” she snorts.
“True.” I wink as I encircle her with my arm, and we head for the front door. I grab my keys from my pocket and let myself in. The delicious aroma of a Sunday roast engulfs my nostrils. We never had anything like this growing up, but Luce makes a fine feast every Sunday. The looks on mine and Dray’s faces afterwards are enough appreciation for her amazing cooking skills.
“Hello!” I shout, ready for the mass rush.
Luce runs through with a tea towel in her hand, looking overly excited.
“This is Luce, my sister-in-law,” I say, grinning.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Abbie holds out her hand, but Luce has other ideas and pulls her into a hug, much to Abbie’s surprise.
“It’s good to finally meet you, the girl who stole Lex’s heart.”
“Err—” Abbie blushes and looks at me in horror at Luce’s direct welcoming.
“Don’t worry about Luce, she tells it how it is. And it’s true.” I want her to know exactly how I feel, and I’m not afraid who else knows in the process.
Dray walks over with a talkative Gracie in his arms.
“Hello, Mr Miller,” Abbie says, blushing.
“None of this ‘Mr Miller’ malarkey. It’s Dray.” He winks as Abbie blushes again.
“Hey, Gracie.” Abbie waves, and Gracie reciprocates. “I wore my hair down, and I was wondering if you would make it pretty for me later.”
Gracie’s eyes widen and she claps her hands.
“I think that’s a yes from Gracie,” Dray snorts. “She’s going to be in her element. But first, let’s eat. I am starving.”
“Shocker,” Luce adds with a smirk, heading towards the kitchen.
We all walk through together, and I grab Abbie’s hand. She doesn’t look as scared as she did, so I’m hoping she’ll start and relax soon. I pull out her chair and she smiles. I always like to be the perfect gentleman around her. She’s become so much to me in the last few weeks since we’ve been dating. I’ve admired her from afar for so long, but I know I have to slow it down and keep certain thoughts to myself, as she scares real easy.
Luce catches my eye and grins. She’s been such an influence on me, and watching her and Dray the way they interact has certainly given me a different perspective on how married couples actually act. Growing up in my own home, I never witnessed a lot of love. I think my parents got together through their love of alcohol and just stayed with each other because it was easier.
Dray places Gracie into the high chair beside me, as she always dictates I sit next to her. She likes to keep me near, and that thought alone warms my heart. I would do anything for that little lady.
Dray begins to carve the beef, and the smell is to die for. Luce places the potatoes, vegetables and gravy in the centre of the table for us all to help ourselves. She’s made her homemade lemonade, so I pour myself and Abbie a glass. I swear this lady has to make everything from scratch. If I hadn’t witnessed her eating takeaway pizza and Ben & Jerry’s, I would seriously question if she had any flaws. When it comes to Gracie, though, she likes to serve wholesome, family meals, which Dray and I happily eat up.
We all begin plating up, helping ourselves to the delicious array of food. Luce places down Gracie’s meal, all chopped up into tiny pieces and smothered in gravy, just how she likes it.
“Fank ooh, Mamma.”
“Enjoy, my angel. And I want a clean plate, because we have that delicious chocolate cake you helped me with earlier.”
“I lub locklat.” Gracie grins as she spears a potato with her little fork. We all smile, knowing how much she really does, and tuck in to our own meals.
Luce gets up now and then to add more food to the table as bowls begin to empty. I swear she’s cooked enough for twelve people, but with Dray and me around there’ll be no waste.
After finishing off every morsel, we all clear our plates. I stand, helping Luce gather them up, leaving Abbie and D
ray to talk. Well, I say talk, but Abbie just stares down at her fingers. I frown as I walk back through, wanting her to be comfortable in a non-work environment with Dray. I think the atmosphere is about to descend into awkward territory, but I can always rely on Gracie to lift the mood.
“Abbie like locklat?” Gracie asks.
“Yes, I like chocolate.”
“I do, too.” She nods in that adorable way.
“I know you like chocolate ice cream.” I think back to that day in the park, and I smile.
“I lub it. I make cake.” Her little face is a picture, proud of her handiwork.
“Well, she says she made the cake, but half of it was down her front,” Dray adds, and both Abbie and he chuckle together.
I can only imagine the sight.
“I dirty girl,” Gracie says, giggling.
“But then Daddy bathed you and made you all clean again.” Dray leans over and kisses her brown curls, and Abbie’s eyes soften at the sweet exchange between father and daughter.
“I cwean.”
“Well, for now. Wait till the chocolate cake arrives,” Dray snorts again. It’s a constant battle keeping her clean. Thank God for the wet wipes.
“You pay with me?” Gracie asks Abbie, eyes wide, waiting for an answer.
“Yes, after dessert, I’ll play with you. What do you want to play?”
“Dolls.”
We all roll our eyes and groan.
“Daddy pay dolls.” Gracie turns to look at Dray.
“Oh, I think Abbie can play with you, darling,” he replies, smiling.
“No, Daddy pay, too,” Gracie insists, much to Dray’s horror.
“I swear to—”
“Dray,” Luce warns before any swear words filter out.
“But she has you and Abbie to play dolls with.”
“Daddy, too.” Gracie grins as Dray runs his hands down his face.
“This does not get out at work,” Dray warns, glaring over at Abbie.
“Who do I talk to at work?”
“That’s a point. You’re the best worker I have. No gossiping, just come in and do your job and leave, unlike the others,” he huffs.
“Hey, I’m a hard worker,” I butt in, feeling miffed. He has a point, though. There are some who like to take the piss, taking far too many breaks and slacking when they can, but Dray and Ritchie only tolerate it so long before they’re out on their ears.