Finding Gracie's Rainbow

by Deborah A. Price

  “The pleasure is all mine.” The gray-haired gentleman sat down at the table, and they took care of the final changes that he wanted on his contract.

  Addison and Gracie both breathed a sigh of relief after he left. “Do you think that he’s happy now?” Addison asked after she looked down at her notes.

  “Some people you can never make happy.” Gracie walked over to her desk. “Was the last appointment for today?”

  “That was it,” Addison answered after Gracie sat at her desk and called the realtor.

  Gracie made an appointment to look at the inside of the house before calling to tell her mother that she would be late picking up Bea.

  She looked at the clock before she closed up her office. She never left early if she could help it, so she would have to rush to get over to the house for the appointment. Gracie looked shocked when she saw Jackson standing with the realtor in the driveway.

  Gracie greeted him in a detached manner wondering what he was doing there.

  “Chilled aren’t you, Gracie?” Jackson glanced over the realtor to ask.

  “I was just wondering what you were doing here.” Gracie answered him short and sweet.

  Jackson said something to the realtor who left as Jackson looked at the house. “My parents’ house so I'm going to give you the grand tour.”

  “Okay, give me the grand tour.” Gracie entered into the house after him. “It’s beautiful.” The colors were brilliant and different from the white walls that she was accustomed to having at the apartment.

  “Down the hall there are four bedrooms.” Jackson mentioned as they walked. “This one was mine, all done up with the sports theme. Definitely not Bea.” He walked to a door that was shut and opened it showing the pink and yellows as Gracie looked at him. “This one belonged to my sister.”

  “You have a sister?” Gracie saw the change of expression on his face.

  “I had a sister.” Jackson looked sadly around the room as he took out his wallet to show Gracie a picture of a young lady in a formal gown. “This is the last picture she took. Her prom date wrapped the car around a light pole.”

  “I’m so sorry, Jackson. I didn’t know.” Gracie spoke softly while looking at him sadly.

  “Only a few people know. I never talk about her.” Jackson shut the door. “That room is Bea.” He walked to the room that was never used. “Guest bedroom and further down; we have the master.”

  Gracie looked as she had fallen in love with the house. “How much are you asking for rent?”

  “For you and Bea, my parents have agreed on five hundred a month.” Jackson answered.

  “You knew I was coming?” Gracie asked raising her eyes.

  “The realtor called and mentioned your name.” Jackson smiled with amusement as he studied Gracie. “I'm doing it for Bea.”

  “Of course you are and thank you.” Gracie looked around the kitchen while they spoke.

  “The backyard is fenced in, and my old swing set is still there.” Jackson added while Gracie looked over the contract.

  “I have to put in thirty days notice at the apartment. Can we move in after that?”

  “No problem,” Jackson watched as she signed it.

  “It's a pretty house, Jackson.” Gracie handed him the contract. “I’ll let you know when we can move in.”

  “That’s fine,” Jackson looked at her forcing himself not to touch her. “Can I ask you something?”

  Gracie stood still and looked at him. “I can’t be your friend, Jackson.”

  “And just why not? Is it because I kissed you for the same reason that you kissed me not once but twice?” Jackson was glaring at her. “Because that was a fair trade to my way of thinking.”

  “I didn't kiss you in front of my family trying to start a fight.” Gracie snapped angrily hoping he would calm down.

  “I guess that was wrong. But Steven. . .” Jackson started to explain.

  “Is still my brother.” Gracie walked out the back door to look at the yard. “And I would rather not start a family feud.”

  Jackson looked around before he turned to face Gracie. “I’ll make you a deal.”

  “What kind of deal?” She asked while walking to the swing set.

  Jackson smiled as he studied her. “We pretend to be friends for Bea.”

  “As long as you don’t kiss her.” Gracie would do anything for her daughter. She watched as he focused on her mouth, “Or me.”

  “You're just a spoil sport.” Jackson walked behind her as they walked back into the house.

  “Sorry, I just don’t know where your mouth has been.” Gracie laughed at the look on his face.

  “That’s not fair,” Jackson blocked her from going out the front door. “Steven has told a few lies and. . .”

  “I really don’t want to hear anymore. I don’t know how two men of the same age that grew up together can be so different.”

  “I'm Kim’s age.” Jackson saw the puzzled look on her face. “I skipped a couple of grades, and I don’t do one-night stands.”

  “There’s the shocker.” Gracie walked around him. “I promised to pretend to be friends, and now I need to go pick up Bea.”

  “What are you and Bea doing tomorrow?” Jackson asked as he locked the door.

  “I have a date, and Bea will be at Kim’s.” Gracie answered him as she opened her car door.

  “A date?” Jackson was shocked, “A ‘Cinderella’ date or a blind date?”

  “Blind.” Gracie frowned at him.

  “You don’t have to go.” Jackson looked over at his own car.

  “To keep the peace in the family. How many friends does Steven have anyway?” Gracie waved before she backed out of the driveway.

  ~

  Steven picked her up at Kim’s promptly at seven, and Gracie walked out the door wearing a smart pale pink jumper. “Does this meet with your approval, brother of mine?” Gracie asked him as she sat in the back seat watching as Steven nodded his head.

  They drove up to the restaurant in silence and didn’t start talking again until they were seated in a booth at the steak house. “So who is the unlucky friend tonight?” Gracie asked as she looked over the menu.

  “Terry Rogers,” Steven answered her.

  “You set me up with Bea’s principal?” She looked up from the menu as Paige moaned.

  “Seriously, Steven?” Paige looked over at her husband with a smile on her face trying not to laugh at Gracie’s expression. “He's pretty old.”

  “And gay,” Gracie added. “How did you talk him into being my date?”

  “He’s what?” Steven was stunned as Gracie said it again.

  “Everybody knows.” She laughed at him. “I think that I can pretty much relax on this date. You couldn’t get any safer.” Gracie was still laughing at him when Terry walked into the dining area. “Lighten up, Steven. He’s here.”

  “Oh, my goodness,” Gracie laughed on their way back to Kim’s house. “Do you actually know any of your friends?” Gracie asked after she finally stopped laughing at him.

  Steven glared as he dropped Gracie off. They all saw Jackson’s car parked out front. Gracie noticed that Steven was about to get out with her. “Don’t worry, Steven. Jackson and I are just acting friendly for Bea. I can handle myself. Bye.”

  She was trying not to laugh when she walked into her sister’s house. “Have a good time?” Jackson asked as he looked up.

  “The blind date was Terry.” Gracie saw the look on Jackson’s face. “We had some girly conversation at Steven’s expense.”

  Kim looked at Gracie puzzled. “What’s wrong with Terry?”

  Gracie whispered in Kim’s ear just in case Bea walked into the room.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Very serious. You didn’t know?” Gracie picked up Bea’s puppy to stop him from chewing on her shoe.

  “Evidently, I didn't.” Kim stood, frowning while Jackson looked amused.

  “Steven really knows how to pick them.” Ja
ckson took the puppy from Gracie, accidentally glazing her hands.

  She frowned as she felt a tingling when she looked at him. Biting her lip, she went off in search of Bea, so they could go home. “Jackson, would you mind if I showed Bea the house tomorrow?” She asked not looking directly at him.

  “No problem; just call and I'll meet you over there.” Jackson looked at her strangely as Bea’s puppy wiggled in his arms.

  Kim looked at Jackson after Gracie had left, and Sammie plopped down on the couch. “Spill it.”

  “Spill what?” Jackson frowned as he asked.

  Sammie laughed at him. “You have a crush on Aunt Gracie.” She smiled when Kim glared at her.

  “Your aunt isn't my type.” Jackson walked out of the front door and to his car. He hadn't realized that Kim had walked out with him.

  “What is your type, Jackson? You've been friends to Gracie and Bea since forever.” Kim made him look at her. “It’s a Friday night, and you’re spent it watching movies with an eight-year-old.”

  “Look, Kim, it ain't going to happen.” Jackson placed the puppy inside the car.

  “Lost again. What’s not going to happen?” Kim watched Jackson shrug his shoulders before he got in on the driver’s side and backed down her driveway.

  Kim was still standing there when Robert pulled up. He got out of his car and walked over to her. “You look lost.” He put his arm around her waist as they walked up to the house.

  “You just don’t know how lost. Those two confuse me.” Kim laughed as she remembered what Sammie had said.

  “And now you're losing me. Who confuses you and what are you laughing about?” Robert opened the door and followed her in.

  “Gracie and Jackson,” Kim looked at her daughter. “Sammie says that Jackson has a crush on Gracie.”

  “He always has as long as I’ve known him.” Robert said as he sat down in his recliner. “You haven’t noticed?”

  Kim shook her head in disbelief. “Evidently I haven’t noticed a lot of things. Her blind date was Terry Roberts.”

  Sammie let out a whoop, surprising both of her parents, “Poor Aunt Gracie!”

  “I take it that you know.” Kim looked at her in shock.

  Sammie laughed at her mother. “I’m not blind.” She walked to her bedroom but turned around to add. “Aunt Gracie would be better off if she just went ahead and dated Jackson.”

  “Out of the mouth of my baby,” Kim went into the kitchen to fix Robert some supper.

  ~

  Jackson was waiting at his parents’ house when Gracie pulled into the driveway. Bea jumped out of the car almost as soon as Gracie had shifted into park and ran to Jackson, who lifted her up into the air while she laughed.

  Gracie walked up to them never focusing on Jackson as they entered into the house. She propped on the kitchen counter and looked around as Bea ran from one room to another as the puppy followed at her heels.

  Bea stopped as Jackson opened up his sister’s room and squealed in delight. He smiled sadly as she started dancing around. Gracie walked down the hall to watch her.

  Jackson glanced at Gracie quickly. “You promised to act like we were friends.” He whispered to her as they watched Bea. “I haven’t heard one word come out of that mouth of yours.”

  “I’m sorry. I guess I'm just a little tired.” Gracie still didn't look at him.

  “That’s some excuse and you're not the only one. I didn't sleep a wink last night.” He walked away from them.

  “That isn't my fault.” Gracie followed him. “And why are you being so short with me all of a sudden?” She asked narrowing her eyes

  Bea heard Gracie raise her voice and came out of the bedroom to look at them. Gracie saw her and tried to smile. “There’s a swing set out back, Bea, and I'm sure that fuzz ball of yours needs some fresh air.” She looked back at Jackson after she watched Bea leave. “Well?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” Jackson looked at the wall.

  “Fine,” Gracie started to walk towards the back door when Jackson stopped her. He looked down into her blue eyes that were shooting daggers at him. He fixed his eyes on her lips and kissed her as she tried to back away. He felt it as she relaxed, kissing him back trying to muffle a moan. Jackson pulled away from her and noticed that her eyes were smoldering.

  Gracie was speechless as Jackson stared at her. He saw the tears come into her eyes and wiped them away.

  “I can’t, Jackson.” Gracie walked outside watching as Bea was swinging. She heard him walk up beside her.

  “I'm not going to push you, Cinderella.” Jackson knew what he was feeling. He smiled at her. “But you can’t tell me that you didn’t enjoy that.”

  Gracie spun around to him. “I don’t want. . .”

  “Want what? To be happy, to fall in love with somebody, to live happily ever after?” Jackson was glaring at her. “That’s what you deserve.”

  Gracie was frowning as she answered him. “I don’t believe in ‘happily ever after', and I am happy.” She could feel the tears stinging her eyes.

  Jackson hugged her. “Are you happy, Gracie?” He looked down at her. “That’s all I'm going to say. I promise.” He watched Gracie walk back into the house.

  ~

  Addison watched Gracie through the glass windows of the office before getting up and walking to the doors. She knocked before entering. “Want to talk about it?” Addison handed a file folder as she asked.

  “There’s nothing to talk about.” Gracie never looked up from the document she was reading.

  “That’s such a load of bull, and you know it.” Addison sat down in front of her, “As a friend, Gracie.”

  Gracie looked up. “And that being the case, there's still nothing to talk about.”

  “Seriously?” Addison studied her eyes. “I've never seen that look in your eyes before. Did you fall madly in love on your blind date?”

  “Excuse me while I die laughing.” Gracie opened the file that Addison had handed her. “That would be impossible.” She told Addison all about her last date and they were laughing when she finished.

  “Then who do you look like a lovesick puppy over?” Addison was curious.

  “What makes you think that I'm in love with anybody?” Gracie frowned as she looked at the file. “Mr. Johnson wants to make more changes?”

  “Just one,” Addison knew then that Gracie was going to be all business from that minute.

  “Let me guess; the old man had a date this past weekend.” Gracie skimmed over the notes. “Why don’t we just change the wording to ‘current girlfriend’ and be done with it?”

  Addison laughed at her. “That would solve that problem. So what are you up to this Friday?”

  “Guess.” Gracie looked at her. “Can’t wait to see who Steven brings out of the wood work this week.”

  “I don’t guess your doctor friend is anywhere on that list that Steven made up.” Addison watched Gracie frown.

  “I hope not.” Gracie looked back down at the folder that was still laying open on her desk and pulled up the necessary documentation on her computer.

  Addison narrowed her eyes. “He called here this morning.”

  “Good for him,” Gracie had started typing on her keyboard. “Give him a medal and keep taking messages.”

  “Sure,” Addison walked out of the office as Kim came in. “Watch out, she's in some kind of a mood.”

  “Thanks for the warning.” Kim smiled as she entered into the office. She didn’t say a word as she sat down.

  Gracie looked over at her, “Kim?”

  “Just came by to have lunch with you and see how you were doing since you didn’t come to church yesterday.” Kim was studying her.

  “I haven’t been sleeping well.” Gracie told her.

  “Funny.” Kim scrutinized her. “That’s the same thing that Jackson said.”

  “What are you implying?” Gracie looked at her hard as she asked. “I can assure that you that nothing. . .”
<
br />   “Whoa, girl, I wasn't implying that it was.” Kim laughed at her. “Sammie thinks that Jackson has a crush on you.” She saw Gracie’s fingers go to her lips. “And Robert agreed with her.”

  “Gee, that’s too bad for him.” Gracie stood. “Are you coming?”

  “Of course,” Kim stood to accompany her to the cafeteria. “So what is the house like?”

  “Absolutely charming,” Gracie smiled as she pictured it from memory. “Bea already has her room picked out. It used to Jackson’s sister’s bedroom.” She noticed that Kim didn't look shocked.

  “Michelle.” Kim picked a couple of things of the cafeteria line. “What?”

  “Jackson said he never talked about her to anyone.” Gracie looked at her sister as they sat down. “He never even told me her name.”

  “And he didn’t talk about her.” Kim informed her. “You weren’t born yet, so you wouldn’t have met her. Jackson’s parents used to come to the church we attended. Steven wouldn’t have known her because all he ever paid attention to was whatever sport was in season.”

  “Go on.” Gracie watched as her sister paused.

  “Michelle was, I guess you could say, like a big sister to me, and she absolutely doted on Jackson.” Kim looked at Gracie seriously as she continued. “It tore him up when she died.”

  “I can imagine.” Gracie picked up her bottled water.

  “Would you like to know something else?” Kim smiled.

  “Why not,” She placed the bottle back on the table.

  “On second thought, I'd better not. It was told to me in confidentiality.” Kim looked down at Gracie’s tray. “You still eat like a bird.”

  “But I'm eating.” Gracie said as she lifted the tray up. “I don’t guess you know who Steven has lined up to terrorize me this week.”

  “Actually, I do.” Kim looked at her apologetically. “Buck tooth Billy.”

  “Why do you call him that?” Gracie smiled at the look Kim gave her.

  “As a reverend, I would tell you to keep an open mind.” Kim smiled. “As a sister, I would tell you to wear a blind fold.”

  “That bad, huh? Thanks for the warning.”

  “Any time. Are you coming to service on Wednesday?” Kim asked as they put their trays up.