“You really don’t need to do that.” Gracie told him as she took a bottle of Excedrin out of her purse.
“Yes, I do.” Jackson felt the tension as she sat there. “Try to relax and close your eyes like a good girl.”
Annie smiled as she walked over to the couch to sit down with the children.
“You can stop now.” Gracie opened her eyes as she started to listen to the next message. “I need to finish this.” She pointed over to the couch and watched as he walked away pretending to pout. “I need to change my number.” She mumbled to herself after she listened to the next message. Looking up from the paper she had been writing on, Jackson noticed that her eyes were angry. “Would you like to listen to this one before I erase it?” She didn't place the phone on speaker this time as she handed the phone to Jackson.
After listening to the message, Jackson stood feeling very angry as he looked at Gracie. “Could he have gone into more explicit detail about what he wants to do to you?”
“I think that would be considered Rated X.” Gracie took the phone from him. “I need to. . .”
“Go on another walk.” Jackson finished for her. “Do you want company?” He watched as she shook her head no. “I shouldn’t have asked. After listening to that, I need to go on a walk.”
Gracie looked over at Annie as she shooed them away. “Go ahead, you two, I'm enjoying this lovely movie.”
They walked out the front door, and Gracie could feel the tension in her neck and shoulders. Jackson watched her as they walked past Kim’s house.
“I can't believe it.” Gracie finally broke the silence as she tried to relax.
Jackson couldn’t believe it either, but he didn't want to say anything yet. He learned when Gracie had been younger that she needed to say everything before one spoke.
“The graphics would make a great novel.” Gracie frowned as she looked over at Jackson. “Can a person actually do all the stuff he mentioned?”
Jackson nodded to her question as they continued to walk.
“That’s very reassuring,” Gracie caught back up to him as they passed her house. “I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t scared.”
“And I wouldn’t believe you if you said it.” Jackson was trying to figure out a solution for her problem. “It’s too bad we don’t have a photo to show the security officers.”
“I can describe him.” Gracie offered as they continued to walk. She smiled as Jackson looked at her sideways. “He was cute.” Gracie admitted to him. “And I'm one for remembering details.” She waved as she saw Kim watching them. “Detour.”
“I’m not done walking yet.” Jackson frowned at Gracie when she looked at him.
“Why?” Gracie was feeling better but could see that he was still troubled.
“Because all I'm seeing right now is a motion picture of some guy I haven’t met doing unmentionables to you.” Jackson looked at her seriously. “You better go so she doesn’t get upset with you.”
“Jackson?” Gracie called before he walked another step. “You know that I wouldn't let him do that- don’t you?”
“Willingly, but you heard the same story I did from Robert this afternoon.” Jackson started to walk away as Gracie watched him.
“Way to make me feel better, chump.” She thought to herself before she walked over to her sister. Kim and Gracie both watched as Jackson walked up the court.
“What’s going on, Gracie?” Kim turned her attention to her sister.
“We just had another development.” Gracie told her about Dallas calling and leaving messages on her cell phone. “I’m not too hard to find thanks to Google.” Gracie hugged her. “You’re going to be late for church.”
“You aren't coming tonight?” Kim watched as Jackson started walking back up the court towards her house.
“I still have company. I’m just being a bad hostess.” Gracie walked to the end of the driveway as Jackson stood there waiting for her. He waved at Kim before walking back down to Gracie’s house. “I'm sure that Annie has a picture of him in that file she has.” She mentioned when Jackson remained silent.
He stopped and looked at her in amazement. “I didn’t think about that.”
“I told you I’m a stickler for details. I just needed a minute to think.” Gracie started walking again as she talked.
After going into the house, Gracie sent the children outside as she and Jackson talked to Annie. Annie had the file in her purse and took it out to search for a photo. She pulled out the picture and handed it to Jackson. “He looks sort of like Mark.” Jackson mumbled as he studied it.
“He does?” Gracie glanced at it and sat down on the couch. “Tell me that isn't the reason that I decided I like him.”
“I hope not.” Jackson looked over at his cousin after answering Gracie. “Is there anywhere we can make a copy of this?”
Annie was thinking before Gracie informed them that her printer was a scanner and copier. They made a copy of the picture, and Gracie placed it in her briefcase to take with her to work in the morning. She looked up at Jackson as he stood there watching her.
“I'm going home now, and I hope I don’t dream of you and Dallas.” Jackson looked very serious as he talked.
“Here's hoping that neither of us does.” Gracie smiled at him. “Maybe he was just spouting off with the mouth because word got back to him that he was caught lying at the mill.”
“Do you always have to try to find the silver lining, Gracie?” Jackson started to walk out of the house after Annie and Garrison walked of the house in front of him.
“That’s how I keep my sanity. Try it some time.” Gracie answered as her hand rested on the front door.
“Lock up.” Jackson studied her before he walked to the car.
~
Addison looked up as Gracie stopped at her desk, “Gracie?”
“I might be in a little trouble.” Gracie motioned for Addison to follow her into the office. She sat behind her desk and opened the briefcase while Addison watched. Gracie took out the picture she had copied and handed it to her friend. “Friday night’s date.”
Addison looked at it. “And how are you in trouble?”
Gracie had saved the messages and played them for Addison as she sat back feeling the tension build back up in her shoulders. After the last message played, Addison stared at her in shock.
“There’s more.” Gracie then proceeded in telling her what Robert and Annie had told her on Sunday.
“Isn’t Annie Jackson’s girlfriend?” Addison asked after she stood and walked over to the coffee pot. She poured two cups before walking back over to the desk.
Gracie laughed at her. “Annie is actually Jackson’s cousin.” She thanked Addison as she took the cup of coffee she offered.
Addison picked up the picture again and after studying it, placed it into the color copier. “I'll make sure all the security officers have a copy and place one in the cafeteria.”
“Thanks Addison.” Gracie glanced over at the monitors to make sure they were on. “When can we expect Carolyn and her author?”
“They should be here within the hour.” She answered while she waited for the copies. “We got your back, Gracie.” Addison smiled as she left the office.
Gracie found it hard to concentrate as she kept a vigil on the monitors. Her shoulders were really aching before she picked up the manuscript that they had agreed to publish. She started reading it again as she absently answered her phone.
“How are you doing, Gracie?” Jackson asked as he was in between patients.
Gracie was silent about a minute before she answered. “I can’t concentrate on what I'm doing. Other than that, I’m doing fine. How about you?”
“You have a headache?” Jackson could hear it in her voice as he read over one of his charts.
“Sometimes I think you know me too well.” Gracie stood and walked over to the conference table where she laid the manuscript and contract down.
“You remember that. Ste
ven is headed out your way. I told him about the messages that were left for you, and I can’t leave today.” Jackson listened as Gracie sighed.
“I hope he doesn’t mind waiting. I’m having a working lunch today.” Gracie heard Addison buzz the office, and she looked up. “I’ll talk to you later, Jackson. My appointment just arrived.” She hung up as Addison walked in with Carolyn Young and Gaige Forrester.
Gracie shook both of their hands as they settled down to talk about the book and go over the contract. They were easy to work with, and Gracie found herself not thinking about her own problems as Gaige was very entertaining.
She looked up at the clock after they left and Steven knocked on the door, looking at her with worry before Addison stepped up to him. Addison paused, standing right next to him. “She’s really tense, Steven.”
“Thanks, Addie.” Steven walked into the office and watched Gracie as he sat down. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” Gracie turned around to him. “I wish someone could simply snap their fingers, and all of this will just vanish into the thin air. Can you do that, Steven?” Gracie turned her attention back to the monitors. “Oh, guess who just showed up.”
Steven stood and walked over to where Gracie was staring at four screens. “I don’t see anybody.”
“That’s because your wife is in the building already.” Gracie laughed at him. “God, my shoulders hurt.” She walked over to the desk and pulled out her bottle of Excedrin. “And I have lived on these all day.” Gracie threw the bottle back down without taking any. She sat down and swiveled around to look out the window.
Paige walked into the office after chatting with Addison. “Steven, aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
“I took off half a day.” Steven glanced at Gracie before he turned his attention back to Paige. “I thought I could walk her out to her car.”
Gracie swiveled back around to look at them. “We all walk out the doors together. I'm a firm believer in the buddy system.”
“You’re hurting bad.” Paige stared into Gracie’s eyes. “Have you taken anything?”
“All day, I've taken something. I think that I'm going home and soak in a hot tub.” Gracie stood and glanced at the monitors.
“Maybe you should call Jackson.” Steven said as they walked out of her office.
“Honestly, Steven, I'm more than capable of taking a bath by myself.” Gracie tried to smile as Paige laughed.
“I meant for a massage, smarty.” Steven put one finger lightly on her shoulder and listened as she screamed in pain.
“I’ll be fine.” Gracie walked with them out to the cars and started to pull away before Steven stopped her.
“We’ll pick up dinner and come down to your house.”
Gracie nodded as she drove away, calling Kim to tell her not to send Bea down to the house until she saw Steven’s car.
Paige called Jackson’s apartment and listened as Annie finished talking to Garrison before answering. “Hello.”
“Annie, is Jackson there?” She waited as Annie went to check while she was holding the phone.
“He just pulled up.” Annie answered her.
“Tell him to get over to Gracie’s.” Paige spoke as she walked from her car over to Steven’s.
“Is there an emergency?” Annie was watching as Jackson walked up to the apartment.
“You can tell him Gracie is so stressed out she can’t see straight. Steven barely touched her shoulder, and she screamed in pain.” Paige added. “I've seen him work those headaches away, and that’s what she needs.”
“I'll give him the message now.” Annie placed the phone into its cradle as Jackson walked in the door. “Gracie needs you.” She told him everything that Paige had just told her.
He looked at Annie. “Get Garrison, I'm too sleepy to drive.”
Garrison ran to the car when he heard where they were going. Jackson slept on the way, only waking when Annie threw the car into park.
He only had to take one look at Gracie before taking her hand and leading her to the couch. He stood behind her and started massaging the muscles in her shoulders. “How did you get so bad?”
“I couldn’t get rid of the headache.” Gracie answered as she felt his fingers working her muscles. “I can use a heating pad.”
“Wouldn’t be as much fun.” Jackson smiled while he worked. “It’s starting to work. Just close your eyes and relax.”
Steven and Paige walked through the door with Bea following them. Bea looked over at Gracie and walked to her. She kissed her mother’s cheek and was awarded with a smile. “Garrison is outside with the puppies.” She looked at her hands. “I need to turn off my bath.”
“I’ll get it.” Paige stood and walked down towards the master bathroom and turned off the water before going back into the living room. “It’s ready for you.”
“Feeling better?” Jackson asked as he watched her stand up.
“I actually feel like I'm going to be sick.” Gracie walked quickly to the nearest bathroom. “Too many Excedrin,” she apologized as Jackson stared at her.
“Go soak, Gracie.” Jackson watched as Gracie massaged her own temples on the way to her bath. After thirty minutes, she dried off and put on some sweat clothes before walking back into the living room.
“That didn’t help.” Gracie stopped as she caught herself reaching for the Excedrin again. Jackson grabbed her hand and led her down to her bedroom where he made her lay down on the bed.
“Don’t worry. I promise I won’t get the wrong idea.” He massaged her until he heard the quiet snoring. Smiling, he walked back into the living room where Annie and Paige looked up at him.
“She’s sleeping, natures’ best cure.” Jackson smiled as he sat down at the kitchen table. Annie called the children in to eat, and they sat down as Gracie was sleeping peacefully down the hall.
“Should we just leave now?” Paige looked over as Jackson fixed himself a plate.
“Go ahead.” Jackson looked over at his cousin. “You could ride over to the apartment and get what we need for tonight and tomorrow.”
“So you’re staying then.” Steven glanced at Jackson.
“I'll sleep on the couch. Annie and Garrison can break in their new beds.” Jackson looked at Steven seriously before he added. “There’s no way Gracie's going to hear anything right now, and Princess Bea needs to be taken care of.”
Annie laughed as she started to go out. “And there's no need to worry about Jackson. He'll be asleep before you know it.”
“Why is that?” Paige asked as she looked in her direction.
“He didn’t sleep last night because of a certain message he listened to.” Annie answered before walking out the door.
Steven and Paige both looked at Jackson as he agreed and decided to tell them about the phone call. “It made porn sound like a child’s story.” He told them after he stood.
After Paige finished eating, she walked down the hall to Gracie’s room and smiled as she saw her friend sleeping peacefully. She walked back to the living room and spotted Bea. “Isn’t it bath time, Bea?”
“Baths are for babies.” Bea looked up at her aunt as Paige smiled down at her.
“Okay, Miss Grownie, go take your shower then.” Paige laughed at her. “Bed time is in thirty minutes.”
Jackson looked over at Steven. “Do you think that Gracie will have trouble out of Dallas?”
“We can only hope not.” Steven stood and walked around looking at the familiar pictures scattered around the house. “After Bea goes to bed, Paige and I'll head home.” He grinned at Jackson then. “And you had best behave.”
“Don’t start, dude.” Jackson went over to the sink and started to clean up. “I wonder where she keeps the extra bedding.” He finished placing the glasses in the dishwasher before he walked back into the living room.
Steven watched him as he went looking in the guest bedroom and then in the hall closest. He caught Paige looking at him. “What?”
“You could help him.” Paige opened one of the closets closer to her as Bea walked out of the bathroom towards Gracie’s room. “Bea, your mom is asleep.”
“I just want to kiss her goodnight.” She watched as Paige smiled at her. Paige walked into the room with Bea, noticing that Gracie hadn't moved a muscle since she had checked on her before.
“Would you like me to brush your hair?” Paige asked as she walked back to the living room with her niece.
“I can do it.” Bea wishfully looked back down the hall before walking into her own bedroom. “You can listen to my prayers if you want.”
It didn't escape Paige that although Bea was trying to act so grown up, she wanted her mother to tuck her in. “I’ll be in there in a second.”
Chapter 9
Gracie started to relax as the week went by without her hearing from Dallas again. She had no idea that Robert and Kim were having a serious discussion in the house not that far away from her.
Robert had been in the bathroom at the mill when Dallas had walked in with one of his friends discussing what he had planned for Friday. Gracie’s name had been mentioned a couple of times.
He was discussing this with Kim after she had fixed him supper, and they were both sitting at the table.
Kim stared at her husband as he told her every little detail that he had heard. “But she doesn’t plan on meeting him.”
“He said, and I quote. ‘I'll pick her up at Salem Publishing Plus at five o clock’. End quote.” Robert pushed away his plate without eating anything. “He doesn’t know I heard any of this.”
“Then we'll play his game and win.” Kim narrowed her eyes as she started forming a plan. “Ask for Friday off.”
Robert just looked at her, “For?”
“You, Steven, Jackson, and Pop can escort Gracie out to a car.” Kim was planning aloud. “Not her car, as a matter of fact, it will be a rental.”
Robert smiled as he listened to her.
Kim noticed the look he gave her, “Stay with me, Robert. We don’t want anything that he can trace back to her or us.” She stood before continuing. “We have to protect Bea, too.”
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