Finding Gracie's Rainbow

by Deborah A. Price

  “No, it’s fine.” Annie stood. “I stayed because I thought it was what was best for Garrison. Jason wasn't always nasty and hateful. He used to do everything he could for us. He turned into a different person after he got laid off from his job.” She glanced over at Gracie before continuing. “Frustration from being unemployed, living on a single paycheck from week to week, the banks calling the house; it was just too much for him. At first, it was just me that he took it out on.” Sitting back down at the table, she played with the salt and pepper shakers while she remembered. “Garrison started asking for more attention from him and one day I walked into the house in time to see Jason taking his anger out on him.” She paused as she started to feel her eyes stinging. “The next thing I know, we were living with Jackson.”

  “Who is everybody’s hero.” Gracie stood as the puppies started scratching at the back door. “You were brave, Annie.”

  “You left your husband.” Annie thought she knew Gracie's story.

  “No, I didn't.” Gracie didn’t go into any further detail as the door opened. Garrison and Bea both ran into the house as Jackson followed them.

  “Ladies.” Jackson looked from Annie to Gracie. “What’s going on?”

  “We're just getting to know each other.” Annie spoke up as Gracie was listening to a very animated Bea. Annie noticed that Jackson was watching them.

  Gracie looked up, and Jackson tried to smile at her. “I guess I'll see you at church tomorrow.” He waved as he walked back to the door.

  “When did he start going to church so regular?” Annie had started to go with Gracie on Sundays, and she noticed that Bea always sat next to Jackson.

  “The Sunday my father invited him.” Gracie smiled after Bea came back into the room wearing her gown. She took the hairbrush from her as Bea sat down on the floor. “He’s been to every service since.”

  “I miss talking to him.” Annie admitted to Gracie as she watched her brush out Bea’s hair. She was trying to bait Gracie into talking about him to her.

  Gracie scrutinized her instead of saying one word. She stood as she handed Bea her brush. “Good night, Annie.” She followed Bea into her bedroom and tucked her into the bed before walking down the hall to her own room. Gracie was beginning to realize that Annie wasn't the only who missed talking to Jackson.

  Annie waited until after she heard Gracie shut her door, and Garrison was in his bed before she dialed Jackson’s cell phone.

  “Something wrong, Annie?” Jackson asked as he was sitting down at Kim’s house.

  “Are you at home?” Annie found that after talking to Gracie that she really wanted to talk to him.

  “I’m at Kim’s.” Jackson had been feeling a little depressed after he left her house.

  “Meet me in the court.” Annie hung up the phone and left a note, in case Gracie came out of her room and noticed that the front door was open. She peeked in to make sure Garrison was asleep and walked out into the court to meet up with Jackson.

  Jackson walked down to her. “This isn't like you, Annie.”

  “I know, but Gracie got me thinking about Jason again.” She leaned against her car as she talked. “She told me I was brave.”

  “You are, so what are you so upset for?” He was trying not to sound confused.

  “I gave her the compliment back.” Annie informed him. “All she told me was that she didn’t leave him.”

  “On the night that Bea was born, he called her mother and didn’t come back.” Jackson didn’t know where she was going with her conversation. “I thought we were talking about you.”

  “We were, but I want to know more about her. I thought I knew her story; seen it a thousand times at work, but I'm wrong.” She looked at Jackson before she asked him if he would tell her Gracie' story.

  “No, Annie,” Jackson was serious when he answered her. “If she wants you to know what happened, she's going to have to be one that tells you. It's not a pretty story, but she’s not complaining about the outcome. She’s very grateful that she has Bea.”

  Annie sighed as she looked down at the ground. “But it's probably one I have heard.”

  “Probably,” Jackson agreed with her. “How is she doing anyway?”

  “She's staying busy.” Annie glanced over at him. “How long do you plan on staying away?”

  “I don’t know.” He looked up at Kim’s house. “I'm going to go now. I have a full schedule tomorrow.”

  “You aren’t going to convince yourself that you're just a friend to her.” Annie told him before he walked off. “I hope you aren't waiting on that.”

  “Maybe it is.” Jackson started to walk away from her again. “Or maybe I'm waiting on her to figure something out for herself.”

  “You're being a jackal, Jackson.” Annie walked back into the house and walked to her room after locking the door.

  ~

  Gracie was surprised to see Addison walk into her office with Carolyn following behind her. She looked at them with a startled expression before standing up to greet Carolyn. “I’m sorry. Did we have an appointment?” Gracie shook her hand before Addison walked out of the room.

  “It’s spur of the moment.” Carolyn made herself comfortable as she looked at the young woman in front of her. “You might want to sit down, Ms. Cameron.”

  Gracie raised her eyes as she caught the use of her professional name. “My turf, Mrs. Young,” she smiled as she continued to stand where she was. “I take it that this is strictly a professional business call. Is Gaige not happy with his contract?”

  “He’s very happy. I’m here to talk about you.” Carolyn paused as Gracie stared straight at her.

  “Me?” Gracie walked over to the little refrigerator and offered Carolyn a drink. “If this is about the story, I told you yesterday. . . “

  “And before you say it again, I feel a need to mention that it was sent off to another publisher.” She watched Gracie frown at her. “Will you sit down now?”

  Gracie sat down behind her desk. “Why did you do that? I thought it was against your policy to send off unfinished manuscripts.”

  “It is.” Carolyn smiled at her. “A lot of authors do their stories in a series. Horseshoe Publishing has offered a pretty penny for it.” She took some paper out of her attaché case and pushed it towards Gracie. “Before you disagree to let them buy it, I'd look at the dollar amount they’re offering.”

  Gracie looked at the paper. “You never answered my question about why you sent it off to another publisher.”

  “I always send a manuscript to at least two publishers at a time; especially if I like it.” Carolyn noticed that Gracie was playing with the piece of paper she had handed her.

  Gracie stood and walked towards the windows before she spoke again. “I'm sorry, Carolyn. I need some time to think it over.”

  “Not too much time,” Carolyn stood and walked to the office doors. “You know publishers don’t like to play the waiting game.”

  “Well aware of it,” Gracie never looked away from the pond. “Thanks for stopping by.”

  Carolyn opened the doors, shaking her head as she passed Addison’s desk. Addison turned her attention towards Gracie’s office watching as her boss walked in and out of her view.

  Gracie stopped long enough to buzz Addison on the intercom and Addison answered before she picked up the final copy of the magazine they had completed the day before. She walked into Gracie’s office and handed it to her; asking if there was anything else she could do for her. She watched as Gracie shook her head before walking back to her desk.

  Gracie looked at the magazine absently before standing and walking out of her own office with the magazine to hand it back to Addison. She laid it on her friend’s desk before turning around. Addison looked at her strangely as she dialed the shipping office downstairs and told them to go ahead and ship it out. Gracie was definitely preoccupied with something else.

  Addison walked into Gracie’s office shutting the doors behind her. Gracie glan
ced up from her computer after Addison sat down across from her.

  “Gracie, what did Carolyn say or do?” Addison finally asked as her boss had gone back to her typing.

  Gracie reached over and grabbed the piece of paper that Carolyn had left on her desk. She handed it to Addison without saying a word.

  “I’m not getting the full picture.” Addison said as she looked at what was on the paper.

  Gracie saved the document she was working on. “It seems that the story was sent to Horseshoe Publishing.” She stood and glanced over at her friend. “They offered that much money for it.”

  “So are you reconsidering publishing it now?” Addison asked her as she put the slip of paper back on the desk.

  “Oh, the temptation,” Gracie started pacing the floor. “At least, I know you had nothing to do with this.”

  Addison nodded her head. “That is enough money. . .”

  “To send Bea to a good college with some to spare.” Gracie had been thinking about what she could do with the money. “It seems I have some thinking to do.”

  “If it were me, I would have already given them an answer.” Addison stood and looked at the clock. “Maybe having your apartment broken into was a good thing.”

  “Forever a silver lining in every cloud,” Gracie was frowning as she looked at her desk. “They want a second book.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem for you. If you wrote one, you can write another.” Addison was on her way out the door. “Time to go home.”

  “Sure, why couldn’t I write another one?” Gracie looked down as she thought to herself. “If I still believed in that stuff.”

  She was preoccupied all during Kim’s sermon and was brought out of her thoughts only when Jackson touched her lightly on the shoulder. She jumped when she realized that everybody was standing up around her.

  Jackson was staring at her as Bea smiled. “Where were you, Gracie?” He asked as Janet and Chandler watched them.

  She stood. “I’m right here. Can’t you see me?”

  “We all see you.” He was amused. “But your mind isn't with you.”

  Gracie pursed her lips as she started to walk away from them. She hadn't heard one word of Kim’s sermon as she thought about nothing but what Carolyn had talked to her about.

  Jackson caught up with her before she reached the doors. “Still giving me the cold shoulder, Cinderella?” Jackson asked when she continued to walk.

  “Did you not want separation?” Gracie stopped walking as she looked straight at him. “I really don’t feel like talking right now.” She looked around for her daughter. “Come on, Bea, it’s time to go home.”

  Bea walked up to them and hugged Jackson before walking off with her mother. Kim watched them as she stood with their parents.

  Janet looked at her oldest daughter. “I don’t guess you know what's going on.”

  “All I know is that Steven gave Jackson some advice.” Kim watched as Jackson shrugged his shoulders before leaving the church in his own car. “Looks like it might be backfiring.”

  Chandler couldn't help but laugh. “Steven gave Jackson advice about Gracie. Funny, I always thought Jackson was the one that knew her better.”

  Sammie had walked up to them as they were talking. “Oh, the drama,” she laughed before she walked off the porch of the church.

  ~

  Gracie called Carolyn the next day and told her that she would accept the offer. She could almost hear the agent smiling at the other end of the phone before she hung up. Why was she herself not happy? She stood feeling a serious need to go walking.

  Gracie glanced up at the clock and sighed. It was going to be a long day. Addison knocked on the door; smiling as she held the contract that Carolyn had just faxed over to Gracie.

  “You did it.” She laid the contract on Gracie’s desk. “You should be a little happier.”

  “But I’m not happy.” Gracie looked over the contract as she walked up to her desk. “I bet Carolyn is though, she just made a hefty sum of money.”

  “You're starting to bum me out.” Addison sat down and watched Gracie straightening her already neat desk. “Where’s the celebration?”

  “I’m sure there'll be one after I tell my family.”

  “You haven’t even mentioned the possibility of this happening to them?” Addison was shocked. “I thought you had a close family.”

  “I do. I just haven’t felt like talking lately.” Gracie started pacing the floor again. “I don’t want to sign that contract. What if I regret having it published?” She picked up the contract and glanced over it again. “I need some work, Addison. What is our next deadline?”

  “The magazine comes around again in a week, but until then we're in a slump.” Addison looked at the appointment book and frowned. “You have someone name Foster penciled in for a consultation at one.”

  “Foster?” Gracie asked as she walked over to look at the appointment book. She stood over Addison’s shoulders and peered over at the day’s schedule. “Salem Foster. Our big boss from New York. “

  “Our boss?” Addison looked down at the name.

  “I thought you had a photographic memory, Addie. Yes, our boss.” Gracie smiled at her as she thought about having something to do. “Quickly, call a staff meeting. We need to make sure everybody has their stations neat before he arrives.”

  After the cleaning was done and lunch was over, Gracie and Addison walked to the back of the building where Gracie’s office was. Gracie looked over at the older gentleman sitting in the waiting area. “Mr. Foster, we weren’t expecting you for another hour.” Gracie shook his hand after he stood.

  “The flight was early.” He looked over at Addison as she sat down at her desk. “You may sit in on this meeting.”

  “Yes, sir,” Addison quickly grabbed a tablet and pen before following them into Gracie’s office.

  “I’m slightly disappointed.” He said after he asked them both to sit at the conference table.

  “Sir?” Gracie looked up at him in concern wondering what they had done wrong.

  “I received a telephone call from Carolyn Young about a certain manuscript that one of my employees wrote.” He looked over at Gracie. “She sent me a copy and yes, I've read it.”

  Gracie was studying her hands as he talked. She looked up when she felt him staring at her. “It wasn’t supposed to leave my apartment.” She mumbled.

  “That would have been a loss.” Mr. Foster looked at her seriously. “Just tell me that you didn't sign that contract for Horseshoe Publishing that Carolyn sent over this morning.”

  Addison went over to Gracie’s desk and picked up the contract noticing that Gracie had indeed not signed it. “There was a verbal agreement, sir.” Gracie said as she watched him tear it up.

  “No, there wasn’t. Carolyn called me first, and I asked her not to call them.” He sat down and pulled his own contract out of his briefcase. “I don’t expect you to write another book, although that would be nice.” Laying the paper in front of Gracie, he added. “All I want is the ending.”

  Gracie looked down at the amount he had on the contract. “Are you sure about this, sir?” She asked glancing over at Addison. “What if it turns out to be a dud and doesn’t sell one copy?”

  “Please, call me Salem.” He smiled as he handed Gracie a pen. “It will sell and if it doesn’t, I know where to find you.”

  She looked at the contract carefully before signing it as Addison watched. Gracie handed it back to him, and he placed it in his case before looking back at her smiling. “Congratulations, Gracie.” He shook her hand. “Close up the office, we're going to celebrate.”

  Addison smiled broadly at Gracie before she went to set the phone to answer by voicemail for the rest of the day.

  Gracie was in a daze as she grabbed her cell phone to call Kim and explain to her that Mr. Foster was taking the entire office out to dinner, and she'd be late picking up Bea. She wasn't ready to explain anything else.

 
Addison walked up to Gracie after she ended to call to her sister. “Why didn’t you tell her?”

  “Because when one of us has big news, we call a family meeting so everybody hears it at one time.” Gracie tried to smile. “Where are we going?”

  “He wants to go to San Luis.” Addison walked out of the office with Gracie. “So are you still going to work here?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” They met up with the rest of their coworkers in the parking lot after Gracie locked the doors. “Let’s go celebrate.”

  “I’ll meet you over there.” Salem Foster said as they walked over to them. “I need to pick up the missus from the mall. She loves to hit every mall wherever we go.” He shook his head as he took off.

  Gracie told Addison to order her a drink as she went into the bathroom to freshen up. Her cell phone started ringing while she was drying her hands. “Hello, Jackson.”

  “Where are you?” He heard the background noise as Gracie had walked back into the dining area. “Too noisy to be your office.”

  “I closed the office. I'm at San Luis having dinner with the entire office staff.” She walked over to the table and noticed the drink sitting at her place. Gracie took the phone from her ear. “What in the world did you order me, Addie?”

  “A strawberry daiquiri,” Addison said loud enough for Jackson to hear over the phone.

  Gracie placed the phone back to her ear. “I'm going to let you go so I can murder her. Oh, wait, what was the reason you called?”

  “You don’t drink, Gracie.” Jackson smiled as he made plans to ride over to San Luis just in case it turned out that she would need a ride home. He never answered her question.

  “You’re right. I don’t drink but maybe one won’t hurt me. Talk at ya later.” Gracie sat down at the table and tasted the drink.

  “Hey, it’s your party.” Addison elbowed her. “Time to loosen up a bit.”

  “Fine.” Gracie smiled as she took another sip. “It is good.” They ordered their food, and Addison noticed that her friend was starting to relax. She had started talking with the others as she watched the waitress place another drink in front of her. Gracie glanced over at her friend who smiled innocently pointing to the end of the table.