“She didn’t tell you her plan?” Gracie asked as she felt gratitude to the woman that had protected Bea from Mark.
“Not until after,” Bea stopped talking as she was about to tell the part that she had dreamed about.
“Bea, you can talk about this later if you want.” Gracie noticed the tears that were starting to form in her daughter’s eyes.
“No. I need to finish.” Bea wiped her eyes on her gown sleeve. “He came back really mad, and I heard him open the bedroom door where I was at. I never knew that you could see hate.” She wished her mother would start to brush her hair again, and Gracie saw that she was looking at the brush. Gracie started to brush again, and Bea continued. “Susan stepped in front of me. He beat her up bad, but she didn’t let him touch me.”
“She was the silver lining.” Gracie mumbled as she absently stopped brushing.
“She knew that he was going to leave again, and after he had gone, she called somebody named Carolyn to give you a message. She didn’t know your number, and if she didn’t hear from you by the afternoon, she was going to walk out of the apartment and set some kind of alarm off.”
“She was on house arrest.” Annie spoke up after listening to Bea. “If she had stepped out, she would’ve sent an alarm out to the police, and she would've been arrested.” Annie smiled as Garrison glanced at her because his father had been on house arrest. “That would've been a big sacrifice.”
Bea glanced back at her mother. “He came back angrier than before, but Susan asked him to go to the store for her to get him back out of the apartment in case you called. That was when she had given up on you calling back and was about to step out the door.”
“And then the detectives were standing there ready to take you from the place.” Gracie smiled as she remembered Jackson’s friend, Christian, carrying Bea out with a blanket covering her in case Mark made an appearance. “Jackson was really grateful to Christian.”
“Christian?” Annie asked as she smiled.
“You know him?” Gracie looked up in amusement at the look on her roommate’s face.
“Maybe, I’ve seen him around the office and at Jackson’s place.” Annie motioned for Garrison to follow her out of the room. “Tall, very good looking, and he seems to get along with kids.”
Gracie made a mental note of what Annie had said before turning to look back at Bea. “Would you like to sleep with me for the rest of the night?”
Bea picked up her teddy bear and slid out of the bed not having to give an answer to her mother before they walked down the hall to Gracie’s bedroom. Gracie hugged her tightly after they had settled down in the bed as she thought about the last couple of days.
She had forgotten not to set her alarm clock and was up at her usual time. Gracie didn’t feel a need to go back to sleep, and she glanced down to look at Bea still sleeping. Smiling, she walked into the kitchen where she saw Annie sitting down at the table with Garrison. “Why is Garrison up so early?”
“I have to take him to Kim’s.” Annie watched as Gracie walked over to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup.
“He can stay here. I was ordered to take a vacation until Monday.” Gracie couldn't keep the smile off her face as she sat down at the table with them. “We can give Kim a break for a couple of days.” She watched as Garrison rewarded her with a smile.
“I’m taking it that you like that idea.” Annie watched her son with interest as he jumped up from the table.
“I love that idea.” The little boy ran to Bea’s room; frowning when he didn't see her. “I thought Bea was home.” He started to panic as he started to think that he had been dreaming.
“She's in my room.” Gracie laughed at him before turning back to Annie. “So what is the deal with this Christian?”
“Are you interested?” Annie frowned as she thought about her cousin.
“No.” Gracie hadn't told her about what she had told Jackson. “But I might know somebody who is.”
“Good luck with that,” Annie stood as she glanced at Gracie. “He's married to his job.” She walked over to kitchen sink after she had picked up the dishes from the table.
“You think?” Gracie was still watching as she planned on talking to Jackson about what she had already figured out. “I told Jackson that I didn’t want to be friends again yesterday.”
“Tell me you didn’t, Gracie. How much more torture can you put him through?” Annie turned to her angrily as she caught the smile on Gracie’s face.
“You're going to be late.” Gracie looked at the clock after she turned around from Annie trying not to laugh because she was so happy.
“Changing the subject. I want to know what happened.” Annie glanced over at her before grabbing her keys.
“We’re going to give us a chance.” That was all Gracie said as she stood up to refill her cup.
“So you've finally seen the light.” Annie smiled at her before she walked to the door. “It was past due.”
“I think I have.” She walked over to the couch and turned on the news after Annie left. She watched the arrest of Mark on the television, and she also saw Susan being carried out on a stretcher. She could feel nothing but gratitude for Mark’s wife and wished there was some way that she could thank her.
Gracie listened to Garrison and Bea playing outside with the puppies before she went to check her email. Mr. Foster said for her to take a vacation, but he didn't say anything about not working from home. She smiled as she finished up on the computer and walked out to the backyard where the children were playing on the swing set.
She heard Kim talking to her from the front of the fence and yelled that they were there and to come on around. Sammie walked in with her.
“It was too quiet at my house.” Kim sat down next to her. “I'm so glad that she's home.”
“So am I.” Gracie smiled at her. “So much can happen in a week.”
“Tell me about it.” Kim watched as Sammie started to tease Garrison. “Jackson stopped by the house last night after he left here.”
“I didn’t torment him last night.” Gracie said as she glanced over at her sister’s face. “I heard everything that you guys had been talking about the night that I finished my story.”
“You did?” Kim was startled to hear her say that. “But you were in your bedroom.”
Gracie shook her head. “I was in the hall.”
“Can we say ‘oops’?” Kim was smiling as her sister admitted to what she had overheard.
“No, we may not. I needed to hear it.” Gracie looked over at her thoughtfully. “He never left my side the whole time Bea was gone except for to go to work.”
“So. . .” Kim already knew because Jackson had told her what had happened before he went back to his apartment.
“I would tell you but you already know.” Gracie laughed at the expression that was on her sister’s face. “I have a sister who loves to keep secrets.”
“No, I don’t. I was sworn to confidentiality.” Kim stood as Gracie’s cell phone rang. “I thought you were on vacation.”
“I am; I haven't bought a phone to plug up into the land line yet.” Gracie smiled as she saw Jackson’s name appear on the screen of the phone. “I’m sure that Jackson is happy that I have it on.” She answered the phone and walked into the house as she talked to him.
Kim watched as she walked back into the yard. “I'm glad to see you so happy.”
“I guess I got tired of fighting myself.” Gracie turned thoughtful as she glanced at Bea. “It might not work out.”
“Always the pessimist,” Kim said angrily. “If you're going to give it a chance, then you need to give yourself a chance. Stop being afraid.”
“I just don’t want to see Bea get hurt if it doesn’t.” Gracie stretched before she sat back down.
“And it doesn’t always have to be about Bea.” Kim looked knowingly at her. “Bea is going to grow up, maybe go to college, and hopefully get married. And if you don’t give yourself a chance f
or happiness, you're to be watching all of that by yourself.” Kim calmed herself down as she stared off at the children. “He's been in love with you at least eight years, if it doesn’t work out it is because you didn’t try. How do you feel about him?”
Gracie thought about what Kim had said. “Eight years?”
“It started out with him just being a friend.” Kim answered as she stood and glanced at her watch. “We’d better feed them.”
Gracie followed Kim into the house and watched as her sister went through her pantry to find something to fix. Kim looked over at her sister strangely, “No macaroni and cheese?”
“Absolutely not,” Gracie had refused to buy any more of pasta to keep as a staple in her supplies. “You aren’t going to tell me anymore about Jackson, are you?”
“I'm afraid the rest you're going to have to find out from Jackson. I've already said too much.” Kim looked at her with amusement. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
“I think Annie has a crush on one of his friends.” Gracie smiled as she changed the subject.
“Why do you do that?” Kim reproached her, “Stop changing the subject.”
“I don’t like to talk about my feelings.” Gracie was getting ill with her. “My feelings are my feelings.”
“Wow.” Sammie had walked into the room and caught the last bit of the conversation between her mother and aunt. “How do you get away with that?”
“With what?” Gracie asked glancing over at her niece.
“Mom isn’t going to rest until she finds out what you’re thinking or feeling.” Sammie grabbed a bag of chips. “I'm never allowed to keep my feelings to myself.”
“There's a reason, Sammie. Kim is just my sister, not my mother.” Gracie smiled at Sammie as she stuffed a handful of chips in her mouth.
“And she always finds her answer.” Kim retorted to Gracie after Bea walked in with Garrison. “I’ll wait.”
“Do that. You might have gray hairs before I tell you.” Gracie was laughing at her as they sat down at the table.
“I already know. I just want to hear it come out of your mouth.” Kim smiled innocently at her.
“You don’t know what I'm feeling.” Gracie sat the bowls on the table. “And you can’t tell me that you do.”
“If that is what you think, I’ll let it pass.” Kim glanced over towards Bea. “How do you feel about Jackson?”
“I love him.” Bea looked at her aunt puzzled as she answered.
“Do you see how easy that was?” Kim turned to her sister before asking Bea another question. “How does your mom feel about Jackson?”
Bea looked over at her mother still puzzled as Kim asked her that question. “She hasn’t said anything about that.”
“But how do you think she feels about Jackson?” Kim heard Sammie start to laugh. “Hush, Sammie.”
Bea smiled. “I think that she loves him, too.”
Gracie sat down at the table and stared at her daughter without saying a word as she picked up her spoon. She glanced over at Sammie, who was smiling at her.
“Want to know what I think?” Sammie was dying to be included in the conversation.
“Not really,” Gracie answered as Kim twitched her lips with laughter. “But I have a feeling that I’m going to find out anyway.”
“I think that you love him as much as he loves you, but you're hiding behind Bea.” Sammie had looked over at Gracie while she spoke.
“What kind of books have you been reading?” Gracie turned to her. “Or have you been listening in to your mom’s conversations with Jackson?”
Kim was wondering the same thing as she studied her daughter through narrowed eyes. “We're waiting, Samantha Janet.” The tone she had used was reserved when she wanted her daughter to give her an honest answer.
“A little Danielle Steele, some Nora Roberts, and no, I haven't been listening to their conversations.” Sammie looked over at her mother trying to conceal a smile, “At least not intentionally.”
“You're letting her read Nora Roberts? Isn’t that a little above her age?” Gracie looked over at her sister.
“There’s nothing wrong with that and she’s almost seventeen.” Kim answered Gracie’s questions. “I read her books, and so do you. Besides she could learn a lot worse at school.”
“If you say so,” Gracie glanced back over at Samantha. “And I’m not hiding behind Bea.”
“If you say so,” Sammie mimicked her aunt. “But I want to be one of your bridesmaids when you get married.”
Gracie stood and grabbed her bowl before she walked angrily outside.
Kim looked at her daughter hard. “You have to learn when you’ve said enough, Sammie, and that is what you just did. Clean up lunch while I go talk to her.”
Bea and Garrison were watching and listening as Kim walked outside to talk to Gracie. “Grown ups!” Garrison laughed after they walked away from them. Sammie glanced sideways at him as she picked up their bowls.
Chapter 14
Jackson looked at Gracie puzzled as she was humming while sprawled out on the couch staring blankly at the ceiling. She glanced towards him when he cleared his throat.
“What’s the matter with you?” He walked over to the couch and looked down at her.
“Boredom.” Gracie had already cleaned the house, and Bea was outside playing with Garrison. It had been quiet ever since her sister and Sammie had left. “Too much time to think.”
“That would be a problem for you.” He laughed as she sat up. “Where is Bea?”
“In the backyard,” Gracie watched as he sat down next to her. “Kim came over today.”
He looked at her as she picked up a Pepsi that was on the table, “And?”
“You stopped by her house last night.” Gracie said as she started to smile. “You forgot to tell her that you were talking to the Reverend and not my sister.”
“I wasn’t talking to the Reverend. I was talking to your sister.” Jackson knew that Kim wouldn't be able to resist visiting with Gracie today.
“Oh, that so does not put a different light on the subject.” Gracie narrowed her eyes as she talked to him. “You opened up a can of worms because she started asking questions and now Sammie is asking to be a bridesmaid.”
“Really?” Jackson tilted his head and laughed as he imagined the way in which Gracie handled the conversation. “I never even thought about marriage, but it doesn't sound like a bad idea.”
“Don’t rush me.” Gracie told him seriously as she saw him starting to think about it. She stood and walked into the kitchen.
“And what do you have against marriage?” Jackson asked as he had stood and walked towards her.
“Let me get used to ‘us’ before you start on holy matrimony.” Gracie looked at him wanting to be angry but failing desperately. “I’ve been there and done that. I can’t say that I honestly want to do it again.”
Jackson frowned at her as she started to take pots out of the cabinet. “I ain't Mark.”
“Does that really matter?” She turned towards him, cocking her head to the side while studying his face. “I’m sorry. Like I said I've had too much time to think.”
“That’s a bad habit for you.” He smiled as she tied an apron over her clothes. “Has Bea talked about what she went through?”
“At two thirty this morning,” Gracie answered as she studied him. “I wish there was a way to thank Susan for what she did for Bea while she was there. I’ll tell you about it after she goes to bed tonight.” She turned back around to start supper. “There is something else I want to mention before your cousin comes home though.”
“Annie? What about?” Jackson took the lettuce that Gracie had handed over to him.
“I think she has a crush on one of your friends.” Gracie smiled as she remembered the expression that had been on Annie’s face when she mentioned Christian’s name.
“Which one?” Jackson was curious as Gracie walked over to the refrigerator to pull out the po
rk chops.
“Christian.” Gracie watched as Jackson smiled. “She wanted to know if I was interested in him when I started to ask questions this morning.”
“She did?” Jackson started shredding the lettuce like Gracie liked it. “She never asked me questions about him.”
“That’s because she thinks he's married to his work.” Gracie informed him while she sprinkled some of the Emeril’s Essence on the chops. She washed her hands before she turned to face Jackson with a smile on her face. “If you could've seen the look on her face when I mentioned his name, you'd be thinking the same thing I am.” Gracie looked down at his cutting board. “You’re murdering that poor cucumber.”
“Sorry,” Jackson stopped chopping as Gracie walked towards him to take over. He took her in his arms before she picked up the knife, and Gracie looked up at him staring into his eyes noticing the green flakes were dancing before he bent down to kiss her. He stopped and looked at her. “Are you going to tell me to stop?” He watched when she shook her head while he encircled her waist with his arms.
That was how Annie saw them when she walked into the house. “Keep it rated G, you guys.” She watched as the kids came running into the house, and Gracie quickly stepped back from Jackson. Annie was smiling as Gracie turned to her.
“Annie. I didn’t hear you come in.” Gracie bit her lip and picked up the knife to finish chopping the cucumber.
Annie watched them in amusement as Jackson started to laugh at Gracie for blushing. “I didn’t want to disrupt that kiss.” She laid her briefcase down and hugged Garrison before walking into her bedroom to change clothes. She was happy for them.
She walked back into the living room and watched as Jackson played with the children. He looked over towards her when he heard her sigh. “What’s up, Annie?”
“I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep much after Bea woke us this morning.” Annie looked over to notice Bea glance at her. “I think that I'm going to bed early tonight.”
Finding Gracie's Rainbow Page 20