“Did you see who just sat down with Mom and Dad?” Gracie asked as she looked over to their family.
“Well, I’ll be.” Kim smiled as she saw Steven and Paige sitting down on the pew next to Annie and Garrison. “What brought this on?”
“Don’t analyze it, be happy about it.” Gracie ran her fingers over the piano keys to get a feel for it. “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. . . “
“Funny.” Kim stood up as Gracie started playing before the sermon began. Gracie was relieved when she could step away from the piano. “That wasn’t too bad, was it Gracie?”
“You just don’t know the horrors of playing the piano.” Gracie grimaced as she remembered the countless hours that Janet had her practice. “I never understood why you didn’t have to take lessons.”
“I wasn't musically inclined.” Kim smiled as they stepped down and Steven swung Gracie around looking at her.
“For some reason, I feel like dancing.” Steven smiled as Gracie walked over towards her daughter.
“Did you come to confess your sins, dear brother?” Gracie smirked at him as Paige smiled trying not to laugh in the church.
“I did.” Steven looked over at Kim. “I think that I have a clean slate now, right?”
“Don’t mess it up.” Kim looked at him proudly when she hugged him and then Paige. “I'm glad that you both came.”
“So am I. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard Gracie play.” Paige walked away from them when she spotted Sammie. “Did you bring the music?” She whispered in her niece’s ear so nobody else would hear.
Sammie nodded. “You know next week is both mine and Gracie’s birthdays. Could we make it a dance party?”
“Wouldn’t that be something you ask your mother?” Paige looked at her sideways.
“I did, and she said to ask other people’s opinions before we set it in stone.” Sammie was smiling as she looked over at Gracie. “She has been teaching us how to dance.”
“Gracie has?” Paige had not known this. “How long has she been doing that?”
“Since I was little. She was the one that taught me how to do the Macarena for the Mother-Daughter dance before she got married.” Sammie informed her aunt. “Sometimes I keep forgetting that she’s only eleven years older than I am. I can talk to her about stuff I wouldn't dare to talk to my mother about.”
“I wouldn't brag about that too loud.” Paige looked serious as they continued to walk out of the church.
“Mom knows. She encourages it.” Sammie looked over at her family and smiled. “We’re blessed to have a family like ours.”
“That we are, Sammie.” Paige smiled. “I'll see you over at your grandmother’s house in about an hour.”
~
Steven looked over at Gracie after they had finished eating. “Where is your dance partner today?”
Gracie raised her eyes from where she was sitting next to Sammie. “My dance partner?” Gracie looked over at Kim puzzled.
“You know- Jackson?” Steven watched as Paige handed the music CD over to Janet as he talked.
“He’s on call this weekend, but you already know that.” Gracie stood and stretched. “What are you up to, Steven?”
“I guess I'll have to dance with you then.” Steven was smiling as he grabbed his sister’s hands.
“And why would I want to dance with you?” Gracie was smiling at her brother.
Steven bowed to her graciously. “Because, my dear sister, you love to dance, and your assigned partner is away.” The music started to play as he looked at her. “You’ve been practicing.” Steven was trying hard to keep up with her and was happy when the music finally ended.
Gracie was trying not to laugh at him. “Like you said, I love to dance. I hope Jackson isn’t as out of practice as you are.”
Steven had stepped over to the table to grab them some water as they talked. “Have you ever wondered why our instructor assigned you to Jackson?” He handed her a bottle of water before grabbing a napkin to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
“Not until now,” Gracie started to open her bottle as Kim walked up to them. “Why was I assigned to Jackson?”
“Because none of the boys in your age group could keep up with you.” Kim smiled as the rest of the family had assembled around them. “It looks like Steven was having a hard time keeping up.”
“Could that be because somebody started teaching her almost as soon as she could walk?” Steven pointed a finger at Kim. “I don’t think Jackson has a chance of keeping up.”
Gracie smiled mischievously as she studied her brother. “How about another dance, Steven? I really don't think that you're tired enough.”
“Depends on the dance.” Steven looked over at his sister. “Did you not even break a sweat?”
Gracie just shook her head. “Let’s do the Macarena. The girls look a little restless.”
“I think that I'll pass.” He smiled as Gracie walked out to the cement pad with Paige, Kim, Sammie, Bea, Annie, and Janet.
Chandler sat down next to Steven after he started the music for the girls. “Gracie is a good teacher.” Her father spoke proudly. “Look at Bea go.”
Steven was smiling. “I wish that Jackson was here. Gracie could probably dance us both into the ground.”
“You guys should get back into shape. They’re still having those charity dances.” Chandler pulled a flyer off the top of the trashcan and handed it to his son. “There's one two months from now.”
Steven looked at the paper and then watched the dancing. “I have a feeling that I'm the only one out of shape.”
“Don’t forget who you just danced with.” Chandler smiled as Gracie had talked Garrison into dancing with them. “Your baby sister never slowed down, even in her sleep.”
“Maybe it seemed like that because you were an old man when she was born.” Steven teased his father.
“Just wait, smarty pants. When are you going to be able to get that child you were approved for?” Chandler looked at his only son.
“Six months from now.” Steven looked over at Paige as he talked to his father. “We’re both excited.”
“I'm happy for you.” Chandler stared at Gracie and Steven was watching him.
“What’s going on, Pop?” Steven noticed the look on his father’s face.
“I found out that your mother and sister were keeping secrets from me.” Chandler stood up. “I'm not really supposed to talk about it.”
“Then don’t.” Steven studied him worriedly. “After the trial we're all going to know more than Gracie ever wanted us to, but for one day it would be nice if we didn’t bring it up around her.”
Chandler smiled as he turned back to Steven. “I think I can do that. I'll be glad when all of this is over.”
Steven chuckled as he saw the dance start to come to an end. “I'm sure that you aren't the only one.”
Gracie walked over to the table smiling. “Are you ready, Steven?”
“For what?” Steven asked as looked over at Paige walking towards them.
“Another dance,” Gracie was teasing him as she picked up her water bottle and winked at her father.
“Not with you,” Steven grimaced. “You're going to give me a heart attack.”
“Poor, poor Steven,” Gracie kissed him on the cheek and sat down beside her mother.
Steven looked over at his father again. “How did you ever slow her down?”
“Your mother and those piano lessons,” Chandler smiled as he remembered all the arguments because Gracie hated playing the piano. “She learned because she wanted to make your mother happy.”
“Gracie wants to make everybody happy.” Steven sighed, “Except herself.”
“She’s getting there.” Chandler stood and looked over his family as he smiled. “Maybe we are all fixing to move forward.”
“Too bad she has to revisit her past first.” Steven watched as his mother came up behind him and gave him a disapproving look.
�
��We aren't going there today, Steven.” Janet swatted him with her empty water bottle. “Your sister is more relaxed today than she's been in a couple of years.” She smiled at him. “And it’s entirely your fault.”
“Huh?” Steven looked down into his mother’s eyes.
“Thank you for asking her to dance. We should have thought about that a lot sooner.” Janet looked over at Chandler. “This is the way it used to be.”
Chapter 18
Gracie sat down in her office chair and smiled as she started her computer. She had decided to go in early just in case Mr. Foster had left a mess on her desk. She opened her desk drawer to grab a pen and took out another check addressed to her instead. She opened the envelope that was paper- clipped to it and pulled out the letter. She was reading it as Addison walked into the office and stood there looking at her.
“Looking good, Gracie, vacation suited you.” Addison said after Gracie had finished reading the letter and laid it down on her desk. “I love the hair cut.”
Gracie smiled as she put a hand to the back of her neck. “I'm still getting used to it.”
“What does Jackson think?” Addison sat down in the chair across from her.
“He hasn’t exactly seen it yet.” Gracie folded the letter and placed it in her desk. “So fill me in on what I need to know.”
Addison told her about the last week and filled her in on that day’s schedule. “Still wish you were on vacation?”
“Honestly, no, I ran out of things to do.” Gracie smiled as she stood and walked to her favorite window. “Uum, Addison, what happened to the duck pond?”
“Mr. Foster is having it enlarged.” Addison smiled as she stood up. “He noticed that it was your favorite thing to look at.”
They both turned around to the door as they heard a knock and Gracie smiled at their newest coworker. “Simone, how may I help you this morning?”
“I have a manuscript that might interest you.” She looked nervously at Addison before Gracie motioned for her to come in.
“I think we've covered everything, Addison.” Gracie watched as Addison left and sat down at her desk smiling at Simone. “Have a seat and tell me about the manuscript.” Gracie listened patiently to Simone and had her stop. “Are you nervous?”
“Sort of,” Simone held her report in her hands as Gracie stood up.
Gracie walked over to the side of the desk; sitting at the edge as she looked over at Simone. “Don’t be. That writer is depending on you to help sell his or her work.” She stood and walked to the window before turning around towards her. “What I look for is emotion when I'm told about a story. What I'm hearing is someone reciting a book report in front of an English class that likes to shoot spit balls.” She turned to Simone, who was smiling at the image. “Would you like to start over?”
“Yes, m'am.” Simone started talking about the story, and Gracie smiled.
“And why would I want to read the story, Simone?” Gracie asked as she sat down beside her.
“It's a comedy. It' a drama. It' a tear jerker, and you won’t be able to lay it down before the ending.” Simone looked over at Gracie, who was writing down what Simone had said.
“That was good,” Gracie put her pen down. “You may leave your manuscript and give yourself a pat on the back.”
Simone stood and walked to the doors of the office. “Thank you, Ms. Cameron.”
“It's Gracie. We do the first-name basis here.” Gracie looked over at Addison as she heard the intercom. “Yes, Addison.”
“A Detective LaVern and Ms. Roberts are here to see you.” Addison looked at them puzzled as she talked to Gracie. “And your nine thirty appointment is also here.” She watched through the window as Gracie sat back in her chair and looked at the clock.
Gracie looked down at the copy of her appointments before pointing to the handset and waited for Addison to pick it up. “The nine thirty appointment won’t take but a few minutes, so send him in first, then I’ll talk to the Detective and Annie.”
“Yes, m’am.” Addison motioned for the young man sitting by himself to go into Gracie’s office before looking over at Christian, who was shooting daggers her way. “Don’t look at me like that, Christian. I’ll sick Dylan on you.”
“Sorry,” Christian looked over towards Annie and shrugged as she watched with amusement.
“Who is Dylan?” Annie asked as Addison kept an eye on them.
“Dylan is her husband. He's also a friend of mine and Jackson’s.” Christian answered as he started to pace the floor. “He used to pal around with Steven a long time ago.”
“Such a small, small world we live in.” Annie was smiling when Christian finally sat down.
He looked over at Addison. “How are your parents, Addison?”
“They're fine.” She answered him through narrowed eyes. “Why did you come in as Detective LaVern?”
“Because I'm working on this case.” Christian answered looking directly at her.
“Tough break,” Addison frowned at him and turned her attention to Annie. “You have a very well-mannered little boy.”
“Thank you. I try.” Annie smiled back at her. “He talked about coming in here with Gracie last week.”
Addison watched as the young man walked out of Gracie’s office smiling. “So when do you start?”
“Next week, m’am.” He hummed while he walked out of the main office doors.
Addison looked over at Christian. “Do not go in there and upset her. I'm very serious about that.”
“I’ll try not to, but I can't guarantee the outcome.” Christian walked towards Gracie’s office as Annie followed him.
Gracie stood and looked at them waving to the seats in front of her desk. “I don't guess you could've waited until the end of the day to make this visit.”
Annie looked sideways at Christian as Gracie talked. She had asked him the same question on their way there.
“I talked to your parents on Saturday right after I talked to you.” Christian informed her as he watched Gracie turn to look out the window.
“And why did you feel the need to involve my parents, Detective?” She turned to him. “Are they ‘involved’, too?”
Christian felt himself squirming and couldn't figure out why. “No, but they filled in some of the holes, and they have a great video.”
Gracie sat down behind her desk and looked at him straight in the eyes. “Who else are you going to drag into this before you get your man?”
“Nobody, I think. We have Mark on three counts of kidnapping, and the charges are adding up on Judge Maddox.” Christian noticed that Annie had looked up from writing on a memo pad. “Mark kidnapped you twice and Bea once.”
“He kidnapped me? I willingly got into his car twice.” Gracie informed him glancing at the manuscript that was lying on her desk and back at him.
“He blackmailed you the night of your dance and then held you at knifepoint at your waist.” He watched the expression on Gracie’s face. “That’s on the video. You just have to look for it.”
Gracie pursed her lips as she glanced at Annie, who hadn't said a word and back at Christian. “And the second time?”
“When he found you at your parents’ house, your neighbors testified that you had been dragged out of the house screaming and fighting.” He saw the tears start to form in Gracie’s eyes. “I'm assuming that is when he threatened you with Sammie again to quiet you down.”
Gracie nodded her head before leaving them to walk to the window frowning at the torn apart duck pond. “Is there anything else?”
“Your mother has been keeping in contact with Mark’s parents.” Christian noticed that Gracie didn't look surprised. “You knew this?”
“They are Bea’s grandparents.” Gracie answered.
“Only biologically speaking,” He blurted out causing her to look at him sharply. “Officially you were never married.”
“This is just getting better.” Gracie said in bewilderment. “I was there. I s
aid ‘I do’.”
“You were seventeen.” Christian looked over at Annie, who had stopped writing to listen. “We need to add another charge; statutory rape.” He paused as Annie wrote that down. “Your parents never signed their permission. You were married by Judge Maddox, and these signatures are forgeries.”
Gracie sat down stunned as she looked from Annie to Christian. Christian handed her the certificate from his file, and she looked over the signatures. She smiled as she glanced back up at Christian. “They misspelled Chandler and Mom always uses the first initial of her maiden when she signs anything.” She handed it back to him and looked at the clock as Addison buzzed the intercom again. “I'm guessing that my ten o' clock appointment is here. Is there anything else?”
“No, I think that we've pretty much ruined your day.” Annie finally spoke as she tried to digest everything that Christian had just told Gracie.
“Well, I wish I could say that this visit was a pleasure.” She stood and shook Christian’s hand. “But we all know that it wasn’t.” She looked over at Annie and noticed the sparks shooting. Gracie smiled as she walked over to her. “Calm down.” She whispered as they both watched Christian walk out of the office.
“Not this time, Gracie,” Annie was glaring at Christian’s back. “His highness brought me in here, and I heard everything at the same time you did. Why are you so calm?”
“Who said I am?” Gracie walked back to her desk and buzzed Addison to let her know that she was ready for her appointment. She looked up as she added. “I'm just too busy to let everything sink in right now.”
Annie walked out of the office still glaring as she looked at Christian. “Do not ever do that to me again.”
“Do what, Ms. Roberts?” Christian looked at her from where he stood beside Addison’s desk.
“I went in there totally blind.” Annie had never stopped glaring at him as Addison quickly escorted Gracie’s appointment into her office and shut the doors causing Gracie to look up.
Gracie had the young woman sit down and excused herself as she walked out towards Annie and Christian, who were still glaring at each other.
Finding Gracie's Rainbow Page 26