Finding Gracie's Rainbow

by Deborah A. Price

  “This isn't the place, and you should both be ashamed of yourselves. Christian, what exactly is the problem?” Gracie got his attention when she used his first name.

  “I don’t have a problem.” He looked over at Annie. “She’s the one that started it.”

  Gracie started laughing then. “How old are you?” She paused as she looked at them. “I'm sorry, but at least take this out to the parking lot. You’re disturbing everyone who is supposed to be working here.” She waved her hand around the office where everybody had stopped to watch them before she took Annie aside. “Why are you so upset?”

  “I told you.” She was watching as Christian walked out the main doors. “He is so full of himself.”

  Addison laughed when she heard Annie talking to Gracie. “And she is so telling the truth.”

  “I take it that you know him, too.” Gracie looked at her friend.

  “A friend of Dylan’s,” Addison looked back down at the work she was doing.

  “Calm down and go back to work, Annie.” Gracie squeezed her hand. “I can't wait for all of this to be over.” She turned and walked back into her office shutting the door behind her before she apologized to the woman sitting in front of her.

  Gracie smiled as she watched Annie leave the building after Christian. Maybe she wasn't that far off the mark after all when it came to the two of them.

  Addison walked into her office at lunchtime when Gracie finally had enough time to think about what Christian had told her earlier. She turned one of the monitors over to the news after she had Addison bring their lunches into the office. They watched the news while they were talking about the charges that had been brought against Judge Maddox, and Addison was watching her friend.

  Gracie turned towards her after they watched Christian bring the Judge out of the Court House. “I was never officially married.” Gracie told her about the bogus certificate with the forged signatures on it.

  “And I'm going to assume that Judge Maddox had something to do with that.” Addison was trying to put the puzzle together.

  “It seems that the good judge had a lot to do with a lot of things that have happened.” Gracie informed her. “Two more weeks left of my life being turned upside down.”

  “Have you told anybody else about what they've discovered?” Addison asked.

  “I choose what I tell. You don’t know but a quarter of it.” Gracie turned off the news. “Everybody is going to know far more than I ever wanted them to know after this if over.”

  ~

  Gracie looked up from the game she was playing with Bea and Garrison as Annie stormed into the house. “Still angry, Annie?”

  “How can one person get on my nerves so much?” Annie put down her briefcase and tried to calm down as she looked at her son. “Where is your boyfriend?” She asked Gracie as she walked into the kitchen to grab a soda.

  “My boyfriend?” Gracie stood and walked over to her. “You know that Jackson is at the hospital.” She narrowed her eyes as she studied Annie. “You probably shouldn't vent to him about his own friend anyway.”

  “Ya think?” Annie started to calm down. “I'm sorry about this morning, but I think that Christian wanted to take the judge into custody today.”

  “I figured that out.” Gracie sat back down at the game after Bea called her to take her turn. “I find that getting beat at a child’s game can be very calming. Why are you so late anyway?”

  “Guess.” Annie started to fix herself a sandwich. “I've never met anyone so annoying.”

  Gracie stood after Garrison finally won. “Go feed your puppies.” She watched as Bea left with Garrison and sat down at the kitchen table with Annie. “Maybe it's because you're working with him.” She caught herself smiling. “I remember you said he was tall, good looking, and great with children.”

  “I also said he was married to his job. What’s your point?” Annie put down the sandwich and stared at her.

  “I wasn’t aware that I had to have a point.” She pushed away from the table. “I think that after this is all over, you should spend some time with him and compare your notes. A before and after kind of thing.”

  “You're so funny. Ha, ha.” Annie watched the back door. “Why are you not upset? You just found out that you were never married.”

  “It doesn’t change what I went through, does it? We're talking about a piece of paper.” Gracie started to frown. “I can't live in the past anymore. Life is now, and that is what I'm going to concentrate on.” She waved her hands around the house.

  “Jackson plans on being there when this comes to court.” Annie mentioned under her breathe as she watched Gracie’s face.

  “I don’t want him there.” Gracie was serious as she sat down on the couch.

  “Why don’t you want his support?” Annie was curious.

  “I don't want him to hear what is going to be said. What if he decides that I'm not worth it?” Gracie was looking at her hands.

  “Jackson has always been around for you, Gracie. If he was going to think that he would've been gone a long time ago.” Annie was starting to relax. “He has known you since you were what- Three years old?”

  “Something like that,” Gracie smirked. “But I've never told anybody anything until you forced me to.”

  “You might want to talk to Bea about her grandparents from Pennsylvania.” Annie stood up. “That’s why Christian came over to my office at five o' clock.”

  “Why do I need to talk to her about the Camerons?” Gracie was puzzled.

  “They're coming in next week for the trial. They're going to be witnesses for you.” She paused. “And Mark’s sister is bringing your journal.”

  “I'm not decoding that.” Gracie stood up agitated as she started pacing the floor.

  “Then Christian intends on letting your mother do it.” Annie looked over as Gracie stopped walking. “You were the one that told him that your mother knew your code.”

  Gracie sat down and closed her eyes. “There’s no need to do that. I'll decode it for him.”

  “Why do you want to put yourself through that?” Annie asked her seriously.

  “Why would I want to put my mother through that?” Gracie fired back at her as she stood and turned off her phone. “I'm going to bed. Tell Bea to come on when she's ready.”

  “Has she slept with you every night?” Annie asked as she watched Gracie nod her head while she continued to walk away.

  ~

  Annie walked into the building and marched right into her director’s office, throwing the file down on his desk. “Ms. Roberts?” He looked up at her puzzled.

  “I can't work on this case anymore.” She looked directly into his eyes still feeling her anger from the day before.

  “And this is because?” Mr. Greene picked the file up.

  “I live in the same house with the people involved.” Annie didn't sit down as talked to him.

  “I know that.” He studied her. “That isn't the only reason though- Is it?”

  “I don't like working with Detective LaVern.” Annie answered him as she finally sat down.

  “I hate to hear that. He requested my best, and that is who I gave him.” Mr. Green stood handing her the file back. “You can either work with him on this case, or you can clean out your desk. I really don’t care if you are my best worker.”

  Annie looked down at the file that he handed her and then back at him, “Yes, sir.” She stood and walked out of the office as her phone rang. She snapped into it after she saw who was calling. “Detective.”

  “Ouch.” Christian looked at the phone as he took it away from his ear. He lifted it back up and said. “Good morning, Ms. Roberts.”

  “Just get to your point. I have things that I need to do.” Annie sat down at her desk.

  “The first thing you need to do is to meet with me. I found out you who signed the wedding certificate.”

  “You do realize that I'm just a social worker.” Annie was wondering why he kept involving
her.

  “I keep forgetting that but thanks for the reminder.” Christian frowned as he looked across his office to look at the skyscraper across from him. “Then meet me for lunch, so I can apologize for yesterday.”

  “Just apologize, Detective. I'm very busy.” Annie looked over towards the director’s office and noticed that she was being watched. “Before I get fired, please.”

  “Fired?” Christian was puzzled. “I’m sorry, and I would definitely like to make it up to you.”

  “Do you? Gracie doesn't want her mother to decode her journal; she's volunteered to put herself through more torture for you.” Annie started to calm down. “And there’s one more thing.”

  “That being?” Christian looked over his notes as they talked.

  “She doesn't want Jackson there.” Annie didn't agree with Gracie on that point.

  “I have nothing to do with that.” Christian started to frown. “Gracie is going to have to deal with that issue herself.”

  “Agreed,” Annie stood and walked over to her file cabinet. “You don’t plan on ruining her day again- do you?”

  “No, I get the pleasure of interrogating the judge.” Christian grinned. “Looking forward to that. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Annie hung up as her director walked over to her. “Is he not taking you away from your job today?”

  “No sir,” Annie looked at the pile of folders next to her.

  “I'm glad to hear that. See how much you can catch up before he takes you away again.” Mr. Green smiled as he walked away from her to his own office.

  Annie found herself driving over to Gracie’s office at lunchtime and was standing at Addison’s desk before she realized it.

  “Annie? Earth calling Annie.” Addison looked up at her after she called her name for the third time. She smiled as Annie turned towards her. “Go on in Gracie’s office. I'm bringing in lunch.”

  Annie nodded as she walked into the office and Gracie looked up at her amused. “This is a first, Annie. Why do you look so lost?”

  “I'm not having a good day.” Annie sat down as Gracie put aside the manuscript she had still not finished.

  Gracie just looked at her. “Why not?” She listened as Annie told her the beginning of her story.

  “And the day is only half over.” Annie moaned when Addison brought in the lunch trays.

  Gracie smiled as she looked over at Addison. “Christian called to apologize to her.” She heard Addison laugh. “What is so funny about that?”

  “Christian never calls to apologize to anybody. It’s not his style.” Addison sat down and studied Annie. “You must have gotten under his skin."

  “Sure, I did. I tried to get out of working with him on this case.” Annie opened her water.

  “And?” Gracie urged her to go on.

  “I was told I can either work with him or clean out my desk.” She picked up her sandwich. “I wonder if he has something on my director.”

  “I doubt it.” Addison looked over at Gracie, who was smiling as she answered Annie’s question.

  “Feel better now?” Gracie asked after Addison had picked up the trays and walked out of the office.

  “I’m sorry, Gracie.” Annie looked at her guiltily. “I didn't mean to dump on you like that but Jackson's been busy.”

  “I know.” Gracie had thought about Jackson before she fell asleep. “He is off of call duty tomorrow night so maybe we'll see him on Thursday.”

  “I do feel better. Thanks for listening.” Annie stood.

  “What are friends for?” Gracie walked her to the door.

  “Do you mean that?” Annie looked over at her.

  “We had better be friends. We share the same house.” Gracie smiled at her.

  “Yeah, we could even be related one day.” Annie watched as the smile disappeared from Gracie’s face. “I've got to learn when I have had said enough.”

  “It is alright, Annie. Go back to work.” Gracie walked back into her office as Addison strolled in with a smile on her face.

  “Christian likes her.” Addison said as she sat down across from Gracie.

  “My thoughts exactly, and I think she likes him, too.” Gracie frowned.

  “But she has said something to upset you.” Addison was studying her.

  “Everything is fine, Addie.” She picked up the next page from the manuscript, and Addison left to go to her own desk.

  ~

  “I heard that we're going to have company next week.” Gracie hugged her mother before they entered the church.

  “Word does get around. How do you feel about the Camerons coming down to testify?” Janet was studying Gracie after Chandler took Bea into the church.

  “I'm trying not to feel anything. I wasn't aware that the case had turned into my direction.” Gracie sat down on a step as Steven and Paige walked up. She raised her eyes before Janet motioned for them to go on in. “Detective LaVern asked you to decode my journal.” Janet nodded as Gracie spoke. “You don’t have to. I'll do it.”

  “I can do it though.” Janet looked at her daughter.

  “No, I'm not going to put you through that.” Gracie stood and hugged her again.

  “Where’s Jackson?” Janet walked into the church hugging her waist.

  “Still on call,” Gracie answered as Kim stole her away. “What now, Kim?”

  “Piano.” Kim sat down next to her. “Don’t worry. Peggy will be back on Sunday.”

  “Seriously glad to hear that.” Gracie looked down at the keys. “Do you know how much I detest playing in front of people?"

  “Tell me after you make everybody happy by playing.” Kim smiled as Gracie glared at her while starting to play.

  Kim looked at her sister after the sermon and saw the hint of mischief in her eyes. “Don’t do it.”

  “You asked me to make everybody happy.” She looked over at her parents and wiggled her fingers as Kim watched her. Janet and Chandler both broke into laughter as Gracie started to play ‘The Entertainer’. Paige looked up from talking with Bea and Garrison. Steven had been standing up but sat down as he listened. He peered over at his parents who were both still smiling. Gracie looked over at Kim and noticed that she was patting her feet. At the end of the song, she stood and walked over to her sister, hugging her. “You should really be careful as to what you ask me to do.”

  “No, I shouldn’t.” Kim was smiling at her. “But maybe I should wait until after you're out of the church to ask you to do something.” She watched as Bea ran to Gracie. “So what brought that on?”

  “I'm trying to make Annie smile.” Gracie looked over at her roommate. “Seems to have worked.”

  “You can only get away with that once, Amanda Grace.” Kim pretended to scold her as they stood next to their parents.

  “We loved it.” Janet spoke for the both of them. “What happened to your piano, Gracie?”

  “I had to sell it.” She answered her mother honestly as she hugged Bea closer to her. “Are you mad?”

  “No.” Chandler spoke up. “You did what you needed to.” Janet nodded her agreement. “Good night.” He walked out with his wife. “I know what you're thinking, and if she wants another piano she can well afford to buy one.”

  “I keep forgetting about that.” Janet smiled. “She doesn't act like she has money.”

  “That’s because Jackson is carrying my check in his wallet.” Gracie had caught up with them and heard most of the conversation.

  “Jackson has your check?” Steven asked after everybody had caught up to them. Her parents had both turned around as Steven spoke.

  “Yep, he took it away when I wanted to cash it to pay Bea’s ran. . .” Gracie looked down at her daughter. “I just haven’t asked for it back, and he hasn't thought about it.”

  Annie took both children to the car as Gracie was still talking with her family. She was smiling as Gracie opened the door and sat down in the passenger seat.

  “I think we should go before I get into more tr
ouble.” She buckled up as Annie laughed at her.

  They pulled into the court and Annie noticed that Jackson’s car was in the driveway. “Jackson is here.” She smiled as they pulled into the driveway.

  Gracie looked at her house. “Yep, and I see more trouble on the way.”

  “Why would you say that?” Annie watched her as she stared at Jackson’s car.

  “He doesn’t know about my hair yet.” Gracie got out of the car.

  “He'll love it.” Annie reassured her as the children ran into the house. “Besides those two are probably telling him about what you pulled at the end of the church service.”

  Jackson was laughing as Gracie walked into the room. He stopped and raised his eyes as he noticed her hair. Annie was smiling as he walked around the new Gracie.

  “Somebody has been busy.” Jackson smiled. “I like it.”

  “I'm glad. I donated the rest of it.” Gracie put down her keys and phone. “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.”

  “I just dropped by to see Bea.” Jackson was teasing her. “You played ‘The Entertainer’ in the church.”

  “Guilty,” Gracie smiled as Annie walked away from them. She watched her and then turned back towards Jackson. “Your friend has been giving her grief. I seriously think they like each other.”

  “I didn't come here to hear about Annie. I’ll talk to her later.” He pulled her towards him, and she looked up at him. “I came here. . .”

  “Shut up.” Gracie smiled at him before he kissed her. She opened her eyes. “Did you miss me?”

  “What do you think?” Jackson smiled at her as they sat down. “So tell me what I’ve missed.”

  “Everything?” Gracie looked around and noticed that they were alone.

  “The important stuff,” Jackson was studying her. “How much trouble did you get into while I was gone?”

  “Ha, ha.” Gracie told him about the dancing at her mother’s house on Sunday. “By the way, Steven hopes that you're in better shape than he is, because Pop wants us to sign up for a charity dance in a couple of months.”

  “I haven't danced since right after you got married.” Jackson told her as he watched Gracie’s face cloud up.