Fallen From Grace

by Heather D'Agostino

“Joey says you’re going to have a baby,” Cora giggled.

  Katie’s eyes bugged out as she heard the spatula that Melanie was using hit the floor. Grace’s eyes darted around the room. She wanted to find a way to get out of the middle of whatever was getting ready to transpire.

  Katie turned around and looked at her mom, “I’m not pregnant,” she shook her head. “I have no idea where that came from.”

  Melanie stood there watching Katie, trying to determine if she believed her. Katie stood and moved over to where Melanie was standing.

  “Mom…we’re not even trying,” Katie grasped Melanie’s arm.

  “You better not be…you’re still in school,” Melanie shook her head. “You have no idea the hardship I went through when I was pregnant with you, and trying to finish school. Your father and I struggled every day.”

  “I know…I keep hearing the same argument from Patrick. We’re not pregnant…ok?” Katie raised her brow before spinning and making her way back to the table. “When did Joey tell you I was going to have a baby?” Katie turned toward Cora.

  “He didn’t,” Cora grinned like she knew a secret that no one else did.

  Katie wrinkled her brow and huffed, “But you just said…”

  “Cora, why would you say something like that?” Melanie turned and placed her hands on her hips.

  “Because,” she huffed in exasperation. “Joey told me,” she tossed her chubby hands in the air as if everyone should know what she was talking about.

  “Told you what exactly?” Melanie pushed.

  “Where babies come from,” Cora shrugged and went back to her coloring as if it was no big deal.

  The coffee that Katie had sipped in her mouth began to slide down her throat the wrong way as a coughing fit emerged.

  “What did he tell you exactly,” Melanie moved over in the direction of the table.

  “That when a mom and a dad kiss, they make a baby. That’s where I came from…he told me. Daddy kissed you, and then you had me,” she crossed her arms over her chest and nodded in satisfaction. “Katie kisses Patrick a lot…I mean A LOT! She’s gonna have a baby soon,” Cora nodded.

  Katie’s mouth dropped open as Melanie laughed. That was not what they were expecting to hear. Cora’s lip began to tremble as she watched her sister and mom laugh at her.

  “It’s not funny,” she pouted. “Joey said…” she trailed off as she climbed down from the table. “Stop laughing at me!” she turned and took off running toward the room she was staying in.

  “Mom,” Katie turned toward Melanie as she fought for control of her laughter, “you have to tell Joe to stop telling her stuff. She’s going to be so confused.”

  “Oh I’m thinking that this topic is something that your dad can handle,” Melanie sighed as she moved back to the stove.

  “I don’t know about that,” Hannah shook her head as she walked into the room yawning.

  “Nice of you to join the living,” Katie teased.

  “Whatever…I was tired,” Hannah shrugged. “I saw Cora on my way out here. She told me that I better not be kissing Matt anymore, or I’d be having a baby like Katie. Did I miss some news or something?”

  “No…you didn’t,” Katie shook her head. “Apparently Joe thinks he knows all about “the birds and the bees”, and he’s trying to teach Cora.”

  Hannah nodded, “And you think Dad should talk to Joey?”

  Melanie sighed, “I think he’s too young, but apparently he needs a little guidance from someone. I figured your father would be the best one to talk to him.”

  Hannah laughed, “He had me so confused I was afraid of it. I didn’t want to grow up for the longest time. I finally had Sam’s mom explain it to me. I wish you were around when I went through that,” Hannah sighed as she looked over at Melanie.

  “Me too,” Melanie nodded.

  Before the conversation could grow, all the guys came waltzing in the room wearing their fishing gear.

  “We’re outta here,” Austin called as he made his way to the door.

  “What about breakfast…don’t you want to eat?” Melanie called after him.

  “We’ll eat when we get back. The fish aren’t going to wait on us. You ladies have fun today,” he pulled open the door and disappeared along with Patrick, Matt, Justin, Charlie, and Joey.

  Melanie sighed as she glanced around at the girls, “So what do you girls want to do today?”

  “Shopping?” Katie cocked her head to the side.

  “Shopping!” the group chimed back.

  Chapter 20

  As the girls were all climbing out of Melanie’s Tahoe, Grace could see the guys walking up from the beach. Austin had a stringer full of fish, and Joey was in the middle of a shoving match with Charlie. Matt, Patrick, and Justin were ambling along behind them. While Patrick was deep in conversation with Matt, Justin seemed to be grimacing in what looked like pain.

  Melanie helped Cora out of her car seat, and then turned to hand each of the bags out of the back to the rest of the girls.

  “Did you get anything nice for me?” Patrick grinned as he came up behind Katie.

  “No,” she shook her head and gave him a coy smile.

  “Uh huh, we’ll see,” he pecked her on the cheek before heading into the house.

  “What about you?” Matt tried to wrap Hannah in a hug. “Anything in there I might like?”

  “Ewww…you smell like dead fish,” Hannah wrinkled her face in disgust and pushed against his chest. “Go take a shower.”

  “I don’t even get a kiss?” he stuck his lip out in a pout. “I’ve been gone most of the day and you didn’t even miss me?”

  “Did I miss you? Yes. Do I want to kiss you when you smell like a bait shop? Not so much,” Hannah sighed. “Shower!” she pointed in the direction of the house as she slid a bag up onto her shoulder.

  “What about me? Do I get a kiss?” Austin mumbled as he came up behind Melanie.

  “Are you going to take a shower?” Melanie smirked.

  “Yep,” Austin gave a resolute nod.

  “Wanna wait until I put her,” she pointed at Cora, “down for a nap?”

  Austin cocked his head to the side and thought for a moment before understanding began to wash over his face, “Sure.”

  “Give me ten minutes…and then I’ll join you,” she winked and began to walk toward the house, adding a little extra sway to her hips.

  Austin tossed his head back and groaned as he headed toward the backyard to clean the fish.

  When Justin turned to walk over to Grace, his face contorted in pain.

  “What happened to you?” she began to scan him, looking for an injury.

  “I’m burnt to a crisp,” he grimaced. “I guess I didn’t put on enough sunscreen.”

  “Oh Justin,” she sighed “I’m sorry. That sucks.”

  “Yeah…well, I’m hoping a cold shower will help,” he nodded toward the house.

  “Maybe Mrs. Montgomery, Patrick, or Katie has something. I’m sure with as many doctors as we have here, one of them has a solution,” Grace shrugged. “I’ll ask…you take your shower and I’ll meet you upstairs,” she rose up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Thanks,” he sighed as he headed toward the stairs.

  ooooooooo

  “Justin?” Grace called as she knocked lightly on the door to his room. “Can I come in?”

  Justin appeared in the doorway only moments later. He was standing there in a pair of mesh shorts with a towel in his hand. His hair was a spiky wet mess. It looked as if he’d just rubbed the towel over it to try to dry it some. Light water beads still dotted his chest, and other than his face, which had been shaded by the hat he’d worn, he was indeed burned to a crisp.

  “Oh Justin,” Grace reached her hand out, but drew it back before touching his skin. “Why didn’t you keep your shirt on?” she fussed gently.

  “It’s like ninety degrees outside,” he chuckled. “When you’re out there under the s
un, you don’t think about this…you just want to cool off. I always burn at the beginning of the summer before I start to tan,” he shrugged and winced at the same time.

  “Well…Patrick gave me this,” she handed him a jar of what looked like some sort of blue colored goo. “It’s supposed to take the heat out. It’s got lidocaine in it, too,” she rocked on her feet as she watched him examine the jar.

  “Can you help me?” he pleaded. “I can’t get this on my back.”

  Grace thought for a minute and was getting ready to suggest someone else until she looked up and saw the pleading look in his eyes, “Sure.”

  “Come on,” he waved her into the room and closed the door.

  Justin unscrewed the top of the jar and sat down on the bed facing the mirror that was over the dresser. His room was laid out, much like the one Grace had chosen, but it was slightly smaller.

  “Can you lay down on your stomach?” Grace mumbled as she drew near the bed.

  “Sure,” he nodded as he turned and stretched out as carefully as possible.

  Grace climbed up beside him and sat on her feet. As she reached for the jar of goo, she sunk her teeth into her lower lip.

  “I’m sorry if this hurts,” she mumbled.

  “It’s ok…I trust you,” Justin murmured as he shifted on the bed.

  Grace dipped her fingers into the jar and scooped out a liberal amount before plopping it in the middle of Justin’s back.

  “Shit! That’s cold,” he yelped.

  “Sorry,” Grace cringed.

  “S’ok,” Justin mumbled as he tried to relax.

  Grace began lightly running her fingers through the goo, spreading it across Justin’s back. As it began to coat him, it made his back slick and her fingers were able to glide over the burn without using much pressure. Justin could sense that she was trying not to hurt him, and using very little pressure.

  “You’re not gonna hurt me…stop worrying,” he closed his eyes and tried to relax. Having her touch him like this felt so good. It almost made getting burned worth it.

  Grace began to flatten her palms on his back and offer more contact than just finger tips. The ridges of muscle began to relax under her attention and she heard him sigh. Justin was beginning to get lost under her ministrations. He could feel his body reacting to her touch, but it felt so good that he didn’t want to ask her stop.

  “Do you want me to get your entire back?” she asked bringing him back to the present.

  “Mmmm hmmmm,” he groaned as he felt her hands trail lower.

  Grace slid her hand down to his waist, and rolled the waistband of his shorts down so she could run her fingers along the edge of the burn. She had no idea at the moment that Justin was fighting a war with his body. He wanted to roll over so badly and crush himself to her, but he kept telling himself that he’d scare her if he did that. He had to be patient. Her innocent caresses were killing him, though. He was currently dying a slow and painful death.

  “Justin?” Grace gasped as she traced the edge of his shorts.

  “Hmmm,” he moaned.

  “You’re not wearing any underwear,” she swallowed.

  “More comfortable,” he mumbled.

  He was so lost in the pleasure he was receiving that he didn’t even think about what they were discussing. When he’d gotten out of the shower, he was in so much pain all he could think about was relieving it. Putting on boxers was not a priority.

  “Oh,” Grace gasped as she withdrew her hands. “I think I got all of your back. Do you want me to do your chest, too?”

  Justin swallowed as he thought about the condition he was currently in. Of course he wanted her to rub his chest. He wanted her to rub his entire body down. He knew that if he rolled over, and she saw what her back massage had done to him, it would send her running for the hills.

  “Justin?” she tried again.

  “Ummm… I’ll do that,” he fought to hold his voice even.

  “Ok,” she sighed.

  She sounded so defeated. Justin felt awful. He knew she didn’t understand why he was pushing her way. She was so innocent in the ways that she affected him. She didn’t realize that a simple caress, or embrace sent his body into overdrive.

  Justin pushed up on his elbows just as Grace was beginning to slip off the bed, “Wait!”

  “I get it Justin…you’re all set…you want to do it yourself,” Grace nodded as she began to slide farther away from him.

  “No…that’s not it at all,” Justin squeezed his eyes shut and released a breath.

  Grace cocked her head to the side, “What then?”

  “It’s just…Grace you do things to me. Things that you don’t realize,” Justin swallowed.

  “Huh?” Grace pursed her lips and wrinkled her brow.

  “Things that I don’t think you’re ready for,” Justin tried again.

  Grace bit the inside of her cheek as she began to scan his form. Nothing looked any different than it had before. Justin saw that she was not getting it.

  “Don’t freak out me…ok?” he reached up and ran his fingers along her jaw. “If you really want to rub this gunk on my chest, you can.”

  He lifted his gaze to stare right into her eyes as he rolled over onto his back. The erection that had been buried in the mattress now sprung free, causing a tent in his shorts. Justin saw her tense as her eyes left his and began to zone in on the area below his waist. He tried to remain as calm as possible, and kept his eyes fixed on her face. Embarrassment washed over her as she remained fixated on him. She’d never seen it get that big before. She’d known him to get excited when they were kissing, but this was far beyond what she’d ever seen.

  “It’s because my pants are loose,” he mumbled as he watched her bring her eyes back to his face.

  Grace nodded and darted her eyes back and forth, but she couldn’t seem to look away. She couldn’t believe that she actually felt a little pride in the fact that she affected him so much.

  “It’s what you do to me Grace…you’re so beautiful,” he offered a soft smile as he rose up on an elbow and rolled onto his side. “You’re all I think about,” he leaned in and placed a light kiss to her lips. “I don’t know how I got so lucky,” he mumbled against her lips as he kissed her again.

  As Grace leaned into the kiss, the jar of goo fell from her hand. Justin reached up and cupped her jaw as he pressed another kiss to her lips, this one with a little more force. “I love you,” he gasped as he shifted to cradle her body against his.

  Grace became so lost in the kiss, she didn’t even realize that she was now lying pressed against him. He was being so gentle with her though that the fear that usually crept in at this point seemed to be staying away. She relaxed into him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

  When Justin felt her tighten her grip and press her chest to his, he took it as a sign that she was ok with the way things were progressing. He rolled them slightly so she was on her back, and he was halfway over her. His weight was being supported by a knee and an elbow. His back was currently burning up from the sunburn, and the grip that she had on him was somewhat painful. The fact that she was letting him touch her like this, and hadn’t pulled away yet made it worth the pain though.

  Grace moaned as she unconsciously rocked her hips up to rub against him. Justin’s eyes rolled back in pleasure. Did she even know what she was doing? As he slid his tongue in to the deep corners of her mouth, he trailed his free hand up her side. Starting at her hip, he slowly drug it along her ribs until he grazed the side of her breast. When she didn’t flinch, he moved his palm to cup it, and left it there for a moment afraid to move. Still she didn’t stop him, so he deepened the kiss even more and with an impassioned sigh, he offered a gentle squeeze.

  When Grace felt him squeeze her breast, she broke the kiss and scrambled to the side of the bed putting as much distance between them as possible.

  “I’m sorry,” Justin panted. “I didn’t…”

  Grace put her hand
up to stop his apology, “No! Don’t!” She shook her head as her cheeks turned crimson, “I can’t believe I did that. What you must think of me.”

  Justin wrinkled his brow, “Think of you?” He moved to a sitting position and slid to the edge of the bed, “I don’t think anything bad of you Grace. What we were doing wasn’t shameful. Do you understand that?”

  Grace sighed, “It’s just…I don’t want…you to think…” she shrugged uncomfortably, accusations long buried trying to rear their ugly heads.

  “I don’t expect anything from you. We talked about this not going past making out. I’m fine with that,” he nodded and reached to grab her hand. After lacing their fingers together and pulling their clasped hands into his lap, Justin turned toward Grace. “Not all guys are like Greg. We don’t all think that kissing and making out is going to lead to sex. Do you understand me? You can let go…I’m not going to push you.”

  Grace nodded and placed her head on Justin’s shoulder, “How did I find you?”

  “I’m the lucky one,” he returned.

  Grace lifted her head and looked deeply into his eyes, “I love you so much. I mean it. There’s no one else out there for me. You know? I can’t see myself with anyone else.”

  Justin swallowed. He wasn’t sure if right now was the best time to do this, but after what Grace had said it seemed to light a fire in him. He could feel it in his gut, she was the one. Finally he blurted out, “Marry me!”

  “What?” Grace gasped and released his hand as she covered her mouth.

  “Marry me,” he turned to face her, his soft brown eyes sparkling in the sunlight streaming through the window behind them. “I love you…you love me. What are we waiting for? Marry me.”

  “Justin I…” Grace fumbled.

  “Just say yes,” he begged. “I want you to be my wife. I love you, Grace. I’ve never felt this way about anybody,” he offered her a soft smile as he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

  Grace swallowed, “But, this weekend is supposed to be about Hannah.”

  “It will be,” Justin assured her. “Just say yes…Please?”

  Grace looked into his eyes, so full of love. How could she not say yes? This man who was seated beside her loved her, faults and all. He didn’t care about her past, he didn’t care that she had pushed him away so many times. He wanted her exactly the way she was. As she inhaled deeply and held it for a moment, she turned to him once again and released it as the words flew from her mouth, “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”