GRACE
I was done with work before 4am, hence I was able to rush home and catch a short nap before day broke to take Laurel to school.
Jody was on bed with her when I got in, so I crashed on the couch, feeling totally exhausted from hours of typing without getting any sleep. Our editor in chief worked with us through the night, thus, none of us could steal naps as we usually did whenever she went home on time as supposed.
I remember director Lance calling me up to his office once to ask me to sleep. Come to think of it, he was great to me a lot of times and if I was a normal woman without so much fear or an ugly past or so much responsibility, maybe I might have given him a chance.
The 7am alarm on my phone woke me up. I scrambled to my feet, aroused Laurie and started preparing her for school. But what I really wanted to do was crash and sleep like someone in a coma.
Jody was already preparing for work as well. Some of her clothes were here so she didn’t have go home to dress for work. She asked me to allow her take Laurie to school and not to worry about going to take her back and she was going to take care of it today.
“You need more rest, Gracie. You’re clearly bedraggled and exhausted.” she muttered, calling her driver to come pick them up. “I’ll drive her to school before heading to work, it isn’t that far.”
“You’re an angel, Jodie,” I said with a tired voice. Lord knew I needed the rest.
I fixed breakfast for only Laurel since Jody said she would grab a quick bite at her company’s cafeteria. Then I packed up Laurie’s lunch box of baked bean, cookies, vegetables and water. She was seriously allergic to milk and yogurt.
I bade them goodbye, went back inside and worked a little more on a few freelance projects, after which I took a warm bath, ate a little and went straight to bed.
I didn’t know I had slept for so long.
By five minutes past three, the incessant ringing from the telephone in the sitting room dragged me out from a peaceful rest.
I lugged my legs across the tiled floor till I got to the phone. I was still very much sleepy-eyed, and whoever it was, I wished they could say what they wanted quickly and let me go back to bed.
“Grace, why haven’t been picking up your calls?” Jody’s frantic voice sprang out of the receiver’s end. “I’ve been trying to reach you on my mobile for almost an hour now.”
Shit. I had left the phone on the couch so I had no idea it was ringing.
“Sorry, Jody, I left it on the couch.” my croaked voice allowed . “Is anything the matter?”
“Have you been sleeping?”
“Yes, I-” I said before getting interrupted.
“So you didn’t go get Laurie from school?” she wailed and every ounce of sleepiness in me wiped off instantly.
“What are you talking about, Jody? You said you were going to pick her up!” I held on tightly to the receiver, trying damn hard to control my breath.
“I informed them I was going to send my driver to pick her up in case I didn’t finish work on time, and when he went there, they said someone else had come already, someone they thought was my driver. It’s all my fault. I’m so sorry, Gracie. I’m going to start looking now.” She was sobbing already. But I panicked, almost crumbling to the floor.
However, I knew how much she cared about Laurie, and I couldn’t let her feel guilty about this.
“Calm down, Jody, it’s not your fault. We’re going to get her back.” I cooed, trying not to sound judgemental. “Let me know if there’s any development from your own end.”
“I’ve called the police. But I’m driving to the school now. Call me if you find her. I’m sorry Gracie. I’ve informed NK just in case.” She sniffed and ended the call.
I placed the receiver back to the cradle and started a proper panick I picked up my phone from the couch. Thirty missed calls?
Ignoring the notification, I turned on the tracker I placed on Laurie’s school bag in case of situations like this.
Don’t think about it, Grace, I repeated to myself over and over again. Laurie, would be just fine, no need to panic, you’re going to find her.
I drank two cups of water, did the breathing in and out exercise before grabbing my car keys and dashing out of the house. The tracking devise wasn’t in full swing yet, so I rushed downstairs to make sure I was ready with the car before it came on.
As I hurried to where Precious was parked in the driveway, a black Mercedes pulled over at the front of the building, causing me to halt in my track.
The car stopped right in front of me, and the driver emerged and rushed to open the back door. Alpha Connor Shelby stepped out carefully, carrying a laughing Laurel on his arms.
My knee buckled from both rage and relief, and I stood rooted to the spot for a minute, watching with a stifled gasp at how undeniably great both of them looked together, how much they looked alike.
“Mummy!” Laurel shrieked, snapping me out of my daze. I rushed over to snatch my child from Connor Shelby.
I hugged her with all my might, snuggling hard to her soft and tiny bones, scared that they could snap from my embrace.
I couldn’t imagine losing her. I just couldn’t, I thought as tears rolled down my eyes.
“Are you okay baby? Are you hurt?” I asked, while checking every part of her body I could.
“I’m okay mummy, do you remember Alpha Connor?” she said with so much innocence my heart broke. “He came to get me from school!” she giggled sweetly.
“I know, sweetie. Go upstairs and wait for me.” I said softly. “Mummy will join you soon, okay? And mind the stairs, don’t run!” I called after her, but she had already run along after bidding her new-found friend goodbye.
I had no idea she remembered him after the day he stopped her from falling on the stairs. Just what I was trying so hard to avoid.
I twirled around to glare at Connor Shelby.
“How did hell did you go to pick her up from school?” I uttered with so much venom in my voice. “Have you been keeping tabs on her?”
“You’re welcome, Grace.” he said coolly, dipping his hands into his pocket. “She was all alone when I found her. The teacher said that class has finished for over thirty minutes ago.”
“So?” I shrugged enjoying the hurt look on his face. “She’s my child, I’ll take care of her, it’s none of your business, please stay away.”
“But how can I stay away Grace?” he took a few steps towards me, disarming me with his manly handsomeness, towering over me with his loose limbs.
How could one stay angry with someone this breathtaking anyway?
I looked so small beside him, making it easy for me to feel intimidated by his presence. I took a few steps back as well and glared at him, standing my ground.
“Just stay away, Alpha Connor.” I interjected. My breath was in my throat, so my tone wasn’t as authoritative as I wanted it to be.
“I’ll see you tomorrow Grace.” He grinned, waked and walked back to his car. His driver, the young man who opened the door for me handed Laurie’s lunch box and some other designer bags filled with toys and clothes.
Why would he see me tomorrow? And what the hell are all these?
“I have no idea what you’re talking about but I don’t need these!” I called from where I stood, stretching the bags back to them.
He got out of the car, rested his hands on the door, giving me a bemused look.
“They aren’t for you, Grace. She picked them herself, so throwing it away would simply make you much worse than I could ever be.” he concluded, got back in and closed the door, rendering me speechless and helpless.
I stormed back upstairs, feeling steam rise inside of me, but helpless that I couldn’t vent out my anger on anyone at that moment.