GRACE.
Jody was a total mess.
Seeing her like this broke my heart and I really crave to do something no one can imagine to the person responsible for her being this way.
NK and I sat beside her in her sitting room trying to console her and talk some sense into her as well. We seriously couldn’t understand the situation even though we were trying so hard to.
They only dated or better put, saw each other for a month and at some point I even thought they weren’t serious anymore till I saw them together at that blind date.
I mean, my friend have never been this broken by any man before. Its Jody, the spunky, spontaneous and you-only-live-once Jody!
The person with black eye bags, messy and unkempt hair sitting on the love seat by the fire side was just like a shadow or a demon possessing our friend.
But all these simply meant she really did love him because the last time she was this way with someone was back in high school.
We begged her to come out with us but she refused saying she wanted some time alone by herself and honestly we could never leave her by herself in this condition.
The worse was we all had no idea why Marcus decided to break up with her. He gave no logical reason according to Jody. How can you break up with someone simply because you believe they will not understand you?
I can’t talk to Marcus but I definitely have someone who can. If not for anything, for the fact that she loved him, I believe she deserves a concrete explanation.
★★★★★★★
CONNOR
I sat beside my child’s bed watching her sleep like the angel she was. Her brown hair looked ruffled, her bangs almost touching her eyes so I brushed it to the side of her hair. She seemed so at peace right now.
She was hugging one of her stuffed toys, snuggling close to me while I read her a bed time story till she fell asleep. This was the first time I’ve ever done this in the six years of her life.
I have been absent throughout most of her life but I was more than determined now to fill every second of her life with my presence. My love, my time and everything possible to make her grow up physically, mentally and emotionally healthy.
And so I’ve come to the decision to stop hiding her. How can I hide such a dazzling and incredible child?
Illegitimate? My child is never an illegitimate child. She was born out of love and compassion and strong-will. She has a mother who would move the earth for her, and she has me.
Though I wasn’t much of an exemplary father but that wasn’t by choice and I’m willing to make things right from this moment, which is more important.
Grace has been through enough already and if anyone would fix all these it would be me. I would have to make my mother lose her hold on me and my sister.
By tomorrow, I would be having a press conference where I would some clean to the world and tell the truth. I owe it to no one but Laurel and Grace.
That way, whatever plans my mother has would be neutralized.
I kissed my child’s forehead, tucked her in to my satisfaction and left the room after turning of the light. I strode to my home office to make preparations for flight ticket for Grace, Laurel and I. We would be heading to my mothers’ first thing the day after tomorrow.
Grace wasn’t home yet, she went to Jody’s place to check on her, saying there was some trouble. I would have to convince her when she gets back, although I seriously doubt it would be easy to get her to agree.
I hope she does though, I have it all planned out-
“Connor!” I heard my name down the hallway and I knew it had to be Grace. No one in this mansion would dare call me that.
I turned and saw her hurrying to where I was. She looked angry and it made her all the more sexy.
“Is something wrong?” I asked as soon as she stood in front of me. “You look like you want to chop someone’s head off with the look on your face.”
I said, intending to ease her up a bit but it didn’t work. She pouted her red soft lips in irritation.
“We need to talk, Connor,” she said as though she was trying to keep it together.
“Sure, what is it about?”
“Let’s go inside,” she held my hand and dragged me into the room we were both sharing now. “It’s about Marcus and Jody,” she started when we finally sat down on the long couch in the room.
I curled my leg on the couch, facing her while she didn’t even bother to spare me a glance. “What about Marcus and Jody, Grace? Are they in trouble?”
“Well Marcus will be in trouble if I set my eyes on him this minute.”
This was actually more serious than I thought, seeing the way my little mate was about to spit fire.
“Grace, you need to calm down and tell me what happened.” I told her in a soothing voice.
“What is Marcus’s deal anyway?” she confused me further, “Why should he break up with Jody after coming to the blind date with her? And without a concrete reason for that matter. Connor seriously what is wrong with you beta?”
So that was it? I sighed mentally rubbing my hand in my face.
“Grace, I know you care about you friend but it is their relationship and they would sort themselves out. They’re adults.” I uttered.
She turned to me looking betrayed. “My best friend is a mess right now, Connor. They are not handling anything. What adult shies away from responsibility or facing confrontations?”
“Grace,” I tilted her head to face me, “I’ve never seen Marcus with any female before. Not that he doesn’t hang out with them but he is an extremely private person. That was why I was really surprised when I saw him with Jody at the blind date.”
Grace seemed a bit calmer now so I continued. “I would love to talk to him about this but he would never open up to me, neither would poking a nose in his personal life sit well with him. Let’s just wait a little and see how this plays out.”
“Alright, if you say so.” She replied with down cast eyes. “I just don’t want my friend to hurt more than she’s already hurting right now.” then looked up at me. “You were on your way to the office right?”
“Yes,” I murmured, thinking of how to bring up the issue. “There’s actually something I want to tell you.” I gazed into her blue eyes, hoping she wouldn’t say no.
“What’s that?”
“Grace, I want us, you, Laurel and I to go to my family home the day after tomorrow to see my mother.” I dropped the words and watched as she burst into a dry laughter.
“Wait, you mean we should go to a place we are not welcomed? Well I can’t Connor, I’m not taking my child to see the person who called her an illegitimate and uncultured breed even before seeing her. I can’t Connor, I’m sorry.”
She got up and was about to leave but I held her back, pleading with her to please agree with my eyes.
“I have a plan, Grace.” I probed, “I’ll tell you all about it when it’s all set but this is part of it. I know my mother’s words hurt you, they hurt me as well but I need you to trust me on this, please.”
“What if she doesn’t accept us at the end of the day?” her voice faltered, laden with emotions.
“She doesn’t need to,” I squeezed her palms gently. “I love you, Grace. The whole world can be against it but that would never change anything.”
I got up and kissed the stray tear away from her soft cheeks.