The Woman He Loved
Chapter 2: A Child's Man?
By Claudius
I don't own the rights to any characters of Fullmetal Alchemist.
It was nice, walking with him.
That was Gracia's thought of that situation. Despite her reluctance, she found little regret having Maes Hughes accompany her to the bus station. It wasn't a lonely walk on that cold night. It wasn't a quiet walk either. The cadet talked a lot, sometimes about himself. He stated his rank was a Cadet Lieutenant, a comment lacking the prideful tone his friend Roy Mustang so rudely exclaimed to her a few days ago. Gracia didn't really mind the constant talking, despite her demeanor of silence and disinterested replies. She still held her guard, revealing little of herself. Nevertheless, Hughes did acknowledge some things he learned about her, such as her nickname and her pie cooking skills. That latter fact led to his praise. In that respect, Gracia denied nothing.
Overall, it wasn't a lonely moment. It looked like a couple's romantic stroll, and Gracia toyed with the facade. But she had lost believing in that fantasy years ago. This man had little interest in her besides sowing oats. Still, it was nice to imagine the impossible.
Too bad Hughes killed the fantasy with his real question. "Since I don't like the idea of getting sick again, and a nurse-patient relationship is out, any chance I can see you, let's say, non-professionally?"
Gracia failed to give an answer. Fortunately she was at the bus by now. Gracia boarded the vehicle without an answer, hoping Hughes thought she didn't hear his question. But she knew this was delaying the inevitable. Tonight had shown that Mr. Hughes had taken a fancy to her. But she needed no sly man looking for conquest. She wasn't interested in Hughes anyway.
That is what she told herself. As the days went, Gracia found herself unable to find satisfaction in that verdict. Her mind kept seeing Hughes' handsome face, his dreamy smile. A lot of women went through this problem; a lot of them ended up sadly disappointed when they surrendered their heart. Gracia wasn't going to have any of that. She had to put this 'obsession' to rest. This meant learning more about this man.
So Gracia asked cadets about Maes Hughes. Most of them answered her search. Hughes was indeed a Cadet Lieutenant. He had the nickname of 'Mustang's Dog' because of his loyalty to Roy Mustang. But the man also had his own popular following. It appeared to Gracia that all the times she didn't check up on the patient were times cadets visited him. Rizzie and Chest verified those incidents. Hughes was a very likeable man on the campus. True, he was an excellent student, but his colleagues talked about his loyalty. He helped people. To Gracia's mind, this help probably meant fighting bullies. Young men talked with their fists.
But any hope of appreciation was blocked when Hughes' social life was explored. He was a ladies man, constantly boasting about his sexual prowess. It was known that he made many trips to the Academy's laundress, Ally, whom a lot of the cadets visited. No doubt, Gracia firmly imagined, for other reasons besides washing. Her suspicions were proven correct. That angelic face hid a rogue. Not that she was interested. This knowledge fulfilled her reluctance. No way she was going to be some temporary squeeze for any soldier, especially one named Maes Hughes.
With a mixture of appreciation and surprise, Gracia received nothing of Hughes' presence. For the next few days he didn't appear to her. No sign at the waiting room, no appearance outside the hospital, no letters of love promises and everlasting devotion. It was something to be pleased about; only Gracia found that pleasure vacant. Instead, she had the kind of feeling one gets when a long-standing annoyance disappears. You're so used to the annoyance that it becomes somewhat disappointing when the appearances stop.
As Gracia got over this superficial disappointment, Dr Kurtz asked for her. He wished assistance to examine a cadet student. She complied in this wish, a dream task for any rising intern. Excitingly, the student nurse followed the doctor to a small room.
She heard a loud call. "Hiya!"
Gracia froze as if she had been shot. There was a second of doubt in her. It couldn't be him. But the grinning face of Maes Hughes shattered that hope. He waved with one hand, than rubbing the back of his neck. "My, funny thing meeting you here!" Hughes stood in a dress shirt with military pants and boots. His posture was an imposing stature thanks to his height.
Gracia paused and stared, but she made no greeting. This got Dr. Kurtz's notice. "You know each other?"
"Former nurse and patient relationship," Gracia coldly revealed. "Nothing more."
Hughes drooped a little at the sound of that.
"Good," Dr. Kurtz was assured. "Mr. Hughes here wishes an examination."
The patient brightly explained things. "I want some info on my old ticker." He beat his chest enthusiastically. But this liveliness lessened in continued comment. "Y'see, my dad had a weak heart throughout most of his life. I wondered if it was something hereditary."
This information fed into Gracia, sparking some humor. So the heartbreaker may have a broken heart of his own? She walked next to the patient reservedly, holding the clipboard to record Kurtz's conclusions. She kept her sight on Dr. Kurtz, but a sensation told her the patient wasn't sharing her point of view.
"We'll see about that, Cadet Hughes," Dr. Kurtz got his instruments. "Disrobe."
Hughes was calm to the doctor's request. Gracia acted calm as she felt a sudden gust of heated interest burn within her. She kept her face away as she heard Hughes' shirt being pulled off. But Gracia soon looked at the man's shirtless form. Her strong front became all she had, as everything else inside her went feeble. Hughes was a slender man, but muscularly toned as well. The upper part of his torso was larger than the lower part. His thickly rounded arms could bounce off such muscles. Gracia found her eyes fixated upon the man's pectorals. They were lumped upon his chest, meeting together to bear a ripple before the neck. There were ripples on his stomach as well. As close as she could see, Gracia found little hair on him, save for the fringes surrounding his dark brown nipples.
The patient sat down. The position of his arms and stomach caused his muscles to swell up and expand. Gracia watched, thinking hard with disdain. The guy was flexing on purpose! Show off, she tried grumbling in thought.
Now the bottom clothing came off, leaving the man with nothing but white shorts. The hem of these shorts hung above his knees. The waistband curved by his smooth abdomen. The slightly baggy shorts were a small contrast to the tightly skinned man who wore them.
Dr. Kurtz was impressed. Gracia fought against the word.
"Would you believe I was fat once?" Hughes joked, patting his belly.
Gracia suddenly feared for her forbearance. As a girl, she felt weird adolescent sensations toward the artistic creations of naked men. Such flushes had not atrophied as she grew up. It was true she had done such examinations before, carrying on her coolness successfully. But this man was different, not just in physique. Hughes had declared war, thinking his ripped nakedness would cause her to swoon. He could succeed. But Gracia had her weaponry. Her ability to hide emotions was her great ally. Hughes was definitely not going to win this war. Confidence was on his side though, according to his smirking. Oh, how he must be enjoying this! She…wasn't.
The doctor probed the stethoscope on the man's chest. "Breathe in, breathe out."
Hughes followed the advice without a shiver or embarrassment.
"Do you eat any fatty foods?"
"Not really. Gave some of that up when I lost weight." The patient took a knowing glance at Gracia. "But I've had some exceptions."
"Heartbeat regular," Kurtz decided.
Okay, Gracia marshaled her strength to write this report down. Heartbeat regular…check out those shoulder blades…Think, Gracia! The woman's mind cried at herself. Keep your mind on your work!
It appeared Hughes was better at forbearance. He stood and sat in his semi-nude position with cool resolve. He sure had the experience, Gracia scowled in her knowledge. Any discomfort Hughes did show came from other factors. "How did you get that scar?" Dr. Kurtz pointed to the patient's left wrist, which revealed a wound. It appeared something had impaled through it.
"A sabre wound," Hughes replied with a quivering anxiety, grabbing the wrist as if it was deformed. "Nothing vital was hit."
The doctor then tried the man's reflexes. Being knocked, his almost hairless arms and legs jerked with swift capacity.
"Blood pressure next," said the doctor. "Miss Stern?"
Gracia momentarily froze at this request. When she thawed into action, she felt herself heat up even more. Strapping the sphymonanometer around his bicep meant touching his solid skin. The muscle caused her to almost faint. Quickly, she composed herself. Hughes was grinning again.
"Mr. Hughes, your blood pressure's rising!" Kurtz noticed
"Oh sorry," Hughes was looking at Gracia, sweat on his temple. "I'm being distracted." Fortunately, man and pressure calmed down.
The tests continued, with Gracia tested as well. She didn't know what she couldn't stand more: this man's smug conviction or his double entendres.
Then the doctor unintentionally added a trump card. "Take it off!"
Hughes nodded. He bent over, pulling his shorts off his waist.
Gracia got ready to throw her secret weapon. The doctor had his back to her. When exposure arose, she gaped her mouth wide. It became a grin. Without making a sound, Gracia expressed laughing. She grabbed her mouth, widening her eyes and nodding in a brilliant pantomime of laughter.
Hughes' lip expression failed to rival her own smile. The distinction grew as he turned disarmingly vulnerable. Gracia's tactic had worked.
"Cough," said the doctor, unaware of the blow her nurse had given to the patient.
Hughes did as commanded, red pigments blossoming on his cheeks. He quickly turned around and pulled his shorts back up. Gracia saw the other cheeks of his body being covered.
The examination ended soon after. Dr. Kurtz checked the record. "We'll let you know," the physician patted the cadet's shoulder. "But right now I can surmise that your father's problem was his own."
"Thanks," The patient mouthed his gratitude, hastily garbing himself. "Glad I came." He glanced at Gracia with a serious face. It struck her. That was a new one.
In the lounge, Gracia talked of her experience with her fellow student nurses. Reaction was not lukewarm.
"You saw him naked?" cried Chest with regret. "Lucky!"
"So, how was he?" Rizzie asked for details.
"No big deal," Gracia hid her real thoughts. She walked out the door, with Rizzie following.
"As ever the ice queen," Chest despaired. "Men are wasted on you."
Gracia smugly shrugged this insult. Entering the hall led to her spotting Hughes. Her victim stood there, pretending to be waiting for someone. Gracia than lowered her voice, speaking some minor joke to Rizzie. When both laughed, Gracia shot a glance at Hughes. Did he think she was joking about his perceived 'shortcomings?'
But Hughes took her deceptive act with stride. He smiled and waved.
Gracia went to the desk. Hughes spoke, his interest balanced with her seeming lack thereof. "Look, I had no idea you were going to be my nurse. Chances are I'd get a different one. I'm not convincing you at all, am I?"
Gracia failed to shake her head, checking reports. "You paid the penalty. Hope you liked my reaction."
"Actually," Hughes brushed his head with anxious glee. "I liked your happy face."
Gracia's mind lost all attention on the papers before her. Victory had suddenly died away. Her inner self materialized a confused Huh? Did her plan backfire?
Hughes flaunted his counterattack with flattery. "It looked really good. You should show it more often."
Gracia just stared at Hughes. The flattery became unbearable. Well, maybe not in the way that word is usually expressed. But she didn't want to hear any more of it.
"Any chance I can possibly see more of it, say…?"
Gracia jerked her head from him. "I got a patient to see," She marched away, not looking back at the uncertainty that took her. She heard Chest snicker.
Evidently Maes Hughes didn't get that message. As the day passed, he still called upon her. And Gracia found other distractions to turn him down. But the defense was wearing down. A reckoning was in store for the both of them. Gracia didn't want to date, but she was no shrew, ready to shoot the man down. And yet it felt wrong teasing him with hope. She wanted closure. She found a way.
"You see, I've granted his wish to see me, on one condition," Gracia revealed her plan to Rizzie in a resolved flair. "Today I go with Nurse Lucille to the City Orphanage again. Hughes will volunteer and help me there. Of course, this means looking after the children." She paused with anticipation. "Oh, what those monsters will do to him!"
Her friend was unconvinced. "You don't fool me, Gracia. You're crazy about those little monsters. Why, I don't know."
Gracia was prideful. "But I'm a woman. It's part of the feminine nature to love and enjoy children."
"And it's nowhere in the manly nature?"
Gracia was silent for a second in thought.
(Daddy, can I hug you?)
(No, Gracia.)
"No," Gracia's answer was final. "For men, children only belong in the 'better off seen, not heard' category. Mr. Hughes is the same. Once the kids have had their fun with him, he'll have enough of them. I'll then tell him I want to have a family. Then it's Goodbye, Mr. Hughes!" Gracia flamboyantly sealed the end of her plan with a wave of the hand.
Rizzie was silent.
"Well?" Gracia awaited comments.
"Glacier, why don't you go out on a date with him?"
Gracia's mastermind air was deflated. That was not the comment she asked for. She refused to answer.
But Rizzie wasn't finished. "It's just one date. And he is nice. What have you got to lose?"
Gracia arose from the table, heading for the door. "I must be going."
"Gracier!" Rizzie shouted.
Gracia stopped at the door. Rizzie deserved some sort of answer. "Sorry, I just can't trust him."
"Sounds more like you can't trust him liking you," Rizzie threw her insight like a dagger. It hit Gracia with perfect aim. The scar remained in her thoughts.
Anyone who knew Gracia by her nickname would find 'Glacier' to be absent from this nursery at the City Orphanage. The real woman sparkled when she saw the children. Their presence brought a warm loving smile from her lips. She loved children. Despite her cold father, Gracia found feelings from her beloved mother. As a child she loved her hugs and kisses, her sweet words, her love for her. Such devotion was given to her, and she couldn't withhold it from those in need. It was especially true for these orphans, who lost their parents so young. Gracia doted on them like a mother. One day, she would like to be one.
Right now, however, Gracia had to perform a most unkind act to these children. They were led to the infirmary for vaccines. Unfortunately for Gracia, Nurse Lucille wanted her to administer the shots. She beheld the children, lined up in a morose fashion. Their sad faces made it look like they were going to be sacrificed. The fright in those chubby, sweet cheeks and porcelain eyes was horrible to see. Gracia felt like a monster.
An older boy named Jon showed the first resistance. He appeared tough, frowning at his less courageous friends. "I don't wanna shot!" He ran to the door.
"That's enough!" Gracia declared her insistence, bearing a frown and stare at the child. It only took the sound of her voice to deflate the child's proud courage. He returned to the line. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.
Likewise, Gracia's own harshness melted back to a kind, understanding face. "That's okay." Gentleness may be her primary talent to children, but sometimes she had to be firm. Hard to do in this situation.
First in line came a little girl, Angie. She was like innocence standing before the darkness. Her sad cherubic face expressed to Gracia why she could do such a horrible thing. But Gracia thought fast. The only way the kid can get through this was ignorance.
The girl shook. Her arm rose as slowly as a weight. Gracia touched both her hands upon the child's little one. "It's okay," her voice spoke tenderly. "I won't harm you. I promise."
The weight lifted a little. The girl shirked her face away from this awful action.
Gracia swiftly gave the injection, to the numbed shock of her little audience. "You know what? I've changed my mind. I won't give you the shot."
The girl turned her head with hope. "You won't?"
"I already did." Gracia smiled, exposing the shot. "See, that didn't hurt at all!"
The girl took surprise, infecting the others. They were all stunned with curiosity. Was this true? Their faces gave hope. Gracia arose, her trusting face emphasizing her promise and its fulfillment. One by one, the children were given the vaccine, without any more discomfort.
"My, what brave kids you are!" Gracia doted on them. "Much braver than some adults! Now let's all go back to the nursery!"
The children complied. The atmosphere had indeed changed. The children's hesitance changed to welcome appreciation. Gracia's skirt was tugged. Mata, a small child with brown hair did the deed. "Can you read me a story?"
Gracia touched her cheeks. "I promise."
Three boys came closer. Two of them shoved the other to her. This one, named Tom, was very anxious.
"Yes, Tom?"
"He says he likes you!" One of the other boys shouted.
"Shut up!" Tom said. He turned bashful.
"Well thank you." Gracia knelt to the child. "I like you too." She kissed the boy on the cheek. Her views on men differed from her affection on boys. She could trust little men. They had no ulterior motive. But that would change, Gracia sadly reminded herself. What went wrong with boys?
Tom than spoke again. "Who's that man?" He pointed to a door.
Gracia turned to see Maes Hughes at the door window. His nose rubbed against the glass, causing some giggles from the children.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Hughes," Gracia coolly greeted her victim at the door.
The victim was excited, clapping his hands once. "I've come to help, as long as you need me!"
"I hope so," Gracia grinned. "Come in." Hughes entered confidently, with Gracia announcing his presence. "Children, I have someone to meet you. His name is Maes Hughes. He's becoming a soldier. He's here to play with you while I'm away for a few minutes."
Sighs rang along the group. Hughes attacked the somberness by greeting the children with exuberant arm waves. This could have affected Gracia's expectations, but she was undaunted. That positive attitude will end soon, she predicted in a dark calculation.
The children entered the nursery. Only Gracia remained in the hall. She backed away, watching the children surround Hughes like rats. "I'll be back in twenty minutes!" She promised gingerly. Then she shut the door, sealing away the bedlam- with Hughes in the middle of it.
It was Gracia's decision to wait for thirty minutes. Give the man time to suffer at the hands of those kids. But Gracia was never a cruel woman, and her cruel thoughts haunted her. What if Hughes turned on the children? What if he screamed at them? Gracia never would holler at the children. She could shout, but never scream in rage. Nor could she ever smack them. What if Hughes was doing that right now? Her father never did, but Gracia knew of other parents capable of abuse.
What has she done?
Fears of such things bloomed into Gracia's resolve. Barely half of the time passed on her period of exile. The young woman stopped work and ran to the children's room. By the time she grabbed the knob, the threat had reached its peak.
Thus, what she truly saw was an extreme letdown. The juvenile occupants were missing. Not their target though. On a chair sat a bound Maes Hughes. His arms and legs were tied to the poles. His face was covered with paint and drawings, his mouth stuffed and gagged.
Extreme emotional dread deflated by great relief can create such mirthful effects. But Gracia greeted this hilarity with coolness. Her worries had come to nothing. Her plan had worked excellently. The smug intern walked to the bound prisoner, and yanked the gag from his mouth. "Playtime over?" Gracia asked, hoping for a loud confirmation.
"Sshhh!" Hughes' emancipated mouth whispered. "Not so loud. They might hear you." Gracia's air broke. Hughes quickly freed himself by his own power, acting very wary about the solitude. He jumped off the chair, and crept to the door. A narrow opening had him searching secretly for the appearance of any children outside. He then turned to Gracia, wagging his finger for her to follow him. Very confused, Gracia nevertheless obeyed his pantomime. They quietly walked out of the hall, toward a broom closet. Hughes allowed Gracia inside first. He made his halfway approach through the door, his head peeking outside the hall. Then he yelled. "You can't catch me!"
Quickly, Hughes put the closet into darkness. His companion was confused. Did he really think…? But the thundering sound of little feet excited her to keep quiet. This was rather fun.
"Now be very quiet," Hughes' voice came in the darkness.
Gracia responded to the darkness. "If you're afraid of the children, you could leave instead of hiding."
"That's no fun. How are they going to find me then?"
"No fun?" The darkness did well to hide Gracia's shock. "You mean…you're doing this for the children?"
"Yeah."
"But…but, you're a man!"
"So? That doesn't mean I don't like kids."
Gracia went silent, unable to react to that sentence in a clear manner.
The darkness broke, the light revealing the children. They swarmed around Hughes, screaming and yelling like puppies around their owner. Gracia, meanwhile, was trying to register this experience. Seeing Hughes with the children didn't help. He was enjoying it all! It was almost as if he was a big child himself.
"Okay, boys and girls! What do you want to play next?" Different choices were all spoken at the same time.
"Well," Hughes loudly called for some silence. "Let's decide back at the nursery!"
The children obeyed, running back to their previous destination. Gracia now saw herself alone with Hughes. As she thought clearly again, a feeling of comfort grew within her. Then she saw the man's lime-green eyes staring seriously at her again. "What's the matter, now?"
Hughes looked pleased. "You're happy again."
Gracia touched her lips at her unknowing action. He was again flirtatious! But this time it was accepted.
"I guess children bring out the best in you." Hughes' eyes then gazed at something else. "Like that one."
Gracia felt 'that one' tugging her skirt. "Mata?"
"Aren't ya gonna read me a story?" plead the child.
"Miss Stern!" cried the voice of Nurse Lucille.
The different cries fought for attention. But the adult one was the stronger influence, much to Gracia's disappointment. With a sigh, Gracia then turned to see the child's sad face. "Mata, I…"
Hughes intervened. "Don't worry, Mata," He scooped up the girl to his arm as if she was weightless. "I'll read you a story!"
"You?" Puzzlement fueled Gracia's reply.
"Sure, you go back to work." Hughes beamed a confident smile, flapping his hand. "Bye, bye!" Mata did as well. Their joint effort at farewell was a cute scene. Gracia was almost won over, just enough to go back to work. She looked back, twice.
But the unease continued as Gracia covered her errand. Expectations of a disappointed Mata filled her thoughts. Fortunately, five minutes of Lucille's request had ended fulfilled, leading to the return to Mata's room. Again she made haste. Her ears picked up a voice, Hughes' voice. The door before her had opened a little for viewing. Suspicion changed into surprise. There was Hughes reading to Mata. And what a reading! The storyteller changed his voice repeatedly, making faces and prancing around the girl. Mata sat hypnotized, smiling at the performance. She wasn't alone; several of the children sat on the floor to hear the story, though seeing the teller gave the better word.
Gracia looked away from the opening, her eyes focused into her thoughts instead of what was before her. Her long-held beliefs were being attacked with this new evidence. Men didn't like children, but here was this man who was crazy about them. This strong, handsome man was doing something gentle. Was there ever a paradox in her whole experience? Perhaps it wasn't a paradox, Gracia found the cynical part of her mind speaking out. Was this Hughes' attempt to impress her again? Still, if it was another act, its basis was ignored in view of the performance. If Hughes was doing this only to get her attention, it nevertheless benefited the children. She'll let him get away with this.
Underneath that accusation, Gracia felt a deeper sense of disbelief for Hughes' intentions: How could any man go this far, just to get the attention of a homely girl like her?
Not for the first time, Gracia questioned the identity of this Maes Hughes: Who is this man?
Gracia walked into the room with a quiet grace. Hughes broke his performance. "And here comes the princess!"
Gracia, stunned by his compliment, soon found herself surrounded by the children. "Will you continue the story?" She asked.
"Gladly!" Hughes resumed.
At story's end, the children surrounded the two adults. "Can you both come back?" Dole, a boy of eight tugged Gracia's skirt pleadingly. "You and him?
The persuasion was strong on Gracia. The children wanted the both of them, and so did she. "Would you?" She asked kindly to Hughes.
Hughes went into a meditative stance. "Now let me see..." His gesture and delivery were not played in a dry manner. "Okay, I will...if only for a kiss from Miss Stern!"
Gracia's wave of gratitude suddenly got dammed up, with the return of her apprehensions. But this was not her choice. Her ears and eyes were awash with the children's chanting: "Kiss 'im! Kiss 'im! Kiss 'im!" They became a choir in their almost musical demand. "Okay, quiet!" Gracia cried. The children stopped, leaving one solitary chant: Hughes' chant. On realizing his abandoned situation, Hughes made a grin free of shame.
Gracia rolled her eyes. Still, he needed a reward. Her lips pecked the man's cheek. The children jumped and screamed in celebration. Hughes' own reaction was much subtler. With glowing red cheeks, he suddenly touched the back of his head. "Actually, I was going to come back anyway, but thanks for the bonus!"
Gracia sighed pleasantly. She then turned to the children. "I made you an apple pie. Who wants some?" She received many replies. Hughes included.
At work's end, the intern nurse and the cadet made their goodbyes to the children. It was a sad but warm moment. Now Gracia found herself alone with Mr. Hughes. She felt a strong effort to thank him for his work. But she felt apologetic for the darker prediction of her invitation. Never had failure taken a sweeter taste! The thought of him as an annoyance had lost some of its luster. Maybe she was forcing its dullness.
("Sounds more like you can't trust yourself liking him.")
"Um, Mr. Hughes…?"
The sound of infant crying interrupted her words. Hughes walked to the source, the adoption ward. Gracia saw the man's transfixed gaze upon a couple looking over a small baby. When the woman picked up the baby, Hughes let out a small sigh. There was a wonder in that sigh, mixed with want. And Gracia felt the same way.
"Mothers are something else," Hughes spoke happily, though not in his usual cheerful manner.
Gracia couldn't disagree with that remark. "What was your mother like?"
"Don't know." Hughes' face became sadder. "Never had one."
Gracia paused at this revelation.
Hughes followed up with a somber explanation. "She left the world when I came into it. He bowed his head, his voice dying to a near whisper. "Not my best entrance."
Pangs of sympathy hit the young woman. Gracia marveled at her own stupidity. Hughes had every right to reproach her. He didn't. Instead, he made a sigh, brightening his face. "So what's up?"
Gracia was surprised at this mood swing. So changed Hughes looked, almost as if his explanation was a lie. The swing rendered her delivery more difficult. "What I wanted to say..." Gracia slowed at the words. Why? She could always speak things efficiently. Saying something to Hughes felt like climbing a mountain.
"Miss Stern!" Nurse Lucille came up. "We're leaving."
Suddenly, the mountain was deemed unapproachable. "I have to go now." Gracia's defensive side was overwhelming.
Hughes' interested face dimmed a little. "Oh." His smile couldn't hide the disappointment on his face. "Well, I have to get going too. Examinations and all that." Again, his words increased to a more spirited tone. Disappointment was now gone in that positive demeanor. "Goodbye Miss Stern," He saluted her.
And another change came into Gracia. A small rebellion over that defensive wish came rushing out. "Please, call me Gracia!" The woman suddenly covered her mouth in shock. She rushed away. There would no closure. Right now Gracia Stern didn't know if she wanted an end anymore.
To Be Continued