Disclaimer- I still don't own shit. Big surprise, right?
Chapter 3- Pie and Invitations.
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3 and ½ years later
Gracie was my beautiful baby girl. She's 3 now. Johns never seen her, although if he looked at her, I wasn't sure how he would react.. She got my curly hair, but his lighter brown color. She got his blue eyes. She got my nose and my cheek bones. But is strong features, and his short temper. She was a perfect mixture of me and John.
I'm still living in Boston. I work in an upscale restaurant. Its not much, but it pays the bills, especially around the holidays. I finished wiping the table off and untied the small apron from around my waist.
"Okay, Kelly." I spoke through the kitchen, throwing the rag into the deep silver sink.
"You're leavin?" she asked me coming around the corner.
"Yeah, I gotta head to Carols and get Gracie." I reminded her, straightening out my black pants.
Call me crazy, but I love Johns mom. She and John Sr. are the closest thing to parents I've ever had. I didn't feel right the day she came into the restaurant, and saw me almost 35 weeks pregnant and I was still working. She was shocked to say the least. Shocked I had left John, and she didn't know about it. Shocked I would come back to Boston. But honestly, where else was I going to go? This was my home. Its all I knew. And most definitely shocked that I was standing there, almost ready to deliver her grandchild.
I never had it in my heart to keep my baby away from her Nana and Poppy. She loved them, hell, I loved them. Carol was persistent on watching her while I worked, and who was I to turn down that offer.
I pulled my dark blue ford focus into the driveway of the home. I knocked on the door and then opened it. I walked through the kitchen and found Gracie and Carol making some kind of pie.
"Mommy! Nana and me is makin pie for tanks'giv'n." Gracie said smiling at me, with her curly hair in a high pony tail on her head.
"Yeah, baby?" I smiled at her. "What kind?" I asked, pulling a stood out from the island counter.
"I not sure. Wut kind is we makin Nana." she said, looking at Carol with dough on her fingers and flour on her cheeks.
"Pumpkin, Honey." Carol answered.
"Yeah, Punk'n." Gracie quipped, putting her small hand back into the dough.
"You're coming for Thanksgiving, right?" Carol asked me.
Oh fuck! Was I? John would be there. He didn't miss family events for anything. I haven't went the past 2 years, why would this year be any different. I couldn't be around him. Who knew what would happen. Granted, it was a different situation, now, but still. The memory is still vivid.
"Please Come honey. Nothing will happen. Just good ol' fashion eatin." she finished with a smiled. It was almost like she was reading my mind.
"Carol, I don't know if I.." I started. I looked at Gracie. I felt a pang in my heart. I know I shouldn't keep her from knowing John, but I don't want her hurt like I was. He could have easily killed her before she was born. If I didn't get out of there that night. He would have, I know it.
"I'm just scared about her seeing him." I said lowering my head.
"Honey, you listen to me. I'll deal with that boy, you just bring your beautiful self and my grand baby over here and we'll have a good time cooking and eating." she said smiling. Cooking and Eating. Carol's form of therapy.
"Yeah, Mommy" Gracie said. She smiled at me showing her dimples and it melted my heart. John was a dickhead, for sure, but he gave me the best thing in the world.
"You don't even know what we're talking about Gracie." I smiled and spoke at her softly.
"Hmm." she smiled looking back into the huge bowl.
Carol looked at me again, and over to John Sr. as he walked into the room.
"It'll be a good idea, Marley." he smiled, putting an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. How do I say no, when both of them are there. And I couldn't keep Gracie away from them on the holidays, even if I didn't think I was strong enough to see John.
I took a deep breath, all of my sense leaving me. "Okay, what time should I be here then?" I asked, focusing my eyes to the marbled counter top.
"How about around 10 in the morning. I could really use the help cooking." she said smiling. She was like my own mother, and she told me countless times I'm the daughter she never had. I loved her, and not showing up tomorrow would break her heart.
"I'll be here." I said smiling, and walking around the counter to clean my daughter up.
"Mama, can I stay the night with Poppy and Nana?" she asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"No, baby. We gotta get you home so you can take a bath, and we can pick out a really pretty dress to wear tomorrow okay. We'll be back to Poppy's in the morning." I said kneeling on her level. It amazed me how much more she looked like John everyday. I wiped my hand over my nose and picked up her coat from the back of the stool.
"Give Nana and Poppy hugs and kisses and we'll see them in the morning." I said zipping her jacket. She made her rounds and I hoisted her onto my hip. I gave Carol and John a quick hug and kiss and made my way to my car. Headlights coming into the driveway almost blinded me, and I leaned in to strap Gracie into her booster seat.
I noticed the car was Dan's. One of Johns brothers. I waved at him, as he pulled up next to me. I got in the car and started it so it wouldn't be too cold on Gracie.
"You comin for dinner tomorrow?" He asked me, stepping over to the back door, opening it and giving Gracie a quick kiss. "You comin to see Uncle Danny tomorrow, munchkin?" he asked her.
"YEP!" she squealed when he tickled her sides.
"Okay Dan, see you in the morning." I said sitting in the seat. He nodded his head. "Thanks for coming, Marley. I know Mom and Dad really want you here." he said sticking his hands in his coat.
"I know." I managed. I just didn't know how it would be seeing John for the first time in almost 4 years. I've never moved on. I haven't even went on a date since I left him. I can't fathom the thought of loving anyone like I loved him.
I pulled out of the driveway and drove to my apartment. After giving Gracie a bath and picking out her clothes I went to my room and settled on my bed. It was a long day, that just got longer. Gracie stepped into my room, and bounced on my bed.
"Wutch'a doin, mommy?" she asked me, sitting in her pink footed pajamas.
"Mommys, just thinking, baby." I said, smiling at her. I looked at the clock on my night stand and noticed it was 10 minuets till 10:00. "You." I paused tapping her little nose with my finger. "Need to go to bed." I said picking her up and carrying her to her room. "I love you, bug." I smiled, and kissed her forehead.
I turned on the nightlight and closed her door halfway. I leaned against the wall in the living room and sighed, trying to collect my thoughts. It was going to be a long day tomorrow, and I wasn't sure I was ready.
