Thanks for your reviews guys. I know it may be hard to understand why Kelsi made the decision not to tell Ryan about Grace. Hopefully that will be explained a bit in this chapter and more in the next. I am really falling in love with this story...I hope you are too. Love, Jenny
Grace did not understand why her Mommy just kept staring into her bowl of strawberry ice cream. I mean, it had sprinkles on it, and it was strawberry, how could a person not gobble it up as fast as possible. And Grace wasn't the only person noticing her Mommy's bad mood. Izzie tapped Grace's foot under the table and pointed towards Kelsi's full ice cream dish.
"What's wrong with your Mommy?" Izzie whispered. "She usually finishes her ice cream before us."
Grace looked from her best friend to her Mommy, a pretty pout formed on her small lips. Grace shrugged her shoulders at her friend, not knowing how to respond to Izzie's question. Then she remembered how her Mommy always said she should "express her feelings freely." She focused her attention on her Mommy.
"Mommy, why aren't you eating your ice cream? Did that Ryan guy make you sad?" Grace asked in a matter of fact manner.
Both girls focused on Kelsi, their gazes attentive and interested.
Kelsi suddenly realized that for the first time ever she was allowing her feelings...past and present, to interfere with Grace. She always dealt with the more difficult emotions that came up in life, but never when she was spending time with her daughter. Kelsi pushed the 9 o'clock discussion with Ryan to the back of her mind and focused on Grace and Izzie.
"So, how is that ice cream?" Kelsi said smiling at the two little loves sitting across from her.
"So good!" They both said in union and then burst into laughter.
Kelsi felt the earlier stress leave her body as she listened to the young girls' musical laughter. It would be okay, she would make sure it was okay.
"Well, make sure you both save room for dinner tonight. Izzie I am sure your Mommy and Daddy are making a wonderful meal." Kelsi said with a smile.
Izzie lit up, always excited to talk about her Mommy and Daddy.
"Oh yeah, Daddy is grilling cause that's the only cooking he knows how to do, other than make me cereal in the morning and Mommy's making a fruit salad...yummy."
Grace shared in her friend's exuberance.
"Oh, I love fruit in a salad. Can we go now Mommy? Izzie and I are going to play Tinkerbell while we pretend to fly on her swing set." Grace said excitedly.
Kelsi looked at the two best friends' eager faces.
"You know who else LOVES fruit salad?" Kelsi asked suspiciously.
"Who?" Both girls chorused.
"Me!" Shouted Kelsi, "Race you to the car!"
At that moment two little girls and one petite woman took off racing towards their car as fast as their feet could carry them.
They were still stifling giggles when they pulled into the Bolton's driveway. The girls sprinted up to the front door before flinging it open and racing towards Izzie's bedroom to ransack her dress-up clothes. Kelsi took the walk at a slower pace, realizing that she was not only going to be having a difficult conversation with Ryan, but with Troy and Gabriella also. They were her two closest friends and had always respected her wish for privacy concerning Grace's father. But it was time they knew the truth too, they deserved the truth.
Dinner was lovely. Troy and Gabby's home was beyond welcoming...mainly because of the people who inhabited it. The food was delicious and the conversation was lively...this was especially thanks to the many animated and entertaining antics of Grace and Izzie. The girls were constantly cracking the adults up with their amusing comments. Troy, Gabby and Kelsi sat on the large deck in the backyard drinking tea and coffee. They watched Grace and Izzie soar on the swings, their brightly colored fairy costumes and wings taking on a life of their own. Kelsi knew now was the time to share her secret.
"So, I ran into Ryan when I picked the girls up from ballet today."
Troy looked surprised.
"Ryan Evans?" He said.
Gabby quickly chimed in. "Oh, I totally forgot to tell you I ran into him earlier when I dropped the girls off. It was great to see him, he seems to be doing well." Gabby paused. "It was the oddest thing though, the moment he looked at Grace he kind of freaked out."
Gabby and Troy both looked at Kelsi expectantly, as if awaiting her response. Kelsi's eyes widened as she realized they knew. Well, they probably did not know for sure, but they at least figured Ryan was Grace's father. Kelsi voiced her thoughts aloud.
"You already know don't you?"
Gabby and Troy smiled patiently at their friend, recognizing the importance of the moment. Kelsi finished her verbal thought.
"You already know Ryan is Grace's father." She didn't state it as a question, for she knew it did not qualify as such.
Troy decided to answer on behalf of him and his wife.
"We had our suspicions Kels...I mean it's not like there were a lot of possible fathers, Ryan's name was the only one on the hypothetical list."
Gabby softly added, "It was up to you to tell us though. We figured when you were ready to tell us you would."
Kelsi felt color heighten her features.
"Do you think anyone else knows?" She asked with a bit of alarm. After all, Ryan's parents did still live in Albuquerque.
Troy placed a comforting hand on Kelsi's arm.
"This isn't something we all gossip about when you aren't around Playmaker. I would say the only people who have any idea are Chad, Taylor, Jason and Martha." Troy said.
Kelsi covered her face with her tiny hands.
"Oh yeah, great only four others." She muttered sarcastically.
Gabby quickly moved to sit beside Kelsi and placed her arms around her friend.
"Kelsi, look at me." She ordered. Kelsi's watery eyes lifted up to meet her best friend's. "We all love you and Grace. That comes first and foremost. We may not agree with the choice you made to not tell Ryan, but we support you. That's a part of what love is after all, supporting someone even if you don't agree or understand their motives."
As Kelsi hugged her best friend tightly, Troy found himself feeling a little emotional.
"We figured you had your reasons Kels...for not telling Ryan. We can only hope that you will use his return home as an opportunity to share the truth with him because he deserves to know. He has a right to know his daughter." Troy stated supportively.
Kelsi nodded at both of her friends.
"I know you both are right, that's why I've already told him." Kelsi said wiping tears away from her cheeks.
Gabby and Troy stared at Kelsi with duo looks of shock. Troy attempted to speak first.
"Wow, that was quick...I mean, um...I wasn't expecting you to get right to the point like that."
Gabby had a little more time to gather her thoughts together.
"That's great Kelsi. We are really proud of you. This is going to be wonderful for Grace too, a chance to know her Dad."
Kelsi shared a grateful look with her friends, for being so understanding and supportive.
"Ryan's coming over to talk tonight. There are a lot of hurt feelings there, along with resentment." Kelsi quickly continued. "Hopefully this will serve as a closure to the past for both of us. I want him to be a part of Grace's life, if he wishes to be. I won't force him though. He has to really want to know her. I can't risk her getting hurt."
Troy and Gabby nodded, understanding the need of a parent to protect their child.
"Are you going to tell Grace?" Troy asked.
"I am going to tell her tonight. I figured it will be easier for her to hear the explanation from me as opposed to from both Ryan and myself. This is really going to shake her small world." There was an underlying of worry behind Kelsi's words.
Gabby shared a look of understanding with her friend.
"It will be an adjustment, but the positives much outweigh the negatives...remember that."
Kelsi stared at her two closest friends, and relished the overflowing relief that swept through her. It felt good to share with Troy and Gabby. More than good actually, it felt right. She could only hope the positive feelings would last through her talk with Ryan.
I felt it important to write about the dinner at Troy and Gabby's. Kelsi needed to share this with her friends before facing Ryan. And now, your teaser alert...next chapter is her telling Grace and Ryan's 9 o'clock discussion....ooolala. Coming soon...Ryan tells his parents and Sharpay...oh dear!