Chapter 11
Two stairs. It was just two freaking stairs that caused the carefully constructed control Declan had built to come crashing down.
The night had started badly enough when they left for dinner at Grayson Manor and ran into the problem of how to get there. Charlotte's car was at the manor and Declan realized that even if they had her car there was no way his wheelchair was going to fit in the tiny sports car. They had the same problem with Emily and Daniel's cars which were both sports cars as well.
The only way they could finally make it work was for Declan to ride in Daniel's car which had just enough room for him and his chair, while Charlotte and Emily rode together in Emily's vehicle. It wasn't the worst situation but it was still humiliating to have to transfer in and out of the car while Daniel Grayson looked on uncomfortably like he wasn't sure if he should help Declan or not.
Things only got worse from there. The four of them entered the house together to find Conrad and Victoria standing in the foyer waiting for them. Emily and Daniel entered the house without a second thought but Declan and Charlotte stayed in the doorway both looking at the two stairs down that everyone had forgotten about.
"Oh um..." Charlotte began not quite sure what to say.
The conversation ground to a halt when everyone else in the room suddenly realized the problem.
"Declan I'm so sorry. We didn't even think..." Victoria trailed off.
The feeling of burning humiliation which was now becoming all too familiar washed over Declan, but he pushed it aside. He tried to remember everything his therapist had told him during rehab. He reminded himself that his injury wasn't his fault. He hadn't chosen this and he shouldn't feel the need to apologize for needing help.
"It's alright I think I can get down two stairs if you don't mind giving me a hand Daniel." Declan said.
"Of course just tell me what to do." Daniel replied eagerly.
"Just grab the back of my chair and hold it steady so I don't tip backwards alright?" Declan instructed.
As Daniel moved to stand behind Declan's chair, Declan popped a wheelie onto his back tires like he'd been taught in rehab. Once Daniel was holding him steady he wheeled forward and hopped his chair down the two stairs. It wasn't the most graceful looking manuver but it worked.
Charlotte followed him down the stairs and gave him a proud smile and a kiss on the cheek.
"Well lets eat." Conrad said loudly, obviously trying to break the uncomfortable tension in the room.
The group moved into the dining room and Declan waited while Charlotte moved a chair away from the table so that he could pull his wheelchair up.
"So Declan you must be so happy to be out of the hospital finally." Victoria gushed with her usual sweet fake charm.
"Yeah well four months is a really long time to eat hospital food." Declan joked hoping to cut the uncomfortable tension which still hadn't dissipated. He hated the fact that for the rest of his life people were going to feel uncomfortable around him.
"I imagine it is. Well hopefully this will be a little more palatable." Victoria stated as the maid walked in and began serving plates of food.
As they ate no one said much. Declan glanced at Charlotte who rolled her eyes and gave him a smile, clearly showing she knew just how weird the situation was. He had to stifle a laugh at the look on her face.
When dinner was over Conrad cleared his throat and looked between Charlotte and Declan. "So I have to admit that your mother and I had an ulterior motive for inviting you to dinner tonight. We felt now that Declan was out of the hospital we should all sit down and have a talk about the future. I realize that you've been through a tremendous amount Declan and I'm sure adjusting to your, uh, situation has been very difficult. But with the baby coming Victoria and I feel that there isn't time to waste in figuring out what you two are going to do with your lives."
"Dad Declan just got home today I think this can wait for awhile." Charlotte snapped.
Declan held up a hand to Charlotte. "It's okay Char I mean we made plans today we may as well share them with your parents if it would make them feel better. I mean if it's alright with you."
Charlotte looked around the table in a panic. She wasn't sure she was ready to tell her parents and her brother that she was getting married. What would they think? But then she considered everything she'd learned about her family today and figured these people had less right to judge her choices than anyone else in the entire world.
"So what are these plans you've both made?" Victoria asked.
"Declan was offered the chance to go back to Collins Prep and he convinced them to take me back as well. So we're going to start school again on Monday. Hopefully I can be finished before the baby comes. After that maybe college or we'll just go straight to work we haven't decided yet." Charlotte explained.
"That's wonderful that you're both planning on going back to school." Victoria praised.
"We also decided that we're going to get married." Charlotte blurted out.
Her announcement was met with ringing silence.
Victoria was the first to respond. "I guess we should have expected this, but are you sure it's the best idea? You both are so young and you've both gone through so much recently, I'm just not sure this is the best time to be making major life decisions."
Charlotte put a hand on her stomach. "I think we've already made one. Declan and I love each other and we're having a baby together. Getting married is the right thing to do."
Conrad shook his head and threw his napkin onto his empty plate. "And then what? You're both going to live in a tiny apartment above a bar while you raise the next generation of Graysons? Absolutely not."
Emily cleared her throat. "Actually Conrad they won't be living at the bar. As a welcome home present for Declan I had the beach house remodeled to be wheelchair accessible and I've already put the deed into Declan's name. I figured this way they could have their own space without being too far away from you and Victoria."
"It seems your generosity knows no bounds Emily." Victoria snipped. "Where may I ask are you going to be living since you've given your house away."
"Actually I planned on staying in Nolan's pool house at least for awhile. I guess I'll decide what to do from there once the summer season is over. Maybe Daniel and I will get a place in the city." Emily answered sounding coy and giving a flirtatious smile to Daniel.
Before the argument could continue Declan's phone began to ring. "Excuse me." He said and wheeled out of the dining room back into the foyer. He pulled his phone out of his jean's pocket and saw that Jack was calling him.
"Miss me already?" He answered with a laugh.
"Hey I'm a worrier alright, sue me." Jack returned also laughing. "You doing ok?"
"I've been better. We're at the Graysons' having dinner. Charlotte just told her parents we're engaged." Declan answered.
"Engaged? Since when are you and Charlotte engaged?" Jack exclaimed.
"Since about ten minutes before you walked in on us this morning. Sorry it's been a busy day I forgot to tell you."
"Well I can't say I'm surprised. You sure with everything else that's going on you're ready to add marriage to it?" Jack asked.
Declan ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I love her Jack. I'm not ever going to want anyone else and we're having a baby together, why shouldn't we get married?"
"I guess you've got a point. Well congratulations, I'm happy for you." Jack replied sincerely. "But you do realize that means that the Graysons are going to be your in-laws right?" He teased.
"Hopefully they won't be a problem for much longer." Declan whispered, his teeth clenched.
"Hopefully. Carl's crying so I've got to go. You call me if you need anything." Jack instructed.
"I will." Declan promised.
After hanging up and putting his phone away Declan wheeled back to the dining room, but stopped outside the door when he heard his name being spoken.
"Declan is a fine boy Charlotte that's not what your mother and I are saying, but he's not the boy for you." Victoria insisted.
"I don't care what you say, I'm marrying Declan and that's the end of it. If you can't accept it then you don't have to be a part of our lives." Charlotte yelled.
"Charlotte sweetheart. We understand you have feelings for Declan but he's not good enough for you. Even if it isn't by blood you're still a Grayson, that name holds certain responsibilities. Marrying a person of the correct social and financial standing is one of those responsibilities. Declan Porter has nothing to offer you Charlotte. He's barely educated and he's crippled, how will he ever be able to provide for you or your child? That boy has no future and I won't see you drug down with him. You are meant for so much more than marrying someone who is only half a man." Conrad lectured loudly.
Declan jumped when he heard a loud crashing sound, he peaked around the door frame and saw that Charlotte's chair was knocked over and she was standing in front of her father breathing heavily. She looked more angry than Declan had ever seen her.
"How could you say that? You know nothing about Declan. He is the bravest, most noble man I've ever known. You think he's not good enough for me? I'm not good enough for him! I'm lucky he still wants be in spite of all the crap this family has put him through! It's your fault..." Charlotte screamed.
Emily jumped from her chair and rushed to Charlotte's side hoping to calm her down before she said something to give everything away.
"Charlotte. Hey Char it's alright calm down." Emily soothed.
Charlotte continued to breath fast and heavy, her face nearly purple with rage.
"Come on Charlotte, calm down, this isn't good for the baby." Emily whispered.
"Let's get out of here and find Declan." Daniel suggested.
Charlotte nodded and followed her brother and Emily out of the dining room.
They found Declan sitting in the foyer at the base of the stairs. His head was hanging down so she couldn't see his face and his hands were gripping the tires of his wheelchair so hard that his knuckles were white.
Charlotte hurried to his side. "Did you hear..." She began.
"Yeah I heard." He interrupted, his voice was hoarse and flat completely devoid of emotion. "I was going to leave, but I can't get up the stairs." He whispered.
His voice was so defeated that Charlotte felt her heart breaking. She wanted more than anything to take away the pain in his voice but she had no idea how to do it.
"Declan what if I carry you up and Emily gets your chair up there?" Daniel asked quietly.
Declan nodded but didn't lift his head to look at Daniel. He put his arm around Daniel's shoulder and closed his eyes as Daniel picked him up out of his chair and carried him up the two steps.
Emily got the chair up the stairs as quickly as possible and Daniel set Declan back in it.
As fast as he could Declan spun his chair around and was out the front door which Emily held open for him, refusing the whole time to meet anyone's eye.
"Declan wait." Charlotte called and raced after him.
She reached out to grab his shoulder and he let out a growl of anger before spinning around to face her.
"Charlotte don't! Just leave me alone!" Declan snarled.
"How are you going to get home?" She whimpered when he spun around and started wheeling off again.
"It's not that far to the beach house Charlotte. I'm not helpless, I can get there on my own." He called without turning around.
Charlotte felt her heart breaking as Declan disappeared into the darkness. Part of her wanted to run after him, she was afraid to let him leave by himself. She forced herself to stay still however, she knew his pride was hurting and the last thing he needed was his pregnant girlfriend hovering over him worrying.
Charlotte stormed back into the house and went straight to her room, ignoring the calls from her parents. In her room she began throwing her things into suitcases. She left most of her clothes since they wouldn't fit her anyway. After she had two bags filled with the things she wanted to bring with her she stomped back downstairs.
"Emily could you please give me a ride back to the beach house?" She requested once again ignoring her parents.
"Charlotte dear please lets talk about this. What your father said was out of line and I'm sure he's sorry that Declan overheard and was hurt by it. But don't leave, this is your home." Victoria plead.
"Just stop. I'm done listening to both of you. I'm moving in with Declan and we are getting married. There's nothing you can do or say to stop me. I hope that one day you can both accept it and show Declan the respect he deserves, but until then just stay away from us." Charlotte stormed past her parents and walked straight to Emily's car without looking back.
"I'll give Charlotte a ride back to the beach house and then meet you back here alright?" Emily asked Daniel.
Daniel pulled Emily into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Ah another pleasant dinner with the Graysons I guess."
She laughed quietly and put her arms around him. "Well at least there was no attempted murder this time."
"Good point. Thank you for taking care of my sister, she really loves you." Daniel whispered into her ear.
"I really love her too Daniel." Emily replied and thought that it was one of the most honest things she'd ever said to him.
A/N- Wow this was a difficult chapter to get out. I hope everyone enjoys it. Thanks again for reading and reviewing.