Guess what guys! New chapter yay!! And right before finals too!! Haha you all should be proud. I rather like this chapter ill be honest, I hope you all do too. I think its informative yet… well ill let you read.
Chapter 26
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Grace had napped for four hours. The whole time Luke sat at his computer desk watching her wondering what all she had been through. Asking her would be the toughest part of it all. Grace had never been one to answer personal questions. If she did not volunteer the information you did not get to know about it. Hiding under her coverlet of wounds is what she had always done best. Luke knew it would be even harder this time. They had not been together in over two years now.
As she began to wake Luke greeted her with a drink as he sat on the edge of the bed by her. She sat up and thanked him. "Grace I…"
But Grace stopped him with a nod and after taking a drink put the glass on his nightstand. She sat up straighter and spoke. "You want to know what happened and why I'm here don't you?"
Luke looked at her shocked. He had expected to struggle for any information at all and here she was seemingly willing to talk to him.
She smiled at the shocked look on his face.
"Well, to start out… some realizations brought me here. You already know about one. I found out he was related to Mitch. That of course is not the only reason." Her eyes seemed to dim as she thought about how to continue.
"Grace, you don't have to tell me now… if it's too hard for you."
She smiled warmly at him, and she seemed to gain some confidence at his concern for her.
"No," she smiled confidently. "I've waited long enough, and I've made you wonder long enough too."
Her voice was sharp when she began again, Luke could hear the pain in her voice as it faltered slightly.
"Last night… what you said about him hitting me… he did."
"Luke looked fearfully at her, but Grace quickly interjected.
"He didn't start out that way. That started about five months ago and end ended quickly, as if something had provoked him to do it, or someone." I can almost pin point when it started, he was expecting a letter. Now that I think about it now that I know what I know it probably was from Mitch. I think he had been terrified that I would find out… that he'd loose me."
Seeing the look on Luke's face about crushed her, she frowned but continued.
"After the first time, I was in the hospital for about two weeks… I think he learned some control after that, or at least what was too much."
Luke interrupted angrily. "Any is too much!"
She shook her head and continued. "I know…but I have to tell you. I have to get this out in the open." Her gaze was direct and held vigor he had not seen in a long while from her.
Again he nodded and let her continue.
"After my stay in the hospital, I was never hospitalized again. He hit me occasionally, sometimes I had huge bruises I had to try to cover, or I would not go out until they were coverable. This went on for about two months, until one day after hitting me hard across the face and knocking me to the floor he too crumbled with me. He had looked so scared… like he was in shock at what he had done. He cried right there on the floor, for a solid hour. He begged me to forgive him. He was so sad to look at…even after all he had done to me. After he had composed himself he treated me as if he were my nurse. He brought me ice and treated the cut under my eye. He sat there with me for hours it seemed. He had propped my head into his lap and stroked my head, promising he would change."
Grace looked up at Luke as he stood and paced to control his frustration. "I don't believe him Grace. You can't, do you?!"
"Grace smiled slightly. "He did… He even went to a psychiatrist to get help. He hasn't hit me since that night. He hasn't even made a threatening remark or motion towards me."
"Grace!" Luke seemed desperate to change her mind about what she was saying, but her mind seemed made up about him.
"I met with his psychiatrist with him. I found out why he had his outburst. The psychiatrist said it was triggered by something which he was not quite sure of, but I guess Eric's step father did the same to his mother; he had a particularly nasty outlook towards women. He said that Eric was probably severely stressed and took out his anger in a way he had seen as a child. He hasn't hit me since." After a brief pause Grace continued. "Luke… I think Eric's step dad is Mitch's dad."
Luke nodded, though all the information had not sank in yet. He was more worried about Grace and what would happen if she decided to stay with Eric. He thought about how Eric had pushed him on the stairs, was that not violent? Whether he was being protective of Grace because he was threatened by Luke, or because his mean streak was coming back he did not know, but he did not care to find out, especially if the victim would be Grace.
"Luke?" Grace looked concerned as he did not respond.
"What are you going to do?" Luke asked delicately.
Grace's eyes shifted quickly from the bedspread back to his eyes.
"That brings me to the third reason I am here. I'm not sure exactly… Her eyes were piercing but warm as he stared into them. But, I have a decision to make, I love him, I won't deny it. But, I have feelings for someone else as well. I feel safer with them."
Luke watched as her eyes lit up thinking about this other man. He felt his heart fall in his chest. He couldn't even compete with this man who hit women, how was he to compete with a man who made her eyes shine that way?
Grace continued. "I guess I came here to ask…before I made any commitments or began making any decisions… that if maybe…maybe that man would be willing to consider starting over?" Grace's eyes captured his with such a warm gaze that his heart began to race.
"Me?" He questioned from across the room. Grace shook her head slightly as she looked back at him shaking nervously waiting on a response.
Luke felt as if he was in euphoria, his shock and emotions were beyond words.
Grace stared at him not able to judge his emotions. Her nervous trembling she tried to mask by hiding her hands in the sweatshirt she had borrowed from him.
She was relieved when he finally smiled. It was the biggest smile she had seen from him in a long time.
Though she tried to make it clear that she had not yet made a decision, the smile would not leave Luke's face. He finally felt as though his world had started revolving in the right direction again. He felt as though for the first time in years that he had a grasp on what was going on. Grace had confided in him, she trusted him. He had a chance to get her back, back to safety, and back to the love she deserved.
Side note: this song was actually featured on Joan of Arcadia but don't ask me which episode lol I have no idea lol but I thought it very fitting for the chapter.
Song by Jonathon clay.
Back to Good.
Take
a While
And Take a Breath
Let yourself down slow
Gather
up your memories
Hold on to what you know
And everythings been
moving way to fast
You thought that you found something that would
last
And it passed
So if you find
That in your mind
Your
putting up your guard
Trust me when
I say its not
Supposed
to be this hard
Youll fall again
And it'll feel so fast
And
every single fear you thought would last
It'll pass
And
youll fall again
And it'll feel so fast
And every single
fear
And every single fear
Will pass
Do I have to let
go
And watch you walk away
And do I have to let go
And wish
you would have stayed
I think Ill just play the part
I
think Ill just play the part
It may take some time
Before
you find that
Youre back to good again
Right where you should
have been
And even though
The letting go
Can be the
hardest part
I think its time you start
Living like youre
loved again
I dont care where youve been
I wish you'd let me
in
And show me how to get you
Show me how to get you back to
good
Back to good
Get you back to good
Back to good
Ok guys so what did you think? I am hoping that took out a little bit of the confusion about why Grace has stayed with Eric. Me personally, I would never have stayed with him, but what can I say? Later chapters will dive into her reasoning a little bit more. But as of right now I think we can rest on fear, perhaps love or what she thinks is love, and a lack of anywhere else she can think of to turn. I know Luke! But I mean… she did leave him, she didn't know how he felt about her abandoning her, or if there is still love there. Haha we see it obviously because we are Grace Luke fans, haha I find it hard when I read stories to stay thinking with the character instead of what I think should happen or that I want to happen. So I provided this to try to help myself and maybe anyone else who is still wondering WHY!! Lol but yeah so feel more than free to review… I rather enjoyed this chapter hopefully you did too?