"She's asleep already?" Grace whispered to Oliver as she walked into Annie's room.
"Yeah," he smiled, running the back of his hand over the sleeping girl's curls. "I couldn't believe it either."
"I'm glad today was a happy day for her."
"I think it's been for all of us."
Grace smiled as she snuggled up to his side, wrapping both of her arms around his waist.
Kissing the top of her head, holding her with his free arm, he said, "You've looked tired though. Didn't get much rest, hmm?"
Seeing no point in denying it, Grace nodded. "There was a lot to think about. A lot to look forward to, as well."
"No regrets then?"
She shook her head. "Not a one. And you?"
"None whatsoever. But I am glad that the party is through."
"So am I. It was lovely, though. I'm so glad Agatha decided to come."
"Did she say what changed her mind?"
"Not really. I think it was a good mix of feeling an obligation and wanting to be here. Which reminds me… I hope you don't mind but I didn't want her trying to find a way home in the rain. I invited her to stay in the guest room across from Leia."
"I had a feeling you might."
"You're not angry?"
Noticing Annie stir, Oliver brought a finger to his lips and gently pulled on her hand to lead them out of the room. Once outside the door and walking down the hallway, he said, "I meant it when I said things are starting to change. I'm not going to lie and say a part of me will ever stop resenting her for what she's done to Annie but I saw tonight how right you've been about her changing. Granted, I didn't speak to her much but she looks a lot different than she did when I first met her. Healthier for sure and even a bit happier. I wouldn't say calmer but it was obvious she was uncomfortable around Annie and the other girls."
"I noticed that, too. I'm glad nothing came of it. I wasn't worried about Annie's response or Molly's or even any of the others aside from Pepper. She's always had an edge to her. And as the oldest, I'm sure she has the most vivid memories."
"I'll never understand how you were able to forgive her so easily."
"It wasn't easy," Grace said, halting them both. "Believe me. I felt sick about the whole thing and sometimes still do if I focus on it enough. But not so much for the deeds she did themselves but thinking what happened that made her become that way. No, she was never a warm and fuzzy person but she wasn't cruel or vindictive. She was hurt. Still is. I'm convinced it was the alcohol that turned everything for her. I'm still not clear on every detail. I know it started around the time I moved out but I know my actions alone could not have caused everything that happened. I feel guilty as if it were but I do know better. In all honesty, I think it was inevitable at some point. It's difficult for her to let herself be happy and always was. Her brother was a mess and clearly only got worse with each passing year. She was robbed of a childhood and more or less became a parent as a teenager. Both her parents died from addiction or as a consequence because of it. Sometimes, before any of this was even in question, I wondered what would set her off. Her temper was unpredictable. I didn't see it often but when I did it was bad. I couldn't imagine how someone survived walking around angry at the world all the time. I remember early on after I'd met her, our first Christmas together, I drove her up the wall with my excitement. In her defense, I did go overboard back in those days."
Oliver laughed. "More so than you did this Christmas with Annie?"
Swatting his arm, she continued. "No. It doesn't count as excessive when there is a child involved. Besides, there's much more room and many more people. But for two women in a small apartment, it was more than she could handle. I remember lugging home a massive Christmas tree that barely fit through the door. I was so excited. It was the first time I was sharing a Christmas with anyone since moving to New York. I was really trying to make up for the fact I was feeling homesick and missing my old family Christmases. Of course, Agatha didn't know this. I didn't talk much about it. We had a silly fight and I remember breaking down at one point when I had to tell her where it all came from. But it wasn't all for nothing. We really started to get to know each other around that time. She told me about her lack of holidays in her household and how it was just another excuse to get drunk. Again what I mean by her hitting the bottle being inevitable."
"I never realized…"
A small smile appeared on Grace's face. "That Christmas wasn't all for nothing, though. I convinced her to celebrate just a little bit — I had to promise to tone it down which I did. The tree stayed, though. I think we went to a party Christmas Eve. Oh, yes, with old friends from the deli where I used to work… or was it the bakery? It's terrible that I don't remember anymore… Anyways, I convinced her to come along and she did. She hit it off well with everyone. When we came home I figured we'd throw something together for dinner. It wasn't as though we needed a whole feast. But when we got to the apartment I was surprised to see that my brother, Leia, and the kids had all traveled out to surprise me. I think I'd mentioned in passing in one of my letters to Deven that I was missing our parents and I was sorry I couldn't afford to take the train out to see them. Agatha wasn't thrilled at first. I think she felt awkward. But by the end, everyone got along. It was one of the nicest surprises I've ever received… Hard to believe that was the last Christmas…" Tears flooded her eyes as she chocked out her last words. "The last Christmas I ever spent with them… Oh, gosh."
In an instant, Oliver took her in his arms. "It's okay."
"No, it's not," she said, running her sleeve over her eyes. "It's our wedding night. Why am I choosing to talk about this now?"
"I'm starting to think it's been on your mind."
"Not the memory in particular," she said with a sniff as she took a step back from him. "But I can admit to having thought an awful lot about Deven and the kids today. My parents as well."
"I kind of thought something was off."
"It's been obvious?"
"Probably just to me."
Grace shook her head. "No… Agatha noticed it, too."
"It's only natural for you to miss them on a day like today."
"But there is so much else to focus on. So many new people in my life. I'm glad Leia was here. At least I still have a connection to my brother. But I can't help but wish my mother had been in the first pew and that my father had walked me down the aisle like I imagined he would when I was a little girl. So much has changed since then and for some reason I chose today to realize just how much."
"I feel like this all connects back to what happened a few months ago."
"No," she said. "I don't want to talk about that today. It's over. Though, I'll never forgive myself for it."
"There are worse things you could have done. I think it's safe to say I've forgiven you. We're married now."
"So bring it up tomorrow, not on our wedding night."
Taking both of her hands, Oliver said, "There's no pressure. I'm tired, too."
Emotions resurfacing, she said, "I feel terrible. I didn't mean to bring all this up. Of course I want to spend our wedding night together. When I started talking about Agatha all I meant to do was help you to understand where I'm coming from in regards to my friendship with her."
"And you did. It's my own fault. I never took the time to really listen."
"And who can blame you?"
"It doesn't matter anymore, love." With his thumbs, he brushed away her tears. "What happened with you and Agatha, what happened with Agatha and Annie, what happened with that awful brother of hers… what happened to your brother and his family. It's in the past."
"I know it is. And I can push past everything with Agatha and Rooster. Most days I can push past Deven. It's just some moments I wish he could be here with my parents. It's strange to think I'm all alone. I've only just started reconnecting with Leia. I was young when I first met her. She and Deven lived away from Connecticut. I didn't get to know her as a close relative."
"Believe me, I understand. I, too, wished my brother and mother could have been here." He looked down a moment, trying not to think too deeply of them. When he looked back up, he finished, "And you are not alone," he said. "Now you have me and Annie. You'll still have her when I'm gone as well as the children we'll have together."
Resting her forehead against his cheek, she said, "I don't want to think of the day I lose you. Is it selfish to hope I go first?"
"Only because you'd be robbing yourself and your children of several years of your life."
"You are not that much older than me."
"Thirteen years adds up."
"Please, Oliver," she said, gripping onto the sides of his jacket. "I can't think of losing you right now."
"You're right…" he pulled her to him and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry."
"I love you… so much."
"I love you, too. I always will. And no matter what happens, take comfort in knowing you'll always be cared for."
"I care nothing about being cared for. I don't want to lose one more person I love."
"You aren't going to lose anybody tonight or even tomorrow. It's been a long day."
"I'm sorry I got so upset."
Kissing her softly, Oliver said, "You don't need to apologize. We're in this together."
"You've been too wonderful to me, you know that?"
"Impossible."
Grace smiled, linking his arm with his as they started walking again. It was hard to believe after all these years they were finally husband and wife. Less than a year ago all of this seemed impossible. She never imagined she'd see Agatha again let alone have her be a part of her wedding. It was funny the way life worked out. It wasn't all good, but it wasn't all bad, either. Looking up at Oliver, she started to feel that maybe she wasn't so alone after all. Perhaps her family had a hand in all of this.
"I love you," she said again.
"I love you, too."
Agatha's eyes hardly left the clock come Saturday's shift. Why did she agree to meet him here? She was a mess. She could have got off early and rushed home to change. What if he planned to take her to a nice place? Of course today would be the day the dishwasher couldn't make it and leave her doing double the work. The front of her dress was still damp from a juice spill and she was sure her hair was a sweaty mess. Funny how much she noticed this stuff now.
Come four o'clock, she grew anxious, almost wishing she'd never agreed to the date after all. What if he was expecting the Agatha Hannigan he met at the wedding? She was far more put together then than her usual day to day messy self. And she still had yet to discover how to tell him everything that happened with Rooster, Lily, Annie, and the bridge. Sure, he acted okay with the potential discretion, but there was no way he could anticipate or assume it involved kidnapping. Because of this, she was already prepared for him to get up and leave.
Around four-thirty she saw him walk in. Her anxiety turned to excitement when he smiled which alone was cause for worry. Until she told him the truth she could not get her hopes up. Right away she went over to him with the fresh pot of coffee she'd made for him. "Just in time," she said with a smile.
"I meant to come in earlier," he said, "but I had car trouble."
"Wow, how do you manage to afford a car?"
"It's really for business but I figured a joyride wouldn't hurt."
"I hope I won't mess it up. Today of all days has been a sloppy one as I'm sure you can see." She pointed to her dress as she continued. "Didn't even think to bring a change of clothes."
"We can stop by your place if you'd like."
"I don't wanna make you go out of your way. Only if it's on our way to the restaurant. Where are we goin' anyways?"
"I know a place a few blocks down. Excellent Italian food. Is that okay?"
"Perfect."
"And it doesn't make a difference if your place is in the opposite direction."
"Let me see how I clean up once I get this apron off. Can I get you anything else?"
"No," he said, "the coffee is fine."
"Well, just let me know. I'll get started cleaning up the tables now so you're not just sitting around waiting. We don't usually get many people in this close to closing."
"Don't worry about it, I don't mind waiting."
"Yeah, maybe you don't but I do," Agatha said with a grin. "I'm starved."
Stanley laughed, turning to the counter to drink his coffee.
. . .
Agatha relaxed immensely but the time they arrived at the restaurant. She was glad she decided to take him up on his offer to stop by her apartment to change. She felt much better changing out of her sticky dress and getting a chance to fix her hair and makeup. One look in the mirror and she realized what a pathetic mess she looked. She'd never been nervous about a date before. Not even as a teenager. Why now? She knew that it was because it meant more now and that moments like these wouldn't be coming often. But there was something about Stanley. He made her feel at ease which was unusual. Even with Grace, she had moments of feeling tense and self-conscious. Stanley didn't make her feel this way at all. Yeah, she worried what his reaction would be when she said what she needed to say. Aside from that, there was a certain calmness. She did worry about this, thinking it was all too good to be true, but for all she knew this would be their only date. For once she decided not to go to the doom before an event had a chance to happen.
The restaurant was just her taste. It wasn't a dump but it wasn't anywhere near the kind of fancy joints Grace dragged her to. The food was always great but she couldn't enjoy it knowing she didn't really belong. Here was more her crowd. The decoration of minimal but not dumpy. The dining area was small, about the same size as the diner, but it was dimly lit and dare she say romantic? However, she did find it impressive that this many people clearly in her same financial struggles found time and money to eat out.
"So," Stanley said after they ordered. "Let's not stew about it all night. What is this awful thing you have to tell me?"
Agatha sighed. "Ah, do we really have to talk about it before we eat? Why spoil a good meal?"
"Because I can tell you've been thinking about it."
"I'm more wonderin' how I managed to attract a guy like you."
"You really want to know?" he asked.
"Oh gosh," Agatha mumbled. This was it. Here was the catch. His next words would mark the end of the illusion she'd been living in the past couple of days. "Why…?"
"Because you were yourself the first time we talked."
This wasn't what she was expecting. "Come again?"
Stanley chuckled. "You were completely yourself when I came up to you with that tea box. You weren't expecting a chat. You were relaxed. Since then you've seemed nervous and on edge."
"Of course I'm nervous on edge. I can't stress enough that I'm not the one to meet a nice guy. My life has been filled with creeps."
"And I'd like to know why."
"This wasn't even before the thing I have to tell you."
"Agatha, please. Humor me. I can take it."
"Oh, I know you can take it. I just know you'll think less of me."
"Can you let me be the judge of that?"
Once more, she sighed. "Fine, since it's clearly not gonna be put to rest…"
"You realize by now I've had plenty of time to imagine the worst possible things you could say to me? By the time you tell me whatever it is will seem like nothing."
"I mean… I hope so. It's not like I've ever killed anybody."
"See?" he said, "We're off to a great start."
"It's just that, you spoke so specifically against people doing lousy things for money. I… and not even that long ago… did something I'll never be able to forgive myself for."
"I can take it."
"You know the Warbucks kid, Annie?"
"Yeah?" he said.
"Maybe you heard over the summer that a couple'a people posed as her parents to collect the fifty-grand reward?"
Beginning to understand, Stanley nodded. "Yes, I think I do."
Pointing to herself, Agatha finished. "That was me. Well, I helped. I wasn't the one pretending to be her mother. That was my brother's girlfriend. My brother pretended to be the father."
"Well," Stanley said as he sat back in his chair. "I'll admit that this is one scenario I didn't think of."
"I don't blame ya if you wanna leave."
"I'm curious," he said, ignoring her comment. "Why would the Warbucks' invite you to their wedding if you helped kidnap their daughter?"
"It's actually a long story," Agatha said.
"We have time."
A small smile touched his lips. At this, the knot in Agatha's stomach loosened a bit.
"You sure?" she asked.
"Positive."
For the first time in her life, Agatha knew she'd happened upon someone good. And what made it all the more strange is that she no longer feared he was going to get away.
