Gracie Part 4
Disclaimer: see first part
Gracie Cale stared up at the tall red brick building with children milling around outside "you'll have a great time, don't worry" she looked up at Logan with apprehension written all over her face. Logan crouched down beside her and gave her ponytail a tug "your teachers name is miss franks and she's really looking forward to meet you." Gracie looked down at her feet and hugged Logan tightly. He hugged her back and brushed down the front of her dress "now you think you can do this?" Gracie squared her shoulders and nodded. Logan smiled and stood taking her hand and walking towards the school.
Logan pushed the large mahogany door open and led Gracie inside. Children's voices could be heard from down a hall "excuse me, can I help you?" a woman sitting behind a desk asked politely. "I hope so" Logan answered picking Gracie up "my daughter Gracie is starting here today in Miss Franks class" the woman smiled at Gracie and gestured down the hall "first door on the right. I heard Miss Franks had a new girl, you'll love her Gracie so don't worry" Gracie smiled at her. Logan put her down and took her hand again "ready?" Gracie nodded and glanced at the door in front of them "ready." He knocked once and then pushed the door open.
The room was large and sunny with small desks and tables scattered around the room. The white washed walls covered with children's artwork "Hi Logan. And you must be Gracie" a young woman with white blond hair rose from a desk where she was talking to a little girl Gracie's age. Gracie tightened her grip on Logan's hand, not to sure if she wanted to be there "yeah she sure is. Gracie this is Miss Franks" Logan said. The young woman nodded and moved over to them, crouching down in front of Gracie "it's a bit scary on your first day isn't it" Gracie nodded solemnly. Miss Franks gestured for the little red headed girl she had been speaking with to come over "this is Maddie, she thought you might like someone to look after you and show you around" Maddie smiled at Gracie cheerfully, Gracie smiled back "do you like drawing?" Maddie asked her. Gracie nodded enthusiastically "we have some new crayons and paints, you wanna come see?" Gracie looked up at Logan "can I daddy?" he smiled and squeezed her hand "only if you promise to draw me a picture" Gracie grinned and let go of his hand, taking Maddie's. "Oh and Gracie mommy will pick you up from school" Gracie nodded and ran over to a table with Maddie.
Kate Franks stood up "don't worry, Gracie will fit in perfectly" Logan tore his gaze off Gracie and looked at Miss Franks "thanks for this Kate." She shrugged and hugged her waist "it's the least I could do for you after you got dad's money back" Logan smiled "well I gotta go but Max will be here to pick her up." Kate pursed her lips "ah yes the famous Max I can't wait to meet her, Bye Logan" he waved at Gracie and nodded to Kate before leaving.
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Max looked at her watch again for the third time in two minutes "boo, I understand your worried about my Gracie girl but it's only school" original Cindy said handing Max a package. Max shrugged "I can't help it I've only been a mother for two weeks, I'm only just getting used to having her around before bam, she's at school all day" Cindy rolled her eyes "she's lucky to be go'n to school at all. Don't get me wrong I'm love'n being an aunt and all but the kid's gotta learn." Max sighed "I know but…" normal broke through "get moving people. Oh and what a surprise you two are standing around, Move!" Original Cindy faced him with her hands on her hips "we were having a private conversation here" he glared at her "I don't care if you were talking about assassinating the president, now go." Max shook her head and grabbed her bike "later boo" Cindy nodded and went back to her locker cursing normal under her breath.
Max twisted through the traffic and happily watched the world go past I wonder how Gracie's holding up she shook her head "god I'm so over protective" she muttered out loud.
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Max walked down the hall of Gracie's school smiling at the energetic kids all running past. She paused in the doorway of Gracie's classroom and watched Gracie talk animatedly to a little girl with red pigtails and a sprinkling of freckles on her nose. "You must be Max" Max looked up at the pretty woman beside her "I'm Kate Franks, ex-client of Logan's and teacher of Gracie" Max smiled "hi" Kate looked at Gracie "like I told Logan she fitted in perfectly and she's already made quite a few friends." Max nodded and looked over at Maddie "who's she?" Kate laughed "Madeline Johnson the kid I've nick named fire cracker. Maddie's an orphan that lives with the family next to my apartment. She and Gracie have really hit it off" Gracie looked up and brightened "mommy!" she ran over to Max "guess what?" she asked kissing Max on the cheek when she picked her up "what?" Gracie grinned " they have a pool here!" Max laughed "great we'll bring your swim suit tomorrow. You ready to go kid?" Maddie held out a pile of paintings "hello Gracie's mommy" Max smiled "hello Maddie and my name is Max" Maddie shrugged "here we painted lots of pictures but I don't know what one of Gracie's is." Max took the paintings and handed them to Gracie "well we'll have a look at them at home. Say goodbye Gracie" Gracie waved to Miss Franks and Maddie "see you tomorrow!" she called over Max's shoulder.
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Max and Gracie climbed the last of the stairs to Logan's apartment and opened the door "Logan?" Max called, shutting the door behind them "In the kitchen" he called back. Gracie ran through "hey you, how was school?" he asked picking her up "good I did math's and spelling and art" Max leaned against the side bench "did you find any of it hard?" Gracie scrunched up her nose "no it was really easy but I made it look like I thought it was hard like you said to." Max sighed and rubbed her back "I wish you didn't have to kid but that's the way things are so…" She brightened and held up the paintings for Logan and Gracie to see "I want to see some of this beautiful art work."
Logan put Gracie down and handed Max a cup of coffee. Hannah had left a few days ago so the house seemed eerie without Gracie there during the day "let's see them then" Gracie settled on a couch and patted the spots on either side of her. Logan and Max sat down and looked at her colorful pictures "this one is of Beau, this is original Cindy, this is of all of us and this is of Hannah" Logan looked at the last piece of paper face down on her knee "what about that one?." Gracie squirmed "that's the one Maddie didn't like" Logan shot a look at Max and put his arm around Gracie "well it doesn't mean we won't like it. Can we see?" Gracie sighed but nodded her head and turned the picture over.
It was a picture of a long room with lots of hospital style beds all lined up against the walls. White faces looked out from under the grey beds, all looking at something that wasn't there. Max gasped and touched the picture, this didn't look like a six year olds drawing more like something a teenager would be able to draw "manticore" Max breathed. Gracie nodded and cuddled closer to Logan "I don't like it either but I had to draw it" Logan pulled her onto his lap. "You Miss Grace are a very good artist" she smiled "really?" he nodded and hugged her looking back to the disturbing picture that his child had drawn.
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Max rubbed her pale drawn face and collapsed back onto Logan's couch "God what must have happened to her in Manticore…" Logan sat behind her and started massaging her shoulders "I thought we said we wouldn't talk like that. Gracie's with us now Max and no ones going to take her away" she nodded and relaxed her shoulders "but it still…" "Hurts yeah I know." She moved back so she leant against his chest "what do you think will happen?" she felt Logan shrug and kiss her forehead. "I have no idea Max but I don't think it's going to be happily ever after all the time" she groaned "yeah well if we get happily ever after for even a little while, I'll be happy" Logan laughed and whispered in her ear "I think we already have it."
The End
An/ thanks to all you reviewers, you really keep authors writing.