Grace looked at the piece of paper in her hand, then at the address of the house in front of her, and both read 545 Sycamore St. There was a sign that read "Horton Center" in the front yard. The woman at Barron's Department Store had told Grace that she could stay there for the night. She knocked tentatively at the door. After several minutes there was no answer, so Grace turned to leave. Just as she did the door opened and a voice called after her, "May I help you?"
Grace turned and saw that the voice belonged to a friendly looking woman with thick red hair. "Um, I think so. Is this Horton Center?"
"That's what the sign on the lawn says." The lady answered good-naturedly, "I'm Maggie Horton. Are you looking for a room?"
"I, yeah. I am. How much is the rent?"
"How much do you have?"
"I'm afraid I don't have anything."
"Well, this is your lucky day. That's exactly how much rent is!"
"Really?"
"This is a shelter. Come in. Let me take your coat. What's your name? How long will you be needing a room?"
"I'm Grace. I only need to stay here for one night."
"Okay. There's a free room down the hall and to your right. What do you need?"
"What do you mean?
"Towels? A shower?"
"Yes, and yes. I'm sorry to be such an inconvenience."
"Oh, you're not at all. In fact you're the only person we have staying here right now. I'll get you some towels and tell Alice you're here."
"Excuse me, but who is Alice?"
"You're new in this town aren't you?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"Well, anyone who's been here for awhile knows Alice Horton. When did you get here?"
Grace sat down in a large chair and Maggie nearly laughed. The girl's feet didn't even touch the floor. "I've been in town for," Grace looked at the clock on the mantel, "Six hours."
"You are new then." Maggie sat down on the couch and looked Grace over carefully. She looked like a nice girl. She was tiny, only about 5'3" and maybe 90 pounds, and looked a little like Hope had years ago. "What brings you to Salem, Grace?"
"I found a job here. I'm a secretary at Titan Publishing."
"So you've met Kate."
"Ms Roberts? Yes, she was very nice."
"Lucas, Kate's son is staying here. He's Alice's grandson."
"I thought that Ms. Roberts's son was Austin. That's what she told me."
"Lucas is her other son. She also has a daughter, Billie. Oh, here comes Alice now. Look, Alice. This is Grace. . . I didn't catch your last name."
"Thompson."
"Grace Thompson. She needed a room so I gave her the one down the hall."
"Hello, Mrs. Horton."
"Hello, Grace." Alice Horton decided that she liked the way Grace looked. Sweet and innocent, but she also looked like she could take care of herself.
"I want to thank you, Mrs. Horton, for letting me stay here."
"Don't worry about it. My door is always open."
"If you ladies will excuse me," Maggie interrupted, "I should get home to Mickey. I'll see you tomorrow."
Maggie left and Alice turned to Grace, "Have you eaten dinner yet?"
"That's okay. I'm not hungry."
"Don't be ridiculous. You have to eat. Lucas, Shawn-D, and I haven't eaten yet. Would you like to join us?"
"Thank you. I would love to. Who is Shawn-D?"
"He's my great-grandson. My granddaughter, Hope, is his mother. She's in Lugano visiting a friend."
Grace went to her room and unpacked. When she sat down to dinner, she looked like a new person. She had taken a hot shower and was wearing the only other outfit she had brought with her, a pair of jeans and a red button down sleeveless shirt. She looked like a model for a ranch. They had a wonderful dinner and after the meal Grace sat in the living room looking at Alice's books when Lucas entered the room. Grace could tell instantly that he was drunk.
"So, you're working for my mom now." He approached her and put a hand on her arm.
"Yes, I am." Grace tried to wrench her arm free, but Lucas tightened his grip.
"That means you work for me and you had better do exactly what I tell you."
"Mr. Roberts, I work for your mother, not you. Please let go of my arm. You're hurting me."
"NO! Listen you little slut, I am Lucas Roberts and you will do exactly what I tell you, or I'll have your ass fired. Go wait in your room. I'll be right in."
"Mr. Roberts, this is not part of my job. I will not have sex with you."
"Yes you will!" suddenly, Lucas reached out and struck her hard across the face. Grace reeled in shock, but living with her father had taught her a few things. If you let drunks burn off their energy, sometimes they calmed down. But she would be damned if she made love to this man. Lucas hauled her to her feet and propelled her towards the room. "Go get ready. I'll be right in."
Grace sat in her room and thought desperately of how to get out of this. This was the first time in four months that she was sorry she had run away. When Lucas knocked on her door, Grace didn't make a sound. Maybe he would think she had crawled out of the window, but he didn't. She heard a key turning in the door and felt her blood turn to ice. When he entered, Lucas shook his head.
"So, you thought you could outsmart me, is that it? You thought I was a fool, well you're wrong. Take off your clothes."
Grace obeyed, slowly. When she stood naked in front of him, Lucas pointed to the bed. She laid down and Lucas lay next to her.
"Please, don't do this. You don't want to. It's the alcohol talking."
"SHUT UP!" Lucas rolled on top of her as Grace continued to beg for him to stop. He crushed his mouth to hers and clawed at her flesh. Then with one painful thrush, he took her virginity, all the time mumbling, "Stupid bitch. She stole my son and ruined my image. I'll kill her."
When he was done, Lucas stood up and left the room as Grace cried. She stood up, and locked her door, not that it would do much good. Then she walked into the bathroom and locked that door as well as took a two hour shower, trying to wash away the smell and feel of his body on hers. When she felt clean, not better, but clean Grace slipped quietly out of the bathroom and laid down in the same bed where Lucas had raped her, but found she couldn't sleep. She was too scared.
The next morning, Grace left early. She hadn't slept all night, out of fear that Lucas might come back. She left a note to Alice, thanking her for letting her stay at Horton Center. Once at the office, Grace straightened the blue skirt of her new suit, and entered the building with a smile. Today was the beginning of a whole new life for Grace Thompson, and it couldn't have come soon enough.