Author's Note: The final chapter in the mini marathon Dimitri-mania week. Oh my God. Again thank you readers, I'm glad you were a part of this and I could not have asked for better reviews. I'm speechless, and your words are like Dimitri on a stool to me....touching. About this chapter well.... Jake rage is fun and I'm sorry but I sort of took the approach that ,as Mr.Dimitri said in the Eitt script about Jake (I don't think it made it into the episode)- he is just "so cliche". lol. Would you want him any other way? And I sort of boxed myself into a corner bringing him into this story, but he is Grace's father - Lily's rage-a-holic ex and we need to have his reaction too.
"Soliloquy Jake sighs really loudly. "I am going to do some yoga," he says deliberately. He swallows hard and adds, "Judy does yoga. Of course. She says it calms you down." He tries to look optimistic, despite the fact that his face is soaked in sweat." TWOP, RECAPS- EPISODE 303.
A DOOR ABOUT TO CLOSE
"I'll call the police. It has to be illegal." Jake was pacing in the back office at Booklovers, the door was closed. She had asked to speak with him. He had been pleased, foolishly he had thought maybe she was considering coming to work at the restaurant with him. He would be the first to admit he was out of touch with everything it seemed lately, but this was glaring. He worked with Judy. I mean this was unexpected, unrealistic- that he wouldn't somehow already know about this? Even Zoe. He was going to kill Zoe. Jake felt fevered.
"It isn't. Actually we made sure of the state laws before going ahead with anything-"
"On my God."
"Dad-", Grace reached out her arm.
"I can't believe this. That you would do something like this to us. You looked into the legality of it- the laws? Or was it that bastard's idea-"
"No. It was a mutual decision. And I'm sorry if you can't understand this, but if you just met him. I know you would see-"
"He didn't even have the guts to come here with you, did he? To tell me this. He sent you here alone and I bet he had a reason."
"That's not true. He offered to come. I told him not to, because I had a reason." She turned his words back at him, "I did. I wanted you to hear it from me."
"Convenient that and common sense on his part, he probably knew that you would say that-"
"It wasn't an excuse. He wasn't trying to do anything by this. Actually he's even waiting outside.."
"Great" Jake started for the office door, but Grace's voice stopped him. "Please don't do it." He turned to look at her. Her eyes were sparkling and she was choking on the lump in her throat.
"Gracie. I'm not going to hit him if that's what you think-", Jake paused. "But I am filing a complaint with the school board. Watch me. You may be 'legal' now, but when he started taking an interest in you back in that play you were sixteen and a student. I never want him in a school again-"
"I expected this I did. Please, God , please don't do anything. It would be worse than Alexa, or the school board questioning even. Believe me, please. Because if you betrayed us it would be worse than anything that's happened yet."
"Betrayal? Are you joking. Grace you need to grow up and quit lying to yourself."
"But that's what it would be. I couldn't forgive you."
"Us." Jake repeated the word, "So that's how it is then. Grace I wouldn't hurt you. But if you think you can make this sound right by waving legislature and making me thankful you haven't eloped with the guy or something. Cause obviously I have no power to annul it you say...but Grace I've known you all your life. You're asking me to trust you, I do. I trust you- not him. He is using you-"
"You don't even know him."
"I know some things." Jake sat down on the edge of his desk and looked at his daughter. "He's what forty years old? And he hasn't married by now- do you seriously think he ever will. Look at the age difference alone. He may not know it but he is using you. You need to stop lying now-"
"No one's lying here. And August and I, well nobody's using anybody. What would you say if you knew I was the one who went after him. I was the one who convinced him to do this. I was the one who lied to get into his house and offered him-", Grace numerated off her check list of questionable actions.
"Grace stop ok. I'm not interested in your version because no doubt he made it seem that way. But he must have done something to start it all."
Grace turned and left the office.
~********************************************
"~~Baby it's cold outside..
I wish I knew how
Your eyes are like starlight now
To break the spell
I'll take your hand, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir
Mind if I move in closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried
What's the sense of hurting my pride
I really can't stay
Baby don't hold out
sung together
Ahh, but it's cold outside"
August took at drink and placed his cup down in the cup holder. He reached over to turn down the volume of the car stereo. He liked Ella, but Ella was meant for good times and happiness. Grace right now was miserable. It hadn't gone well but a least he wasn't shaved, beaten to a pulp and left in the back seat of his car. He had to admit Jake had surprised him on their first meeting. That the first meeting had been the questioning at the school did put an ackwardness on the situation was undeniable, but still the thought of stepping outside was laughable. What purpose did that comment serve? Expect to make Jake look like an idiot, but Dimitri didn't think Jake was that way. After all he knew Grace loved him. There had to be something in Jake that justified his existence in her world. Besides he had a feeling maybe that was where she got it. The impulsiveness. It seemed more Jake than Lily, and Dimitri was grateful for her innocent abandon of convention. It had given him a memorable kiss.
"Are you okay? Grace -"
"You know the weird thing is I should care but I don't. I don't [and she had almost convinced herself of that too..] He is ridiculous and insane. If he weren't my father I'd seriously think he should be hospitalized."
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
Dimitri let the breath he had been holding escape. He smiled, "But it's over now. Smooth sailing, remember." He touched her chin. Grace retured his smile and moved closer.
"I liked that song that was playing-"
"Me to."
"Would you teach me to forget a banished father?", Grace asked in her best stage Rosalind.
"I wouldn't. I would teach you to remember him."
~********************************************
Later that night Grace was in her room. She was reading a book that with reluctant honesty could be said she hadn't looked at in a while. The words, the writing it was so , so perfect. She fingered the cover and reading the inscription smiled again. It was better this way, keeping it as her own. And it was eminently better that the book was previously used with dog-eared pages and discolouring here and there. It made you free of fear of the crisp whiteness and perfection that often chanced to come with new books. Each time she read it there seemed to be a different passage that stood out. Or a different potential meaning to the same turn of phrase. It never ceased to stop enchanting. She closed the book and gently replaced it on the shelf. Grace picked up the chinese balls August had given her when he came back from California and turned them over in her hand. Lily came through from the hall...
"So I heard about today."
Grace looked over, "From who? No wait I don't even want to know-"
"I want to start off by saying your father's been hurt a lot in his life-"
"It's no excuse." Grace moved her feet to allow her mother a spot to sit on the bed.
"No your right it isn't, but some people are just predisposed to act in certain ways. Personality is all there is to some extent. But it isn't entirely everything."
"Fine"
"Well fine, Grace the thing is I know you're upset but I talked to your dad today too. He called me. After. [Lily hated seeing Grace troubled and believed that she could help..] And it's not as bad maybe as you think it is. He's upset yes, but I talked him out of most of it and he's actually more surprised than anything. Shock makes people react in a lot of different ways. I don't think it's that he actually disapproves of you and August, it's just he feels like he missed something. Something vitally important and I understand that. I think he's actually glad it's Mr.Dimitri and not some teenager or college kid or worse. Your father is irrational but you know him too. He cares about pride, status- whether that's a good thing who knows. I think he's relieved in a way that your boyfriend is a teacher, that he is established somewhat, that he is older- I may never say this again...wiser. I think he may actually be proud of you."
"That's too twisted-"
"Maybe. But that's what I got from your dad."
"He said that?"
"Well not in those words, but it makes it easier for him in a way. You have to know it's going to take us some time to see you as an adult, just out there and with a boyfriend who is charming, red haired and in love with you hanging around. Regardless who he is. Grace don't laugh at me-"
"I'm sorry but, I can't believe you said boyfriend. It's so I don't know- But I just I can't believe Dad said all that because this afternoon-"
"He was in shock-", Lily reached over to stroke Grace's hair. The move caught Grace off guard but she relinquished. "This afternoon he said something different. That's how people are sometimes and -"
"Paradoxal."
"What? I -"
"It just doesn't seem right, but it's still true. A paradox."
Lily sighed, "You really have changed Grace. [she paused, and continued with humor] And it's okay. When did you get so smart, and where did my old Gracie go? The one who needed- "
Grace cut her off, "I think maybe she vanished. She went out in the rain one night and never came back." Grace looked at Lily a moment then closed her eyes. Grace leaned her head back against the headboard.
~***************************************
"So that's all there is?", August asked. They exited the office and Brooker turned to close the door behind him.
"All we need is for you to come back and sign a few final forms and that's it." Mr. Brooker acknowledged.
"It."
"It's a time consuming thing, but eventually we will get to the end, everything is put into motion now " Brooker said to Dimitri. "And Mr.Dimitri, welcome back."
~~~"There is a ship that sailed the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
And not as deep as the love I have
I don't know how I sink or swim
The water is wide
I can't cross o'
And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall roam
My love and I."
"Soliloquy Jake sighs really loudly. "I am going to do some yoga," he says deliberately. He swallows hard and adds, "Judy does yoga. Of course. She says it calms you down." He tries to look optimistic, despite the fact that his face is soaked in sweat." TWOP, RECAPS- EPISODE 303.
A DOOR ABOUT TO CLOSE
"I'll call the police. It has to be illegal." Jake was pacing in the back office at Booklovers, the door was closed. She had asked to speak with him. He had been pleased, foolishly he had thought maybe she was considering coming to work at the restaurant with him. He would be the first to admit he was out of touch with everything it seemed lately, but this was glaring. He worked with Judy. I mean this was unexpected, unrealistic- that he wouldn't somehow already know about this? Even Zoe. He was going to kill Zoe. Jake felt fevered.
"It isn't. Actually we made sure of the state laws before going ahead with anything-"
"On my God."
"Dad-", Grace reached out her arm.
"I can't believe this. That you would do something like this to us. You looked into the legality of it- the laws? Or was it that bastard's idea-"
"No. It was a mutual decision. And I'm sorry if you can't understand this, but if you just met him. I know you would see-"
"He didn't even have the guts to come here with you, did he? To tell me this. He sent you here alone and I bet he had a reason."
"That's not true. He offered to come. I told him not to, because I had a reason." She turned his words back at him, "I did. I wanted you to hear it from me."
"Convenient that and common sense on his part, he probably knew that you would say that-"
"It wasn't an excuse. He wasn't trying to do anything by this. Actually he's even waiting outside.."
"Great" Jake started for the office door, but Grace's voice stopped him. "Please don't do it." He turned to look at her. Her eyes were sparkling and she was choking on the lump in her throat.
"Gracie. I'm not going to hit him if that's what you think-", Jake paused. "But I am filing a complaint with the school board. Watch me. You may be 'legal' now, but when he started taking an interest in you back in that play you were sixteen and a student. I never want him in a school again-"
"I expected this I did. Please, God , please don't do anything. It would be worse than Alexa, or the school board questioning even. Believe me, please. Because if you betrayed us it would be worse than anything that's happened yet."
"Betrayal? Are you joking. Grace you need to grow up and quit lying to yourself."
"But that's what it would be. I couldn't forgive you."
"Us." Jake repeated the word, "So that's how it is then. Grace I wouldn't hurt you. But if you think you can make this sound right by waving legislature and making me thankful you haven't eloped with the guy or something. Cause obviously I have no power to annul it you say...but Grace I've known you all your life. You're asking me to trust you, I do. I trust you- not him. He is using you-"
"You don't even know him."
"I know some things." Jake sat down on the edge of his desk and looked at his daughter. "He's what forty years old? And he hasn't married by now- do you seriously think he ever will. Look at the age difference alone. He may not know it but he is using you. You need to stop lying now-"
"No one's lying here. And August and I, well nobody's using anybody. What would you say if you knew I was the one who went after him. I was the one who convinced him to do this. I was the one who lied to get into his house and offered him-", Grace numerated off her check list of questionable actions.
"Grace stop ok. I'm not interested in your version because no doubt he made it seem that way. But he must have done something to start it all."
Grace turned and left the office.
~********************************************
"~~Baby it's cold outside..
I wish I knew how
Your eyes are like starlight now
To break the spell
I'll take your hand, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir
Mind if I move in closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried
What's the sense of hurting my pride
I really can't stay
Baby don't hold out
sung together
Ahh, but it's cold outside"
August took at drink and placed his cup down in the cup holder. He reached over to turn down the volume of the car stereo. He liked Ella, but Ella was meant for good times and happiness. Grace right now was miserable. It hadn't gone well but a least he wasn't shaved, beaten to a pulp and left in the back seat of his car. He had to admit Jake had surprised him on their first meeting. That the first meeting had been the questioning at the school did put an ackwardness on the situation was undeniable, but still the thought of stepping outside was laughable. What purpose did that comment serve? Expect to make Jake look like an idiot, but Dimitri didn't think Jake was that way. After all he knew Grace loved him. There had to be something in Jake that justified his existence in her world. Besides he had a feeling maybe that was where she got it. The impulsiveness. It seemed more Jake than Lily, and Dimitri was grateful for her innocent abandon of convention. It had given him a memorable kiss.
"Are you okay? Grace -"
"You know the weird thing is I should care but I don't. I don't [and she had almost convinced herself of that too..] He is ridiculous and insane. If he weren't my father I'd seriously think he should be hospitalized."
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
Dimitri let the breath he had been holding escape. He smiled, "But it's over now. Smooth sailing, remember." He touched her chin. Grace retured his smile and moved closer.
"I liked that song that was playing-"
"Me to."
"Would you teach me to forget a banished father?", Grace asked in her best stage Rosalind.
"I wouldn't. I would teach you to remember him."
~********************************************
Later that night Grace was in her room. She was reading a book that with reluctant honesty could be said she hadn't looked at in a while. The words, the writing it was so , so perfect. She fingered the cover and reading the inscription smiled again. It was better this way, keeping it as her own. And it was eminently better that the book was previously used with dog-eared pages and discolouring here and there. It made you free of fear of the crisp whiteness and perfection that often chanced to come with new books. Each time she read it there seemed to be a different passage that stood out. Or a different potential meaning to the same turn of phrase. It never ceased to stop enchanting. She closed the book and gently replaced it on the shelf. Grace picked up the chinese balls August had given her when he came back from California and turned them over in her hand. Lily came through from the hall...
"So I heard about today."
Grace looked over, "From who? No wait I don't even want to know-"
"I want to start off by saying your father's been hurt a lot in his life-"
"It's no excuse." Grace moved her feet to allow her mother a spot to sit on the bed.
"No your right it isn't, but some people are just predisposed to act in certain ways. Personality is all there is to some extent. But it isn't entirely everything."
"Fine"
"Well fine, Grace the thing is I know you're upset but I talked to your dad today too. He called me. After. [Lily hated seeing Grace troubled and believed that she could help..] And it's not as bad maybe as you think it is. He's upset yes, but I talked him out of most of it and he's actually more surprised than anything. Shock makes people react in a lot of different ways. I don't think it's that he actually disapproves of you and August, it's just he feels like he missed something. Something vitally important and I understand that. I think he's actually glad it's Mr.Dimitri and not some teenager or college kid or worse. Your father is irrational but you know him too. He cares about pride, status- whether that's a good thing who knows. I think he's relieved in a way that your boyfriend is a teacher, that he is established somewhat, that he is older- I may never say this again...wiser. I think he may actually be proud of you."
"That's too twisted-"
"Maybe. But that's what I got from your dad."
"He said that?"
"Well not in those words, but it makes it easier for him in a way. You have to know it's going to take us some time to see you as an adult, just out there and with a boyfriend who is charming, red haired and in love with you hanging around. Regardless who he is. Grace don't laugh at me-"
"I'm sorry but, I can't believe you said boyfriend. It's so I don't know- But I just I can't believe Dad said all that because this afternoon-"
"He was in shock-", Lily reached over to stroke Grace's hair. The move caught Grace off guard but she relinquished. "This afternoon he said something different. That's how people are sometimes and -"
"Paradoxal."
"What? I -"
"It just doesn't seem right, but it's still true. A paradox."
Lily sighed, "You really have changed Grace. [she paused, and continued with humor] And it's okay. When did you get so smart, and where did my old Gracie go? The one who needed- "
Grace cut her off, "I think maybe she vanished. She went out in the rain one night and never came back." Grace looked at Lily a moment then closed her eyes. Grace leaned her head back against the headboard.
~***************************************
"So that's all there is?", August asked. They exited the office and Brooker turned to close the door behind him.
"All we need is for you to come back and sign a few final forms and that's it." Mr. Brooker acknowledged.
"It."
"It's a time consuming thing, but eventually we will get to the end, everything is put into motion now " Brooker said to Dimitri. "And Mr.Dimitri, welcome back."
~~~"There is a ship that sailed the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
And not as deep as the love I have
I don't know how I sink or swim
The water is wide
I can't cross o'
And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall roam
My love and I."