Holds Me Together
Rating: T-M Just in case
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
A/N: I love you people! Sorry for the
proofreading as always. FYI: Responses to reviews are at the bottom of each
chapter. Read on wit yo bad self, now!
Chapter 15 – This Heart, It Will Always Feel Like This
"All packed up?" Grace asked as she came into view up the sidewalk. She took the ear bud headphones she had on out of her ears and draped them across her shoulders as she approached the small U-Haul truck that was parked outside of the Girardi house. It was nearly 7am. Grace had gotten up at 6 and found out it was just warm enough to go run without the possibility of hitting too many ice patches. She hadn't gone on a morning run since coming back to Maryland from school, and found she was missing it.
Joan was leaning against the U-Haul truck and Adam and Luke were making final preparations in the back of the truck, to assure that the sculptures and paintings wouldn't succumb to any kind of damage on the ride to New York City. She yawned but nodded as she looked at Grace.
"Since when do you wake up this early and run?" Joan asked Grace.
Grace smirked. "Since my blood pressure has reached hypertension levels with all drama going on," She replied.
Joan nodded with a small snicker. Adam hopped out of the truck, followed by Luke and the two shut and locked the back door.
"I think we're ready," Adam smiled proudly.
"Great, can I go back to sleep now?" Luke mumbled. Adam had recruited Joan to ask Luke to help load the artwork from Adam's house earlier in the morning. Luke had been too asleep and tired to argue. Adam and Joan laughed at Luke, who rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'm serious," He said.
"I think your mom was making pancakes when I left," Grace said to him. Without another word, Luke made his way into the house with only a wave back to the others.
"I'm going to go in and say goodbye to mom and dad before we go," Joan smiled and kissed Adam quickly before heading into the house.
"So, Rove," Grace began, "how much does Sadie think she can sell the rest of this for?" She asked Adam. Adam took a deep breath, sticking his thumbs in the back pockets of his jeans in thought.
"I'm not sure," He shrugged and looked at her. "So long as they sell, I'm happy."
"What happens when all of them sell?" Grace asked.
Adam smiled slightly and then shrugged. "I won't know until after our meeting today," He said. Grace nodded.
"Well, I'm gonna head inside," Grace pointed towards the house as she started taking a few steps forward, "clean myself up before I get pneumonia. Have fun in New York, Rove, don't go over board," She said with a wave.
"I'll try and behave," Adam smiled, "Later Grace."
"See you later Grace," Joan said as she passed Grace in the foyer and headed for the door.
"Hey, Girardi," Grace said, stopping Joan, who turned around to look at Grace. "Did you tell Rove?"
Joan squirmed slightly in her spot under Grace's gaze. She bit the corner of her lip. She looked at Grace guiltily and shook her head no. Grace's facial expressions softened but only for a quick moment. She offered Joan a slightly nervous smirk.
"Well…remember what happened last time when you kept secrets from him," She offered.
Joan let out a sigh and ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "That was a little different," She argued.
Grace smiled just slightly and shook her head. "Not really," She said. When Joan looked up she continued. "Both seem pretty life changing to me," She nodded and then shrugged. "Not that that's bad, of course." She added. Joan sighed. "You'd better get going, Rove looks a little anxious," Grace said, spying Adam pacing slightly back and forth outside and glancing at the house.
"Yeah," She nodded. "I'll tell him when we go out to dinner…not you know before his meeting with Sadie. I don't want to freak him out," Joan said.
"Well…good luck," Grace nodded. "See ya, Girardi," Grace turned to go into the kitchen.
"Bye Grace," Joan turned and left the house.
From the dining room Grace watched through the window cut out as Luke helped Helen dispose of the extra pancakes she'd made, thinking Joan and Adam would stop to eat. Will was talking on the phone, probably to someone at work who would inevitably cause him to leave breakfast early. Helen was shoveling some more pancakes onto a center plate that had a small mountain of pancakes already piled on it. She scooped up the bowl of pancake mix and dumped the last 4 gobs of batter into the big frying pan she was using, finishing off the batch. She glanced over and saw Luke grab four more pancakes and laughed, making a comment that Luke should be a magician since he was clearly able to make pancakes disappear with the wave of a fork. Grace couldn't help the tiny smile that decorated the corners of her mouth as she watched the scene before her.
Lily came bustling in through the back door with Caleb in his portable car seat.
"Okay," She said, letting Will make faces at a Caleb as she entered and waved a hello to him while he was on the phone. She ruffled Luke's hair as she passed and he muffled a 'hello' back through a mouthful of pancakes before standing up and leaning over to talk to Caleb as Lily greeted Helen with a kiss on the cheek. "What do you need from the store?" She asked Helen
"What stores are you going to?" Helen replied.
"Supermarket, pharmacy, and one or two other places before lunch," Lily announced with a smile. Helen put the last pancakes on a different, empty plate and then ripped a piece of paper from the pad that hung on the refrigerator and a nearby pencil. She jotted a few things down quickly and folded the piece of paper before handing it to Lily.
"Let me just grab some money for you," Helen said, walking towards where all of her school stuff was waiting for her to leave for work. She reached into her purse and was pulling out bills when Lily waved her free hand at Helen.
"Oh please, it's not like these things will cost a fortune," Lily said, resting Caleb's car seat on the table, deciding it was getting heavy to rest in the crook of her arm. Luke was waving a fluffy stuffed giraffe rattle at Caleb who was kicking and swinging his arms, still not quite under control of his movements as he gurgled and cooed around his pacifier.
For a moment, Grace didn't want anything in the scene before her to change. As if that were the cue, however, Will shut his cell phone and placed it back in it's holder on his belt.
"I have to go-,"
"In to work, we know," Helen sighed, exchanging a quick goodbye kiss with him as he pulled his billowing trench coat on. He accepted a kiss on the cheek from Lily, who hadn't wanted to interrupt him while he was on the phone when she walked in, and then leaned down to say goodbye to Caleb and place a kiss on his head despite the knit cap that was covering it.
"Later dad," Luke said, returning his attention to Caleb as his dad clapped him on the shoulder and told Luke to have a good day. Grace let the tiny smile fade as she entered the kitchen. Will said good morning to her on his way out the door and she returned it.
"There you are Grace," Helen smiled.
"Hey," Grace said sheepishly. She walked over and stood next to Luke, unable to fight off and resist the urge to coo at Caleb.
"Good morning," Lily said, helping herself to coffee now that Caleb was being occupied by the two. She sat adjacent to Helen who had finally sat down, after Luke told her to leave the dishes and he would wash them. Helen was just adding hot water to her mug, which had a teabag string protruding and hanging down its outside edge. Helen resumed her argument with Lily.
"Take this, it'll be enough money for those things," Helen insisted, holding the money out towards Lily.
"Helen, don't be ridiculous!" Lily chuckled. "Please, it's the least I can do after all you do for us!"
"She is right, Mrs. Girardi," Grace said, with a sideways glance to Helen, as she leaned with her hands on her knees, smiling and making faces as she resumed talking to Caleb.
"How many times have I told you, you can just call me Helen?" Helen switched gears, watching Grace's interaction with Caleb, fascinated that Grace was always acting the complete opposite way she expected Grace to act. Helen also took this time to slide the money in her hand into Lily's coat pocket undetected by everyone but Grace, who just smiled knowingly at Helen.
"Can't," Grace replied, "It's too weird."
"Oh gee, thanks," Helen laughed before taking a sip of her tea. "I'm surprised you're up this early actually…I distinctly remember writing tardy slips for you consecutively, without fail…" Helen teased with a smile, delving in for another sip of the tea. Grace almost chuckled at this.
"You're supposed to ask the reason for my tardiness," Grace smiled wistfully, sitting down now on Luke's right leg, since he was sitting and still occupying himself with his nephew.
Lily watched the interaction, interested, but silent. Luke noticed this, and only gave a glance at Lily, trying to read her thoughts before reaching into tickle Caleb. Helen chuckled.
"Oh what was it you use to say?" Helen asked, trying to remember. "The reason for my tardiness-,"
"Is I am late," Grace finished the sentence with her, her lips curling into a smile, reminiscing. Both women laughed.
"Oh, I do hope you're giving your professors as much hell as you gave Gavin Price," Helen said. Grace snickered slightly; she was, more so, at least in Henley's class. Helen watched as a thoughtful expression crossed her face.
Grace's face held a far off, distant look. She didn't answer at first and at her silence, Luke and Lily both tuned into the conversation, anticipating Grace's response. Grace offered a half smirk to herself. She lost herself in thought, even though she'd heard Helen's question. It was here, in the very seat Luke was occupying to be exact, that she'd decided that the Girardi family didn't suck. Actually, she'd already been aware that Helen Girardi didn't suck, and that Luke Girardi was a geeky, science genius that got excited as Lischak during Chemistry. It was in that seat, at the time she was actually sitting in the seat and not Luke's lap, that she'd sat, burning matches and wishing to just leave this house, even though it meant returning to her hell hole where her mother was probably drunk and hr father was probably just getting home and making dinner.
Grace remembered Adam spouting off chemical formulas for some chemistry homework about wood combustion. She let out a chuckle, remembering how ill suited they were to be sitting there together. It was the second day she'd ever met Joan. Joan had been transferred into her, Adam and Luke's AP Chemistry class the day before. Now, Joan was trying to keep the group focused. She tried to get answers out of everyone. Grace had been lighting matches. Each time she lit one and stared at it, Joan grabbed her wrist and blew it out, before continuing to talk fast and try and figure out something that she clearly didn't understand. Adam had been staring, fidgeting with his hands and spouting off formulas, explaining that he knew these things because of his photographic memory, and that he could see them but he didn't get them. Luke had come down to get some snacks, amused by their exchange of phrases, and impressed that Grace knew that fire didn't actually burn. "It's so hot that you know that," Grace remembered turning her head down so her hair continued to fall over her cheeks which had turned a light shade of pink at the comment. She remembered putting her legs up on the table, and continuing the conversation as she snapped her fingers at Luke, indicating for him to give her the container he couldn't open, which she promptly opened, removed a cookie from and gave back to him.
Grace also remembered rushing out of the house as soon as she realized they were finished, mumbling a 'good night' to Helen as she brushed past her and Will on her way out.
"Grace?" Helen interrupted Grace's thoughts.
Grace shook her head with a smile, "Sorry," She cleared her throat sadly. "I was just remembering something," She glanced around at Luke and Lily who were both watching her curiously now. "Right…I'm going to go get a shower," Grace stood and leaned over to say goodbye to Caleb. She told Helen to have a nice day and then excused herself.
When Grace returned to the kitchen with new clothes, and freshly dried hair, Helen was just getting together to leave. Lily was drinking her second cup of coffee, wiggling a rattle in front of Caleb's face to keep him amused.
"Just in time," Helen smiled to Grace. She pulled her coat on and fixed the collar. "Luke left to meet with Glynis and someone named Sweet Lou," Helen continued, "He said he'd call you as soon as he got a free second."
Grace nodded, putting some left over pancakes in the microwave. "Thanks," She said to Helen.
"Okay, then, I'm off," Helen kissed Caleb, and then Lily. She turned to Grace. "Will you be all right by yourself?" She asked, concerned.
Grace smirked, "Hey the mod squad's parked across the street should anything go awry, right?" She said with just a slight sarcastic tone. Lily smiled at this; she was always intrigued by what came out of Grace's mouth. Lily also loved to watch Helen and Grace's interactions, fascinated by the fact that Grace was cautious and careful the most when speaking to Helen. Helen smiled slightly at the remark and studied Grace for a minute before reaching out and hugging Grace. Grace squirmed only slightly, mostly because Lily was in the room and Grace was well aware that Lily was watching them.
"Uhm, Mrs. Girardi, you're going to be late," Grace said when Helen lingered on the hug longer then Grace expected. The microwave had beeped and Grace noticed the time and knew Helen would indeed be late.
"Oh, I know you just don't like publicly displaying affection," Helen said with a small laugh before hurrying to pick up her supplies. "If calling me by my first name is too weird for you, that probably is too," Helen smiled and began to make her way out.
"No, that's not true at all…" Grace flushed as she said this. She caught one of the boxes Helen had as it fell free. "I'll, uhm, help you bring this stuff out," She grabbed the loosest of the things Helen was carrying so that it wouldn't fall and carried it out to the car. "Have a good day," Grace said as Helen started the car. Helen smiled and waved as she pulled out of the driveway.
"I'm hitting some stores and then meeting Kevin for lunch," Lily said when Grace entered the kitchen and disposed of the pancakes, not feeling hungry after all. "Do you want to join me and Caleb?"
Grace considered this for a minute. Lily watched Grace for her reaction, wondering if Grace would feel awkward around just Lily. Most of the time Joan, Kevin, Helen or Luke was around when Lily and Caleb were.
"Come on…you don't want to spend the morning all by yourself in a cold, empty house do you?" Lily said, looking hopefully at Grace before grabbing Caleb's car seat by the handle and holding him up close to Grace, speaking in a ridiculous mock baby voice. "Come on aunt Grace, don't leave me alone with my crazy mommy all morning! Save me!" She pleaded. Lily made a face and looked at the baby. "You making' fun of me punk?" She replied to herself.
"Right…okay I'll go with you, if you promise not to do that in public," Grace spoke up. Lily smiled.
"Deal," She said. "Go get your coat. I'll meet you out front at the car, so I can hook him in."
Grace nodded and poured herself a travel mug of coffee to take with her before pulling her leather jacket on and pulling some gloves on her hands and then left the house, heading down the front walk.
"Hey guys," Luke said as Glynis and Sweet Lou joined him at the table he'd saved in the coffee shop that Glynis had called and asked him to meet them at. Glynis had sounded upset on the phone, so Luke had decided not to wait for Grace, worried about what was wrong.
"Hey," Lou said, holding Glynis' chair for her before he and Luke quickly shook hands. Glynis made a quiet, strangled sound. Luke looked between her and Lou.
"What's going on?" Luke asked, feeling panic rising in him. He didn't like when people were visibly distraught enough to cause them to delay relaying the problem to him. Lou looked at Glynis, waiting for her to speak up. After a few minutes, when her eyes welled up, Lou crossed his hands over his stomach, leaning slightly back in his chair. He sighed.
"Your friend is in the hospital," Sweet Lou said.
"Who?" Luke asked. Glynis let out a meep.
"We only found out today," She said quickly, her lips tightly stuck together as her chin quivered.
"Who?" Luke asked. "What happened?"
"Uh, I think his name was Friedman?" Lou asked, looking at Glynis to see if she could help him tell Luke. Glynis had come in crying and telling him the story so fast that he'd only caught part of it.
"Friedman?" Luke asked, confused. "What happened?" Luke looked from Lou to Glynis for an answer.
Glynis let out another whimper, covering her mouth as she started crying.
"Glynis, what's going on? What happened? Is he all right?" Luke asked. He looked at Lou for an answer. Lou shrugged.
"I'm not sure, bro, I didn't understand that part," He said apologetically, as he reached his hand up and put it comfortingly on Glynis' back.
"Oh it's so horrible, Luke!" Glynis put her head down in her hands. "You have to…y-you have to help him!" She pleaded.
"Glynis…" Luke said, a little more calmly. "Tell me what happened and I'll do what I can to help…" Luke suggested. Glynis' shoulder shook as she began to recount what she knew.
"So, you didn't have an awfully dreadful time with me and Caleb, now did you?" Lily asked; she and Grace were sitting at a corner table in a restaurant Grace had never been in. Caleb was in his car seat, situated on a chair next to Lily, who was rocking him as they waited for Kevin.
Grace smirked, "Well it wasn't as bad as say, Chinese water torture, but I wouldn't say it was a party either…" She said jokingly.
"Hey, I'm not the one that puked on you," Lily joked back and then looked at Caleb, "Now was I?" She said in a singsong voice. Caleb seemed to be fighting a losing battle against his naptime. Grace just smiled slightly, watching Lily. It struck her for a moment to picture Joan as the one sitting across from her rocking a baby to sleep for a nap, and Grace shuddered slightly.
"Well now if I knew I was paying to feed an extra mouth, I might have been kind enough to bring some extra money," Kevin said as he wheeled to their table, slid a chair over and pulled right in on the other side of Caleb.
"I pay for myself, dude," Grace assured, causing Kevin to brush the comment off with a dismissive wave.
"Hey there little man…oh yeah that's it fall asleep when I talk to you," He said, leaning over to look at his son. He smiled and then exchanged a quick kiss with Lily.
"How was shopping?" Kevin asked as he picked up a menu and started reading over his options.
Grace busied herself in her menu as Lily and Kevin struck up a conversation about what they were going to have for dinner, what they were going to do over the weekend and other random topics of conversation that she didn't feel she should intrude on.
Miles away, Adam was glad he'd gotten the smallest rental truck he could since the alley he had to turn down to park out back of Sadie's gallery to unload his art was so narrow. He'd even had to have Joan get out and direct him as he backed down the alley nervously.
He cut the engine and climbed out of the truck, locking it behind him and stuffing the keys in his pocket. He stretched his arms out and curved his back, trying to crack his spine back into place as Joan walked up to him.
"Well…that was an interesting drive," He said with half a smile.
Joan laughed, "Which part, the gridlock or the part were about a thousand angry New Yorkers punched the truck because you stopped too late and were in the crosswalk?" She asked.
Adam smiled and was going to retort when Sadie appeared. "Hey you two," She smiled warmly, reaching out to offer each a warm hug. Joan wondered how someone who owned a rich art gallery in New York could be so kind all the time.
"Do you want me to unload these?" Adam asked pointing over his shoulder at the truck.
"If you open up the back, I'll get Cody and Bryant to lug it all up to the office," Sadie said, reaching for a walkie-talkie that was attached to her waist. The three of them trekked to the back of the truck and Adam unlocked the latch and slid the door open as Sadie called for Cody and Bryant to come outside. Adam was just finishing pulling the ramp down when two tall, muscular men came out each with a rectangular flatbed dolly truck that looked like it could fit 4 or 5 of Adam's pieces of art at a time.
"Okay, these guys'll take it from here," Sadie smiled and walked over to the door. "Why don't you two follow me and we'll head to my office," She said with a wave of her hand. Adam looked at Joan. Joan smiled and looped her arm through his as they followed Sadie inside.
As they walked through a storage hallway and out through the main floor to an elevator that required Sadie to swipe a clearance card to gain access to, Adam stared around at the other art all around, lost in his own world and commenting quietly, mostly to himself about the pieces he passed.
"Wow, do you own this whole building?" Joan asked as they reached the 11th floor and the elevator bell buzzed before the doors slid open. Sadie smiled as she stepped out and Adam and Joan stepped out.
"At first I just rented the first three floors but as business picked up I bought out up to the first eleven floors," Sadie explained easily as they passed through two glass double doors with the gallery's emblem frosted on them.
"Wow…you must sell a lot of paintings," Joan replied. Adam's nerves had kicked in and he found no words to say to join in the conversation.
Sadie said hello to the receptionist as they stopped at her desk. "Hi Laney, any messages yet?"
"Of course," Laney smiled and handed Sadie a group of pink slips.
"Laney, this is Adam Rove, the artist from my hometown that we're adding to our collection," Sadie introduced as she quickly flipped through the messages. Adam shook Laney's hand and they said hello. "And this is his girlfriend, and his inspiration, Joan Girardi," Sadie introduced.
Joan shook Laney's hand and they greeted each other. Joan was trying to imagine owning eleven floors of art that got sold on a regular basis, and the work that entailed as the owner. Sadie was dressed in black dress pants, topped with a pale blue button up shirt with the sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up to her elbows, and black three inch heels on her feet. She had a cell phone resting in a carrier on her hip next to where the walkie-talkie was. There was a wire protruding from it that traveled up the front of her shirt to an ear piece the rest along the back of her neck and down the front of her left shoulder, so she could just pop it in her ear if her phone rang. She held a binder and some files in her right arm with a coffee in her right hand, and the message sticking in her fingers as she used her left hand to flip through them quickly.
"Okay, Laney, I need you to call Monroe, and Hark back, let them know their pieces have arrived and they can have them picked up after 1 pm," Sadie instructed. "Oh, and give our usuals a ring and tell them by 6pm we'll have a new show opening for them to check out. Be sure to tell them it's an exclusive, new up and coming artist, okay?"
"You got it," Laney nodded, beginning to jump to work, turning a rolodex.
"Okay, come with me, you two," Sadie smiled. She walked to the only single door in the room, and reached to the identification card dangling by a retractable belt clip that was attached to the left side of her pants. She pulled the card up and swiped it again, pulling the door open once the light turned green and held it for Adam and Joan to follow. "Will you two be able to stay for your opening show?" Sadie asked as they followed her up a hallway of offices.
Adam looked stunned and Joan couldn't think of anything to say at first either.
"Uhm," he looked down at himself, he was wearing his cleanest pair of khakis, a white dress shirt and a blue tie and boots. "I don't think I have appropriate dress attire," He said. Sadie glanced at him.
"Yeah, me either," Joan replied sheepishly after a glance down at her own dress.
Sadie smiled. "Details, details. We can fix that easily," Sadie held the door to a large office open and let them enter. Joan and Adam looked around as they entered. Behind the desk that had 4 chairs in front of it was a large row of windows with an excellent view of the river. "Take a seat anywhere you like. Here, I'll take those coats from you," She said after she'd put all the things in her hands down. She took both of their coats and hung them up on a coat rack behind her office door, which she'd shut behind them.
"The real question is, do you want to be there?" Sadie questioned.
Adam looked at Joan, as if inquiring whether or not this was okay with her. Mostly he was too afraid to answer because he didn't know what staying would entail.
"Well…" Adam cleared his throat. "What…what exactly do we have to do?"
Sadie chuckled slightly. Adam squirmed a little in his seat and Joan felt a fleeting moment of anger at Sadie. "Oh, I'm sorry. I should have explained better. I forget sometimes to fill in the gaps," She smiled.
"Okay…" Adam said nervously.
"Basically, I've reserved the show room on the first floor for your artwork. After seeing those two sculptures that we took the pictures of a few days ago, my usual clients have been asking when we're going to get more of your art in. So Cody and Bryant are going to bring the sculptures and paintings right in there. After we get your paperwork together, we'll head down there and arrange the room, you know, label your pieces and such," Sadie explained. "Then I'll bring you to rent some clothes, and we'll do lunch and we'll set you up in a nearby hotel so you can shower and dress and meet back here for the opening. The clients will come in, have a look around, drink some champagine, eat some hors d'oeuvres, meet you, talk to you, and possibly even make some bids on your work tonight. So what do you say, do you want to stick around?"
Adam looked at Joan, who was grinning, impressed, now. She smiled at him. Adam turned and looked at Sadie.
"I don't think I brought enough money to rent dress clothes," He frowned in realization.
Sadie waved a hand dismissively, "Oh, honey please," She hit the speakerphone on and another button. Laney answered after a few seconds. "Laney, can you get a hold of Carrie at the Versace Boutique, let her know I need a favor returned and we'll be over at about," Sadie checked her watch, "A little after noon?"
"Sure thing, Sadie," Laney replied. Sadie hung up the speakerphone and looked at Adam and Joan, who were stunned.
She clapped her hands together and rubbed them. "Okay, what do you say we get down to business?"
Adam swallowed hard. He nodded. "Okay, what do I have to do?" He asked as Sadie opened a couple of drawers from a nearby file cabinet and started getting forms out.
"Dad, hey dad, good I was hoping you were here," Luke called as he came bursting into Will's office.
"Luke?" Will got to his feet quickly. "What's wrong?" He asked, seeing as it looked like Luke had just run a mile. "Here, sit down," Will pulled out a chair for Luke.
Luke shook his head. "Dad, you've got to do something. They're gonna send Friedman to a mental health facility. They think he tried to kill himself."
Will looked at Luke for a moment and then let out a long breath. "Son, sit down a minute," He indicated the chair.
Sensing the tone his father was using, Luke let himself sink into the chair. Will sat on the edge of the desk in front of him.
"Your friend," Will began, looking at Luke and trying to figure out the right thing to say. "He needs help, Luke," Will stated. "Now, I don't know what he said to you, but he's not thinking clearly. People who want to hurt themselves, they don't think anything is wrong with them and they'll do what they can to convince others that they're okay, just so they can get free and hurt themselves again-,"
"No, dad you don't understand," Luke cut Will off. Will held up a hand and stopped Luke from speaking.
"Luke, I understand you want to help your friend," Will said, reaching out to put a hand on Luke's shoulder. "But this time you're going to have to leave it to the doctors," He said comfortingly. Luke rolled his eyes slightly.
"Dad, this has to do with Ryan," Luke said, knowing full well how his dad would react.
"What?" Will promptly responded, looking gravely at Luke.
Luke nodded. "It's a long story. I'll explain it all to you, but first you have to stop them from transferring Friedman to that hospital, I forge what it's called…Sunny Hills or Hills of Sun, Sunfield Hills, I don't know the one they sent Bonnie to," Luke looked at Will. "He might know where Ryan went dad. And if you send him there, they're going to drug him up and keep him locked away for what he knows, just like Bonnie."
Will stared at is son in disbelief. "Are you telling me that she knows something about Ryan as well?" He asked.
"Yes! No…I'm not positive. You'd have to ask Joan, or Adam," Luke stood and started pacing in frustration. "Dad! We don't have time to discuss it now. Please," Luke pleaded. Will looked at Luke for a minute or two longer before standing and walking around to the other side of his desk. He picked up the phone receiver and stuck it to his ear, dialing a number quickly.
"Yes, this is detective Will Girardi, you have a patient there by the name of Friedman F. Friedman. As I understand it, he's supposed to be transferred this afternoon?" He spoke to the person on the other end. "Yes, he's wanted for questioning in an ongoing case. I want you to cancel that transfer and hold him there until I can come down and properly assess the situation." Will waited a moment, and his face tensed. "If you fail to comply with my request you will find yourself under arrest for obstruction along with anyone else who aids in transferring that patient, do you understand me? Thank you," Will hung the phone up and grabbed his trench coat, pulling it on. "Did you drive here?" He asked Luke. Luke nodded. "I want you to get a hold of Grace, pick her and anyone else who knows anything about this up," He stood facing Luke as he said this, extending his finger for extra emphasis as he spoke. "You meet me at the hospital and don't take longer then an hour, understand?"
Luke nodded solemnly. "Thanks dad," He said. Will gave him a pat on the arm.
"Let's go," He said, leaving the office. Luke followed, dialing his phone as they walked.
"So Friedman pulled a Syd Vicious? Huh…I never would have pegged him for a Cobain," Grace commented from the backseat of the car.
"This is not funny," Glynis said, still visibly upset as she sat next to Grace in the backseat with her arms crossed. Lou was in the front seat. He exchanged a glance with Luke before watching the two anxiously.
"Relax Figliola," Grace said. "We all know it wasn't Friedman's who did this to himself. But don't expect me to feel too much pity for him," Grace crossed her arms, "He was, after all, working with Hunter to get back at us, you know."
"That doesn't make it right," Glynis insisted. Though Grace knew this was right, she didn't admit it and she didn't reply. She was too busy stewing in her seat, mulling over the anger, pain and torment Ryan was succeeding in spreading despite the fact that he wasn't even in the country anymore.
"Why don't we all just wait and see what he says?" Luke suggested, trying to referee the two.
"Fine," Glynis kept her arms crossed and stared out the window.
"Whatever," Grce shrugged, staring out her own window. Lou leaned over towards Luke.
"Dude…I've never seen them act this way towards each other…" He said, sounding freaked out.
Luke smirked, remembering a couple of years ago when Glynis hated Luke temporarily for dumping her for Grace, and Grace was jealous of Glynis and Luke because even though Luke and Grace were dating, Glynis and Luke could still fall into incoherent science genius psycho babble over Physics lab homework and wind up completely excluding Grace from conversations.
"Just let it be, my friend," Luke suggested. Lou glanced in the backseat at the glaring women and nodded.
"I just may do that," He replied as Luke turned into the hospital parking lot and found a spot.
"This is…weird…" Adam said once he and Joan were in the hotel room that Sadie booked for them for just the night, even though they kept insisting that they would be driving home at the end of the night. The hotel was four blocks down from the gallery. From their 23rd floor corner room they had a beautiful view of the city. Joan smiled, shutting some of the curtains so they could prepare to get showered.
"But it's so cool," She smiled, walking over to him and easily sliding her arms to their normal place around his neck and shoulders, hooking them together. Adam's hands instinctively rested around her waist, pulling her in closer as he smiled.
"I can't believe this is happening," He said eagerly. Joan smiled, her mood dampened only by the fact that she had still yet to tell him about the pregnancy scare. IT bothered her deeply that she was still so afraid to tell him, despite the fact that in technicality it wasn't an issue of positive or negative anymore. It was simply an issue of telling the truth, and explaining why she held it from him.
"Well believe it, Adam, I knew it would all along," She smiled proudly at him now, shifting her mind from herself to him. Adam leaned in, pulling her closer and engaged her in a passionate kiss.
"Thank you," He told her breathlessly when he pulled away, leaving his forehead pressed against hers. Joan offered him a strange smile.
"Thank you for what?" She asked, closing her eyes for just a second to take in the moment in her mind.
"For everything you are," He replied.
Joan's smile faltered only for a millisecond as she began to grow uncomfortable under the blanket of guilt bundled up in her stomach at the moment. She kissed him quickly and then pulled away, grabbing one of the shopping bags off the bed that had shampoos, soap and hair products in it, as well as her purse and made her way across the room to the bathroom.
"We're gonna be late if we don't hurry," She said before disappearing in the bathroom and closing the door behind her. Adam smiled to himself, still dazed about everything that had happened today to have caught the slight subtle traces that something was bothering Joan. He had asked her on the ride up to New York what was on her mind but she had shrugged and told him it was nothing important. Adam had reasoned to himself that Joan was probably thinking about everything that had gone on in the past couple of weeks and months.
Now, wanting to tell someone else what had happened, Adam sat down on the queen-sized bed and grabbed the phone receiver from its cradle on the nightstand as he flipped a light on. He quickly dialed his home phone number, waiting for his dad to pick up.
"Dad!" Adam said when he heard his father's greeting on the other end. "You're never going to believe this…" He began to recount the day for his dad, who listened enthusiastically before offering a congratulatory speech and words of encouragement.
By the time Adam had finished showering and shaving, and putting his suit pants on and tucking his shirt in, Joan was pretty much completely done.
"Jane…can you help me with this?" Adam walked out of the bathroom, looking down at the knotted tie he was trying to put on correctly. He stopped dead in his tracks when he lifted his head and saw her across the room.
"Don't look so shell shocked," Joan blushed slightly as she gracefully made her way over to Adam, reaching her perfectly smooth hands up to fix his tie. She watched the tie as she worked, aware that Adam was staring at her.
Joan was wearing a black evening dress that had a single slanted strap that angled over her left shoulder, exposing her shoulders and collarbone as it contoured perfectly to her body. It flowed down to her feet, which were covered with shiny silver heeled shoes. Here was a slit that went from the bottom of the slightly wavy ruffled part of the skirt that went to about halfway up her thigh on the right front side of her right leg. Adam could see in the reflection of the mirror across the room that the back side on the left had a long scarf like protrusion of satiny sheer material that hung to where her hand would extend to if she put her arm down. The strap crossed in a thin string to the right side of the dress and cutting down across her right shoulder blade before crossing back to the left beneath the scarf, and the dress remained open backed, forming down in a V a few inches about Joan's rear. It looked like something you would see on the red carpet. The golden necklace he'd given her a year ago was dangling around her neck, glistening against her still tanned skin from the summer, and the dark dress. She had fake diamond earrings to match, and a promise ring on her left ring finger that Adam had made and given her for Christmas. Her hair was done up with curls hanging down all about her neck and the sides of her face and her make up was flawless.
"Do I look that bad that you have to stare?" Joan asked as she tightened the tie and ran a hand down it to flatten it to Adam's chest, letting her hand linger there as she smiled nervously at him.
"No…that's not it at all…" Adam said in a breathless whisper. He reached a hand up and traced her face, smiling warmly.
"So…do I look all right then?" She asked him, backing up to give him a full view of her outfit.
Adam's smile morphed into a cheesy, but still sincere beam, "Yes, you look wonderful, tonight," He almost sung. Joan blushed as she rolled her eyes.
"That was so tacky," She said, unable to hide her smile. Adam's eyes roamed over her before resting on her face again. "What?" She asked under his gaze.
"There's just…" He turned and found his jacket, digging deep into one of the pockets, "one thing, that's missing," He said.
Joan looked down at herself, spinning in front of the mirror, trying to figure out what he meant. "What's missing?" She asked, feeling self-conscious. She looked in the mirror and Adam appeared behind her off to the side, holding something shiny out in his hand. Joan turned around to see what it was. "What's this?" She asked.
Adam reached out and lifted her arm up before fastening the item around her wrist. He smiled. "I wanted to give it to you when we got home tonight, but now seems like a better time. It's just something to say thank you…" He smiled to her.
Joan stared down at the bracelet. It was a silver linked chain bracelet with small charms on it. One was a heart, one was a cursive J, another was a cursive A; there was also a cross, a sun, a star and a moon decorating the bracelet. It fit Joan perfectly.
"Adam…" Joan began.
"I thought it was going to take longer to make but, then I just spent all my extra time on it. See, it's got our initials," He pointed at each charm as he spoke about it, "and a cross, you know to symbolize the whole, God factor of your, well, our lives," He smiled and Joan watched him as he went through them. "And see this, the sun, the moon and the big star connected to the little star, I chose those because that's what you give people with all the things you do. And that one, the last one, that's my heart," He told her.
Joan felt her eyes well up and she silently cursed herself, knowing if she cried she's have to redo her make up. Adam looked alarmed at this. He frowned and looked down at the charm bracelet and then back at her. He reached to unfasten it.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," He said sincerely, "If you don't like it I can make a better one, here-,"
"Don't you dare unfasten that," Joan slid her hand away. She took a deep breath and tilted her head up to stop herself from tearing up completely. She gently stroked her hand across Adam's cheek before leaning in and placing a kiss on his lips. "It's beautiful…thank you," She sniffled, smiling. Adam smiled. "Now come on, you have to finish getting ready," Joan said after clearing her throat.
Adam snapped back into reality. He put his socks on and then pulled the shiny black leather shoes that went with his suit on. Afterwards he pulled the belt through his pants and buckled it, pulling his shirt loose from being tightly tucked to being tucked in just right. His suit was simply a black suit with a white shirt, gray vest, a matching tie and a suit jacket, all of which fell perfectly on him and look perfect with his wet, gel slicked, brushed back hair. His face was smooth and freshly shaven, and he smelled like a sweet subtle mixture of aftershave and cologne.
Joan smiled when he turned around with his arms out. "What's the damage?" He asked. Joan approached him and straightened out his jacket.
"No damage. You look perfect," She smiled at him. Adam smiled.
"We should get going," He said, grabbing her coat and holding it for her. Once they situated their clothes, they made sure they had everything they needed before leaving the hotel and walking back to the gallery.
"I need to talk to you," Grace said bursting into Luke's room, briskly shutting the door behind her. Luke had been at his desk, finishing a paper that was due the day their winter break ended, and had his back to the wall. He was so startled when Grace rushed in that he'd fumbled out of his chair, landing on the floor with a groan.
Grace was so worked up and agitated she barely noticed this. She paced briskly back and forth in a three-step rotation, flinging her hands about as she spoke. One, two, three steps, turn. "Look, it's really important," One, two, three steps, turn. "I don't know how to explain it to you." One, two, three steps, turn. "I shouldn't even tell you the reasoning behind it," One, two, three steps, turn.
"Grace, what's going on?" Luke interrupted her train of thought as he pulled himself to his feet, watching her pace.
"There's just so much going on," One, two, three steps, turn. One, two, three steps, turn. "It's all a jumble, and my brain, feels like it's going to," One, two, three steps, turn. "Explode into a zillion pieces, but I've got to explain it to you," One, two three steps, turn. One, two, three steps, turn. One, two, three steps, turn. Stop. Grace turned and looked at Luke. "Because it's just not fair to you…" She trailed off.
Luke's eyebrow had risen almost into his hair. He rubbed his head where he'd hit it, and started towards her. When he reached the spot where she was, he took a hold of her shoulders.
"Why don't you sit down and tell me what's going on?" He asked, leading her over to the bed and sitting down next to her. Grace took a couple of strangely deep breaths, attempting to speak. She found herself unable to say what she'd been mulling over through her brain the whole way here from her house.
After being at the hospital and stopping Friedman from being admitted to the mental hospital, Grace had gone to see her mother. Thankfully the rabbi hadn't been there and Grace had happened upon Sarah before she'd started drinking. The result had been a four-hour long conversation that included deep conversation as well as screaming fits of anger. In the end, Grace found herself somewhere she never thought she'd end up again since she was 5 or maybe 6; She sat completely still, on the couch next to her mother, enveloped in Sarah's embrace, both women crying for the years lost between them. When Grace left, however, she still felt the same. The anger was still there, along with the hurt, the sadness, the pain, and all the words said and unsaid between them still ate away at her soul, piece by piece.
On the walk home, Grace had slowly spiraled into a pit of desperation, fear and loathing as she thought about every encounter and every syllable exchanged between herself and Ryan. She grew weary, even just walking. She would have moved to sit down on the curb at one point but it was covered in snow, and it was starting to get dark. She'd hated the winter then, for getting dark so early when she was feeling weak and sacred of walking alone down the street at night; something she'd never been scared of before Ryan.
Scenarios had run rampant through her mind then; Ryan attacking Joan, Ryan causing a shoot-out, killing Will Girardi, Ryan causing a student to shoot-up the school, starting with his art class, Ryan standing over Luke's lifeless body. At the last image she'd progressed to running and had gone into the Girardi house, straight up the two flights of steps and into Luke's room, startling him. Now they were sitting on his bed.
Luke looked worried enough to cause himself multiple ulcers.
"Grace?" His voice snapped her to attention and her back tensed.
Grace looked at Luke. In a matter of seconds, just staring into his eyes, she'd lost all the will power to shove him away and lock him out of her life in the hopes of protecting him, that she'd built up on the way here. Even though the images were still in the back of her mind, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She couldn't just lie to him. How could she? How could she tell him that she didn't love him while looking him in the eye? She couldn't. And where would she be without him? Hunter would still come after the Girardi family. He wanted to take out Joan too. That meant taking her family out too. Wouldn't Grace be stronger together with Luke? She couldn't do this. She wouldn't.
Luke's eyes darted back and forth. He was studying her face, trying to figure out what she was thinking. Grace looked at Luke, letting their eyes lock. She wondered briefly if he really could see the deep dark secrets of her soul in her eyes. Grace sucked in a deep breath and was about to speak but Luke cut her off.
"Don't," He said carefully.
"What?" Grace asked quietly.
Luke shook his head slightly, his eyes still moving back and forth searching hers. "Don't…let yourself do something you're going to regret…" He said pleadingly. "I know what you think you want to do. You think it's better, safer for us but it's not and you know it. So don't do it, we're stronger together…I love you, and I know you love me…" He told her. A smirk crossed his lips and he dramatically patted his stomach. "Besides…you can't abandon me when I have your baby! I'll have to chase you for child support…" He tried to lighten the situation. Grace couldn't help but let a small smile form onto her lips as she averted her eyes to the collar of his shirt nervously. Luke used his hand to turn her face up, his thumb gingerly sliding along the smooth skin of her cheek. When Grace finally turned her face and eyes back up to his, Luke pressed her forehead against hers, to stop her from looking away.
"Come on, you know we can barely even sleep if we're not in the same room…" Luke said. "And we done the separate thing before too. You know we're better off together, Grace, if for nothing else than each other's sanity…" He gave a small smile. Grace sighed slightly. She moved her head and buried it into the crook of his neck, against his collarbone. Luke felt her relax her weight against him and he laced his arm around her, rubbing his hand up and down her back. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Grace felt her head shake when he let out a small chuckle.
"What's so funny?" She asked; her words turned into mumble as she said them into his shirt, breathing in his scent deeply as she did.
"Nothing, just…" He smiled down at her as she turned her eyes upwards to look at him. "I knew you loved me to much to swear that you didn't," He smiled.
"Dude…that only made sense to Dr. Seuss…" She told him.
"Do you like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam-I-Am!" Luke replied. Grace laughed with him for a few seconds before her face became serious. Luke's face became serious when he spotted this. "Sorry…I was just kidding," He stated. Grace shook her head.
"I was stupid to think I could trick myself into not loving you…for stupid reasons…" She said. Luke watched her. A small snicker escaped her lips. "I can't believe I'm going to say something this ironic and cliché," She shook her head slightly, looking away.
"Lay it on me, Sam-I-Am," Luke invited.
Grace let her eyes meet his again, and with a sheepish grin she said, "Only God could stop me loving you."
Luke smiled and resisted laughter, and Grace smiled too, the laughter apparent in her eyes as he looked at her. "That's it, no more country songs for you!" He declared. Both laughed.
"Shut up, and kiss me already," Grace ordered. Luke obeyed.
"So, how are you two holding up?" Sadie questioned. She looked drastically different. Her glasses were replaced with contacts and she was wearing a red evening dress, with her hair done up. Her walkie-talkie and her cell phone were absent; as were the binders and files she'd carried through the day. They were one hour into the opening and Adam and Joan had been standing off to one side, watching dressed up clients come in and look about. The two of them could tell that these people were important, some company owners, CEOs, even political figures. Sadie waved to a waitress who was walking around with a tray of champagne. Joan was having wicked de ja vu.
"You two look a little tense, unwind a little, okay?" She handed them both a glass. "I'm going to start rounding up some of the clients to come meet you, okay?"
"Uhm, oh, yeah, yes, that's good," Adam said, taking a sip from his glass nervously as Sadie disappeared. "I don't know what I was thinking. I don't belong here. I don't fit," Adam fidgeted with his tie slightly.
"Don't be ridiculous, we're just as worthy as all of these people," Joan told him, looking around. "Oh my God…" Joan turned around, away from where she was looking.
"What? What? What's wrong?" Adam asked.
"Oh my God…Adam," Joan turned around to make sure she wasn't seeing things and then looked at Adam, speechlessly. Adam started looking around nervously.
"What? What? Is Ryan here?" He asked. Joan shook her head no. "What, is God going to take mercy and buy my art?"
"No, no. No…" Joan shook her head, shaking with what Adam could only guess was astonishment now.
"What? Jane, come on what is it? You're freaking me out…" Adam said. Joan turned her head to look at him.
Her eyes were wide, and she looked star-struck. "Adam…Elton John is looking at your art…" She spoke in a whisper as if speaking loud would make him disappear.
"What?" Adam asked, almost laughing.
"Adam…" She repeated. "Elton John is looking…at your art," She took his chin and turned his head. Adam's jaw dropped and Joan tapped it to make him close it as he stared wide-eyed at an entourage of people. Sure enough in the middle was a pudgy man wearing round blue spectacles to match his shiny blue suit.
"Oh…Oh God…I…I think I'm going to be sick…" Adam moved to head where he knew the bathrooms were.
"Hey, where'd the man of the night head off too?" Sadie asked, coming back over when she noticed Adam was gone.
Joan found her voice after finishing her glass and depositing it on the empty tray a waitress was carrying by. "He…went to the bathroom. He's a little nervous…" Joan discreetly pointed to the entourage and Sadie nodded, understanding.
"I see…well, let him know when he comes out that everything's fine. Sir Elton actually wants to meet him," Sadie smiled, heading off again to greet more of her clients as they entered.
"This is going to be a long night…" Joan said to herself.
"You've got that right Joan,"
Joan looked up to see a rich woman decked out to the nines in front of her, complete with enough diamonds to weigh down the sturdiest person.
"So God's on Adam's side then?" Joan questioned Rich Lady God.
"I'm on everyone's side…if they want me to be," She replied.
"Okay…lay it on me, what's the 'mission' tonight?" Joan asked God, as God circled one of Adam's sculptures.
"It's time to be honest, Joan." God said. "Tell Adam everything."
"What do you mean everything? There's just one thing," Joan insisted. God smirked at Joan.
"Be honest with yourself too," God said. "So that you can tell Adam everything. And…enjoy the night, Joan." God walked away briskly, giving a backwards wave before Joan could speak again. Seconds later, Adam was back at her side, taking slow deep breaths. Joan smiled nervously.
"Feeling better?" She asked him. Adam took a deep breath, nodded and then shook his head.
"Yeah…no, no I don't," He said with a strange smile, "but I think I will be…eventually," He said hopefully. Joan just smiled at him.
"We've got a long night to finish," She said. "I think it was a good idea for Sadie to reserve the hotel room for the night. It's going to be too late for us to drive back until the morning."
Adam nodded. "Yeah…I'm starting to think that too. But that's okay, right? Because if not, we can leave here early-,"
"Don't be silly," Joan said dismissively.
"Adam, Joan, I have a few people who would like to meet you," Sadie said. Joan and Adam turned around to come face to face with the famous entourage, smiles spreading across their faces.
A/N: HA! You thought Ryan was there didn't you? But, why Elton John you ask? Simple: I was listening to 'Tiny Dancer' and Elton John is an avid art buyer. Moving on…we're reaching the ends my friends (and foe) are you getting excited? Confused? Do I suck? Does this rock? Hmmm? I've been throwing you off by taking longer to upload haven't I?
Chapter title is from "Only God (Could Stop Me Loving You)" By Emerson Drive.
Responses: Kool-Wolf – Wow…declarations of love, talk about desperation…sheesh! Well…you're welcome, foe, but I have to worn you…she may not be pregnant now, but I've got a whole lot of story left in me, and there's a whole lot of future for Arcadia, at some point she'll probably be pregnant, dude. Sorry about your brother, that stinks. Thanks for the kudos, punk. Most of the stuff with Grace's dad will happen in the last chapter, FYI. Hate your guts back, yo!
MDM79 – Thanks! How'd you like Adam's art hook up in this one? She will tell Adam, but you read the ending of this chapter so you already know that. Thanks for the kudos, much love my friend!
Jane And Adam – Glad you still liked it. Was the wait worth this chapter?
Laura – Hey, hey! YAY A REVIEW FROM YOU! This is me getting on your case to review the other chapters, yo! You know, I knew you'd like the soda choking part! Do you still have a bad feeling about G/L? I bet you don't, do you? (P.S. – Dr. Pepper is godlike). Grace? Get a break? Pssshh…soon…maybe. No prob on the shout out sista!
Audrey – Heyyy…how's the withdraw going? Heh, heh. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I think everyone like Luke choking on Dr. P, lol. Ahhh…the Friedman factor is screwing everyone up isn't it? UPDAAAAAATTEEE DUUUUUUDE!
Sam – I agree…Rocker Luke is hot. Ditto the band name! Hey, that's a great way to wake up if I do say so myself…yeah…I wasn't sure how to let everyone down gently there with the preg stuff. I hate when people interrupt the shower as well! Haha, I'm gld someone admitted loving that! I thought it was just a kick for me! Lol like I said everyone loves the Luke choking scene! It's easier to talk to someone sitting across from them instead of on top of them in a booth, isn't it? Lol don't get too lost in that daydream about selling your art! You could hurt Ryan…if JoA still existed and he was playing Ryan and not a dead soldier on JoA's replacement show's first episode…(tear…cry, sob). Thanks for the chapter kudos dude!
Coveredinrain16 – Aw, don't cry! There's a whole lot of future for this story series! Babies will be here eventually…well…at least one…though I don't know who for yet…hmmm. I'm glad everyone loved the choking on soda scene! I wasn't aware that I was doing that with Adam and Joan? What part did he act like his art was more important to him? I wasn't trying to make it seem that way! I'm sorry! Don't be sad! Thanks for the kudos! Much love back!
Anti-Like-Grace – The Friedman factor is screwing everyone up isn't it? Did chapter 13 meet your expectations? I know you had trouble reading it! )
Unconventional – Lol, thanks! I'm sorry, I'm sorry…she's got a lot of eggs in those ovaries dude; pregnancy is always still a possibility!
Tiffany – Oh yes, you are right, I make you wait if you make me wait, dude! ) See! People are just lazy reviewers! Yell at them for it! Lol. I updated, are you happy? It was nice and long!
Carol – I'm glad that you're glad, yo! Did this chapter meet your expectations? I'm glad I've managed to sway your chain of thoughts on the Ryan/Grace sibling issue. At some point there will be a showdown, but it won't be in this story. Well…scratch that it won't definitely be in this one, but it might be, depending…)
ProcrastinationQueen – How's the addiction going? Satisfying? Worry not, by the end of this chapter I was hoping I got across the point that Joan was going to tell Adam while they were in New York? Ryan will get caught…eventually…perhaps. ) Thanks for the kudos!
Note: So, how'd you like the nice long update? Hmmm?