Ok I'm back from my vacation, and so glad to be! It was really boring. So with out further delay here is the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 19
"Grace listen it's Joan. Is Luke there? Let me talk to him for a minute."
"Ok?" she said puzzled.
"Joan wants to talk to you." She said as she handed Luke the phone.
Luke gave Grace his (That's strange) look as he took the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Luke, Look we are on our way to Indiana now. Mitch knows where you guys are. He is going to be coming, he doesn't know your exact location so your safe for now, We got a flight delay because of a bad storm here so that means he might have gotten one too." Joan said this so fast Luke could barely understand, plus Joan was out of breath.
"What?" He questioned confused and eyes wide.
She slowed down for the next part.
"Luke, whatever you do don't tell Grace. If she runs she's putting herself in more danger. The more people she's around the better."
"Joan I can't do…"
Without warning Adam took the phone from Joan. Luke assumed that he had been on the speaker because of the timing.
"Luke! Do you love her or not?"
"Yes I do, but…"
"Then keep her safe. We are also getting your dad involved and he will be contacting the police there. You know how Grace is about the Police."
"But Adam…"
"Luke. Just keep her safe." Luke could tell Adam was getting irritated.
"I will but…"
(Adam cuts him off short.)
"Good now let me talk to her."
Luke handed the phone to Grace with no emotion.
"Grace looked at him like he was crazy, she thought he would be in a good mood to talk to his sister."
She started to talk to Adam as Luke started to think.
He couldn't not tell Grace, not and keep her anyways. When she found out she would dump him for sure, Even if it were for her safety. Grace had warned him when they first started seeing each other. Lies were the one thing she could not handle. She had had to live with them her whole life, and she wasn't about to let another person in her life like her mother or father. She couldn't choose to get rid of her parents, but she could a boyfriend. Luke knew before this was over he would be losing Grace again. To what extent he did not know, but he was already sure he would not be granted permission to hold her, probably not even to see her.
As Luke finished his thought Grace got off the phone.
"I can't believe they are visiting already can you?" She said excitedly.
"No." He kind of smiled, his thoughts clearly not there.
Grace continued. "And they are back together! After four years!"
Luke just nodded his head in response.
"What's the matter?" She asked after realizing he did not share her excitement.
"Oh I'm just tired." He said breathlessly.
"Okay? Want to go to bed early then?"
"Yeah lets do." He's said not wanting to have to talk to her in fear of busting out and telling her everything.
Luke lie awake hours after Grace had fallen asleep. He just lie there staring at her and what he knew to almost be over. A tear escaped his eye.
He reached out and touched her back, gliding his hand around her to hold her as he slept. He would miss her, but he couldn't concentrate on that now. He had to keep her safe.
The next day Luke was awoke by a soft kiss. When he opened his eyes he saw her starring back at him.
"Hey." She smiled.
"Time for us to get ready for our second day of work."
"Great." Luke said sarcastically.
"Aw it won't be that bad, think of it atom boy. When we finally get enough money for an apartment you can get us discounts to redecorate all the hideous stuff I'm sure will be in it."
"Yeah"… Luke laughed, and then quickly stopped when he realized what she had said, and the conversation the previous night.
After her had showered and dressed he took Grace to work and then went himself. He couldn't wait for Adam and Joan to arrive. He couldn't bare being around Grace. It crushed him.
When Grace arrived at work Jayden was already there. She was waiting on a bench outside the restaurant. She explained to Grace that only Mr. Ivanhoe had a key and that he was always late.
They started chatting as they waited.
"So," Jayden asked, "Where are you originally from?"
"Maryland." Grace answered.
"Why so far from home? Don't you miss your family?"
Grace chuckled, No."
"Really? Man, I would."
"Did anyone come with you? I mean, surely you didn't come alone."
"You like asking questions don't you?"
"Well, ya I guess, I like to know who I work with. You can ask me anything, but first who is this friend? Is it a guy?" Jayden smiled.
Grace smiled. "Yes his name is Luke."
"So he is your boyfriend."
"Yeah." Grace smiled again blushing.
"Ha, I knew it!"
"Knew what?"
"That you were in love. How long have you been together?"
"Wait, wait, wait," Grace said.
"We hardly know each other, why am I telling you my life story again?"
"Because we will know each other." Jayden said simply.
"But you didn't answer my question."
Grace laughed. "I don't even tell him that, why should I tell you."
But their conversation was cut short by the arrival of Ivanhoe. It was time for work.
After Graces day at work she headed home. Luke was not yet off, so she picked up her old habit of walking. When she was about halfway she saw someone in a small store she thought she recognized, so she went in. It was Adam!"
"I thought you wouldn't be here until later." She said hugging him questioning his early arrival.
"Well, our plane wasn't delayed as much as we thought."
"Where is Girardi anyways? Grace asked.
"Oh she went to the bathroom."
"So your finally back together huh?"
Adam smiled. "Yeah."
"You happy?"
He smiled again. " I can't believe how much I missed her Grace."
Grace smiled. "I'm glad she finally forgave you, and I hope you learned you lesson."
"cha I did, but I don't think she fully forgave me, she doesn't trust me like she used to."
"It will take time." Grace said
Meanwhile…
Joan was in the bathroom freshening up.
"You don't need makeup Joan." A little voice told her.
Joan recognized the voice of little girl god.
"Everyone was made beautiful the way they are."
Joan huffed, Yeah well, tell this zit on my face that before it becomes any bigger and over-powers you!"
The little girl laughed.
"Joan talk to Luke, help him."
"I always talk to him and he's not the one who needs help!"
"Just listen to him Joan."
"Great, Grace is in danger, Adam is in danger and you want me to talk to Luke. You know, it would be a whole lot simpler if you'd just told me exactly what to do instead of making me figure it out myself!"
"Free will Joan. You always have a choice."
"Yeah, yeah, well what if my choice is not to have a choice?"
Little girl god shrugs her shoulders.
"Its your choice."
"Some help you are!" Joan yells back.
Little girl god waves to her without turning around.
When Joan, Adam, and Grace Finally arrive at the hotel Luke is already there. He greets them then asks Adam to help him pick up some food.
Adam agrees and they leave.
"Why do I have to lie to Grace?" Luke finally says after a few minutes of silence in the car.
" I already explained that Luke, if we tell her she'd run!" Adam was getting angry at having to re-explain something to someone who was thought to be a genius.
Luke went on. "Well, if I lie I'll lose her! Forever!"
Adam started yelling at this point. "Are you really that selfish! Here I am thinking that you would understand, that you are mature enough, and you are worried about her dumping you!"
"I don't think I m being selfish, I think she should know."
"Look I'll talk to her after this all blows over. I won't let her dump you, but we have to make sure she is safe."
Luke laughed at that. "You really must not know Grace because that is one of the first things she told me. If I ever lie, about anything, we're done."
"Luke she won't …"
"Oh like you thought Joan wouldn't leave you? Adam if I lie to Grace I won't be getting her back in four years like you. She had to deal with lies and people she couldn't trust her whole life. She's not going to deal with it if she doesn't have to."
Adam seemed drawn back by what Luke had said but still managed to say… Luke, don't risk her life for love."
Luke gave in to Adam's relentless remarks .He knew he was not going to give in and more stress between the two might actually cause more harm than help. He relaxed a little when he thought of his dad. Who would be helping, but he still thought of Adam's words "I won't let her dump you." He knew Adam would not be able to change Graces mind.
The ride was quiet for the rest of the trip home. They had picked up some pizzas.
When they returned the girls had already picked out some movies, and Joan had gotten a hotel for her and Adam.
"So," Grace asked "What made you guys visit already."
Luke looked at Adam shaking his head with a cold smile on his face.
We needed an early vacation. He said this quickly as if Joan and he had already pre-planned the conversation.
"Plus we get to visit you." Joan added laughing.
"How long will you be here?" Luke asked hoping to corner them.
"Well, maybe a week, maybe longer, depends on when we run out of money. He laughed.
The day ended with some bad movies and some talk about old times at school.
The next day started the same as the previous one. Grace going to work and having to wait. Luke also going to work, but before he arrived he was again greeted by Joan.
"Joan? What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you, about Grace. Adam told me what you said."
"All of it?" He asked.
"Well I'm assuming so." She smiled. "Especially if he went as far to mention your lecture about what happened four years ago."
"Sorry, I just was really upset, I guess I still am."
"It's fine, but about you and Grace, Do you really think she won't understand your reason for not telling her?"
"Joan you know Grace. She doesn't put up with things she doesn't have to. I don't want to lie to her!" He said in a shaky voice.
She smiled. "Then don't." Joan said remembering what God had told her. "Free will Luke, just remember to look at the consequences first."
"Joan?" She turns around to face her brother.
"Thanks."
She smiles again before turning around and walking away.
"Ivanhoe's." Jayden answers the phone. Mr. Ivanhoe had stepped out for a break and Grace is left cleaning tables which are all empty except for one old couple enjoying a coffee in a corner booth.
"It's still to early for ice cream." Grace smiled at Jayden who was now stacking cups into pyramids.
"Yeah, we don't get busy until lunch."
Grace turns around and continues washing tables as the bell rings on the door as it opens. A tall man with dark hair entered. He ordered something from Jayden and Grace froze. She had recognized the voice.
Well, you guys know me by now, I love leaving cliffhangers. Oh but I thought I'd mention that this chapter really wasn't going to be a cliffhanger. My hands got tired of typing. Lol nhklm I hope you enjoy this one. Lol being a fan of my cliffhangers as you are.J Thanks for everyone's patience since I went on vacation. And a special thanks to HJ glory for helping me out, and always reviewing.oh also thanks to Sam, nklm, Jane and Adam for also always reviewing. I know I left people out, but I am typing this off the top of my head and this is all I can remember at the moment. These people just seem to stick out to me. Sam has never missed a chapter! So what can I say lol. Anyways since you know this wasn't a chapter meant to be a cliffhanger you probably can figure out that I have at least some other stuff typed. That should be up very soon seeing as if I have nothing else to do.
