"Ash where home" John yelled upon entering the house.
"I'm in the kitchen" Ashley yelled back.
"Can you come here?" John asked.
Ashley walked into the hall and saw Gracie.
"Johnathan you didn't tell me we were having company tonight" she said her voice laced with irritation that was hidden to everyone but John.
Ashley knew exactly who this little girl was it didn't take an idiot to figure it out. She was mad at John for not telling her that he was meeting Madison and she would voice her opinions later on.
"You must be Gracie it's nice to meet you I'm Ashley" she said kneeling to shake Gracie's hand.
She seemed hesitant at first but she relaxed and returned the gesture. Ashley coming from the home she did knew the signs of abuse right away. She gave John a look and he nodded to let her know he had noticed it too.
"Well dinner won't be too far away do you like pizza Gracie?" she asked.
"Yes Ma'am I do" she replied softly.
"Well that is good because I made lots of it" Ashley said.
"Talon how about you show Gracie your toys" John suggested.
"We play" he said taking Gracie's hand.
John and Ashley watched them walk into the other room. They waited until they knew both children were out of hearing range.
"I know what you are going to say" John said.
"Really what?" Ashley asked crossing her arms over her chest.
"That Madison is a lying bitch and that she ain't mine" John said.
"I was going to say Madison was a bitch but I wasn't going to say anything about her not being yours" she replied. "I want her to be yours so we can get her away from that monster"
"Is it that obvious?" John asked.
"You are talking to a person who grew up in a broken home" she said.
"Poor kid I almost put her in a sugar coma earlier we got ice cream" he said.
"Gee thanks for think about me" she said.
"Anytime baby" he said.
They ate dinner and everything was fine but then after Gracie went to put her plate in the sink but she dropped it and it shattered.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to please don't hit me" she yelled in a panic as she threw her hands over her head to shield herself from the blows.
"Sweetie it's ok" Ashley said.
She looked at John and motioned her head to the other room John got the message and took the boys into the living room.
"You don't have to worry about being hit here" she said. "John and I don't believe in hitting our children"
Gracie lowered her arms and Ashley saw the tears in her brown eyes. It broke Ashley's heart because she could see herself in this little girl.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah" Gracie sniffled.
"I know how you feel when I was younger my parents weren't very nice to me they hit me sometimes and I always thought it was my fault like if I could have done whatever I did wrong the right way I wouldn't have gotten hit but now I know that it wasn't my fault and that there are just some bad people in the world" Ashley explained.
"My mommy says it's my fault that my dad left" Gracie said "she hits me a lot".
"Gracie how old are you?" Ashley asked.
"I'm 9" she said.
"No you are not how old are you really?" Ashley asked.
"6" was the reply she got.
"So you know that John isn't your real father?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah but he was really nice and it was fun to pretend" Gracie said.
"I know it is sweetie" Ashley said as she hugged the little girl.
Gracie didn't know what to do at first but then she just let Ashley hug her. Ashley could tell that Madison had filled Gracie's head with so many lies that she couldn't help but say what she was told.
"Do you go to school?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah I like school my teacher is really nice I am in first grade but mommy told me to lie and say I was in 5th she said that would make me sound better" Gracie said.
Ashley held back a gasp how could anyone do this to their own child.
"Hey I was going to make some chocolate chip cookies would you like to help me?" she asked.
"Sure" Gracie replied.
"Ok but there is one rule you need to follow when you are in this house" Ashley said.
"What is it?" Gracie asked.
"You always have to be yourself no matter how crazy you are" Ashley said with a smile.
Gracie smiled back and agreed. Deep down she wished her mother was like Ashley. Gracie had taken an instant liking to the young woman she seemed to understand her. While backing the cookies they talked about many things. Gracie was becoming more and more comfortable here but she knew that eventually she would have to go home and she was dreading that time.
"Do you like music Gracie?" Ashley asked.
"Yeah" she replied.
"Well when I was younger and I was feeling bad because my parents upset me I used to sing to myself" Ashley said.
"What song?" Gracie asked.
"You'll be in my heart from Tarzan" Ashley answered.
"I've never seen that movie, mommy says Disney movies are for idiots" Gracie said.
"Disney movies are for idiots" Ashley said. "would you like me to teach you the song?"
"Yeah"
(A/N: this is where the lyrics would be but I ain't getting myself in trouble so if you want to know the lyrics look them up)
Later that night John felt that it was time for Gracie to go home. He too didn't want her to leave but there was no way around it. Before they left Ashley hugged Gracie.
"Don't forget whenever you get sad just sing the song" Ashley whispered to her.
"I will" Gracie whispered back.
One last glance and the John and Gracie where gone.
A/N: Ok people I know you hate me because she ain't John's kid but trust me yall are going to be thrown for a loop when you see what I have planned for Gracie.