Chapter 4
Sara woke slowly. She still felt Grace's warm body still on her bed. She opened her eyes and there was Grace…staring at her. " Morning mommy" Grace giggled as she snuggled to her mother.
"Morning baby, did you sleep good?"
"Yea, except you kept snoring and you move a lot."
"Hey! You move a lot to! Poor Nick last night. You kicked him while you were sleeping on the couch."
"Can we see Nick today?" Grace asked as she sat up and pulled all the covers with her.
"Maybe, we have a lot of things to do today. Mommy needs to find a bigger apartment, or a house. We need to get you enrolled in school. We also have to talk about what happened 3 years ago, and why you're here now."
"OK, but can we have breakfast first?"
"Sure, what would you like?"
"PANCAKES! Chocolate chip pancakes!" Grace yelled.
"OK" Sara said as she stood up. "Piggy back ride?" Grace nodded and jumped onto her mother's back. Grace giggled the whole way to the kitchen. Sara set her down on the kitchen table as someone knocked on the door. "I wonder who that could be?" Sara said as she walked to her front door. There was Nick, once again. "Nick, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see if you ladies would like to have breakfast with me?" Grace heard Nick's voice and ran to him, jumping up into his arms and giving him a hug.
"Hi Nicky! Mommy is going to make me pancakes!"
"Why couldn't you just call Nick? You have a phone don't you?" Sara smirked.
"I do, but I thought if I came over and asked, it would be harder to turn me down." Nick grinned.
"Please can he stay?" Grace whined.
"Very low to use my daughter against me Nick!" Sara smiled as she stepped aside to let Nick into her apartment.
"Hey, it worked didn't it?" Sara just shook her head and walked back to the kitchen. Nick followed, Grace still in his arms.
"I hope you like chocolate chips Nick." Sara said with her back to him as she started mixing the ingredients together.
"I love chocolate chips!" Nick smiled. Grace jumped out of his arms and ran to the counter where her mother was working.
"Mommy, can I add the chocolate chips?" Grace asked.
"Yup," Sara said as she picked Grace up and put her on the counter. Grace dumped the whole bag in. Some of the chocolate chips when flying and Grace's eyes started to well up with tears.
"I'm sorry mommy. I didn't mean to, I'm sorry. Am I a bad girl?" Grace asked in a small voice as tears began to fall from her eyes. Sara knelt down in front of her and wrapped her arms around the small child.
"No baby! It was an accident, it's OK. Mommy's not mad, we can get more." Nick watched the interaction between Sara and Grace and made a mental note on how scared Grace had gotten when she dropped something as little as a chocolate chip. Breakfast went on in small talk and giggles from Grace.
After they were done eating Nick began to clean up. "Grace why don't you go get dressed in mommy's room, and then we'll go do something fun OK?"
"OK" Grace answered and ran off in the direction of Sara's room.
"So…what made her cry like that when she dropped the chips?" Nick asked quietly. Sara sighed heavily.
"My-her father had some problems, and he would yell at her for the smallest things. Crying wrinkled clothes, dropping a glass. She was a small baby, premature. And she wasn't all that coordinated. I mean what two year old is?" Sara asked as her own eyes began to well up. Nick wrapped his arms around her.
"It's OK Sar. She's with you now." Nick kissed her forehead and held her close.
"Nick," Sara sniffled. "Why are you here. I mean you barely know Grace, and you barely know…this part of my life. I've hidden it from everyone. Why are you here now?"
"I don't know, I…I've always loved you…I just-"
"Wait a second…we weren't talking about love, Nick. You love me?"
"Um… did I really say that out loud?" Sara nodded. "OK, well since I said it, I love you. I'm in love with you, and I always have been."
"Why the sudden change of attitude? Why go after me now? When I get my daughter and my life is going to be crazy?"
"Because I want to be there for you. I see Grace, and I see you. I love Grace; she's adorable, and probably just as stubborn as you are. And I want to be around to find out. I want more kids that look just like her. I want you all of you, no matter what you come with, I'll follow." Sara was crying now. She reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand.
"Nick, I don't know what to say…"
"Don't say anything" He whispered and lowered his lips onto hers. Nick pulled away and kissed her forehead.
"Sara, will you move in with me. You and Grace? We'll start a family just the three of us, and we'll go from there."
"Nick how many rooms do you have in your apartment?"
"Uhm, one…OK, how about a house?"
"Nick this is going really fast. I mean I just got my daughter, and now you say you love her and me. And you want to move in together. I'm feeling just a little overwhelmed. I need to talk to Grace; I need to know how she was the years that I was gone. I need to know my baby first, and then you."
"OK, how about I help you look for a bigger apartment then?"
"OK" She hugged him again, and went to get dressed.
