Happy Valentine's Day Special chapter for the day.
…
"Come on Ace, we have to leave for your friend's house."
"I am almost ready," Ace shouts down, after a few more minutes she comes out of the bathroom, Graham is ready for her and helps her with her coat. "Should we walk or drive there?"
"Walk, it seems like a nice night for once." He offers his arm for her as they head out.
After a few blocks they arrive at a two-story white house. "We are here, they have done updates since I last visited."
"It seems that many houses in this area have been updated." Shreela is tapping her foot impatiently.
"I see you still like to be late, or did you get distracted?"
"We are just looking at how many houses have been updated."
"They had to be after popcorn ceiling was found to be toxic, are you coming in?"
"We are." Ace and Graham walk in as the young girl runs up.
"Up," she asks Graham, "piggyback?" With a nod of approval from Shreela he bends down and Dory gets on his back. He pretends to be a horse around the house.
"He seems to be good with kids, does he have any?"
"Just a grandson."
"He skipped a kid and went for a grandson?"
"He lost his wife a few years ago, who is Ryan's grandmother."
"Have you met this Ryan?"
"I have, we met not long after Graham and I started to get serious."
"I have to say, it is hard to believe that you are serious about anyone. I always thought you didn't want to be in a relationship."
"I have been in a few of them since I got back."
"None of them like this though? Considering you brought him here to show him around your small little town."
"Something happened and our boss said she didn't want to see us for a month, and our friend who is a real doctor suggested for me to take time away from A Charitable Earth. He has taking me to visit his wife's grave."
"Really?"
"I wanted to go there. I would never want to replace anyone that was special to someone." They watch on as Dory is laughing while riding on Graham's back. "Can I ask something?"
"Both deadbeats."
"How did you know what I was going to ask?"
"You grew up without a father and can probably see some of yourself in Dory."
"I see."
"How old is the grandson?"
"Fully grown adult."
"Ok."
Shreela's daughter comes into the room, "Dinner is ready." Everyone goes to the dinner table and eats their meal. A few hours later, "D it is time for you to go to bed."
"I don't want to."
"You have to sweetie." Dory stamps up the stairs to get on her pajamas. "Sorry about that." The young mom follows her daughter to the bedroom.
"I swear sometimes Dory is a lot like you."
Shreela's daughter comes down, "She is asking a story read by you Graham."
"Ok." Graham goes up and leaves the three women alone.
"Her father barely comes around and the moment a father figure or grandfather figure comes around she attaches to him '' Twenty minutes later Graham comes back and sits down next to Ace who leans her head on his shoulder. Shreela looks on and smiles for her friend. A few hours later Ace is starting to fall asleep while Shreela is chatting her ear off about the last 30 years.
"I think it's time for you two to head home."
"I do too, well it's not home, but it's somewhere we are sleeping." Graham nudges Ace a little bit.
"Honey, we should get going. You have been running into people left and right." Ace stands up as she and Graham get past the driveway.
"Mom."
"No, I want Ace to remain happy."
"He is great with Dory."
"He is even better with and for her namesake." Shreela shuts the door and heads to her bedroom.
3 days later…
"Ace, your phone is ringing."
"Who is it," Ace walks into the room they are out. They are now staying at a hotel away from Perivale and London.
"It is Ryan's number."
"Ryan as in your grandson?"
"Yes."
"Why is he calling me and not you? I didn't even know he had my number."
"Probably got it from Yaz."
"Ok," she picks up her phone from Graham. "Hello."
"Hey Ace."
"Hello Ryan."
"Good he gave you my number."
"Not exactly, he saw your number on my phone and told me who it was."
"He is there?"
"Right next to me."
"Can you leave the room for a second?"
"I can," Ace gets up and excuses herself.
"Ok, I am alone now. I am thinking this might have something to do with Christmas."
"It does, I was wanting to surprise him."
"You are wanting my help I suppose."
"I do, and maybe one of your friend's help."
"I think they will like that too."
"Good, is there any way someone can pick me up on the 24th?"
"I will see, have you talked to Yaz?"
"Yes, she is going to her parents. She says I can stay at hers so I can surprise Graham better."
"Good good. I will talk to Nyssa and Tegan. I am sure they will be more than glad to help. How will you be getting to dinner at theirs."
"Where do they live?"
"Not far from Graham's place."
"I have an idea, is there any way you can get him to spend both days with you?"
"I can do that."
"Thank you."
"I want Graham to have a wonderful Christmas too."
"Just make sure he doesn't suspect something."
"I'll try."
"Good, I'll let you go now, bye Ace."
"Bye Ryan." She shoots off a text asking if Tegan or Nyssa can pick up Ryan on the 24th from the airport as a surprise for Graham. She waits a few minutes for a reply. When she gets a yes she goes back to Graham.
"So what was that about?"
"What was about?"
"Ryan calling you."
"He was just wondering how far the reach of A Charitable Earth is."
"Ok," Graham leans back in the bed and Ace leans in his arms. She is looking forward to Christmas even more now and is also planning her gift to him.
"Graham, have you thought anymore about what you said last week?"
"Yes, I have. I don't want to live there anymore. After the holidays I will start to look for a new place."
"Until then, do you want to stay with me?"
"I would love to. Being around you 24/7 is easy." They share a short kiss that turns into something more.