Chapter 6: "Leapin' Lizards!"
"Things have worked out, much better than planned; it makes you smile, when fate takes a hand…"
Oliver, Grace, and Annie sat together in the expansive rear cab of the Duesenberg, the bright lights of New York City reflecting against its dark windows as The Asp drove though the streets of the city that never slept, even at this late hour. As if she knew exhaustion would set in as soon as she allowed it, Annie chattered excitedly at Grace…and Oliver found his concentration wavering. He frowned unsurely at his wife, who -though she dutifully held Annie's hand- seemed not to hear a word the young girl was saying, before facing forward again, mystified.
They were dressed in their finest, having just hosted a Christmas fundraiser that Grace had organized on behalf of the little girls at the Hudson Street Orphanage. In addition to keeping on as his secretary, Grace had been working with Mr. Donatelli and the New York Board of Orphans since their return from their honeymoon in Monte Carlo in early September. She had -it turned out- been calculating the idea since Annie's own adoption, and had convinced Oliver that with his name on the ticket, they would definitely get the press they needed to find all of the little girls at the orphanage homes.
The night had been a splendid success: though all of Annie's friends had been formally adopted in the weeks passed -Pepper had come last, just two days earlier- there were still many that needed homes…and the benefit had served to ensure just that.
Oliver watched as Grace gave a small sigh and rested her head against the window, closing her eyes for the briefest of moments as Annie continued to babble. She had been subdued throughout dinner and most of the event, and though she doted on Annie as she always did -though she kept track of Oliver's note cards and stayed by his side as they exchanged pleasantries with every guest in attendance- Oliver found the difference unsettling.
Though Annie was terribly oblivious to Grace's inattentiveness, she had gradually quieted, so that by the time The Asp was pulling into the drive the car had been silent for several minutes. Oliver struggled to catch Grace's eye as she straightened and allowed The Asp to help her from the car. Unsuccessful, he stepped out of the Duesenberg behind Annie, placing a hand to the small of Grace's back before leading them up the steps and into the warmth of the great hall. The little group was silent as they crossed the entryway, their footsteps echoing against the marble tile.
"Grace…"
Grace turned distractedly as Oliver spoke her name and he frowned, his brow furrowing uncertainly- something about the variance in her had Oliver on edge. He began to reach for her before pulling up short, his arm falling limply to his side: Annie was leaning tiredly into Grace, and she cast a pointed glance from Oliver to the little girl before placing a guiding hand to her shoulder and moving towards the staircase.
"I'll draw her bath…" Grace took motherhood very seriously, and though her duties to Annie took precedence over all else -her day to day obligations usually, and her own needs always- there was a tired edge to her soft voice that was quite unfamiliar to Oliver.
"Don't forget to say goodnight, Daddy Warbucks," Annie reminded with a yawn.
Oliver smiled weakly and nodded.
"I'll be up shortly," he promised.
Oliver retired to his study and poured himself a drink, tipping the mouth of his favorite brandy against the lip of his glass, indulgently filling the crystal quite a bit further than was either usual or necessary. Raising the glass to his lips, he took a generous drink of the dark liquid and glowered into the empty fireplace, deep in thought.
Fall had passed smoothly…Grace and Oliver had spent a week on Oliver's yacht in Monte Carlo for their honeymoon, only returning two days early when they began to miss Annie a little too much. After the honeymoon had come Annie's birthday in October. They were renovating the orphanage; Grace had been spending much of her time there while she searched for a suitable replacement for Mrs. Hannigan- though even that would soon be settled. They had been busy- very busy. The orphanage benefit had been their last big holiday obligation- and for the first time since becoming husband and wife, their lives had begun to take on a sense of normalcy once again.
Oliver took another sip of brandy, moving behind his desk and absentmindedly shuffling the impressive array of notebooks and ticket tape that blanketed its surface. He struggled to remember when he had first noticed the change in Grace- Was it at dinner, or before? Come to think of it- she had been distracted at breakfast that morning: reserved…Or perhaps, Oliver wondered, swallowing the thought with a generous gulp of brandy, Perhaps she had been avoiding him…
Grace tucked Annie into bed with loving care, smoothing an unruly red curl away from her daughter's face before reaching over to scratch Sandy behind the ears. She cast a glance towards the door to Annie's bedroom before turning back to the little girl with an unconvincing smile.
"He's not coming, is he?" Annie prompted despairingly. It never failed to catch Grace by surprise, the way that Annie -usually so bright and energetic- could interpret the smallest gesture as rejection. She lay a hand to the little girl's cheek, smiling gently.
"I'm sure he didn't forget," she promised.
Annie yawned, fighting sleep.
"Will you lay with me?" she pleaded softly, fixing her wide gaze upon Grace with a practiced skill.
Grace hesitated. Her stomach churned in protest…but she found it impossible to resist Annie's beseeching gaze.
"Of course," Grace nodded, pressing a kiss to Annie's head and allowing the little girl to snuggle up to her.
Annie sighed.
"Goodnight, Mom..."
"Goodnight, Sweetheart."
When she was sure that Annie slept soundly, Grace crept quietly from the room and set off down the corridor in search of Oliver. She had woken -for the second day in a row- feeling ill. Her stomach clenched weakly and there was a dull ache behind her temples, and the day had kept her on her feet from beginning to end. Their Christmas benefit -the accumulation of months of diligent planning and effort on her part- had seemed to never end…so that by the time they were climbing into the car Grace could hardly even pretend to be keeping up with Annie's babble. Her mind had been racing all day, and all she wanted was to finally go to bed, secure in Oliver's arms.
By the time Grace arrived at his study, Oliver had started a fire in the grate and was sipping his way through his third drink. He turned as his wife slipped through the double doors, the ice clinking against his glass as he set it aside and allowed his gaze to slip back to the crackling orange flames. He didn't speak, didn't greet Grace, nor provide reason for his absence at Annie's bedside.
"Oliver?" Grace's voice was hesitant, unsure. Oliver could sense the exhaustion beneath her question, and his resolve wavered slightly. He set his mouth in a firm line.
"Oliver?" Grace said again, when he didn't answer. She moved further into the room. "Is everything alright?"
Oliver parted his lips, reaching again for his drink.
"You tell me."
His tone was humorless, almost angry, and Grace frowned.
"You didn't say goodnight…" Beneath her concerned tone lay an edge of irritation, and Oliver felt his expression harden as Grace continued, "She waited for you."
"My apologies…"
His voice was hard and mirthless, and Grace's hands flew to her hips as she stomped her foot in frustration.
"Oliver Warbucks, why are you acting this way?"
Oliver chuckled coldly, standing and moving to the other side of his desk to refill his glass.
"I should be asking you the same thing," he accused.
Grace watched as Oliver poured himself another drink, raising the glass to his lips and draining its contents in one indignant gulp.
"Whatever are you talking about?" she demanded. "Oliver, look at me- put that down, you've had enough-"
"Haven't you?" Oliver challenged, clenching his fist upon his desk, "Or aren't you through with me yet?"
Grace clutched at the back of her usual chair, incredulous.
"Excuse me?" she challenged angrily, even as she felt her vision blur with unshed tears, "What have I done? You're acting ridiculous!"
"Me?" Oliver thundered, "You're been avoiding me, Grace- you barely spoke two words all night! Are you so unhappy?"
"Oliver-"
"You got what you wanted, is that it? Annie adores you, so now you don't need me?"
Grace pressed a hand to her mouth, feeling suddenly ill, and Oliver deflated brokenly, misinterpreting her silence.
"You don't deny it?" he accused mistakenly, voice somber. "What- where are you going?" he demanded.
"I don't feel well-" Grace brushed past him, and Oliver set his drink down and moved to follow, worried.
"Grace-"
Oliver followed, looking on with concern as his perfect Grace only barely made it to the washroom down the hall before becoming sick. Feeling instantly sober, Oliver reached forward unsurely, the accusations he had spat at her only moments before ringing in his ears.
"Grace," Oliver's voice was filled with remorse, "I-I'm so sorry..."
Grace took Oliver's hand and straightened weakly, feeling hurt and angry and -above all else- extremely tired.
"Oliver…"
"I didn't mean it," Oliver cut across, "Please, forgive me-"
"How could you say such things?" Grace demanded. She knew that Oliver hadn't meant what he'd said- knew that he'd been drinking, and knew also that her husband's insecurities were a direct response to the way that she herself had behaved for much of the day. Still, his words had cut her deeply, and her eyes welled with angry tears, "Do you really think so little of me?"
"I-of course not," Oliver reached forward, cupping her cheek in his palm, "I'm a fool, Grace. I just thought…Perhaps the novelty of it all had worn off, and you'd realized that, well, that I'm not what you wanted, after all…"
"That's absolutely silly, Oliver!" Grace snapped, her exhaustion giving way to irritation, "That's the most ridiculous excuse I've ever heard!"
Oliver seemed taken aback at her outburst, and he reached forward tentatively.
"Grace-"
"And besides," Grace burst indignantly, "It's nothing to do with you!"
"I-" Oliver hesitated, turning towards Grace with a frown, "What do you mean?"
"Oliver," Grace began slowly, "There's something I need to tell you…" She hesitated unsurely- for in truth, she had been distracted for much of the day. More specifically: she had been anxious and preoccupied from the moment her forthcoming confession had occurred to her. Ever since she had put two-and-two together. The nausea, the fatigue…the precise timing of it all. "Oliver…" Grace's gaze was downcast, and she forced herself to raise her gaze, meeting Oliver's concerned expression from beneath dark eyelashes:
"...I think I'm pregnant."
My apologies for the delay! I misplaced my flash drive and didn't look kindly upon rewriting this entire chapter! Thank you, thank you to everyone that takes the time to read my story and review, it seriously brightens my day! I hope you will like the direction I am taking this story…I've started a companion piece to this one…It's basically a series of one-shots that parallel my storyline by exploring certain plot points in a little more detail. Don't worry, this fic still gets priority :) Be on the lookout for the first installment, coming soon!