Missing Dad
Meet The Farrells Chapter10
Note: In this story Grace's father dies of cancer two years before she marries Oliver. Since Grace's father's character was not deeply explored in my past collaboration with Manadalicious The Farrell Sisters I figured I'd explore deeper in this chapter they dynamic of the family before their father passes away. I own no characters from Annie. Grace's family members are my original characters. Ages of Grace and her sisters at the beginning of this story Grace 31 (born in 1903) Catherine 29 (born in 1905) Anna 18 about to turn 19 (Born in 1915). Most of this chapter is a flashback….
Father's Day had always been a holiday that Grace Warbucks looked forward to celebrating with her family when she was a child. Every June right up until her father died of cancer two years before Oliver and Grace's wedding the Farrells always did something special to celebrate the leading man in their life. Grace had a particularly strong relationship with her father since she was the oldest child.
Grace remembered one such occasion when she was seven and her sister Catherine was five. They went to the beach for the weekend of Father's Day and stayed overnight at a trailer in Wells Maine. The family arrived in Maine about 7pm on Friday afternoon.
"This space is pretty cramped." Grace noted.
"It's the perfect size for our small family." Her mother responded
Grace and Catherine went to their room to unpack their suitcases.
"Cathy, we're going to have such a great weekend." Grace said excitedly.
Her sister nodded happily. "I can't wait to go to the beach tomorrow!"
Their mother came into to kiss them good night.
"Good night girls. It's going to be a great weekend. I love you both very much."
"We love you too Mama." The girls chorused.
The next morning Grace ran into her parent's bed room at 7:00 to wake up her father.
"Daddy Mom, wake up! Come on let's go to the beach!"
Patrick Farrell reached his arm out from under the covers and tousled his daughter's hair.
"It's still very early sweetheart. We're planning on going to the beach around 10. Why don't you snuggle up with me for a little while?"
Grace seemed to be very open minded to this compromise. "Okay Daddy."
Grace crawled under the covers next to her father and snuggled up close to him.
"I love you Gracie Liz. You'll always be my little angel no matter how old you get." Her father whispered kissing his oldest daughter on the cheek.
"I love you too Daddy." Grace felt her father's arms warp around her tightly and she fell back to sleep in the comfort of his embrace.
As Grace and Catherine grew older the tradition of going to the trailer in Wells continued. When their younger sister Anna was born on May 15th 1915 the Farrells decided to rent a small cottage because the trailer was too small for their family of five.
Grace grew in a beautiful young woman. When she was a junior in high school she remembered her father being extremely protective of her as she left for the prom. Catherine was a freshmen in high school and Anna was four and a half. She would turn five the following week.
"Be safe Gracie. I don't want you getting in to any trouble." Her father warned.
Grace's date Louis smiled at her father reassuringly. "Don't worry Mr. Farrell. We're gonna have a good time."
Grace kissed her father's cheek. "Daddy, you're funny. You know I'm not the type to get into trouble."
"It's prom night; you never know what could happen."
Rose Farrell rubbed her husband's shoulder. "Oh Patrick, stop giving her such a hard time would you?
"She's our baby Rosie.. Our first born. I can't help it."
Rose then took notice of how her daughter looked in her dress.
"Gracie, sweetheart, you look lovely. How about we take a few pictures?"
Grace smiled. "Sure. I'd love that. Can I take a picture with Cathy and Anna too?"
"I don't see why not."
Grace scooped Anna up in her arms and pulled Catherine in on the right side of her and all three girls smiled for the camera.
"Princess Gracie." Anna said kissing her sister on the cheek.
Grace returned her little sister's kiss. "Princess Gracie loves her Anna very much."
"I love you too."
On the morning of her 18th birthday, December 15th at 3:30 in the morning Grace felt herself being shaken awake. She gazed up through tired eyes to see her father smiling at her.
"Daddy, do you know how early it is? "
Her father nodded.
"I have to be in school in five hours."
Her father nodded. "I know sweetheart. I'll drive you to school late. We're going on a ride."
"At 3:30 in the morning?"
Her father nodded again. "I have a special birthday surprise for you. Grab your sweatshirt and sneakers."
Grace had never been more confused in her life. Where could her father possibly be taking her this early in the morning on a school day? What kind of birthday surprise did he have for her? She got dressed and met her father in the driveway. She noticed a picnic basket between her seat and her father's seat. "What's that for?"
"It's my special surprise. Time's a wasting. Let's go!"
Grace got into the passenger side of the jeep, closed the door and locked it behind her.
"Where are you taking me Daddy?"
"Be patient sweetie. You'll see in a little bit."
Grace sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. Whatever this surprise was going to be she needed energy to take it all in.
The Farrells lived in Connecticut in a small northeastern time not far from the shoreline. It was a 15 minute drive to the beach.
"Daddy, why are you taking me to the beach in December? It's so cold! Especially this early in the morning."
Patrick Farrell got out of the truck and opened the passenger side door for his daughter.
"Come on sweetheart."
Once they got to the beach Patrick set the picnic basket down and started to unpack the contents. He laid out the picnic blanket and gestured for Grace to sit down.
"Take a seat my dear."
Grace was still very confused and very tired on top of that. She still couldn't figure out why her father had taken her to the beach this early in the morning. She fell asleep once again.
About 45 minutes later Grace was shaken awake.
"Gracie.. Take a look! The sun is rising."
Grace stretched and yawned. "It's gorgeous Daddy."
"Shall we have some breakfast now?"
Grace nodded.
Patrick dug into the picnic basket and pulled out bagels, cream cheese and orange juice. He cut an onion bagel in half and handed it to Grace.
"Did you come up with this idea Daddy?"
Patrick nodded. "Yes, I wanted to do something special with you for your 18th birthday Gracie."
"It's so wonderful Daddy. Thank you so much."
They ate their breakfast in silence. After they finished eating Patrick extended his hand and helped his daughter up. "Come, let's go for a walk."
Grace nodded and the daughter and father walked down the beach.
Grace put her arm around her father's shoulder. "I love you Daddy."
Patrick pulled his eldest daughter close to him and kissed her softly on the forehead as a breeze blew through Grace's hair.
"My beautiful Gracie Liz, my love for you exceeds no boundaries. You make your mother and I so proud. Happy Birthday sweetheart."
This was a birthday that Grace would never forget that was for certain.
That memory would resonate with her three years later. In the fall of her junior year at Columbia she received a phone call from home that would change her life forever.
The first weekend in October was alumni and family reunion weekend. Past graduates would return to campus to gather for reunions and current students would be reunited with their family members after being away from home for the first two months of the semester. Grace always looked forward to her family coming to visit and was surprised when they didn't come. She hoped something wasn't wrong at home and thought that her parents would call her if something was amiss. She went out to lunch with her roommate's family instead. Later that evening the phone rang in her off-campus apartment. Her roommate Evelyn answered the phone. "Grace, it's for you. It sounds like one of your sisters. She sounds very upset."
Grace took the phone from her. "Hello."
The response was hysterical tears.
"Calm down." She could hear her mother saying in the background.
The person on the other end of the line composed themselves. "Gracie, It's Anna."
Grace was shocked to hear her 10 year old sister so upset and was immediately concerned.
"Hi, my beautiful darling. What's got you so upset?" Grace asked her.
"Oh Gracie, I can't bear it! It's so horrible."
Grace was very confused. "What's going on?"
Anna burst into tears again... Grace could hear her mother wrestle the phone away from her. "Go take her to the bathroom and get her some tissues." She heard her mother tell Catherine in the background.
"Grace, sweetheart. It's Mama."
"Mama, what's going on? Why is Anna so upset? Why weren't you guys down here for Family Weekend?"
She could hear her mother take a deep breath on the other end of the phone
"Grace Elizabeth, we weren't up at Columbia for family weekend because your father was diagnosed with cancer late last week. We've been back and forth to the hospital for tests ever since Thursday."
Grace's heart dropped in her chest.
"Cancer?"
"Yes, it's progressing rather rapidly. The doctors say he's got 3-6 months to live.
"You mean…. He's not going to live till after Christmas?"
"We're hoping he lives longer than that but at this point it's hard to tell."
Grace wanted so badly to be with her mother and sisters.. to take Anna in her arms and tell her everything was going to be okay.
"Grace, I want you to take the rest of the semester off so you can help take care of your father."
Grace was stunned. "Mama, I'm a junior. If I fall behind on credits I'll never graduate on time."
"I'm sorry Grace, I'm overwhelmed. I can't take care of your father by myself.. your sisters are in school you know. I work during the day five days a week.."
Grace wondered how long Catherine had been home.
"How long has Cathy been at home?"
"She came home Thursday night. She's commuting to and from school for the rest of the semester."
"How soon do you want me home?"
"Would the beginning of next week be possible?"
"I'll have to talk to my academic advisor about it."
"I'll call the administration office right now. I need you home sooner than Thanksgiving Gracie."
Grace was utterly shocked. "Okay Mama…. I'll start packing.
"Cathy will be there to pick you up noon on Saturday."
"Okay. I'll see you soon." Grace numbly hung up the phone. She sat down on the sofa and buried her face in her hands.
Evelyn sat down next to her. "Grace what's going on?"
Tears were streaming down Grace's face.
"My father has cancer."
"That's why your sister sounded so upset."
"He's declining pretty rapidly. I'll be moving back home Saturday to help take care of him."
"What about your courses?"
"My mom is working something out with the admissions office. I'll probably end up making up my classes in the summer."
Grace felt her roommate's embrace tighten around her. "If you need anything Grace I'm here for you always."
Grace went through the motions of the following week. On Friday Evelyn helped her to pack her belongings so she could move back home to Connecticut. Saturday morning the family station wagon pulled up in front of her apartment both of her sisters got out of the car around 10:30am. Grace walked toward her sisters and knelt down on the ground opening her arms. When Anna saw her she burst into tears and immediately ran to her oldest sister.
"Come here baby girl." Grace whispered wrapping Anna in her arms, not wanting to let her go.
"I've missed you so much Gracie. I love you. I don't want Daddy to die."
"Hush now… everything will be alright. I love you too my beautiful precious Anna."
Catherine and Evelyn helped Grace to pack everything into the station wagon. Within ten minutes the three Farrell sisters were on their way back to Connecticut.
Once Anna was asleep in the back seat, Grace turned to face Catherine.
"She's been taking things the hardest hasn't she?"
Catherine nodded. "She really misses you Grace. When we first found about the diagnosis she wanted to jump on the train to New York and spend the night overnight in your apartment."
"I would have certainly let her do that… she really needed me Cathy. You know I'm always here for both of you."
Catherine nodded. "I know. I would have driven her down too but Mom figured she would have distracted you from your studies."
"That's silly."
Grace regarded her sister seriously. She looked as if she hadn't slept in a few days.
"How's Daddy doing Cathy?"
Catherine shrugged. "He has good days and bad days. Yesterday was one of his bad days."
"What does a bad day usually entail?"
"He goes through these moods when says he doesn't want to live anymore. He doesn't like knowing how rough taking care of him is on us."
Grace's heart broke in two when she heard that statement. "He seriously can't mean that."
Catherine nodded.
"Was Anna in the room when he said that?"
"Thankfully she wasn't.. that would have put her over the edge."
Grace's heart broke even more for her baby sister. "My poor baby."
"Mama said that you'll stay home for the rest of the semester to help us take care of Daddy. Your teachers are going to be sending your school work to the house so you can finish off the semester on time."
Grace nodded. "Okay Will I be able to go back to school in the spring?."
Let's take things one day at a time Gracie. For now let's just focus on getting home."
Once the three sisters arrived home Grace was greeted by her mother, grandmother and Aunt Jean.
"Gracie, I'm so happy to have you home. Let's get you settled." Her mother said.
Grace nodded. "Okay Mama."
Grace went to her bed room to unload her suitcases. She heard a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Her aunt entered the room and sat on the bed.
"How are you doing sweetheart?"
"As good as I can under these circumstances."
"Cathy filled you in on everything I assume?"
Grace nodded.
"Is Daddy's condition really that bad?"
"Right now it's relatively stable. However, there's no telling when it could get worse. The doctors say he has three to six months to live but we're hoping he's with us for longer than that."
"So do I. I want him to see me graduate from Columbia."
"He wouldn't miss that for the world darling. You're his pride and joy after all. He loves you so much Grace."
Grace was suddenly overcome with emotion.
"Oh Auntie Jean what's going to happen if Daddy dies? We've always been so close."
"Come here Gracie."
Grace stood up from where she was sitting on the floor and collapsed on the bed into her aunt's arms.
"There there darling don't you cry. Even if your father does pass away he'll always be with you no matter what."
"I love you."
"I love you too Grace Elizabeth."
When Grace wasn't helping to take care of her father she was in her room making sure she was caught up on all her studying. New assignments came in the mail constantly for her and she was set on completing all her courses for the fall semester on time.
Thanksgiving quickly passed. Grace was happy to be home to celebrate her birthday with her family because she was usually at school preparing to take exams. On Christmas Eve Grace went to kiss Anna goodnight. She noticed her sister was still awake.
"Sweetheart, the sooner you go to sleep the sooner you can wake up in the morning and they'll be presents under the tree for you."
"The only wish I have for Christmas this year is that Daddy's cancer goes away. I don't want him to be sick anymore."
Grace didn't know how to approach the subject with her little sister that their father could possibly die after the holidays. She opted not to mention that just yet.
"Gracie, will you lay down with me?"
Grace smiled. If there was one thing she missed most about being at home it was snuggling with her baby sister under the covers and reading her bedtime stories. She knew she was getting older now but she still loved this part of their relationship.. she always had.
"Of course baby girl. Do you want me to read you a story?"
"No, that's okay. I just want to lay down with you so we can talk."
Grace nodded. "I'll be right back. I just need to get my pajamas on."
Five minutes later Grace climbed into bed next to her sister, she felt Anna curl into her side.
Grace rubbed her hand up and down her little sister's back.
"My sweet little Anna, you mean everything to me. You know that right?"
Anna nodded. She had tears in her eyes.
"Oh Gracie, I hate seeing Daddy so sick."
"Precious, I know this has been the hardest for you to deal with. Cathy told me when you first heard the news you wanted to come to Columbia to spend the weekend with me."
Anna's tears continued to flow down her cheeks. "Mama said no. I was so mad at her."
"She really should have called me… I would have let you stay over with me. We would have had such a fun weekend together."
"I know." Anna whispered.
There was silence for five minutes.
"Daddy knows that I love him right? Even if I act like a spoiled brat?" Anna asked
"Oh baby girl, of course he does. He loves all three of us no matter what."
Another five minutes of silence.
"Gracie, do you think Daddy will die after Christmas?"
Grace had never expected her sister to ask such a loaded question.
"It's hard to tell sweetheart. I hope to god for all of our sakes that he gets through the holidays."
"I heard him tell Cathy one day that he'd rather die instead of seeing all of us so sad. Do you think he means that?"
Grace's jaw dropped. She knew two things right away. The first was that her sister knew better than eavesdrop on other people's conversations. The second was that the couldn't avoid the topic of her father's potential death any longer.
"He was just having a bad day that day darling. He didn't really mean that. It was just his medicine talking."
Anna's tears continued to fall.
"My sweet little angel faced Anna, please don't cry. Go to sleep. They'll be so much for you to look forward to in the morning once Santa comes."
"You're my favorite sister Gracie. I love you so much."
"I love you too baby girl. Good night. Merry Christmas." Grace kissed her sister on the forehead. Anna was asleep within seconds.
Grace said a little prayer that her father's condition would get better after the holidays were over.
Much to the relief of everyone in her family Patrick Farrell did live through the holidays.. despite this he was still considerably ill. Grace decided to take the spring semester off from school and take classes in the summer so she could stay home to take care of her father… and also take care of Anna who was having the most difficult time dealing with their father's illness.
One day a week before Anna's 11th birthday Grace pushed her father in his wheelchair through the flower gardens.
"Daddy, are you feeling well enough to celebrate Anna's birthday next week?"
Her father smiled. "Of course darling. You know I wouldn't miss any of your birthdays for the world."
"She's been taking your illness the hardest you know?"
Her father's expression immediately changed to a somber one. "I know Grace. My poor baby. She wants me to play softball with her so much but I still feel very week from the new dosage of medicine I've been given."
"Are you staying on top of all your studies Gracie? I would hate to see not graduate on time."
"I'm taking all my spring semester classes in the summer. Don't worry Daddy, I'll graduate on time"
Her father grinned at her again. "That's the spirit. You always make your mom and I so proud Gracie Liz. You're going to be a great teacher someday."
Grace leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek. "I love you Daddy. You're everything to me. I'll always continue to make you proud. I promise."
"I have no doubt in my mind about that my darling. I love you too Gracie Liz."
From that point forward Patrick Farrell's health would go downhill. Grace would later end up putting her studies on hold to be with her family as they prepared for the inevitable moment where Patrick would pass away. Grace turned 22 that December and started to look for a job right away. She knew she wouldn't be able to find any teaching jobs without a completed degree so that's when she decided to look for secretarial work. It took her almost two years to find her a job with steady pay but right before she turned twenty five she started working for Oliver Warbucks. Once she was hired by Oliver she seldom had time to go back to Connecticut to visit her family. She missed them terribly and wished she could be with them,, especially knowing that Anna had such a hard time dealing with their father's illness.
One day in mid-spring of 1932 when Grace was 29 as she was just finishing up the last bit of work for Oliver the phone rang. "Grace, it's for you." Oliver said handing the phone to her.
Grace took the phone from her boss gingerly. "Hello."
"Grace, It's Grandma, are you alone sweetheart?"
"No, I just finished work for the day. My boss is here with me."
"Can you go somewhere private?"
"I suppose." She looked at Oliver curiously.
"You can use the phone in my bedroom if you wish." Oliver said.
"Thank you." Grace's heart turned a somersault in her chest. She had the worst feeling in the world she knew what this phone call was going to be about.
Once Grace got to Oliver's bed room she picked the extension up. Grace heard the phone in the office click as Oliver hung up.
"Grace, we need you to come home to Connecticut right away."
"Is Daddy alright?"
Her grandmother sighed. "Honey, Your father passed away last night. Your mother wants you to come home to help with the funeral arrangements."
Grace's heart had stopped turning somersaults and had immediately fallen to the pit of her stomach. Her thoughts immediately turned to Anna. She was a senior in high school by this point.
"How soon do you need me home?"
"As soon as possible. We'll meet you at the train station."
"Okay." Grace hung up the phone. A few minutes later Oliver knocked on the door.
"Miss Farrell, are you alright?"
Grace didn't like her boss seeing her so upset and was slightly embarrassed.
"I'm sorry sir. That was my grandmother on the phone. You know how my father has been sick?"
Oliver nodded. "Has he passed on?"
All Grace could do was nod.
"I'm assuming you need to go home to start planning the funeral."
"Yes sir, my family would like me home as soon as possible."
Oliver nodded. "Not a problem Miss Farrell. I'll have someone take you to the train station right away."
"Thank you sir."
"Take as much time off as you need Miss Farrell, your family needs you in this time of sorrow,"
Grace was shocked. "Are you sure sir?"
Oliver nodded. "Certainly."
Grace stood and shook her boss's hand tightly. "Thank you Mr. Warbucks."
"Enough of these formalities Miss Farrell." Grace was shocked when Oliver pulled her into a warm hug.
"Thank you sir."
The train ride to Connecticut did not take very long. Grace spent her entire journey in a fog trying to make sense of the news she had just heard.
When the train pulled into the terminal in Connecticut Grace grabbed her suitcase out of the overhead bin and headed to meet her grandmother
"Hurry along now Grace. Your mother and sisters are waiting for you at home."
When Grace and her grandmother arrived back at her family's home the front door burst open. Anna flew down the front steps and into Grace's arms.
"He's gone! I just can't believe it." Anna said breaking out in convulsing sobs
Grace held her baby sister close to her and stroked her hair.
"Everything will be okay baby. I'm here now." Grace whispered.
Grace had a hard time believing herself that things would be okay. She knew that eventually they would be.
"I love you Gracie. I wish you didn't live in New York."
Grace's heart broke in half. "I love you too my love. I wish I had come home more often. I'm sorry that I didn't."
Grace's grandmother patted her shoulder. "Don't worry darling. You're here now that's all that matters."
After dinner Grace her mom, her grandmother and her aunt met in the study to start planning the services for that weekend.
"Grace, we'd like you to say the eulogy at the funeral." Her grandmother said.
Grace was surprised by this.
"Really, why me?"
"You and your father had a special unbreakable bond. We'd like you to share that with everyone else. " Her mother said.
Grace threw her arms around her mother and burst into tears.
"Oh Mama, I just can't believe he's gone."
Her mother pulled into her arms.
"I know darling, none of us can. I love you so much Gracie."
"I love you too."
As Grace got ready for bed that night she spotted an envelope on her dresser. She was trying to think about what she going to say to eulogize her father. The envelope on the dresser had her father's handwriting on the front of it.
'Oh god." Grace thought to herself. Her hands were shaking as she opened the envelope. In it was a letter from her father.
Gracie Liz,
I do not have very many days left on this earth. This disease has taken its toll on me and the emotional toll you've all had to suffer on my account has been great. I'm sorry if any of you were unhappy in my final days. I never meant for things to be this way.
My first born, my sweet baby girl you've always been someone who I've seen as very beautiful and strong. Please be the strong one for your sisters after I am gone.. Especially for little Anna. I know she has struggled the most with my illness. In my darkest moments I may have been very rude to her please let her know I am sorry for this. I never meant to upset her.
Remember when I took you for the beach on your 18th birthday to see the sunrise? Every morning when you see the sunrise please look for me. My smile will shine down on you in the rays and warm your heart.
I love you my sweetest angel. For now and for always.
Daddy
Grace pulled down the covers and climbed into bed. She looked at the ceiling, "I love you too Daddy." She whispered. Once she was under the covers she turned the light off and burst into tears.
The door to her room creaked open and Anna tip toed into the room.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Grace nodded and opened her arms.
"Come see Gracie baby girl."
Anna crawled into her sister's bed and snuggled down next to her.
"I don't want to believe that he's gone."
"He may be gone physically but his spirit will always be with us."
Anna didn't seem satisfied with that comment.
"You know Daddy wrote me a letter. In it he told me that he said something mean to you before he died. He told me to tell you he's sorry."
Anna looked at her sister.
"We got in a fight about a week ago. I didn't mean to make him angry Gracie. I know you said before that sometimes the medication he's on makes him say nasty things. I just don't want him to hate me. Now that he's gone, I hate that something between us went unsaid."
"Oh darling, you mustn't think one little argument will turn him against you."
Anna looked ashamed. "It sure felt that way."
Grace took her sister's chin in the palm of her hand and wiped her tears away with her fingers.
"Even though Daddy's gone… he'll always love you… he'll always love all of us.
The two sisters cried together for about 15 minutes.
"I love you Gracie." Anna whispered.
"I love you too baby. Don't forget I'll always be here for you and Cathy. You'll always be my very best friends."
"Okay. Good night."
"Good night precious Anna."
Grace sat by herself out on the veranda of the mansion. She could hardly believe it had already been two years since her father had passed away. It was 7:30am on June 16th. Father's Day. She was the only one in her family who was awake.
Mrs. Pugh came out on the veranda.
"Grace, dear would you like some coffee or tea?"
Grace nodded. "Yes Helen. I'll have some peppermint tea. Thank you.
Mrs. Pugh came out came back 10 minutes later with two cups of tea and a plate of biscuts.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all."
Mrs. Pugh sat down across from Grace.
"What are you doing with Oliver for Father's Day today?"
"Oliver and his brother have a 10:30 tea time at the country club. After that Anne the children and I are meeting them for lunch./"
"Sounds lovely. Why are you up so early?"
Grace sighed. "Just thinking of my father that's all. Father's Day is hard for me now that he's gone. I couldn't sleep."
Mrs. Pugh took Grace's hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I know how close you were to your father dear and how terribly you miss him.
Grace immediately thought of her sister Anna. "I imagine my sister Anna isn't doing so well today either."
"You Farrell women are strong. You've gone through so much your father's death but you've gotten through it so well… especially Anna."
Grace nodded. "This day will always be so hard for us. My family always used to go to Maine during Father's Day weekend when I was growing up. I miss that so much."
"Why don't you start a similar tradition with Oliver and the girls? Annie does love the beach you know."
Grace smiled. "What a splendid idea! I'll make that suggestion to Oliver."
Mrs. Pugh got up and put her arm around Grace's shoulder and laid a kiss on her cheek.
"I love you Grace."
"I love you too Helen. I'll come help you prepare a special Father's Day breakfast for Oliver. He should be awake by 9:15."
Grace followed Mrs. Pugh into the kitchen. They got to the task of making breakfast right away. Grace and Mrs. Pugh heard rustling upstairs. She figured that Annie and Molly must be awake.
The two sisters appeared in the kitchen doorway moments later.
"Mom, Molly and I were talking and we want to go to the beach with Daddy for Father's Day today. What are our plans?" Annie asked.
Grace loved how her oldest daughter could read her mind.
"Sweetheart, we're on the same wavelength. Daddy is going golfing with Uncle Gene at 10:30 but I don't see why we couldn't go to the beach after that."
Oliver came into the kitchen five minutes later.
"Something smells wonderful in here." He said.
"Happy Father's Day Daddy." Annie and Molly chorused.
"Thank you darlings. Let's set down and eat. I don't have long before I have to be at the golf course to meet your Uncle Gene.
Molly nudged Annie under the table.
"Daddy, can we go to the beach today please?" Annie asked
Oliver smiled. "That would be a nice family outing. We can head to the Hamptons right after my golf game. I'm sure Isabella and Eli would love to come along too."
"Hooray!" Molly and Annie squealed.
"Happy Father's Day darling." Grace kissed her husband on the cheek.
"Thank you dear and thank you for the lovely roses on my bedside table."
"I love you." Grace whispered.
"I love you too Grace so very much."
Grace looked at the ceiling.
'Oh Daddy, I really wish you were here. You'd be so proud of me and of your family. You'd love Annie Molly and Oliver. I love you so much.'
"Come on Mom. Let's get ready for the beach." Annie said enthusiastically.
Grace smiled, remembering back to all those years ago in Maine when she gone into her parents bed room excited about going to the beach. "Finish your breakfast first Annie. We're not going to the beach til noon."
Once the breakfast table were cleared Molly tugged at her mother's arm.
"Mommy, why do you look sad?"
Grace scooped up her youngest daughter.
"Father's Day is a rough holiday. Ever since Grandpa passed away it's been hard for me to celebrate it."
"If he were here he'd go golfing with Daddy and Uncle Gene right?"
Grace nodded. "Yes, he would. He would adore you and your sister too much. He would have spoiled you two rotten."
Molly kissed her mother's cheek.
"I love you Mommy. Don't be sad." I know you miss Grandpa but we're going to have fun today."
Grace loved the simplicity of her daughter's thought process and tousled her hair.
"I love you too darling. Come on, your uncle aunt and cousins will be here soon. Let's go get dressed."
"What are going to do while Daddy and Uncle Gene golf?"
"I suppose we could all play mini golf."
"That sounds fun."
Grace put her daughter down and took by her the hand. She led her upstairs so they could get ready for the Father's Day festivities that lay ahead of them."