Thanks for all the reviews, faves & follows! Appreciate it.
To DA-GD FAN: I'm glad you like it so far. I'm not completely ruling out Dimitri or any other characters from the past, but as of now I doubt that he'll make an appearance. Sorry.
To Guest: Sorry it took so long to update, but have been really blocked of late. Have several ideas for the later chapters, but took a while to think of stuff to get there. I'm hoping to update more quickly if possible.
Actually was inspired while taking a much needed long hot bath. As the old saying goes: you never know when inspiration will hit you. Anyway, enough of my rambling let's get to chapter 3 & 4 shall we.
Monday Afternoon at Manning Manor:
"Hello?" Grace poked her head into the kitchen door. Seeing no one round she walked into her old residence and sighed.
B&W: "Sometimes it feels like centuries since I lived here." Grace turned her head and paused. "Other times it feels like yesterday. You know?" ~
The eldest Manning daughter started to trudge her way upstairs, but is interrupted by ringing.
"Hello?" she inquired.
"Hello, Grace?" Rick was surprised to hear his step daughter's voice.
"Yeah, it's me." she smiled.
"Is your mother home?" he wondered.
Grace Looked round. "No, just me."
"Well tell your mom that I'll be home in a few days, OK?" Rick hoped that that news would help abate the tension between him and Lily.
"OK." Grace shrugged.
"OK, see you in a few days." Rick promised.
"OK, bye." Grace put the receiver down before making her way upstairs to her old room.
Downtown Radio Station:
Lily is nearing the end of her broadcast...
"I think that you have to give your husband time. I know it's hard. For example, me and my husband are now in our mid fifties. By this point I thought that we'd be taking more time off from our jobs and focusing on each other more. Maybe taking trips to far away places. Maybe doing things we always wanted to do, but never had the time before. But now it seems we're just as busy as ever. Me at the station and him at some job in another state. After a long day, I'll get home and just want to crawl up next to him, but he's not there. I'll be all alone drinking my coffee, reading a book and wondering 'what am I doing?' I don't know how or if any of that helps, but hang in there. I hope there's at least some comfort knowing that you're not alone out there. Anyway, thanks for sharing your story with me. We'll we've got Gary and his auto wisdom up next. I'm Lily and I'm no expert."
Lily takes off her headset and stares off into space for a moment.
Tuesday Evening at Manning Manor:
Lily, Grace, Zoe, Veronica and Jessie were just finishing eating dinner.
"That was great. Thanks Lily." Jessie smiled her approval.
"You're quite welcome, dear." Lily still found her step-daughter's graciousness endearing.
"We're gonna go." Zoe announced.
"So where are you girls off to?" Lily inquired.
"Out". Zoe didn't really answer as she got up taking her plate with her.
Veronica's eyes discreetly followed her friend out before getting up herself.
"Everything was great. Thanks for having me, Mrs Sammler." The pale girl said while following Zoe into the kitchen.
Having noticed everything, Grace gave a sly smile. Which didn't go unnoticed by her step-sister. After clearing the table, Grace and Jessie retreated into the living room, leaving Lily to her dishes.
After making sure they were out of earshot, Jessie turned to her step-sister. "What was that back there?"
"What was what?" Grace furrowed her eyebrows.
"That smile?" Jessie continued.
"Oh, that. You mean you don't know?" Grace was surprised.
Jessie just shook her head 'no'.
"She's gay." the brunette smiled.
"Who...Veronica?" Jessie wasn't so sure. "Really?"
Grace just nodded at her puzzled step-sister. "Oh my God, you must have the worst gaydar of anyone in the history lesbianism." Grace teased.
"Oh and just how much do you know about the history of lesbianism, anyway." Jessie teased. "At least I'm not 'Twilight with a brain' girl!" Jessie added her favorite Grace insult.
Grace just gasped at her step-sister.
B&W: "I get one really bad review and I'll just never live it down. Will I?" Grace turned exasperatedly away from the camera. ~
"You're so dead!" Grace threatened jokingly chasing Jessie around the couch.
Lily looked in from the kitchen after hearing the . She could only smile at the sight.
After the fun of the chase had worn off, Jessie inquired as to their possible plans for the evening.
"It's Elementary Night!" Grace declared while queuing up the Blu-Ray player.
"You could just watch while it's on like most people." Jessie shrugged.
"I can't stand waiting!" Grace shuddered at the thought of having to wait a whole week for the next episode.
"You're quite the detective fan, Miss Manning" Jessie teased.
"I need my 'between Sherlock' Holmes fix." Grace explained.
"I actually prefer the American version." Jessie commented.
"Blasphemous!" Grace's eyes bulged in disbelief.
"I can't help it, Jane's hot!" Jessie shrugged.
"Shes no Cumberbatch!" Grace declared (her love for everything Benedict).
"You're such a Cumberbit..." Jessie was silenced by her step-mother.
"Jessie Sammler!" Lily voiced her disapproval of her usually demure step-daughter's (poorly timed) choice of words.
"Sorry, Lily." the blonde visibly cringed.
Grace just smiled as she tried to keep from laughing at her step-sister's predicament.
The two step siblings sat down and cued up their evening's entertainment.
Wednesday afternoon at Booklovers:
Judy Brooks was shelving the latest teen werewolf fiction sensation, while her partner was busy running the cafe.
B&W: "Judy's alright. I never would've thought I'd hear myself say that 15 years ago, but she is." She didn't have to make me a partner, even if just a minor one, but she did. That says a lot, you know." Jake smiled into the camera.
Unbeknownst to both of them someone had just come in looking for one of them, having set his bags down on a nearby table.
"Do you guys carry that crime novel by that Potter lady?" Sam announced his arrival.
Judy looked up from her duties and walked over to embrace her husband.
"When did you get in?" she smiled.
"Just now" he said while soaking in the sight of his beloved. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." Judy smile grew. "Let me get you a caffeinated beverage."
"Lead the way" Sam followed his wife to the cafe.
Jake just smiled at the sight before going back to minding the cafe.
A little later at Manning Manor:
Jessie was busy crushing her older step-sibling at Rock Band, while Lily did her crossword in the kitchen.
After losing yet again Grace lamented. "How is it possible that you're that good, you don't even play an instrument!"
Jessie just smiled victoriously.
In walked the elder Sammler through the main door. "Dad!" Rick heard while getting pounce hugged by his youngest.
"Hi Rick" Grace gave her step-father a hug.
"How's my girls?" Rick inquired.
"Not much just hanging out." Jessie answered for them.
"Where's Zoe?" Rick wondered.
"I don't know. Probably out with her friend." Grace guessed.
Lily came into the room to welcome her husband home.
"Hey you." Lily gave Rick a hug and a peck on the lips.
"Hey yourself" Rick smiled back.
Grace rolled her eyes knowing the display that would most assuredly follow.
"We were just gonna go out to see a movie or something." Grace gave as an excuse to leave.
Sensing the awkwardness Jessie followed her lead. "Yeah we'll probably grab dinner after."
"When will you be back?" Lily inquired.
"Later." Grace offered. "Much later" She added on her way out.
Outside the door, Jessie pondered. "Why the hurry to leave, Grace?"
I've seen that look before. It's that 'I haven't seen you in such a long time' look. Trust me you don't want to be there for that."
"Ewww, Grace don't even go there!" Jessie shuddered.
"Let's go." Grace said as they stepped into the car.
Later outside the Evanstown multiplex:
"What now? It's still too early to go back to the Honeymoon Motel" Grace half joked.
"How about dinner? I just heard of a really good place." Jessie said with a glint in her eye.