Evidence
Chapter 4: Delivery
Two weeks later, Grace had two envelopes inside her coat. She was ready to deliver them, but needed to find the perfect moment to do it.
Those stubborn people needed to see the evidence, and she could not go wrong in her strategy.
She had been paying attention to those two, since the incident at Sylvia's.
Grace must say she had been really intrigued by the following events of that night when she saw Niles and CC sleeping together: she had expected a big scene in the morning – maybe the family would find the two of them spooning, and they would have to explain what had happened; maybe they would be already up and chatting while Niles prepared some breakfast for everyone, pretending nothing had happened, but being suspiciously giddy. Either way, Grace had expected some change in the way thigs were.
Reality was confusing: when Fran woke up in the morning and nasally greeted the people in the bedroom, everybody answered – what included a surprisingly smily Niles, who was back in his assigned place on the floor.
When the family gathered in the living room, Miss Babcock was there, and she seemed happy, too.
But, more than the relaxed expressions, their way of interacting with each other was exactly the same as ever.
If Grace hadn't snapped that shot, she would have been convinced that she had dreamed all of that.
(Or that the behavior they exhibited was usual for them, what would imply they had an on-going affair or something like that, what she couldn't quite believe. In fact, she couldn't believe Niles and Miss Babcock hiding something like that, specially with Fran in the same house.
That line of thought made Grace wonder how many times they had got close like that just to pretend nothing had happened, in the next day.)
Grace thought about letting things be, once the main characters of the story didn't seem interested in changing things, but what is seen cannot be unseen, and it was clear to her how much fond of the other those two were, and that they had to be helped.
She didn't know exactly what had happened that night, but she supposed Niles had gone to lay down with Miss Babcock to warm her, and for some reason, he or they decided not to let people know it.
Grace did not agree with this state of things. She thought they should face their feelings – it is not healthy to keep certain things inside. Even more when the things you're hiding can make your life better.
That afternoon was presenting itself as the perfect moment for her delivery: she was ready to get out of the house with her father, Fran, Brighton and Maggie, thanks to one of the brunette's ideas to get Grace's father to pass time with his children (and herself).
In moments like this, Grace loved Fran not just because the nanny was teaching the family to enjoy their time together, but because sometimes her shennanigans left Niles and Miss Babcock by themselves, what the girl supposed they really needed to sort things out.
She didn't know exactly how they behaved when they were alone, but she guesses they were a bit nicer to each other. She had seen (rare) moments when they forgot about her being in the same room while bickering, and ended up sharing smiles and chuckles.
So, they acted nice when they thought they were not being observed (or got so absorved in their own affectionate bickering bubble to remember the rest of the world existed).
Her plan was to provide them with something nice to discuss while they were alone.
Grace followed Fran to the office to tell her father it was time to go out, and she managed to insert one of the envelopes among the contracts Miss Babcock was reading. Luckily, the woman excused herself and went to the solarium to stretch her muscles, probably to be out while Fran whined on her boss' ears about letting work go for a while.
The blonde's things were at the green leather sofa, and it was relatively easy to put the envelope under the first leaf of the pile – enough to hide it, not enough for it to go undiscovered for a long time.
They got out of the office quick, and Fran got the Broadway producer by the hand until they reached the door – so he couldn't escape.
The deliver to Niles was proving more difficult, because Grace didn't want to let it in the kitchen, whre it could be found and took away by any other person (namely, Miss Babcock).
When he met the family at the door to help them with their coats and see them out, the girl decided just to do it.
'Niles, I have something for you', she stayed behind and told him, almost in a whisper.
He looked at her, surprised, and acted secretive to humor her, 'Really? And what would it be?'
She took the envelope that was tuked in her coat and handed it to him, 'Here. You can open it as soon as we're out'.
He pursed his lips, taking the envelope and eyeng it especulatively, 'All right. Should I say thank you?'
'I don't know. You tell me later'.
And with that she was out of the door, hoping she had done the right thing.