Chapter 35 #2
I took a deep breath. “I’ve been trying to handle my shit.
Grace isn’t a bad person. The fact that Evan loves her with his whole heart tells me a lot about her.
So does Spencer mating her. She fits so well, which, yes, is scary.
But unlike Caroline, this is inevitable. Even Jett has a crush on her.”
As do I.
He patted my shoulder. “I’m proud of you. I drove past that venue you bought. It has so much potential.”
“Right? Terrance can’t see it. But he will.”
We talked more. I kept waiting for him to bring up the buildings or the State Street project.
But he didn’t.
“Well, I should go,” he finally told me.
We walked down to the parking garage.
“Thanks for taking the time to meet up with dear old dad.” He looked wistful.
“Anytime,” I replied “Maybe we can make this a regular meeting? We don’t work that far from each other.”
My dad beamed. “I’d like that a lot.”
I got on my bike and drove off. Glancing in the review mirror, I saw him continue to stand there, longingly.
I walked into the kitchen to find Evan, wearing a pink apron, standing over Jett as he sat at the table, eating a cookie.
“Is it okay?” Anxiousness filled Evan’s lemonade scent as he watched Jett eat.
“It’s good, Baby, really.” Jett pulled Evan to him.
I looked at the rack of cookies on the table. “You made chocolate chip cookies?”
“All by myself.” Evan beamed. “Try one?”
“Absolutely, Love.” I took a bite of the cookie. I preferred mine soft and thick, not thin and caramelized, like these were. But they were very good, all things considered.
“They’re great.” I kissed him. “No Wes?”
“Wes was doing something with his dad, then grabbing what we needed for dinner,” Evan said.
“I’m here, Babe.” Wes burst in with bags of groceries.
“Good. Let me text Riley. I thought that they’d be home by now.” Evan looked at his phone and texted something. “Oh, shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Immediately, I went to his side.
And saw a mirror selfie of Grace in an incredible dress. “Oh.”
“Wow,” Wes breathed from over my shoulder. “I knew they went dress shopping, but that…”
“That dress looks like you can’t leave it on the floor,” Jett said.
No. I wasn’t sure where they were, but everything about that dress said expensive.
Evan texted her. He looked through other pictures, passing his phone around. They were all exquisite.
“That one. She chose that one, right?” Evan showed us another photo. This one was even more beautiful than the first. It also fit almost perfectly, where most of the others were too long.
“I really like this one.” Wes went back to the one where Grace was swallowed by tulle and flounces.
Evan took back his phone and sent another text.
“I… I was thinking of drawing her a grown-up version of the wedding dress I drew her in back in high school,” Wes said softly. “Especially since she was talking about getting it made.”
“I love that,” Evan said. “I don’t know why Lexi thinks it’s not pretty.”
“Probably because it’s fluffy. Lexi likes simple things,” Wes replied.
I looked at the bags. “How can I help?”
“We’ve got it under control.” Wes took things out of the bags.
“What are you making?” I eyed the ingredients. There was a lot of cheese.
“Something I used to make for Grace in our dreams. Yes, we dream-cooked. Yes, I woke up starving.” He set out some bacon.
“Oh, Riley says they’re buying a dress and leaving,” Evan said to Wes. “Should we get started?”
“Yeah.” Wes got a pot and a pan out, while Evan got down a baking dish,
Evan looked at Jett and me. “Why don’t you take your cookies to go?”
“Oh, you made cookies.” Wes’ eyes lit up. He shoved a whole cookie in his mouth. “Mmmm.” He kissed Evan’s forehead, mouth full of cookie.
I grabbed a cookie, Jett took two, and we went into the living room.
“They’re going to dirty every dish in the kitchen, aren’t they?” I sighed, as I settled onto the couch.
“Probably.” Jett curled into me and told me about his day. He and Evan had gone for a motorcycle ride this afternoon.
I mentioned meeting up with my dad. “The entire time I expected him to deliver a message or ask something of me, and he didn’t.”
His talking about the party didn’t count because I knew when he was fishing and that wasn’t it.
“Wow.”
“Grace, it’s fine, you can show them later. They just want dinner to be a surprise.” Riley came into the living room from the kitchen, arms laden with packages.
Defeat crossed Grace’s face. “I know.”
“Dinner’s soon, bitches. I’m going to put these down and set the table,” Riley called as she disappeared down the hall.
Grace stood there, clutching her purchases, looking like the world was ending.
“Come here.” I took the bags out of her hands and put them on the table, though the dress bag went on the chair.
Pulling her to me, I motioned for Jett to hug her other side. Together we hug-squished her tightly.
“That was a big day at the mall, wasn’t it?” I started to purr for her, trying to calm her down. I don’t think she was upset with Wes and Evan. She was overwhelmed.
Ever since the hospital, she’d been so much more sensitive. It could be the sounds, the smells, or so many other things.
“I found the perfect dress. Spencer bought me a doll. And some purses and shoes.” She buried her face in my shirt. “I love your purr. It’s so much quieter than anyone else's.”
“Your guys could probably do it, too. It just takes a little practice,” I told her, stroking her hair.
“It’s the baby purr, so you don’t startle the baby.” Jett chuckled.
I shot Jett a look. “Thank you.”
“Like you’re purring while you’re rocking the baby to sleep? Love it.” Grace’s arms tightened around my waist.
“Yeah.” I had experience from helping with Terrance’s kids. Sure, my brothers had kids. But I wasn’t that sort of uncle to them, sadly. But Katie? I’d be there for her pack’s kids.
“I like this,” she whispered.
“I love holding you,” Jett said softly.
Me, too.
“Dumb question, since we’re alone. Mrs. Beekman is making me actually fill out a heat plan worksheet.
If I ever have one, which I don’t think will happen, you’ll both be there, won't you? Even with Spencer? I asked him, and he said he’d do whatever I wanted.
I mean we could trade off and stuff if you’re uncomfy, but for part of it at least? ” She looked up at me, scent anxious.
She wanted me there? Happiness bloomed in my chest.
I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “If you want me there, I’ll be there.”
“Me, too.” Jett squeezed her.
“Thank you.”
It would be interesting, but at the end of the day, we were a family.
“Have you started going over the pack contract with Mrs. Beekman?” I asked. Once they went through it, we’d sit down with her and our lawyer and get things finalized.
“Not yet, but she went over the mate agreement Spencer had made for us, and we signed it,” she replied.
Spencer had me read it first, which was nice. Wes didn’t have me read over the one he and Grace signed, but it was a standard one drawn up by Katie. Also, Spencer’s family had different traditions.
“Do you want to show us what you got at the mall?” Jett asked.
Grace nodded and wiggled out of my arms. “Look. Spencer got me an Everydoll. I love the one you got me. But she’s special. So is Gracie. I wanted an ordinary one so I can play dolly tea party with my little sisters.”
She took a hot pink foiled and sparkly box out of a bag.
Yeah. I was pretty sure that wasn’t your basic Everydoll. But I wasn’t going to tell her that.
“She’s beautiful.” I took a photo and sent it to Katie.
Me
Grace wanted an ordinary Everydoll to play dolls with her sisters. Spencer got her that.
“We’re going to be making your creepy doll room, aren’t we,” Jett teased.
Grace nodded. “Yes.”
Katie
She didn’t take it out of the box, right? That’s from this year’s limited edition excellent eighteenth doll collection. All their dresses were designed by Vecci.
Right, because dolls needed Vecci gowns the same way they needed Faun purses.
Putting down the doll, Grace showed us her purses. Though she was most excited about the work tote and the doll purse. She had no idea what she’d just gotten.
Not to mention they’d just walked into Faun and bought purses. So spoiled. My eyes fell on the dress bag. House of Dubois Sapphire Collection.
Me
She literally got the doll to play tea party. What is the House of Dubois Sapphire Collection?
Katie and I had a joint excellent eighteenth party.
She had a Dubois gown in dark green. She’d also gotten a crown from a popular high-end jeweler.
I wore a Vecci suit but had a tie and pocket square to match her.
All our attendants wore a lighter shade of green.
Lexi had been one of them. We’d rented out a popular rooftop club, and a good time had been had by all.
“Here’s the dress.” Grace unzipped it and took out the very last dress we’d seen. “We literally got it off the mannequin in the window. We have to take it to be altered.”
“It’s beautiful.” I gave her a kiss.
“It is. How many stuffies did you make?” Jett eyed the three boxes on the table.
“Here, these are for you.” She shoved a box into each of our hands. With a squeak, she took her things up the stairs.
“I didn’t know she made me one.” Jett opened the box to reveal a stuffed bear in a boxing outfit, complete with little gloves.
Katie
The Sapphire Collection is their semi-custom line. Wow. I had to get one off the rack.
Me
Oh, poor you.
“Open yours.” Jett nodded to the other box.
“Wait, she made it for me?” I’d actually never been to Stuff-A-Stuffie.
“Yeah, like you pick a stuffie skin, stuff it, make a wish on it, dress it, and create a birth certificate for it. Okay, I know where we’re going to make Lexi and Katie their baby gifts,” Jett teased.
“That actually sounds pretty special.” Opening the box, I took out a bear in a suit, with a watch and sunglasses. “I love it.”
My heart warmed. Grace made me a stuffie.
“Pull down the pants.” Jett laughed.