Epilogue #2
I snorted, loving this new playful side of Lucy.
From everything Caleb had told me, Nicky was a good guy.
From the little time I’d spent with him at Bar, I saw he wasn’t a ladies’ man like Max or childish like some of the other men who came around.
Nicky was also one of Caleb’s oldest friends, and Caleb had fabulous taste.
“Nicky told Caleb that Ms. Kenzie saw you guys in his truck.”
Lucy shook her head. I let her off the hook when Victoria walked by the dressing room.
“Thanks for coming on, Grace.” She smiled a generic, phony smile. “We could have used a little more scandal and outrage toward Cordelia and Grant.” Victoria raised an eyebrow and took a sip out of her coffee thermos.
“I’m trying to find peace,” I simply said.
She huffed. “You looked better as a blonde.”
I bit my tongue while Lucy muttered, “bitch,” and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Her eyes widened and she looked between Lucy and me for a moment before speaking. “I guess there are no good salons outside of the city.” Victoria shrugged and walked down the hallway, calling her goodbyes.
I no longer cared about other people’s opinions. I was free.
I glanced at the paper in my hand, rereading the headline before Lucy snatched it away, tossing it in the trash can outside the brownstone: “Dis-Graced Abernathy.” You would think the headlines would be more original, but no.
My phone rang and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the timing of the call.
“Hello?” I answered, holding up a finger to Lucy.
She nodded and gestured that she was heading into my brownstone.
It sold for above the asking price. The movers came and packed up the important things I was keeping to bring to Grand Haven.
A few pieces of furniture Fiona wanted for the inn had earned me some brownie points.
“Grace,” my mother’s voice murmured through the phone. Never in my life had I heard Jacqueline so Zen.
I sat on the steps of my former home, staring at the spot I last saw my sister. Where we fought. Where she took her final steps. Where part of me died. I quickly looked away, heart clenching at the memories.
“How are you?” I asked, not in the mood to fight with her. The arguments we had were tired and played out. I quite literally had bigger fish to fry.
“I saw the news. I saw you told the truth about that night. About the night Julia …” My mother trailed off and inhaled a sharp breath. “... died.”
“Yeah?” I questioned, wondering where she was going with this conversation. Ever since Jacqueline tried to pay Caleb to break up with me, we hadn’t spoken. Only a simple text here and there to make sure the other was alive. Unlike my dad who just sent flowers and a simple note giving me his “best.”
But the more I thought about her, the more I missed her. I wanted her in my life even if I didn’t like her.
“I’m proud of you, Gracie Girl,” she whispered, almost like a prayer.
I smiled as she said my old nickname. My mother hadn’t called me that in years. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until this very moment.
I didn’t speak so she continued, “Coming forward is scary and brave. You always were brave. Braver than me.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I nodded, trying to remain composed. Apparently, I was doing a poor job as the tears streamed down my face.
Throughout my entire “career” as a socialite, I was my mother’s shadow, more or less, and never once did she say she was proud. Only now that I was living my truth, even to her dismay, did she say it.
“I love you. I really am sorry about writing Caleb that check. I thought I was doing the right thing. I lost Julia and I was losing you. I didn’t realize I was losing you to my world.
This world wasn’t yours. You didn’t want it.
I’m just sorry, Grace,” my mother rambled, and she wasn’t a rambler.
She was carefully crafted in all areas of her life.
I couldn’t say I wasn’t enjoying hearing a less polished version of her.
“It was wrong,” I agreed, not sure if I should forgive her so easily. “I went to Julia’s grave. I saw what you did for her there. It was … nice.”
My mother’s sob rang through the phone before she uttered another word, changing the subject. “I know you love Caleb and his daughter. I realize that now.”
“I do. They are the best things to ever happen to me.”
“I hope one day you can forgive me. I want to put in the work. In any way you’ll have me,” my mother offered, as she sniffled.
“One day, Mom,” I promised, nodding even though she couldn’t see me.
“I love you, Grace,” my mom said quietly and then hung up.
I peered at the spot again. The one that haunted me a little less these days. Since I was trying to right my wrongs in the ways I could.
Like a crazy person, I whispered, “Thank you.” Knowing my sister was guiding me into the direction I was meant to be, I muttered, “I love you.” I flicked the tears off my face before standing up to say goodbye to the person I was when I lived here.
Although it never felt like home because a home was a feeling created by people who love you as you were.
Despite who you might have been and in face of what was ahead tomorrow.
The best feeling in the world was coming home.
“Can you believe she didn’t even give a shit about the charity?
” I couldn’t help but complain. “I mean the whole reason I agreed to do the asinine interview was for exposure. I want the foundation to gain momentum and hopefully get more financial backing so we can expand and help more people in need,” I rambled as we walked to the truck.
While I wanted to clear my name and set the record straight, I wanted the shelter to gain traction. Julia would want me to help people.
Caleb opened the passenger door for me. He looked kind of nervous, like something was bothering him.
Once I was seated, he leaned in, tipped my chin, and kissed me.
My lips parted, deepening the kiss, and he groaned, backing away too quickly.
I pouted as he jogged to the driver’s side of the car. “I’m proud of you, babe.”
“I’m proud of myself too.” I smiled softly, and glanced over at Caleb and saw him appearing to be deep in thought while he drove.
Once we stopped at a traffic light, I threaded my fingers through his, sensing his nervousness.
“My mom donated a large portion of money to ‘A Saving Grace,’” I confessed, biting my lip. “My financial advisor called right after I got off the phone with her. She told me she was proud of the interview.”
Confusion plagued Caleb’s features. “And that’s a problem because?” he questioned.
“I know you’re not her biggest fan. She’s trying, in her way, you know.”
“Baby, I don’t like or agree with what she did, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be excited for your first outside investor. Even if it is your mother.” He laughed. “She’s trying.”
“She donated it in Julia’s name.”
“I see.” He squeezed my hand, trying to be supportive. “She would be proud too, you know.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I think she would…” I trailed off. Whenever there was a new and exciting thing happening in my life, I felt the urge to call my sister. Then I remembered I couldn’t, but I knew she was smiling down at me.
We walked to the front of the bar, and as I was about to pull the door open, Caleb grabbed my hand.
“Hey,” Caleb said as he studied my face.
“Hey, yourself?” I said, but it came out more of a question.
“I forgot to tell you. I got a new phone!” he announced, pulling the newest smartphone out of his pocket.
“Omg, old man no more!” I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands. This was a massive revelation. I examined the new phone with the sturdy and expensive black case, truly shocked he made this huge change without saying anything.
“I really don’t know how to use it. I’ve butt-dialed Nicky five times already,” Caleb admitted, shaking his head. “Can you do me a favor and look at my Google history? I forgot how to get there.”
I flattened my lips to hide the smirk threatening to come to the surface. I didn’t want to embarrass him.
“All right, hand it over,” I agreed, laughing as I took the phone from his hands. “This is going to be hilarious—watching you get used to having a big boy phone. Was Noelle excited?”
Before Caleb could even answer, my laughing halted and I gasped as I stopped scrolling on the device. I almost dropped the new phone in my shock. My eyes went to Caleb who was kneeling before me. My heart was racing nervously but I was so excited.
All I needed to do was answer. My eyes widened as they darted between Caleb kneeling and the question on the phone.
There was only one question in his search history:
“How do you ask the woman you love to marry you?”
“I didn’t need to search online about you, Grace. Being with you is effortless, like breathing fresh air. I learned who you are from getting to know you for you. I only want to get my information about you from you. So please tell me, Grace, will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down my face, and I nodded feverishly, before choking out, “Yes.” I fell to my knees and hugged Caleb tightly as he slipped the ring on my finger.
“Noelle helped me pick it out.”
I barely glanced down at the shiny object. It was a stunning princess cut ring with a halo setting. He could have given me a gumball machine ring and I still would have said yes.
He rose from the ground, taking me with him, spinning me around. “I love you,” Caleb murmured as his lips crashed to mine.
We got so lost in our special moment, I didn’t notice the bar door open.
“Dad! Stop monopolizing Grace! I have a question for her as well, or did you forget?” Noelle grumbled, crossing her arms across her chest.
Caleb set me down, steadying me before rolling his eyes at our kid. Leave it to kids to crash a private moment, not that I minded much, having a good idea what her question was.
I bent down to Noelle’s level. My face was hot and my eyes were glossy and tear-stained from all the emotions of our engagement.
Noelle pulled out a small drawstring bag from the back pocket of her jeans, her trembling hands struggling to open it before pulling out a charm.
“Grace,” Noelle began, her voice serious but sweet like honey, “will you be my mom?”
She deposited the charm in my waiting palm. It was heart-shaped and read “mom” in red lettering.
Tears flickered off the tops of my cheeks before I pulled Noelle into a fierce hug. “Yes! A million times, yes.” I beamed through the tears running down my face.
“Good, because Dad bought me the matching daughter charm for my bracelet.” Noelle rolled up her sleeve to show her own bracelet, now filled with various charms since our first Halloween when I purchased the bracelet for her. Noelle’s newest charm said “daughter” in matching red letters.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you both.” I cried harder as I engulfed both my loves into a hug.
“Promise me you’ll do it again.” Caleb laughed, and the door to the bar swung open once more.
“Lovebirds, come on in. There’s cake going to waste,” Fiona bellowed, rolling her eyes at the sight of us all emotional.
We laughed and made our way into where our second family was.
I was no longer falling. I was standing tall, proud of who I was becoming. Every day was a new adventure, and I knew I would fall again. But this time, I wasn’t afraid. I had people ready to help me back up, to remind me that mistakes didn’t make me unworthy or unlovable.
So I would keep fighting. Keep loving. Keep being me. No longer afraid of headlines or hollow words. Let them read all about it. For the first time, I knew exactly who I was.
THE END.
Thank you for reading! I hope you loved Fall from Grace!