11
Grace
Ruby must sense my panic because she stands in front of me with a gentle smile, holding my face in her hands.
"Just be yourself, they'll love you." She says before pushing me out into the foyer. To the wolves.
My grandparents look nervous too. Well, that's something at least.
"Hi." I smile standing there awkwardly. Where the hell is Andras!? Where did Christian go? I'll take anybody right now!
"Hello, you must be Gracelyn. I'm Ronald, your grandfather." The man says. He's tall like Andras with the same green eyes and dark hair as me. The woman next to me looks so much like Mom it hurts.
"Hello Dear, I'm Diane, your grandmother.
" She smiles nervously. Her smile is different from Mom's.
Soft instead of cruel. Actually, all of Diane looks softer than Mom, kinder.
She is well-fed and she takes care of herself.
Mom was always thin and twitching. Her brown hair was thin and greasy, whereas Diane's is full and shiny.
At first glance, they may look alike but it is clear that they are very different people. Thank God!
"It's nice to meet you. Andras said he's going to be a bit late at work so we can start without him." I blabber remembering that he, in fact, did not abandon me and told me he was running late when I got home. Man, nerves really fry your brain.
"You don't call him uncle?" Diane asks.
"Uh... well, to be honest, it's only been like three days of knowing I had other family. I'm still kind of adjusting. He hasn't said anything about it so I just assumed it was okay." I explain. Maybe I should ask him.
"I was just curious. No judgment." She says with a smile. Richard smiles at me giving me some silent support. He's awesome.
He leads us to the dining room where Ruby has the table set at one end of the long wooden table. We devolve into awkward silence immediately. Great start, Grace.
"So, what do you do for a living?" I ask. That's a normal question, right?
"We're retired, sweetie," Diane states. "What about you? Do you have a part-time job?" Well, that backfired.
"Um... Yeah, I fight," I mumble.
"I'm sorry?" They ask at the same time. Oh, boy.
"I...uh... fight? Well, that's what I did before I came here. I have a fight on Friday too." I explain.
"Like boxing?" Ronald asks.
"More of a mixed martial arts situation." I clarify. A slow smile spreads across his face making me fucking terrified.
"I used to box. That's how I met your grandmother." He beams. Yay! Bonding over violence! That, I can do.
"Really?" I ask.
"Oh, yes. He was very handsome. I was working as a bartender at Rudy's when we were in college." She smiles fondly at her husband.
"Rudy's? Downtown?" I ask.
"Yes, do you know it?"
"Yeah, that's where I fight! He added a gym behind the bar about ten years ago. I used to clean it in exchange for training." I say excitedly.
"How long have you been training?" Ronald asks.
"About seven years?" I say thinking back .
"Oh wow, you started early! What made you go into fighting?" And here comes the awkward.
"Uh... I was originally looking for self-defence." I say quietly.
"At ten? That's... smart. But I feel like there's more to this than just wanting to protect yourself." Diane hedges.
"There is," I admit.
"Did that bastard hurt you?" Ronald roars.
"Listen, I don't want to tell you bad things today." I hedge. I see Diane turn cold looking like Mom again and I feel my hands start to shake.
"It was both of them, wasn't it?" She asks in a low voice.
"Yes, ma'am," I whisper. In an instant, Ronald is up and storming out of the room and Diane is silently seething in her seat. Ruby chooses this time to bring out dinner. Poor thing.
"Thank you." I smile awkwardly as she dishes me a small helping.
"Of course, sweetie. Is everything okay?" She asks.
"It will be," I assure her but I might be lying.
"If you're sure." She says kissing the top of my head before dishing up Diane and Ronald's plates.
"Ruby seems quite taken with you," Diane observes with what looks like approval.
"It's mutual." I smile.
"Good. You deserve a strong female influence." She nods stabbing a noodle with her fork rather hard.
"So, what did you go to college for?" I ask trying to wrestle the conversation back to a safe topic.
"I was a Psychologist. I specialized in addictions." Well, there goes that plan.
"What about...Grandpa?" I try again. Judging by the small smile on her face, I did the right thing. Hooray!
"He was a lawyer, like Andras. "
"A defence attorney?" I ask.
"Yes."
"Cool. So, what do you do now that you're retired?" I ask.
"Well, we usually putter around the house and travel a lot. Have you travelled much?" She asks.
"No, but I've always wanted to," I admit.
"Well, when you graduate maybe we'll take you on a trip." She offers. "Where would you like to visit if you could?"
"Everywhere." I chuckle.
"Ah, you have my nomadic soul. I don't like staying in one spot for too long either." She says with a wink as Ronald walks back inside with bloody knuckles and Christian and Andras on his heels looking concerned.
"I'll grab some more plates," I volunteer, standing up and heading to the kitchen. I take a deep breath as I grab an extra setting and try to calm myself down.
Ruby finds me too quickly and starts swatting at me again pushing me back into the tense dining room so I stumble. I have no plates now but Ruby is right behind me muttering about stubborn girls and blessing my heart. There is no escape.
"So, I hear you've driven your grandfather to the gym already. What happened?" Andras asks with a smirk.
"You have a gym in here too?" I ask incredulously making him chuckle and nod.
"Nice try. Don't change the subject." He smiles.
"Worth a shot. Mom came up in the conversation." I confess.
"Oh. Got it." He nods dishing up himself and Christian some food.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. What's your name?" Diane asks Christian. He stands up and offers his hand to both of them.
"Christian Bianchi. I work for your son." He smiles.
"I offered him food since his father is busy with work." Shit. Mr. Bianchi must have taken my advice about cleaning house. Probably for the best. A man like that can't have any weak links in his circle.
"Oh, of course. I was just curious." She smiles I don't miss her glance between Christian and me. I can practically feel her plotting. Dear God. Leave it alone, woman!
"So, Grace and I were just talking about taking her on a trip after graduation." She continues.
"Oh. Where?" Andras asks.
"We were just discussing that."
"Oh! Grace, I forgot to tell you. We got a hold of your ID from your old house." He throws at me.
"They kept it?" I ask, shocked.
"It seems so. Officer Torrez took me over there yesterday." He says looking pale. I know what he found. Filth. I can still smell the hellhole I grew up in.
"Oh. Well, I guess I can get rid of my fake one then." I smile.
"A fake ID?" Grandpa asks. I think they'll get a laugh out of it. So I fish it out of my pocket and hand it over. He booms out a laugh before passing it to grandma. She cackles loudly and passes it along. Everyone is laughing in no time.
The obnoxious-looking photo of me with the name Toni Soprano on the card is comedy gold. Ray's buddy, Craig, did it for me. We all had a laugh making it.
"Why Toni Soprano?" Andras asks.
"There may have been alcohol involved," I admit.
"Did she tell you she fights at Rudy's too?" Grandpa asks proudly.
"No. Why are you fighting?" He asks with a worried frown.
"A girl's gotta eat." I shrug. "I have a fight Friday too...and a tattoo appointment."
"A tattoo?" Diane chokes.
"It will be my third." I smile .
"You are quite surprising." Diane smiles. You have no idea!
"What's your other tattoo?" Christian asks. "I've seen the crow. What else?"
"It's kind of sentimental. I don't like showing it off." I explain. He nods with a small smile.
"Where do you go? I wanted another one soon." He smiles.
"My buddy, Gabe, down at Monaco Tattoos. What do you have?" I ask. I know I shouldn't have but I need to know! For science!
"I have a bunch." He evades. I nod understanding he doesn't want to show them all off at the dinner table. I just really wanted him to take his shirt off. Bad Grace!
"So, how's Rudy doing these days?" Grandpa asks.
"Crazy. Someone opened a pizza joint down the road from the gym and now he's addicted to their chicken wings. He should be due for another intervention pretty soon." I chuckle.
"Yeah, that sounds like him." He nods. "I want to see you fight so bad."
"Oh! Hold on! I'll ask Ray to send a video. He usually films my fights." I explain sending him a text.
"Who's Ray? A boyfriend?" Andras asks.
"No. He's my best friend." I snort. We finish our dinner with idle chit-chat until Ray sends me the video. I pass it to grandpa and watch as they all huddle around the screen to watch. I didn't think Christian would want to see that. I'm nervous he's going to recognize me.
Grandpa lets out a low whistle.
"Girlie, you are vicious." He says proudly.
"I take back what I said earlier. You are the strong female influence in your life. I'm proud of you." Grandma beams making my face heat.
"You're so tiny!" Christian chuckles. Andras has his brows pinched together concentrating on the video.
"You're good. Really good." He comments stiffly handing me the phone back.
"Thank you," I mumble. I'll have to talk to him later.
Liam
I sit at the pub my dad owns as Dylan laughs at me, clutching his stomach. Some best friend he is. I want to push him off that god damn bar stool.
"You said what? Hold on! Mr. McConnell! You have to hear this!" Dylan howls. Asshole. My dad does not need to hear about my failed attempt at a love life.
I did everything right. I asked her uncle, I was respectful, and I called him sir. He even said I could ask her. Then I looked into her gorgeous green eyes and I fucking blew it. I had a plan. I fucking practised it. I never do that.
It's never been that important. Grace matters.
Gym class is great with her. She's funny and nice and tough as nails.
So many scars, so much she has survived.
I am in awe of her. Kennedy said she went through hell before she came to live with her uncle.
She deserves the best, and maybe that's not me, but I gotta give it a shot.
"What did you do?" Dad asks.
"He- he- oh, God." Dylan gasps. I heave a large sigh.
"I tried to ask a girl I like out. It didn't go well." I admit.
"Didn't go well is an understatement!" Dylan cackles. "He basically said her uncle gave her to him!"
"Yeah, yeah, I fucked up," I growl into my beer.
"What girl? I'll talk with her." Dad threatens.
"No! I'll get her. I just messed up the first time. Don't get involved!" I plead.
"Fine. What's this girl like?" He says pouring a pint of beer for himself. "Dylan, fuck off."
Dylan leaves still chuckling to himself.
"So? What's she like? She must be something if you're drinking over her." He observes.
"Yeah, she is. Her name is Grace."
"How did you meet her?" He asks.
"I watched her threaten some jackass from school," I smirk remembering that vicious little grin at the diner.
"That sounds like something Ace would do." He laughs. "If it doesn't work out with this Grace girl maybe think about Ace. She would make a good partner when you take over."
"I don't even know Ace."
"Well, I have to call her tonight to help get some information. Maybe stay and get to know her." He shrugs.