Sufficient Grace

by Jessica Greyson

  Oh yes, someone was around Milly. But how does one live when they feel they are dying? What if sometimes, it’s the only thing they feel? What do you do then?

  “Milly, honestly you have never felt like that ever?”

  “No. I haven’t. Why, have you?”

  “I don’t know I-I was just curious.” You don’t have to feel this way? Even when you are desperately trapped and don’t know where to go?

  “Come on, we have shopping to do!”

  Grace ended up being the third wheel as Milly whirled orders here and there.

  “There, that is finished. Don’t you feel better?”

  “I am not sure what to feel Milly.”

  “Come on, I am going to treat you to lunch at the hotel.”

  “I can’t let you do that Milly.”

  “No, I am going to, and with my Mamma at your house to keep your mother company you can make no excuses.”

  After they had ordered, Milly leaned forward and looked out the window. “I am glad we have a prime view of the road.”

  “Milly, what are you up to?”

  “Well, the school teacher is going to arrive any day now, and if she should arrive, I want to see what she is like. Just in case we shouldn’t invite her.”

  Grace smiled, her eyes dancing with merriment. “Well, I hope she is nice.”

  “Me too. You know there are more men around here then ladies, and it would be awful if everyone didn’t have a dance partner. Seeing everyone glide about the floor and you pinned to the wall like an outcast. Not dancing is the worst feeling in the world.”

  “Have you ever not been engaged for a dance Milly?”

  “Once and it was the most awful feeling I have ever had in my life. That is why I love it out here. No lack of partners.”

  Grace shook her head. “Oh, Milly.”

  “Don’t ‘Oh Milly’ me like that.”

  Grace laughed but before she could reply Milly squealed. “Look the stage coach!”

  Grace turned to look out the window.

  In a few moments, the stage coach pulled to a stop. The coach door opened, and a dainty creature in white and blue stepped out of the carriage.

  “She looks sweet,” said Milly, leaning further forward.

  She looks like she is out to catch a husband.

  “I have to go and introduce myself,” said Milly grabbing Grace’s hand, she pulling her along.

  “Hello, are you the new teacher?” asked Milly.

  “Why, yes I am,” answered a honey sweet voice with a touch of southern drawl. “And who might you be?” she asked with a flutter of her eyelashes.

  “Mildred Cunningham and this is Grace Coates.”

  “It is a pleasure to meet you both. I am Miss Jane Vanholt. I can hardly believe how long it took me to get here.”

  “It is a long ride,” said Grace trying to think of something to say.

  The girl smiled patronizingly at them.

  “Well Grace and I are hosting a party tomorrow night at my house, and you are invited.”

  “That is so sweet of you both. Such kindness from a town I have only set foot in, and you are both throwing me a party. Well, I am dreadfully tired. I am going to retire. Good day to both of you.”

  Grace barely kept her jaw from dropping.

  Milly turned to Grace. “What did I just say?” she whispered discreetly.

  “That you and I were hosting a party, and she was invited.”

  “I thought that is what I said, but how on earth does she get off with airs like that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, maybe when she reads the invitation it will make sense to her. Because I said hosting instead of having a party.”

  “You think?” asked Grace one eyebrow raised.

  “I think so. She is just tired I am sure.”

  “I hope so, for everyone’s sake. Otherwise, it could be a very awkward party.”

  “She’ll read it, I know she will.”

  “Come on, our lunches are waiting. It will be good to eat something I haven’t made for once.”

  It was early in the evening when Grace arrived at Milly’s house.

  “You are on time. Everything is set, come and see.” Mildred made her sample everything that had been crafted in the kitchen, under Mrs. Cunningham and the housekeeper’s careful hands.

  “You should have told me to come over sooner, I could have helped.”

  “Nonsense, you are the guest of honor and are not to lay down a finger. Or is that lift a finger? I don’t remember. But come, let’s get you ready first so that you may be ready for whoever may come.”

  “Are you hinting at something?”

  “My Mamma invited a few of the girls to drop by early so you’d have a chance to get to know them.”

  “That is so kind of her. How many?”

  “Five, I think, I don’t remember.”

  Chapter 21

  “All right now that everything is just about perfect, which necklace do you want to borrow? I think either of these would be just right.”

  “Well, what are you going to wear?”

  “My locket. Now which, pearls, or these lovely blue beads my uncle sent me from Italy?”

  “Pearls, I think.”

  “Are you really sure?”

  “I think so,” I wonder which one Mitch would like. Grace blushed for thinking that. Why on earth did I trouble myself with that thought? I don’t even know if he is coming tonight.

  Just then there was a knock on the door.

  “Come in!” invited Milly.

  In the mirror, Grace saw the door open. A girl about her own age in a pink dress slipped into the room. At that moment their eyes met in the mirror.

  “Hello, I am Annie,” she smiled sweetly.

  “I’m Grace,” I think I am going to like her.

  “How on earth can you even see each other? Oh, huh I didn’t know you could do that. Now Annie, which necklace do you think Grace should wear? The pearls, or these lovely blue beads?”

  “Oh, the blue beads, I think those are pretty.”

  “Two votes for the blue beads Grace, are you sure you still want the pearls?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.”

  There was a second knock at the door. “Come in!” said Milly.

  A second girl stepped in. “Hello Milly, your mother said it was all right if I came up.”

  “Beads or Pearls?” fired Milly.

  “For whom?” asked the girl refraining from a laugh.

  “Grace, of course.”

  “Well, let me see,” she said taking both necklaces from Milly’s hands, she walked up behind Grace.

  “Oh, the pearls naturally.”

  “No! The scores are even again. We shouldn’t have asked you.”

  “Who is for which necklace?” asked the girl.

  “You and Grace for pearls, Annie and I for beads.”

  “Hmm, I like Grace’s taste.”

  “I am going to go ask mother for her opinion,” said Mildred with a sigh.

  “Hi, I am Ruby. I don’t think we have been properly introduced,” she said offering her hand.

  Grace took it and smiled. I am going to like her, too.

  In a few minutes, Mrs. Cunningham peeked her head in the door, looked at Grace, then at Milly. “Pearls, Mildred.”

  Milly sighed with defeat.

  Within a quarter of an hour, the room was filled with seven girls.

  Grace, who had never found herself the center of attention for anything but shame or punishment at boarding school; was surprised to have it now. She found herself blushing to be actually enjoying it—just a little.

  After a little while, Mrs. Cunningham opened the door, “Girls be ready soon. Everybody else will be arriving shortly.”

  “Oh, dear. Grace, you better go down, I still have to put my locket on and find a way to make this curl stay in place. Anyone who can, should go down too,” commanded Milly.

  The girls were in a flutter t
o get things ready they had forgotten about upon their arrival; so Grace went downstairs alone.

  Grace entered the large parlor. Milly had rearranged the furniture to accommodate the maximum amount of people. If they all came, it wouldn’t be much more than the twenty she had met her first party with Milly.

  There was a knock at the front door. Grace cringed. It was her duty to answer it. Milly, you are supposed to be down here with me. I have never done anything like this before!

  Almost holding her breath, she went and answered the door. Grace was spared saying hello by Miss Jane Vanholt breezing gracefully through the door.

  “Hello, Grace! I am so glad to be here tonight. Oh, what quaint little houses are out here. Nothing like my parents’ but still, so darling. Where might I go to freshen up a bit? Oh, never mind I hear voices from upstairs. I’ll be back in a minute, Mitch Darling.”

  Grace barely refrained from gagging. Mitch DARLING! She turned and looked at Mitch. He was shaking his head.

  “Evening, Grace,” he said after Miss Jane Vanholt had disappeared upstairs.

  “Good evening, Mitch. How are you?”

  “I am not actually sure,” he answered stepping in.

  Grace closed the door behind him, turning she walked towards the parlor, with a nod of invitation.

  “I had no idea that offering her directions meant that I would have to be her escort.”

  “She latched onto you?” she asked over her shoulder.

  Mitch nodded absent-mindedly following Grace into the parlor.

  “Don’t let it get to you. She’ll drop anyone if she thinks there is a better prospect.” If there is one. She knows a good thing when she sees it. Grace was just a little surprised to find a resentment building up in her heart against the vain Miss Vanholt. Mitch isn’t yours, you idiote! But he does have all of my secrets and if a girl could wheedle them out of him…I would be in hot water.

  Mitch looked at her with curiosity.

  What in the world made me say that to him! Grace sat down and took up a pillow from the couch holding it in front of her like a shield.

  He sat down beside her.

  Grace had an impulse to go run and hide but stood her ground. A question sprang into her mind to turn and ask him if he liked Jane but thought better of it. Don’t be petty Grace. Don’t be petty. You know he doesn’t really like her, and you shouldn’t have to care who he likes. You shouldn’t. You don’t care for him a bit, he is annoying and always around when you want him the least. Jane is a good thing it means he won’t be bugging you. Just think of all the ways he will have to avoid her. It might kind of be fun to see him uncomfortable. Oh, don’t say such horrid things you know you don’t like to see him or anyone else uncomfortable.

  “Grace.”

  “Yes,” answered Grace suddenly feeling very shy. Somebody, please knock on that door!

  “Grace I just wanted to say that…”

  There was a knock at the door.

  Grace stood to go answer the door, Mitch caught her wrist. “Can they wait thirty seconds, please? I want to talk with you.”

  Grace pulled her hand away. “I have to answer the door Milly isn’t down yet,” she stepped into the hallway and opened the door.

  “Hello, I am so glad to see you.” I can honestly say that now. Thank God, young men and women. I won’t be left alone with him again.

  When Grace reentered the room, she noticed that Mitch seemed to have recovered to his usual self, whatever that was. They sat leisurely talking in the parlor when Milly came down.

  “Grace, I need to speak with you for a moment,” said Milly with a smile that said something was majorly wrong. “I promise I won’t need her for more than a second,” she smiled nervously at the company.

  Grace left the room, and Milly pulled her into the staircase closet. “What is the matter, Milly?”

  “She still thinks it’s her party,” she said with exasperated emphasis.

  “Her party? Miss Jane Vanholt does?”

  “Yes! What are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know Milly. Maybe we should just let the guests know at the door that this has been changed into a party for the new teacher?”

  “That wouldn’t make any sense, though. We would invite families not just people her age so everyone would get a chance to meet her. Especially the children. I feel sorry for the children she has to teach. I thought I was going to be a disaster in the school room. But her! She…”

  “Milly you are off the subject.”

  “What are we going to do?” Milly wailed.

  “Keep calm, we’ll get out of this with dignity somehow.”

  Just then there was the sound of someone walking above them on the staircase.

  “We have to think of something quick! Before, she comes down!”

  “Milly we have to let this be her party, or we have to somehow gently break it to her upstairs.”

  “Do you want me to tell her?”

  At that moment Jane Vanholt’s honey sweet drawl broke through the closet from the outside.

  “I am sorry to keep ya’ll waiting. You are so kind to come to my party. I thought Grace and that sweet Mildred were down here to keep you all company. I don’t know where they went, but that’s fine I am here now.”

  “Too late! Too late! Too late! Ah, too late!” moaned Milly. “We just can’t let her go on believing that it is her party.”

  “We will just have to make do I guess,” sighed Grace. And here I thought having to deal with Mitch was bad.

  “No, we have to tell her. We can’t plan this party and have her come and steal all of the fun and glory.”

  “I don’t want to tell her,” whispered Grace. I have had enough, dealing with girls like her. I will stick my foot in my mouth.

  “Fine, I will.”

  Grace and Milly emerged from the closet and entered the parlor. Jane was sitting as close to Mitch as she possibly could, he was now using the pillow in self-defense. It was wedged in the small space between them.

  Milly caught Grace’s sleeve. “I am going to go upstairs and let the girls know that Jane thinks it’s her party. Maybe they’ll have better ideas, on how to solve this,” whimpered Milly.

  Grace smiled. As graceful and dainty as Jane looked, she was a formidable dragon. As Grace sat down, she met several questioning glances with a shrug.

  Unexpectedly she broke into the conversation. “Jane, did you get a chance to read the invitation?”

  “No, I didn’t I do declare it is still sitting on my dresser. Why?”

  “I was just wondering if you liked the way it looked. Milly picked them out for me.”

  “Well, I am sure anything that Mildred picks out is perfect Miss Coates.”

  Miss Coates? Where did that come from?

  “Mildred told me she is a graduate of finishing school. You did well to trust her instincts on such a matter. Being a sheriff’s daughter, I am sure you have never had the benefits of eastern culture and refinement.”

  Grace opened her mouth to speak.

  “This place is just a treasure, for being such an adorable little town. It’s rich with retardé people such as yourself Miss Coates,” she said with a smile at Grace.

  “Please excuse me for a moment,” said Grace rising to her feet, a hot blush flushing her cheek. “I—I need a glass of water.”

  ~~~~~

  “If you are going to insult my friends, I wish you would do it in English,” said Mitch stepping into the situation.

  Jane looked taken aback. “Insult? I would never do such a thing. I was complimenting all of you.”

  Mitch bristled. “Well, Miss Vanholt, if you would like to know Grace came from finishing school barely three months ago and speaks French fluently, as do I.”

  “Really. And what did I say?” she laughed.

  “You said we nous étions tous à retardé? No?”

  Jane’s color dropped, and she pulled on a flimsy smile. “Where in the world did you learn to speak French,
and of course I don’t put you in that group Mitch darling,” she was grasping at straws.

  “My mother spoke French well, and don’t you ever call me Mitch Darling again. I am a deputy, and you will use that title when you refer to me. Now if you will excuse me. Oh, and you might want to read over the invitation. I am sure someone here has a copy of it in a pocket, or maybe Milly has an extra lying about.”

  “I—I didn’t mean a word of it. Mitch Darling I didn’t…”

  Mitch stalked out of the room.

  “Well, I never in all my life. How rude,” he heard her voice echo after him.

  Chapter 22

  Mitch filled a glass of water from the kitchen and went to find Grace. He had heard the back door swing shut right after she left. He guessed she hadn’t stopped to get a glass of water. Grace was sitting on the porch her head tilted back against the house eyes closed, her expression trying to repress the emotions she was feeling.

  “I thought you might actually like that glass of water you went to get,” said Mitch standing beside her and offering her the glass.

  Grace opened her eyes and shyly took the glass from his hands. “Thank you.”

  “I can’t believe she is still here after I told her I knew what she said.”

  “She is desperate.”

  ~~~~~

  “How long do you think she will stay?” asked Mitch, looking as if Jane’s possible future torture methods were on the forefront of his mind.

  “As long as there is a prospect of a husband, or she can’t stand the children.”

  “I hope the kids are bad.”

  “Mitch!” Grace scolded.

  “I can’t stand her, or her ‘Mitch Darling’ either.”

  Grace laughed.

  “What is so funny about that?”

  “If you could have only seen your face when she said it.”

  Mitch rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

  “I don’t like the sound of Mitch darling; it doesn’t suit you. But the look on your face, that, I think might have been worth it.”