Finding Gracie's Rainbow

by Deborah A. Price

  “Seriously two was too many.” Gracie found that she couldn't help but to drink a little more. She glanced up as Jackson walked into the restaurant. She stood and swaggered towards him as Addison watched. “Ouch, I think that she's just a little tipsy.” Addison mumbled as she watched Jackson steady her.

  “Are you ready to go home, Cinderella?” Jackson looked over at Addison as she held three fingers in the air. “Tell everyone bye.”

  Salem Foster stood with his wife and shook her hand. “We’ll have to do this again sometime.”

  “Sure thing, Mr. Boss. I mean Mr. Salem. Sorry, I mean Mr. Foster.” Gracie laughed as Jackson walked her out to his car. “I feel so funny.”

  “Of course you do.” Jackson watched as Gracie fumbled with the seat buckle. He shook his head as he buckled it for her. “So what was the celebration about?”

  Gracie was quiet as she started thinking. “I honestly can't remember.”

  Jackson shook his head again as he helped Gracie get out of the car after they parked in her driveway.

  “You know what, Jackson?” Gracie looked serious as she stood beside him. “You are a really, really great guy.”

  “I know and you're plastered.” Jackson looked at her as they still stood at the door. “Are you going to give me the key?”

  “Sure,” Gracie frowned as she realized that she didn’t have her purse or her briefcase. “I think I left them in Addie’s car.”

  Jackson walked over to the side of the house, coming back with an extra key. He opened the door and pulled her inside.

  “Did I tell you that you were a great guy?” Gracie asked again after she sat down.

  “Yes, you did.” He walked over to the counter in the kitchen and started brewing a pot of coffee. “We're going to sober you up some before I go get Bea.”

  “Bea. She’s very special.” Gracie closed her eyes.

  Jackson took a mug of coffee over to her. “Come on, Cinderella, it ain't bed time yet.”

  “I’m not asleep. The light's hurting my eyes.” Gracie took the mug from him as he turned on the lamp and turned off the light.

  “How’s that?” Jackson sat down next to her.

  “Better.” Gracie took a sip of coffee. “I was only going to have one.”

  “What happened?” Jackson was studying her.

  “Salem and his wife thought I needed more.” Gracie looked over at him. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime. Drink your coffee while I walk up to Kim’s.” Jackson stood.

  “Just call Kim, Jackson. She usually has Sammie walk down with them.” Gracie looked up as Annie walked in the door.

  Annie looked at the cup of coffee in her hand. “I thought caffeine was illegal after supper.”

  “It is.” Gracie tried to look up at her, but it hurt her eyes too much.

  “Then why the coffee?” Annie looked over at Jackson, who was smiling.

  “Addison and her boss twisted her arm and made her drink three daiquiris.” Jackson stood. “Our Gracie isn’t a drinker. I'm going to walk up to get Garrison and Bea.”

  “Not yet, I don’t want Bea to see me like this.” Gracie downed the rest of the coffee. “Kim knows I was going to be late.”

  “They're on their way, Gracie.” Annie took the cup from her to refill it. “Garrison watches for my car.”

  Gracie looked over at Jackson. “Did I tell you that. . .?”

  “That I'm really great guy. Yes, twice,” Jackson looked at her with amusement.

  “No, that I love you.” Gracie watched as two Jacksons stared at her. She rubbed her eyes. “Why are there two of you?”

  Jackson was frowning at her. “You're worse than I thought.” He watched as Annie smirked while handing Gracie another cup of coffee.

  Bea looked at her mother skeptically after she walked into the house with Sammie and Garrison. “What’s wrong with you?” She took note of the coffee her mother was holding.

  “Too much fun,” Gracie smiled at her. “How was work?”

  “Work?” Bea looked over at Jackson, who was trying very hard not to smile. “She's acting like Uncle Steven when he has beer.” She looked back at her mother. “Are you drunk?”

  “Just a tiny bit,” she closed her eyes. “When will I stop seeing doubles?”

  Sammie was watching Gracie. “She’s funny when she. . . “

  “Hush, Sammie.” Jackson looked at her seriously. “I'm sure that this is probably the only time anybody will see this.”

  Annie tucked Bea into bed for Gracie at the same time she had Garrison go to bed. She walked back into the living room and sat down in a chair to watch a little television.

  Gracie looked over at Jackson. “Will you take me to bed now?” She saw the startled look in his face and laughed. “I really didn’t mean for it to sound like that.”

  Annie broke out with laughter as she heard what Gracie had asked Jackson. Jackson stood and glared at his cousin as he held out a hand for Gracie to take. He walked her into her bedroom and watched as she collapsed on the bed, snoring the minute her head hit the pillow. He pulled the covers over her before walking out and shutting the door. He walked down the hall, and into the kitchen where Annie was washing a few dishes. Annie smiled at him. “She is so not going to remember any of what she said tonight.”

  “And I wish I was drunk enough not to remember what she said tonight.” Jackson was frowning as he remembered everything that Gracie said. “I hope she doesn’t ask any questions. She's going to have a major hangover.”

  “She has Excedrin in her purse.” Annie informed him as she sat the coffee maker up for the next morning.

  “Which is in Addison’s car.” Jackson added. “I'm going to sleep on the couch tonight. Somebody’s going to have to take her to work tomorrow.”

  Chapter 11

  Jackson woke when he heard cabinet doors opening and shutting in the kitchen. Watching from the couch, he saw Gracie fumbling around. “Looking for something?”

  She physically jumped up as she heard his voice. “I have a headache.” She bit her lips as she realized that the only thing she was wearing was her slip. “I didn't know that you were here; excuse me while I put on some clothes.”

  Jackson stood and walked into the kitchen to turn the coffee maker on. He pulled some tomato juice out of the refrigerator and poured a glass for Gracie to drink when she came back. He handed her the glass while noticing that she was holding an unlabeled pill bottle in her hand.

  “That doesn’t have a label.” Jackson took if from her.

  “But I know what it is.” Gracie grabbed it back from him as she swallowed some of the juice.

  “It’s not going to help that hangover.” Jackson stated as he sat down at the table.

  “It has to work because I have to work.” Gracie opened the bottle growing agitated that Jackson was watching her. “Why are you here?”

  “To take you to work. I'm assuming that’s where your car is.” Jackson was studying her eyes. “Do you remember anything from last night?”

  “Hardly,” Gracie mumbled as she finished the tomato juice. “I'm going to kill Addison this morning.”

  “No, you’re not.” Jackson was smiling at her. “She didn’t twist your arm to make you drink.”

  Gracie stared at him. “So am I a mean or a funny drunk?” She stood to wake Bea up for school.

  “Neither, you were a very affectionate drunk.” He watched as she turned to face him.

  “I don’t even want to know.” Gracie opened Bea’s door and smiled as she saw her daughter cuddled with the teddy bear. “Good morning, Princess.” She watched as her daughter turned over and moaned. After laying out Bea’s clothes, she walked back into the kitchen. “Bea’s birthday party is Saturday. I'm assuming that she invited you.”

  “She did.” Jackson answered while he nursed a cup of coffee. “I accepted.”

  “I'm calling a family meeting afterwards.” Gracie informed him as she threw some Poptarts in the toaster. “You and Annie
need to be here.”

  Annie had walked in with Garrison as she caught the last bit of conversation. “Here for what?”

  “Gracie is calling a family meeting after Bea’s party.” Jackson hugged Bea as she came into the room showing surprise that he was there.

  “That’s fine. How is the head this morning?” Annie asked as she turned towards Gracie.

  “Split in half.” Gracie looked around for her briefcase and purse. “Where did I leave my things?”

  “Addison’s car and your keys are there, too.” Jackson watched as Bea sat down to eat. “Are you ready to go, Gracie?”

  “I guess so.” She kissed Bea before she walked out the door with Jackson.

  They were at the office when Gracie finally gathered up enough courage to ask Jackson what was on her mind. “We didn’t do anything last night did we?”

  “You don’t remember?” Jackson walked over to her door and opened it for her, “Seriously? I think that I should be offended then.” He started to laugh at the expression on her face. “No, Gracie, we didn't do anything last night."

  “Oh, I'm relieved." Gracie looked around for Addison’s car.

  “You sound disappointed.” Jackson whispered in her ear while they stood propped up against his car.

  “I’m not.” Gracie said in a determined manner. “Although I am curious as to why you said I was an affectionate drunk. Did I kiss you?”

  “Not even a kiss,” Jackson waved as he spotted Addison getting out of her car. “I think that I'm going to let you be curious.”

  Gracie made her way over to Addison’s car, frowning as she tried to remember anything from last night. She felt her head throbbing thinking that the hangover made her headaches seem a little trifle.

  “You have sick days, Gracie.” Addison watched as Gracie took out her briefcase, purse, and keys. She could see that Gracie wasn't her normal self.

  “I do, but I think that I'm going to make you suffer as much as I am right now.” Gracie started walking towards the building. “And if my head ever stops hurting, I'm going to enjoy it.”

  Addison laughed at her as she fumbled with the key to unlock the building. “Want me to do that?”

  Gracie contemplated as she glanced at her laughing. “What in the world for?” She pushed the door open and they both walked in. “Did I act strangely last night?”

  “You were fun last night.” Addison walked over to her desk and sat down. “What happened after Jackson took you home?”

  “He says nothing happened.” Gracie walked softly to her office. “Do I have appointments this morning?”

  “No, the only thing Mr. Foster wants you to do is finish the ending for the story. He wants it by Tuesday.” Addison informed her before she shut the office doors.

  “Great. Why is every deadline we have scheduled for Tuesdays?” Gracie walked into her office closing all the blinds before sitting down at her desk. Addison had followed her in and sat down in front of Gracie’s desk. “Is that the only day he works?”

  “Somehow I doubt that.” Addison stood back up and walked over to start a pot of coffee. “So you are telling me that absolutely nothing happened last night after Jackson picked you up.”

  “That is what he says.” Gracie tried to smile as she sat down at the desk and started her computer. “I really don’t remember a thing.”

  “I bet Dylan will be able to tell me everything I want to know.” Addison was smiling at her. “I still can’t believe you drank three of them.”

  “Did you say three?” Gracie raised her eyes as she looked over at her friend in shock. “It's no wonder I feel so bad. I don’t drink.”

  Addison stood and laughed before she walked back towards the door. “You could have fooled the pope last night, girl.” Turning around she added. “I haven’t seen you have that much fun since you were little.”

  “Funny.” Gracie frowned as she logged on to her AOL to check her mail. Addison left the office as the phone rang and Gracie answered it. It was Mr. Foster making sure that Addison had given her the message about the book. After she answered him, she hung up the phone and swiveled around in circles in her office chair. Before making herself dizzy, Gracie loaded the CD that had her story was stored on and started to read it to refresh her memory. Before she realized it, it was lunchtime and Addison walked in the office to let her know she was going to the cafeteria.

  Gracie glanced up and nodded as she mumbled. “I'll be down in a minute.” She glanced back at her screen and started reading again. She was laughing when Addison walked into her office carrying a tray from the cafeteria thirty minutes later.

  She glanced at the clock. “Sorry,” Gracie watched as Addison sat the tray down.

  “What are you reading?” Addison peeked at the computer after Gracie sat down at the conference table. She looked over at her friend after she read the page that was showing on the screen. “Is this a new book?”

  “It’s actually mine.” Gracie picked at the salad, pulling the carrots out and munching on them. “I couldn’t remember the story to write the ending, so I had to start reading it at the beginning again.”

  “Are you going to make me wait until it comes out in the stores or are you going to be a friend and let me read some now?” Addison sat down at the table with her.

  Gracie smiled at her. “I haven’t thought about it.” She stood. “I might read some more this weekend and try to write an ending.”

  “There’s no try, Gracie.” Addison reminded her. “You signed the contract and now you have to fulfill the obligations.”

  “And I needed you to remind me of that.” Gracie walked over to her desk before glancing back at her. “Right now, I need to concentrate on Bea’s birthday party. I was only working half a day today. Remember?”

  “I was wondering if you thought about that.” Addison watched as Gracie ejected the CD and shut down her computer. “When are you going to tell your family?”

  “Tomorrow after the party,” Gracie placed the disc into her briefcase. “If it's slow here, and all the work is caught up; you can leave early.”

  Gracie was smiling as she walked into the school to pick Bea up early. She hadn’t told Bea that she was going to be there just in case something had happened at the office to alter her plans.

  She was watching the door as she stood there talking to Terry when Bea walked in with a big smile plastered on her face. She was laughing at something Terry had said about Steven as Bea walked up them.

  “Surprise,” Gracie said as she took Bea’s backpack from her. They were walking out of the building as Gracie smiled down at her. “I think I forgot to tell you Happy Birthday this morning.”

  “I thought you had forgotten. Jackson did, too.” Bea was skipping as they walked to the car while she held Gracie’s hand.

  “Well, the rest of the day is yours.” Gracie unlocked the car and threw the backpack into the back seat. “Whatever you want to do, we’ll do it.”

  “Really?” Bea was looking out the car windows as they drove along.

  “Really, Princess, I'm all yours for the rest of the day.” She pulled up into their driveway. “Just let me change clothes first.”

  She walked up the hall after changing and entered the living room just as Bea was putting a movie in the player. “What are we watching?”

  “You’ll see and after this, I want to take Uncle Jackson on a date.” Bea grinned as she saw the look her mother shot to her.

  “You’ll need a chaperone.” Gracie sat down beside her.

  “I thought you could be the chaperone.” Bea took the handheld phone and dialed Jackson’s number before she started the movie.

  “Do you seriously want to watch Cinderella again?” Gracie looked at the television screen. “We can both quote it from memory.”

  “My day. Remember?” Bea was laughing as Gracie started saying some of the lines before the Disney castle disappeared from the screen.

  Gracie stood and stretched after the movie ended looking a
t the clock as she spoke. “You have two hours before your date. Would you like to go to the pool?”

  “What pool?” Bea asked as she carefully placed the DVD back in its case.

  “The one at Jackson’s apartment,” Gracie had asked Jackson about using the pool after it had started getting warm. “Let's go suit up and then we'll ride over there. Jackson knows that we're coming."

  “He does?” Bea asked in shock as they walked towards her bedroom.

  “I sent him a message.” Gracie walked into her daughter’s room and found the bathing suit for her to put on. “As a matter of fact, he’s probably waiting on us as we speak.”

  ~

  Jackson walked out of his apartment as Gracie and Bea pulled up. He smiled when Bea ran up to him and hugged him tightly. “I hear someone is having a birthday today.” Jackson took her hand as he looked over at Gracie, “Feeling better?”

  “Loads,” Gracie walked beside them to the pool.

  Jackson looked at her with a grin on his face. “Still don’t want to know- do you?”

  “Absolutely not,” Gracie took the short set that Bea had handed her after she stripped down to her suit. “Keep it a secret- okay?"

  “Wish I could.” Jackson sat down in one of the pool side chairs. “There was somebody else in the room.”

  “Annie?” Gracie asked as she watched Bea splashing around.

  Jackson stood and pulled his t-shirt off as Gracie watched him. “Yep and she has a really big mouth.” He looked over at her. “Are you getting in the water?”

  “You don’t think that she'll talk to anybody about that. Do you?” Gracie frowned as she asked him while her cell phone was ringing. She answered as she watched Jackson jump in the pool. She walked away from them as she listened to Addison talk about Mr. Foster. She put the phone back in her pocket and walked over to the pool. Jackson looked up at her as she sat back down.

  He noticed that she had started to move her neck around in a circular motion and after glancing over to Bea to make sure she was still in shallow water pulled himself out of the pool. “Why do keep a job that stresses you out?”