Finding Gracie's Rainbow

by Deborah A. Price

  Janet was studying Gracie as she watched the scene. She walked over to Gracie; still remembering her daughter’s journal. The tears started to form in the older woman’s eyes.

  “Please don’t start.” Gracie hugged her tightly. “I survived. I'm here.”

  “Yes, you are and I appreciate that more than ever now.” Janet managed to smile. “So how is Jackson? I haven't heard from him much this week.”

  “I have joined that club, too.” Gracie admitted to her mother. “I can't figure out what he wants from me.”

  “Men.” Janet smiled as Mary came into the room.

  “My favorite subject,” Mary smiled back at her. The blue from her Amish dress set off the color of her eyes. She smoothed the black apron down before hugging Gracie. “You never married again?”

  “Absolutely not- you?” Gracie asked as they sat down at the table to catch up.

  “To a very great guy,” Mary looked at her seriously. “What about the guy in that picture?”

  Gracie looked up to where Mary was pointing. “That is Jackson.”

  “Your best friend?” Mary stood and took a closer look. “Funny.”

  Janet stood and walked to where Mary was standing as she studied the picture. She looked over at her daughter smiling as Mary walked back with her.

  “That looks a little stronger than friendship.” Mary said as she sat back down. “What Mark did was mean, cruel, and physically sickening but don't let that bring real love to its knees.”

  They all turned around as they heard Chandler loudly greet Jackson and Janet noticed that instead of looking thrilled, Gracie was panicking.

  “What is the matter?” Janet watched her with amusement. “This isn't the first time that you've seen Jackson.”

  “He isn't the same guy.” Gracie stood and started for the back door.

  “Yes, he is. You're just looking at him with a different perspective.” Janet went over and took Gracie’s hand. “Your father was my best friend.”

  Gracie looked at her then. “I know. Pop has told this story to us at least fifty times.”

  “Good for him,” Janet looked at her straight in the eyes. “But you didn't know that for the longest time, I wouldn't open up to him. I kept everything to myself.”

  “What happened?” Jackson had walked into the room and was listening as he watched Gracie.

  “I let things fester up until it all exploded at one time.” Janet smiled before she walked out of the kitchen to leave the two of them alone.

  Gracie looked over at Jackson after they had left them. “I want to tell you, Jackson. I really do.”

  “Then tell me.” Jackson walked over to her. “We can go outside if you want. Bea is being entertained by the Camerons.” He followed her out the back door and looked over at the swing set that hadn't been moved back to its original place. “I'm all ears.”

  Gracie laughed. “My imagination needed to hear that.” She sat down at one of the tables and looked at him seriously. She started talking about the week that she had broken up with Mark and continued to the point where Bea had been born. Gracie noticed that Jackson had tears in his eyes. “That I don’t need.”

  “I can't help it.” Jackson took her hand and stared into her eyes. “I remember when I was called to look at Bea. She could fit in one of my hands.” He stood up. “I looked over to the window, and you were watching her. There were bruises on your face, and your eyes had a defeated look to them.”

  “She was two months premature.” Gracie couldn't look at Jackson. “The rest of the story you know.”

  “I was in love with you before you got married.” Jackson told her. “And I love you more now.”

  “But I can't give you what you want, Jackson.” Gracie was still sitting as she spoke.

  “Let me be the judge of that.” He was smiling at her as he walked to stand right next to her. “You just took a major step, and I do mean major.” He lowered his hand to lift her face towards his.

  “Oh, I was never married.” Gracie blurted it out. “And I took a vow of celibacy.”

  He was grinning at her. “Is there anything else?”

  “Yes, but I'm not ready to say that yet.” Gracie stood up, and he pulled her closer to him and kissed her. “And I do love you.”

  “You said it.” Jackson said as he grinned from ear to ear.

  “I did.” Gracie saw the stereo still sitting outside and turned it on. “And I'm willing to slow dance now.”

  Janet heard the music outside and walked over to the window. “She did it.”

  Chandler looked up from where he was sitting. “She did what?”

  “I don’t know exactly, but they're slow dancing.” Janet looked over at Bea. “I think she'll be alright now.”

  Mary walked over and watched them. “Good riddance to Mark.”

  Sarah smiled as Mary had talked and looked over at Jonah. “We made the right decision.”

  “That we did.” Jonah stood up and hoisted Bea into the air as she squealed in delight. “And we never even thought about looking back.”

  Chapter 21

  Gracie sat in the courtroom beside Bea and their attorney as the jury was being selected and approved. Annie just had to stay there while Bea was needed. She sat beside Christian, who was also a witness in the case. Jackson would come in after the actual trial would start as well as the rest of Gracie’s family.

  Gracie and Bea were so bored they almost went to sleep. Every time, one of them would nod off the attorney would clear his throat to get their attention. Christian and Annie were sitting behind them making a game of it. They were having a contest to see who would try to nod off more. Would it be Gracie or would it be Bea?

  Gracie was holding Bea’s hand when court adjourned for the day. She looked over at Christian. “Is it over? Did we win?”

  “No, it’s not over.” Christian glanced at the tally marks on Annie’s legal pad. “I believe that I won.”

  “You won what?” Bea asked as she watched him.

  “We had a contest to see who would try to sleep more. You or your mom.” Christian smiled as he glanced at Gracie. “I picked you.”

  “Very funny. Ha, ha, ha.” Gracie could not help but to smile. “So the actual trial will start tomorrow.”

  “It does.” Christian turned towards Annie. “You actually made sitting in there fun.”

  “You say that today, but tomorrow will be a different story.” Annie watched as Christian left and then turned around to see Gracie smiling at her. “Wipe it off, Gracie.”

  “Wipe what off?” Gracie started to walk off, and Annie quickly caught up.

  “That stupid smile,” Annie answered as she looked down at Bea.

  “Whatever you say.” Gracie took her hand and wiped it across her face as Bea laughed at her.

  They stopped by Kim’s house to pick up Garrison and to tell her that the trial would start the next day.

  “Would you trust Bea and Garrison with Sammie so that I can be there?” Kim asked both Gracie and Annie.

  “I would.” Gracie said as she smiled at Sammie.

  “I guess I would, too.” Annie nodded.

  Kim smiled over at her daughter. “I guess you'll be earning that allowance this week.”

  “I'm so not seeing a problem with that.” Sammie walked over to her aunt and was studying her. “Something is different.”

  Kim looked at her daughter strangely. “What are you talking about?”

  “Look at Gracie's eyes, Mom.” Sammie watched her mother.

  “I believe that you're right.” Kim smiled. “So tell us about it.” She stopped and thought for a minute as Gracie stared at them both puzzled. “You and Jackson looked a little closer yesterday at Church.” Her smile got bigger. “You talked to Jackson!”

  Annie looked surprised as she looked at her roommate. “Did you really?”

  “I did, and I told him everything, including the part where Christian kissed you. . .” She paused as she pointed at Annie. “To shut
you up.”

  “You so tried to switch this conversation to me, and Jackson was there.” Annie frowned at her. “What else did you tell him?”

  “I might have let it slip that I loved him.” Gracie tried to say it soft enough for them not to hear. She turned as she heard Bea squeal and run back over to her from where she was sitting at the kitchen table.

  “I knew that Jackson was Prince Charming.” Bea started dancing around the room when Garrison rolled his eyes.

  “Here we go again.” He mumbled walking over to Annie.

  “That’s okay, buddy.” Gracie chuckled as she looked down at him. “Your mother has a Prince Charming, also.”

  “Gross.” Garrison looked up at his mother when she started to frown.

  “Gracie is joking.” Annie looked down at him not really knowing how Garrison would feel about a man in her life.

  “Am I?” Gracie glanced over at her. “Have you not had time to read yet?”

  “No, Christian came over because he needed to go over. . .” Annie stopped as she felt Kim and Gracie staring at her. “Knock it off.”

  “Sounds like something to me.” Sammie smiled in Annie’s direction before glancing at Gracie. “I loved the book; especially, the part. . .”

  “No more. I want to read the story myself.” Annie walked out the door with Garrison as Gracie looked at Sammie.

  “You just said that because I'm your aunt.” Gracie said as she glanced back over at Sammie.

  “Actually, I had to pry the book from her hands before she did anything else.” Kim informed her as they walked to the door. “I heard that there’s going to be another.”

  “Maybe,” Gracie walked out the door and stared at Annie. “She really did love it.” Gracie couldn't believe it even as she said it.

  “I'm sure I would if I was given enough time to read it.” Annie started the car after Gracie shut her door. “I thought about making you walk, but then I would have to answer questions from Jackson.”

  “You poor thing,” Gracie was laughing at her as they pulled into their driveway. Jackson watched as they walked up the sidewalk. “Why didn’t you just go in?”

  “I did and supper is waiting.” Jackson watched as they stepped up onto the porch. “You two don’t look like you spent the day in a court room.”

  Annie walked past them into the house and looked at the table listening to the soft mumble of voices coming from outside.

  Garrison walked up to Jackson while he was still standing there with Gracie.

  “What’s up, sport?” He tussled the little boy's hair.

  “Who is Price Charming?” Garrison frowned as Gracie started laughing.

  “And on that note, I'll leave you, so I can wash up.” Gracie smiled before she walked into the living room. “You have a puzzled boy, cute but puzzled.”

  “What now?” Annie watched as Gracie plopped down on the couch.

  “Has he never watched Cinderella with Bea? He wants to know who Prince Charming is.” She twitched her lips trying not to laugh at Annie’s expression. “Get ready for some questioning.”

  Annie watched Jackson walk into the door with Garrison following behind him.

  “We're watching Cinderella tonight, ladies.” Jackson said looking straight at Annie. He watched as Garrison walked into his bedroom. “Does his father have nothing to do with him?”

  “His father moved up north to find a job.” Annie crossed her arms in front of her. “You, Jackson, are the only male influence the boy has.”

  Gracie smirked as Jackson looked at her. “I have a feeling that you had something to do with this.”

  “It was actually my very adorable daughter. What’s for supper?” Gracie stood and walked into the kitchen.

  “Supper?” Jackson asked as heard another car pull up into the driveway. “Set another place at the table,” Jackson turned around and looked at Gracie. “Did somebody invite Christian for supper and not inform the cook?”

  “No.” Gracie and Annie answered at the same time. Gracie walked to the door and let the detective in. “I’m sorry. Is this business or pleasure?”

  “Both. I have some good news, and I'll take pleasure in seeing your reaction.” He smelled the food emitting from the kitchen. “Is Jackson here?”

  “Certainly,” Jackson answered in his best Curly imitation. “Have you eaten, Christian?”

  Christian shook his head no and then turned back to Gracie. “All of the charges against Susan Cameron have been dropped, and her record is clean.”

  Gracie smiled. “That is very good news. I'm happy for her. Where will she go after the trial is over?”

  “She has a sister down in Florida that she intends to move in with until she lands on her feet.” He looked over at the table and then at Annie. “Where is that son of yours?”

  “He ran away from us girls.” Annie informed him after she placed a glass of ice tea down on the table. “Are you staying?”

  “Now that I’ve been invited, I would love to.” Christian sat down at the table; watching as Bea and Garrison sat down with them. He picked up a roll from the basket in front of him, and Garrison thumped his hand. “What?”

  “We bless our food first, and then we serve ourselves.” Annie said as Christian looked over at her.

  He saw that they were all holding hands. “Sorry,” he looked up and saw laughter in Jackson’s eyes before they said the grace.

  “You are way too used to the bachelor life.” Jackson said as they started passing the food around. “And having no family. . .”

  “You said you knew what family was.” Annie looked over Garrison’s head at him.

  “You never asked if I had one.” Christian answered as he finally took a bite of the roll he had grabbed. “You talk too much.”

  “Don’t.” Annie watched as Christian was looking at her strangely.

  Gracie noticed the look that passed between the two of them but didn't say a word about it as Bea was telling Jackson about falling asleep in court. “Christian won the game he was playing with Annie.”

  “What game was that?” Jackson looked at his friend as he shoved food into his mouth. “Gracie?”

  “I plead the fifth.” Gracie was still watching them. “Since you cooked, doesn’t that mean that Annie has to clean?”

  “Your house,” Jackson was puzzled as he looked at her.

  “I vote that Annie and Christian clean up the mess.” Gracie looked over the table at them.

  “Why is that so important to you right now?” He watched as Gracie stood and walked over to where he was sitting. She whispered something in his ear and he pushed his plate away. “Sorry, guys, you are cleaning.” He followed Gracie outside.

  “Something feels different about those two.” Christian watched as Bea broke out in a smile, and Garrison moaned.

  “May I be excused?” Garrison looked at Annie.

  “You may.” Annie looked at Bea. “And you’ve eaten enough to get down also.”

  “Yes, m’am.” Bea stood and started to run to the back door.

  “Bea, play inside for a bit." Annie stopped her before she drew close to the back door. She looked over at Christian. “Gracie finally told Jackson everything.”

  “Really?” Christian was smiling as he looked at the table. “Cleaning up for six is a lot different than cleaning up for just one.”

  “Man up, Detective.” Annie smiled at him as she started stacking the plates. “That is why we have dishwashers.”

  Christian looked over at her then. “Annie, will you go out with me?”

  “Yes,” Annie answered as she watched Gracie walk back into the house.

  “Did you say yes?” Christian started to grab the plates from her.

  “Boy, it really takes a detective to figure that one out.” Gracie watched Christian jump. “I'm just saying that it wasn't rocket science.” Jackson looked puzzled as he walked into the conversation. “I won that bet, Jackson. Divvy up.”

  “Seriously?” Jackson took f
ifty dollars out of his wallet and handed it to Gracie before he glanced over at Annie. “You said yes?”

  “For Pete’s sake, that has already been established. I said yes.” Annie looked at all of them as Garrison walked out of his room. “Now that we have that straightened out, can we please finish washing the dishes?”

  “Go for it.” Jackson started calling for Bea. “Bring out the Cinderella movie.” He walked over to Garrison. “You’re going to watch.”

  “Why is he going to watch that?” Christian was listening as he wiped off the table.

  Annie stepped over to the table and watched as Garrison sat down on the floor looking over at his mother for her to say something. “Don’t ask, and you missed a spot.”

  ~

  The next day, Gracie listened as the prosecutor was questioning Bea. She was willing all of her strength to her daughter, especially when Bea glanced at her father. Gracie found herself fidgety as the defense attorney started drilling her daughter. “Can’t you stop some of that questioning? She doesn’t know what he's talking about.”

  He looked up at the same time Gracie stood. He gently pulled Gracie back down in the seat as he objected. “Your Honor, may I approach the bench?”

  “Sir, Your Honor, I don't know where the defense is going, but you have a little girl who is crying and a mother who was about to bring herself into contempt of court.”

  “You're right. There is no point here.” He motioned for the defense attorney to approach the bench. He told him very kindly to dismiss Bea from the witness stand.

  Gracie hugged Bea tightly to her. “It’s over Bea. You did a very good job.” She took a Kleenex and wiped the tears off her daughter’s face. “Go home with Annie now.”

  “Yes, m’am.” Bea walked over to Annie and took her hand. Christian was watching them, and he looked at Jackson. They listened to Susan’s testimony, and then it was Christian’s turn.

  They judge recessed the court for lunch after Christian stepped off the stand. He was watching Gracie as he stood next to Jackson in the hall. “She's ready to bolt.” Christian said as he blew on a cup of coffee he had bought out of the vending machine.