Grace
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I pulled on my fourth shirt and stared at myself in the mirror before tearing it off and trying another one. Flea was picking me up in an hour to take me to his sister’s for dinner. I was a mess. Not because it was at Katie’s… I’d met Katie hundreds of times… but because I would be meeting their mother for the first time. I didn’t do well in first meetings. I was awkward and tongue-tied and kind of a goob.
Grams was currently napping, Finch was watching a game on television, and I was pacing my room, wishing I had time to run to the mall. My phone buzzed on the nightstand and I answered without looking at the caller ID. “Hello?”
“Hey, baby. You okay?”
“No.”
Flea’s voice got serious. “What’s wrong?”
“I have nothing to wear.”
He snorted, and I let out a frustrated groan. “This is not funny.”
“Grace, it’s my sister and mom. You could come in a potato sack. They won’t give a shit.”
“She’s your mom,” I countered.
“Yeah, I get it, honey, but she won’t care.”
“Fleabio, your mother will care. She’ll care about everything.”
“I’m almost there. Why don’t you show me what you’ve got, and we’ll go from there?”
I sighed. “Fine.”
He arrived about five minutes later, and since Grams was still asleep, he headed straight to my room.
“I don’t have everything here,” I complained. “So, I’m limited.”
“You’re forgettin’ something, Grace.”
I settled my hands on my hips. “What?”
His hand slid to my neck and he tugged me forward to kiss me. I relaxed against him, slipping my arms around his waist.
“Better?” he asked, running his nose against mine.
“No.”
He chuckled. “Okay, baby. Show me what you’ve got.”
In the end, I wore the first thing I’d tried on. Jeans, knee-high boots, and a soft, long-sleeved T-shirt. Since Flea was wearing his typical motorcycle club gear, I didn’t feel underdressed, but still worried my shirt as too low or my jeans were too tight.
“Can we take my car?”
He frowned. “Why?”
“Because I just got my hair to behave. Smashing it in a helmet will ruin all of that work.”
He rolled his eyes. “Grace―”
“Please, honey. Let me have this.”
He reached out and stroked my cheek. “Okay, baby, you can have this.”
“Thanks.” I handed him my keys and overnight bag, said goodbye to my brother (Grams was still asleep), then followed Flea out to my car.
Flea’s sister lived in a little condo next to the Pearl. It was in an historical house that had been converted into four condos, and although the place was small, the layout was comfortable.
As we stood on the little porch, I gripped Flea’s hand like a talisman, and leaned into him. He held the dessert and bottle of wine I’d insisted we buy, along with a bouquet of flowers for his mom.
“Ready?” he asked.
“No,” I whispered. “We should have a code word.”
“For what?”
“For if… no, when, I’m being a total moron, you need to warn me.”
“What the fuck?”
I huffed. “The confident, vivacious, ass-kicking wonderment of female glory standing before you, is all merely a façade. You may as well know it now. I’m a phony and a fraud.”
“Aren’t those the same things?”
“Don’t interrupt me… but that brings up a good point. I’m also ignorant.”
“Baby, if you weren’t smart, pretty sure you wouldn’t use words like ignorant and vivacious.”
“You don’t know, vivacious could have been today’s word on my word of the day calendar.”
“Do you have a word of the day calendar?”
“No.” I cocked my head. “See? That’s another flaw, I’m also a compulsive liar.”
“Honey, you’re spiraling.”
“Of course I am… that’s what emotionally unstable people do.”
He dropped his head back and laughed just as Katie pulled open the door. “Why are you standing out here? Come in.”
Shit. We didn’t get a chance to come up with a code word.
Flea laid his hand on my back and gently pushed me forward.
“Mashed potatoes,” I hissed.
“What?”
“Code word,” I ground out under my breath.
He chuckled again and patted my butt as I followed Katie into the kitchen. I scowled at him over my shoulder. I didn’t want his mom to think I was a total whore, allowing her son to grope me in public.
Flea and Katie’s mom looked like a woman trying to hold onto her youth. Flea was thirty-four, so she had to be mid-fifties, but she looked much older. She had short, spikey, platinum blonde hair that was reminiscent of the “I’d like to speak to your manager” style, but she smiled, and it softened her features a little.
I hung back while Flea hugged her, trying to figure out what to do with my hands. If I put them in my pockets, I’d seem disengaged but if I crossed my arms, I’d look closed off, so I grasped them behind my back and tried not to fidget.
“And this is Grace,” Katie said, grabbing my arm and tugging me forward.
I held my hand out and their mother gave me a limp handshake. You know, the kind where they grasp the end of your fingertips? I forced myself not to shudder. So creepy.
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too, Mrs. Jameson,” I said.
“Oh my god, Gracie,” Katie said with a chuckle. “Call her Jan.”
Jan glanced at Flea and then smiled at me, but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yes. Call me Jan.”
Flea wrapped an arm around my waist, but I moved away from him and waved my hand toward the kitchen. “Can I help with anything?”
“No, we’re just about ready,” Katie said.
“You could pour some wine,” Jan countered.
“I’d be happy to.”
“Got beer?” Flea asked.
“In the fridge,” Katie provided, but their mother waved him to the table.
“I’ll get it for you, baby.”
Katie rolled her eyes as Jan opened the fridge.
“He’s the favorite,” she mouthed, and I tried not crack a smile.
Merrick was always my mom’s favorite, too.
Katie pulled three wine glasses out of the top cabinet and handed me the corkscrew. I opened the wine and poured, then put the corkscrew back in the drawer Katie had taken it from.
I handed a glass to Jan, and Flea reached his hand to me, but I shook my head. He raised an eyebrow in challenge, but I took a sip of wine, keeping my distance.
He rose to his feet and I widened my eyes in warning. He either didn’t understand, or didn’t care, and closed the distance between us, wrapping his arm around me and kissing my temple.
Jan glanced at us, and I felt heat creep up my cheeks, but Flea held me a little tighter. I felt like he was making some kind of point and I wasn’t sure if it was for the benefit of his mother… or me.
“Dinner’s ready,” Katie announced, and we helped her carry food to her immaculately set table.
“Everything looks amazing, Katie,” I said.
“Thanks. I love dinner parties.”
“I didn’t know this about you,” Flea deadpanned.
“Suck it, Billy,” Katie said, good-naturedly.
“Children,” Jan warned, and Katie and Flea chuckled.
Katie waved to a place by the window and I took a seat while Flea sat beside me. He linked his fingers with mine under the table and gave my hand a gentle squeeze.
Dinner was actually pleasant, and I began to relax as conversation turned to jobs, and another bottle of wine was opened.
“Did Billy tell you Grace is a ballerina?” Katie asked her mother.
“Oh?” Jan mused.
“She’s starting at PBC tomorrow,” Flea provided.
“What a great opportunity. Are you a principal?” Jan asked.
“No. An apprentice,” I said. “I hope that’ll change soon, though.”
“Yes, I would, too.” Jan sipped her wine. “Katie, honey, I was wondering if you would like to catch a movie with me next weekend.”
“Let me check my work schedule, but that sounds fun.”
“Do you like movies?” I asked. “I love movies. Like Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen that one,” Jan said.
“It’s one about a guy who’s all alone when confronted by possible hostile aliens and his wife refuses to listen to him, so he flips out and builds a mountain out of mashed potatoes.”
Flea choked on his beer, as he started to laugh.
Serves him right.
“I’m going to step outside,” Jan said.
“Mom,” Katie admonished. “You need to give that up.”
Jan ignored her and grabbed a pack of cigarettes and lighter, walking onto the little patio.
Katie rose to her feet and started to clear the table. I followed suit, but Flea pulled me back down to my seat. “You okay?”
“Other than your mom hating me, yep, I’m great.”
He smiled. “Pretty sure you’re off-base.”
“Pretty sure I’m not.” I smiled, leaning over to kiss him quickly. “It’s all good. Come help with dishes, okay? I’m in a chocolate mood, so I’m ready for dessert.”
We worked in tandem to rinse dishes and load the dishwasher while Katie served up the pie. Jan had been outside a while, so I offered to get her, walking onto the patio just as she said, “I know. But I can’t tell Billy who to date, honey. He’ll just dig in harder. I have to finesse him out of his current obsession.”
I didn’t want to hear anymore and rushed back inside, down the hallway and into the bathroom. Taking several deep breaths, I calmed my emotions and shoved them deep down inside. It wasn’t hard, I’d had years of experience doing it, then I left the bathroom and headed back to the kitchen.
By now, Jan had returned and smiled as I approached.
I glanced at Flea, then Katie and waved my cell phone. “I need to get back to my grandmother’s.”
“Is everything okay?” Katie asked.
“Yes. I just need to go. I’m so sorry to cut this short.” I grabbed my purse and jacket and hugged Katie. “Everything was perfect.”
“Let me grab my jacket,” Flea said, but I shook my head.
“You stay. I’ll have Merrick swing by and pick you up later.”
“What the fuck?” he growled.
“Billy!” Jan exclaimed. “Language.”
“I really have to go,” I said, and headed toward the front door.
Unfortunately, I didn’t beat Flea to my car and found myself spun to face him, his eyes searching mine. “What happened?”
“Nothing. It’s fine. I just need to get home.”
“Goddammit, Grace, tell me.”
I shook my head.
“Is your Grams okay?”
“Flea―”
“You’re not gettin’ in your fuckin’ car until you tell me what the hell is goin’ on.”
I burst into tears and waved my hands in front my face.
“Fuck,” he breathed out and pulled me against him. “Baby, tell me.”
I did. Everything.
“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill her.”
“No,” I countered. “Please don’t say anything. I don’t want to get between you and your mom. It’s fine.”
He held his hand out to me, palm up. “Keys.”
“Flea―”
“Gonna drive you home, Grace.”
“You don’t have your jacket.”
“I’ll grab it some other time.”
“And get on your bike without it?” I argued. “No.”
He flapped his fingers. “Keys, Grace.”
I dropped them into his palm and he unlocked the door. “Get in. I’ll be right back.”
“Please don’t say anything to your mom.”
He kissed me gently and stroked my cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
* * *
Flea
I forced down my rage as I stalked back into my sister’s condo. “Mom!” I bellowed.
“I’m right here, dear, you don’t need to yell.”
“What’s going on?” Katie asked.
I grabbed my jacket off the sofa. “You’ve gone too far this time, woman, and you need to figure out a way to fix it, or you and I are done.”
“What happened?” Katie crossed her arms. “Mom?”
“I have no idea,” Mom said.
“Really?” I challenged. “You don’t need to ‘finesse me out of my current obsession’?”
Mom at least had the good sense to look contrite.
“Mother,” Katie snapped. “You said that to Grace?”
“I would never!”
“No, she was talkin’ on the phone loud enough for Grace to overhear her.”
“Oh my god, Mom, who were you talking to? Betty? That bitch is a meddling shrew!”
Mom picked at a piece of lint on her sleeve. “I think people need to learn not to eavesdrop.”
“Done, woman,” I growled, and walked out of the house.
“Billy!” she called as I slammed the door. I ignored her.
Climbing into the car, I turned to face Grace. She was staring out the window. “Honey, look at me.”
She faced me, and my heart shattered. Her eyes were wet, and her nose was red, and I knew she was trying hard to keep it together.
“Fuck,” I whispered, cupping her face. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, I really didn’t want to make a fuss.”
“Grace, you have every right to make a fuss.” I stroked her cheek. “God, honey. You’re the most important thing in the world to me.”
“I don’t want to cause waves between you and your mom. I don’t want you to…” She shook her head.
“Go through what you’re going through?” I finished for her.
“Parents are important,” she whispered.
“You are important,” I countered. “More important.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t make a good impression.”
“Listen. My sister loves you almost as much as I do. My mother is insignificant in this. If you and I make a family with Katie, it’s going to be a perfect family unit. Hear me?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, baby, I’m sure.” I smiled. “I love you. More than anyone, including Jan.”
Her mouth tipped up slightly and I kissed her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“Putting me first.”
“Never need to thank me for that, Grace.” I kissed her again and then started the car. “Gonna take you home and show you exactly how much of a priority you are.”
“Can we grab some chocolate on the way?” she asked. “I’m kind of craving pie.”
“What about your diet?”
“Fuck the diet. I’m going to eat my feelings.”
I grinned. “Okay, baby.”