CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Grace

Clicking off my phone, I place it on the bed beside me, my head reeling at what Owen said... ‘Grace hasn’t got a Mum. What the hell?’ I know she’s not around but what does that actually mean? Maybe I’ll get some answers soon, I hate being nosey - I mean everyone has some kind of story but he’s an enigma. He doesn’t give anything anyway, well, not up to tonight anyway. I really like him but I don’t want to fall for him and find he’s going to get back with Ella’s Mum suddenly because she turns back up on the scene.

Lying down on my bed I watch the shadows dance on the ceiling, I was so tired but now my mind won’t shut off. Right forget about Owen for a second... yeah like that’s going to work. He hasn’t left me since I first started to get to know him. When he didn’t turn up on Monday with Ella I thought I’d done something wrong to upset him, but when his Mum came with her, I guessed it must’ve been work then that was keeping him away. Why does life have to be so complicated? I suppose I’ll just have to wait until he explains. I turn over and close my eyes but it doesn’t stop the thoughts still running rampant.

Grabbing my earphones and iPod I put some soothing songs and see if that helps. I can usually doze off to music, it’s such a big part of my life.

The last thing I remember is singing along with Adele.

 

Setting up my music to play for class I try to keep the flutters to a minimum as I see Owen’s car pull into a parking space. One by one the parents filter in and the kids run into the main dance hall, sit down to take off their shoes and socks.

“Hey.” The husky deep voice from behind me has me spinning around to face him. It’s not like I wasn’t expecting him because I saw him. My gaze holds his and I’m not able to get the words out that I want to say.

“H... hi.” I answer breathlessly. He smiles as his gaze tracks over my face.

“Hello Gwace.” Ella says as she throws her arms around my legs. She releases me and runs off to join the others.

“You made it then?”

“I did. Ella had me on a bit of a guilt trip, she said ‘I like you picking me up Daddy’.”

“That told you then...”

“Yeah you could say that. Who am I to argue with the little princess?” He smiles wide, his eyes lighting up at talk of Ella. “I better let you get to class before you have a mutiny.” His eyes point into the hall, I follow them and see all the kids have started running around shouting apart from the older ones.

“Oh my gosh, I better go.” We smile at each other as he grabs his coffee and takes one of the seats outside the main room, not heading up to the viewing room like he has done before.

Some of the older girls do a solo each of a dance we’ve been practising, I watch in awe as the younger kids watch with their mouths hanging open. “Miss Gwace? Will we do that too?”

“When you’re a bit bigger and learnt more, yes if you want too.”

“I do.” Her eyes open wide in excitement then carries on watching.

The session draws to a close way too soon and the kids are getting their stuff together. I open the door and let the parents in. A couple of them approach me and thank me, then tell me how proud they are at how well their children are doing with me. My heart is happy when I hear how much the kids still like coming here. Owen walks up to me and smiles. “Good job, they were brilliant.”

“Thank you.” I blush at his compliment. I try to avoid contact with his eyes but it’s hard. I don’t want the parent’s here to think there’s something going on because I know they’ll think I’m giving Ella special treatment and I would never do that.

Watching the kids walk away happy helps to do what I do, if their hearts aren’t in it there’s no point whatsoever.

“Ella it’s time to go home.” I watch her as she runs with the ribbons the other girls were using as part of their dance and smile at her.

“She’s so adorable.” he walks out into the room towards her. His trousers cling to the cheeks of his arse as he walks. WOW! He can work a suit. He looks good in jeans and a normal casual shirt but in a suit...? He’s out of this world. I avert my eyes as he turns around trying to not look guilty of totally checking his arse out, he takes Ella’s hand and walks back to me. Handing out the ribbon, I take it from him and drop it in the box of goodies I keep. “Right then I’ll see you Saturday, maybe?”

“Saturday? Did we arrange something? He asks me seeming surprising.

“Saturday morning back here, usual time?”

“Oh god, yeah. I’m sorry Grace, my mind is everywhere.”

“It’s fine. Erm...” he stutters I walk through to the car park with him. He opens the car with the key fob as Ella runs to the car. “Maybe, we could do something at the weekend? If you want to of course and don’t already have plans?”

“I thought I was the rambler, Owen.” I smile and wink playfully.

“Yep, so did I.” His eyes close in what seems like embarrassment.

“I’d love to.” His eyes flicker and open at the sound of my voice.

“Okay,” He nods, “I’ll get a babysitter and we can decide on something Saturday how does that sound?”

“It sounds great to me.” He nods, smiles then turns away. I watch him seat himself in the car after making sure Ella is strapped in. He lifts his hand to me and they pull away.

 

I walk in the flat and Meaghan is lying on the couch. “Hey dude!” she doesn’t answer me so I guess she’s asleep. I hear a sniffle come from where she’s lying though so I make my way over to her. “Hey Meag, are you okay?” My hand rests on her shoulder giving her a gentle shake. I wait for a minute or so but she doesn’t answer. “Meaghan, what’s wrong?” shaking her again she looks up at me. Her face is blotchy and her eyes are bloodshot. “Oh my God, what is wrong? Who’s upset you?” I kind of have a good idea though who it is though.”

She sits up and wipes her face. “Ross has dumped me.” My eyes narrow as she wipes her nose.

“What? What did he say?”

“He texts me. He said he couldn’t see me anymore, his girlfriend was getting suspicious.” She sniffles again. Toe rag! He texts her? He didn’t even have the balls to see her. Who does he think he is?!

Sitting down beside my best friend I wrap my arm around her shoulders to try to comfort her but I can’t help feeling a little happy because I knew he’d do this at some point, he’s such a wanker but what can I say? I can’t say, ‘I told you so,’ that would be really heartless to say the least. Ugh! “Hey, come on. He’s not worth it! What did he say?” She pulls her phone from under her leg, opens the conversation and passes it to me.

 

Ross: hey babe. I can’t see you anymore, she’s getting suspicious and I can’t afford to lose what I’ve got.

 

What the actual fuck! That’s it? “Can I look at the others?” I ask scowling. Nodding her head to my question I scroll down to the next couple of texts and read them…

 

Me:  What you mean you can’t see me anymore? I love you!

 

Ross: I love you too but we can be friends and maybe see each other every now and again.

 

“Are you fucking kidding me?” My mouth hangs open at the cheek of him as I rant. “Please tell me you’re not going to hold him to that? He’s an arsehole! He doesn’t deserve you! Fuck him.”

“But you don’t understand?” She sobs. “I love him and I need him.” She puts her face into the cushion as she cries.

“You know when I see that sack of shit I’m gonna punch him the face for doing this to you, then I’m going to hang him from his ball sack and I hope it rips them off because then it saves me a job!”

A teary smile appears along with a hiccupping giggle sound. “You don’t need him, believe me. There are much better men that are free out there just waiting to meet someone like you.”

Her head shakes as the tears stream some more, hiccupping through her sobs, “you don’t understand. There is no one else because... I’m pregnant!” She hides her face in the crook of my neck and cries some more, “who’s going to want me now?” Cradling her head in my arms I just hold her and let her cry it out. Well, what a fucked-up situation. There was me on a high after seeing Owen then I come back to this… in all honesty I knew something like this would happen.”

“Meag? Does he know?” She attempts to shake her head but not very well from the position it’s in. “Are you going to tell him!”

She shrugs on a sigh. “What’s the point, he doesn’t want me?”

“Because as I much as I want to stab the bastard he’s the baby’s dad and he deserves to know.” She looks up at me and frowns.

“Do I have to?”

“Do you know how far you are along?”

“No.”

“Well I think the first thing is make a Doctor’s appointment and find out, then you can decide what you want to do.”

“Thanks Grace. I’m so glad I have you.”

I smile and break from her. “Jump up let me make coffee.” She gets up just enough so I can move from under her, once I’ve stood from the couch she flops back down and lies there, sullen, upset and heartbroken. I glance back at her as I walk to the kitchen, she hides her face back into the cushion as the sobs shake and rack her body.