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*Not for readers under 16
One late afternoon, Gelda just had finished feeding her daughter, when she heard the door bell ring. “That must be Amie, Grace, she was going to bring Lesley over to see you.” Gelda smiled, as she turned the volume down on the t. v. in the den. Grace faintly smiled, as she watched her mother leave the room. Grace listened to her mother, and other voices, in the other room, as she tried to shift her weight in the temporary hospital bed. Grace had been home for three weeks, and had been progressing well with her physical therapy. But she suffered from dysphasia, which caused her speech to be incoherent. She was still quite weak, but was to stubborn to be set up in bad for very long. John, the therapist that worked on her in the hospital, came over on his down time to work with her. If Taker was home, and not busy with paper work, he made time to work with her. If weather permitted, he would take her out back to the pool, and float her around in the water. But summer was a busy time for him. Though he set time to stay home, Taker had to be on the road more than he liked to be.
“Grace, guess who came to see you?” Gelda said with a smile, as she held Lesley’s hand. Grace and Lesley exchanged smiles, while the little girl stepped up to the tall bed. Amie had been promising to bring her daughter to visit since Grace woke up from her coma, but always changed plans at the last minute. Lesley signed a hello, and asked her aunt if she was sick. Before Amie and Gelda could translate, not sure if Grace could remember much, even sign language, Grace made the sign of ‘yes,’ with her stronger fist. Gelda and her eldest daughter looked at each other, not knowing what to think. Before they new it, Lesley was trying to climb up onto the bed.
“No, Les!” Amie yelled, grabbing her daughter, now six. “You can’t climb on the bed, you might hurt Grace.” she told her daughter, as she signed sternly. Lesley’s eyes teared up, as her face flushed. She signed a ‘sorry,’ and looked up at her aunt. Grace made a face, rolled her eyes, and patted her lap, making Lesley laugh.
Gelda saw the face, her daughter made, and chuckled under her breath, “Don’t be so heard on her, Amie. She just wants to see aunty.” Amie gave out a sigh, and counted to ten, while her mother pick up the little girl and sat her up on the bed. Grace held the girl close, as Lesley snuggled in her aunt’s arms. “You missed each other, I bet.” Gelda smiled, picking up a dinner tray.
“Yeah, Les’ been bugging me about bringing her over, but I’ve been so busy with work, I couldn’t find time to take her over here.” Amie quickly explained, as she followed her mother out of the room.
“If it was such a problem, you could have gotten Ben to bring her by, or I could have gotten her.” Gelda said, putting the tray down next to the sink.
“Ben’s been busy with his ‘new’ lady-friend, and you can’t leave Grace by herself.” Amie replied, as she walked around the huge kitchen.
“Amie, Ben is never too busy to see his daughter, and his girlfriend loves Lesley to death. As for me not leaving Grace, I could always pick Les up when Mark’s home.” Gelda spoke, rinsing off the dinner dishes, and watched her daughter out of the corner of her eye.
“Well...” Amie started, looking up at the ceiling, “I’m sure Mark wouldn’t want a rug rat running around him, from working all week.”
“Mark loves Les, as well, dear.” Gelda mumbled, “He has two boys, of his own, Les gives him a chance to feel what it’s like to have a daughter.” Amie shot a glare at her mother, and began to say something, until they heard the front open.
Grace heard the door, as well, but didn’t think much of it. She was too busy trying to sign to her niece. She found it easier than speaking, somehow, and was happy she could at least communicate to someone. Her ears perked, as she heard the den doors open slightly.
“Hello?” Taker softly spoke, popping his head in. Grace sharply looked back and fourth between Les and Taker’s face, causing her niece to laugh loudly. Taker chuckled as he came inside, and closed the door. “Look who we have here!” he said, signing slowly as he stepped closer to the bed. Lesley grinned up at him, and motioned him to kiss her cheek. Taker do so, and gave a wink to Grace, “I suppose you want one, too?” Grace puckered her lips, and closed her eyes. Taker slowly bent over and kissed her, “Miss me?”, he asked. Grace nodded, opening her eyes. She watched him walk a little ways down the bed, and hop onto the side of it. “Where’s mom?” he asked. Before Grace made a move, the den doors opened, once again, to find Gelda and an annoyed Amie coming in.
“We can’t stay.” Amie said, picking up her purse.
“You just got here.” Gelda spouted, lifting up her hands in disbelief.
“Well, I have to go pay some bills, and make some phone calls.” Amie said, picking up her daughter and sitting her down on the floor.
“Well, let Lesley stay with us for while.” Taker suggested, standing up.
“No, you just got home, and need to rest.” Amie told him, holding Les’ arm and walking out the door.
“Amie, it’s no trouble, let Lesley stay.” Taker followed her out of the room, as did Gelda. Grace could only watch and guess what they were saying in the other room.
“I said, No.” Amie half shouted, as she turned to face him. Taker looked at the 5’11” woman, and glanced at the little girl she was clutching onto.
“Please, I don’t want scene, Amie. Grace needs to visit her niece. Let her stay til after supper. I’ll take her home before dark.” he said in a low voice.
Amie gave her mother a look, as if it would kill, but then sighed deep in her chest. “Fine.” she said, gritting her teeth. She let go of Lesley’s wrist and stormed out of the house.
Taker turned to Gelda, as he picked up the little girl. “She’s such a ball of laughs, isn’t she?” he groaned, taking the girl back to Grace. Gelda was left standing, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
It was a hot summer day, Amie took her daughter to visit her father and came out to see her mom at Taker’s place. She stood at the patio doors, watching the wrestler playing with Grace in the pool. She timidly sipped her soda, listing to her mom making lunch in the kitchen. She watched as Taker waded in the pool, holding onto Grace’s arms, and floating her around the cool water. Grace was getting better at her speech, but she sounded more like a little girl, than an adult. The doctors say her brain had no sever damage, from the looks of tests she took, but it would take time for her to speak normally again. She just began to walk again, too. From both legs being broken, and laying in one spot for so long, she had to relearn her steps. She would spend hours on the treadmill, whether John or Taker were with her, and walk. But she couldn’t quite get around on her own yet.
Amie just watched the couple, wondering if Grace would ever really be the same. To her, Grace was and always will be her younger sister. Seeing her like this, made her heart ache. Seeing her with a much older man, made her skin crawl. ‘She needs to be in a place that can give her proper care.’ Amie thought, wondering what Taker does to her sister when her mother’s gone.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Gelda whispered, as she wrapped her arms around Amie’s neck.
Amie sighed, one of her sighs, and closed her eyes. “Will she ever get better, mom?” Amie asked.
“The doctors say so, but it will take time.” Geld told her.
“Is she really getting better, here?” Amie’s eyes focused on Taker, as he gave Grace a kiss. It act made Amie want to puke.
“I think she is. She’s with people who care about her. If we locked her somewhere, she would just vegetate.” Gelda told her, as she walked away.
“Mom, why do you think he wants to take care of her?” Amie asked, finally looking away from the scene outside.
“He loves her.” Gelda answered her, while setting the table for lunch.
“You think he’s faithful to her?” Amie stood next to her mother, moving the silver wear around.
“I know he is. He’s not the kind of person that would cheat on his girlfriend.” Gelda told her, setting a salad down on the table.
“That’s what you said about Ben.” Amie bitterly mumbled through her teeth. Gelda stopped short, as she looked at her daughter. “Amie, he left you because you were impossible to live with.” she scolded her.
Amie looked away from her mom, “Do you think he does things to her?”
Gelda stared at her daughter, confused, “Who does what?”
“Mark. Do you think he’s... intimate with Grace, when you leave?” Amie pondered, hoping it would get her mother to see it wasn’t natural for Grace to be in this man’s home.
“Amie!” Geld huffed, “That’s none of my business!”
“Mom, they aren’t married, he has no reason to help her, pay for her medical bills, nothing... unless it’s to keep control over her.” Amie spouted, holding onto the back of a dinning room chair.
“He’s not like that! If you were around, you’d see that. And how dare you think of such a thing!” Gelda shouted. She quickly looked outside to make sure Taker and Grace didn’t hear her.
“Mom, he’s older than her. You know how older men are.” Amie replied, “He’s wealthy, he can any woman, but he chooses her... even though she’ll never be the same... it’s not right.”
“Don’t tell me what’s right and what’s wrong, Amie! Stop telling me Grace won’t be the same, I know she won’t be the same, but she’s trying her best, and Mark loves her, truly loves her.” Gelda shouted at her daughter, “Why do you even visit? It’s not for her benefit, and it’s certainly not for mine! Cause if it is, you can just...”
Taker smiled down at Grace, as he floated her by him. “You’re getting pink. Think we need to get you inside.” he told her, as Grace stopped floating. Taker helped her swim to the sallow end, and let her hang onto the side, so he could climb out. He then grabbed her arms, and pulled her to the concrete, “Up we go.” Grace laughed at him, as he picked her up, and set her in her wheel chair. Taker dried her off, best he could, them dried himself off. He helped her put a robe on, and wheeled her inside. Just as they came in, they heard the front door slam shut, and Gelda heading to the kitchen. “Wait right here, Grace.” Taker whispered to her. Grace nodded, as Taker kissed her, then watched him walk away.
“Gelda? Something wrong?” Taker asked, not knowing what to do.
“Nothing, but the usual. You two have a nice swim?” Gelda asked, as she sniffed back her tears, and stirred her spaghetti sauce.
“Ye.. yeah. I’m going to give Grace a quick bath.” Taker said, pointing to the door leading to the dinning room.
“Okay, lunch will be ready in about twenty minutes.” Gelda replied. Taker began to leave, but stopped short. He walked up to Grace’s mom, and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Gelda, if you need to talk, I’m here.” he told her, “You’re going to be my mother-in-law, soon as I get my butt brave enough to ask Grace.”
Gelda practically dropped her spoon in the sauce, as she shot around to see Taker’s face. “Huh?” she asked, in shock.
Taker smiled down at her, “I bought Grace a ring, and was going to propose to her the night of the accident.”
“You’re kidding... don’t kid me...” Gelda’s tiger eyes widened praying she wasn’t dreaming.
“No joke, Gelda, but I... haven’t been able to tell Grace. Before, we talked about it, and she didn’t want to...” Taker stopped, looking quite the pitiful one.
“Oh, Mark, tell her... ask her...” Gelda told him, as she hug the still wet man. Taker huffed a laugh, enjoying the woman’s happiness.
After a few moments, Gelda broke away, “Go... go before you both catch a cold.” Taker smiled at her, once more, and kissed her cheek. He left the kitchen, water trailing behind him. Gelda shook her head and laughed, as she watched him. She turned the sauce on simmer, and mopped up the puddles on the floor. She somehow forgotten the argument she had with her eldest.
Grace sat on a shower stool, as Taker washed her hair. He stood in front of her, in the walk-in shower, as she held onto his waist. She felt his fingers massage her scalp, and loved every minute of it. She smiled and moaned, pulling him close to her. She nuzzled his stomach, nipping at his tattoo around his belly. “Grace...” Taker laughed, pulling away from him, “we don’t have time for this.” Grace gave a pout, but sat up so Taker could rinse her off. Taker couldn’t believe how well she was doing. The night before, he had heard a knock on his bedroom door, and found Grace standing there, on her crutches, when he opened the door. She had made herself get out of the temp. bed, and crawled up the stairs, with her crutches, just to be with him.
“Grace, why does Amie... not like me?” Taker asked, guiding the shower hose over Grace’s body.
“Amie not trust men.” Grace cleared her throat, concentrating on her words.
“Why?” Taker asked.
“She got real sad, when dad died. Then Ben left her year later.” Grace told him, “He could not take her...”
“Taker her what, Grace?” Taker asked, turning the water off, and grabbing a towel from outside the shower door.
Grace opened her eyes, watching Taker’s movements, and trying to find the words. “She got too cranky... and pushed him back... away. He fell in someone else’s arms.” Grace tried to explain.
Taker thought, as he soaked up the water from Grace’s hair and body. “So... she thinks I’ll hurt you?” he asked her.
“Maybe.” Grace softly answered him.
“I would never hurt you, Grace.” Taker told her, holding her face up to see his eyes.
“I know.” Grace grinned, hoping he’d kiss her. As if Taker read her mind, he lifted her up and brushed his lips over hers.
Gelda, Taker, and Grace sat at the dinning room table, eating their lunch and talking. “I called a friend of mine, who’s been begging me to come see her new house. She wants me to stay with her. So as soon as I wash the dishes, I’ll leave you two alone.” Gelda told Taker. She smiled at her daughter, as she took a drink of her soda.
“Gelda you don’t have to leave every time I come home.” Taker replied, clutching her hand.
“I know, but my friend’s husband is going on a business trip. She doesn’t want to be alone in the house. I’ll be back, when you get ready to leave, Mark.” Gelda assured him.
“You’re not go to Amie’s?” Grace asked, with a frown.
“No, honey, Amie needs time alone right now.” Gelda explained, just now remembering her fight with her eldest. Grace looked at the sorrow on her mother’s face, and left the subject alone. Amie seemed to upset her mother more and more lately, but Grace couldn’t find a way to smooth things over with like she use to. She somehow felt it was over her, and maybe Taker... but didn’t know what to do.
After lunch, Grace helped her mother with the dishes, while Taker made some business phone calls. She wanted to know why Amie made her mother so upset, and why she stormed out without saying hello to her. But her mother wouldn’t give Grace details, like she was hiding something. But, she did find out the friend of her mother’s was Kathy, who bought a house down the road from her and Taker.
Just before Gelda left, Grace made her mother promise to call her, if she needed to talk. Her mother agreed, took her things, and left. Taker watched the car drive off, and made Grace take a nap, since she was up exercising all day. Grace didn’t argue, as Taker helped her up stairs and tucked her into bed. He told her he had to go get some groceries, and should be back before she woke up, but not to try climbing down the stairs for anything. Grace told him to leave, after she kissed him, and closed her eyes. Before Taker got into his car, Grace was already sleeping in their bedroom.
Taker drove down the road, deep in thought. He spotted Gelda’s car in a driveway, of a home, that must have been her friend’s. He thought long and hard about going to Amie’s, since she left his place, and now was the time to do so. It took him twenty minutes to get to town, and another twenty to get to Amie’s apartment. He saw her care in the parking lot, and parked next to it. He wondered if Lesley was with her. He didn’t want to cause a scene, but needed to know why she was so hell bent against him and the care of her sister. He sat in his car, for a few minutes, thinking of what to say. The more he thought, the more he felt the erg to leave. We was about to turn his car back on, when he saw Amie opening her front door.
She kept her eyes on him, as she walked near his car. Taker watched her, noticing she had been crying. “What are you doing here?” Amie asked him, through the open car window.
“Could we talk? Peacefully?” Taker asked her, “Your mother is quite upset, and Grace wants to know what’s wrong.” Amie’s hazel eyes stared coldly at the man, before she let him out of the car. She walked away from him, as he got out and followed her inside the apartment.
“What do you want to know?” Amie asked, plopping down on her couch.
“Is Les here?” Taker asked her, still standing.
Amie huffed a laugh, “Why, you looking for someone younger than Grace?”
Taker’s body went cold, but then a surge of heat rushed through him. He felt like slapping the sh*t our of her, but instead sat down in a chair. “I just didn’t want her to be here. We need to talk.”
Amie glared at him, as she lit a cigarette, “She’s at her father’s.” Taker nodded, with a groan under his breath. “What do you want?” Amie repeated her question.
Taker looked at her, and felt pity for her. She was obviously lonely, but... “Why are you such a b*tch?” he asked. Amie’s eyes widened, not quite believing what he called her. “I mean, ever since we met, you acted very cold toward me. Grace said it was how you are. Then she said, today, finally not holding her words back... you don’t trust men. But that still doesn’t make since as to why you’re so mean to your mom, and your sister.” Taker leaned on his knees, with his elbows, waiting to hear Amie’s reaction.
“Mark, I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Amie’s facial expression made Taker want to loose his manners, and Amie could see that.
“Yeah, well, one day you’re going to wake up, and your mom, your sister, your daughter... may not be there when you need them. You keep pushing and pushing people away, no one will be around when you finally fall.” he told her, taking off his sunglasses.
Amie soaked in his words, as they stung her very being. “I know why my sister loves you. Why do you love her?” she asked.
“She’s warm, caring, loving, and the first time I saw her, my heart melted for her. I just got out of a bad divorce... my friends tried to set me up on blind dates, which never worked. I thought it wasn’t time for me to date, yet, and went to Frank’s. Grace took my breath away. I must admit, she was hard to pursue... you and her are a lot a like in most respects.” Taker explain, with a twinkle in his eyes, “I feel more love for her, then I’ve felt in a long time. Why do you think she loves me?”
Amie looked at his endearing expression, as he poured his heart out about her sister. Seeing him go off in a daze, thinking of Grace, Amie let out a cold chilling laugh. Taker looked at her, as she lounged on the couch. “You look just like dad.” Amie whispered, puffing on her cigarette, “That’s why she love you... to her, you’re daddy. Sugar Daddy, but daddy non the less.”
Taker breathed in, heavily, and caught whiff of the smoke, and alcohol. His eyes wondered around the apartment, and noticed empty beer and wine bottles laying around the place. “I guess there’s no use in talking to you. You obviously need help, Amie.” he told her, getting up from his seat.
Amie quickly put her cigarette in a near by ash tray, and kneeled down in front of Taker. “Oh.. daddy, Take me!” She shouted grabbing his waist, “Make me call out your name! Spank me, hurt me, do me like you do Grace, daddy!” Taker struggled to get the drunkard off of him, as her screams grew louder.
“Cut it out, Amie!” he shook her free, and shoved her to the floor. His breath quicken, as he saw her evilly grinning up at him, and laughing. “You’re a sick woman.” Taker growled, then stormed out the door.
Later that night, Taker laid in bed and thought of what Amie said... or implied. Grace rolled over, laying her arm across Taker’s chest. Without thinking, Taker intertwined his fingers with hers. His chest heaved, once again, as he breathed in deeply, this time giving out a moan. Grace stirred awake, and opened her eyes, to see the glistening whites of Taker’s eyes. “What’s the matter?” Grace asked him softly.
“Nothing, you have a bad dream?” Taker answered with a question.
“No, what’s wrong?” Grace asked, again, cuddling closer to him. Taker groaned a sigh, and turned to look at her. Though the room was dark, he could still see her lovely face.
“What did your father look like?” Taker asked her.
Grace thought for a moment. She frowned at him, not quite sure why he asked. “He was tall, and burly... dark drown hair, and hazel-blue eyes.. why?” she replied.
“Do I remind you of him?” he asked.
“Well, you’re fun to be with. And you like some of the same things dad did. But, you’re you.” Grace explained, not sure what was going on. Taker studied the confusion on her face, and kissed her. He turned over to take her in his arms, and nuzzled her face and neck. “What’s the matter, Mark?” Grace repeated, almost in tears.
“I went to see your sister, when you were napping, today.” Taker told her. “I wanted to know why she was acting the way she is.” he added. Grace laid there, not knowing what to say, but wanted to know what Amie did to upset him so.
“Tell me... what did you two talk about?” Grace edged him on, hoping he’ll feel better getting his troubles off his chest.
“I won’t go into detail, because she didn’t really give me answers...” Taker stopped short, not wanting the upset her, “but she seemed to imply things... I’m not sure how to take it because she was drinking.”
“Imply what things?” Grace asked him.
“I don’t know if I can even say it...” he told her, thinking the worst.
“It had something to do with my father?” Grace asked, innocently.
Taker thought hard about his words, “Were you a daddy’s girl?”
“No, I was closer to mom. Amie was closer to dad. But she and I both worked on motor cycles, and stuff, with dad. But Amie was pretty wild growing up. She always turned to him, if she got into troubled and stuff.” Grace told him, then asked, “Why, what did she tell you?”
Taker listened to her, the more he thought, the more he felt like Amie was planting false ideas in his head. “So you and her weren’t abused by him? She went all crazy, and said you loved me because I looked like your dad.. then when I tried to leave, she clung to me, and screamed things... I don’t want to say. I don’t want to upset you.” Taker asked and confessed quietly to her.
Grace thought for a moment. Her memories of her father were all good ones. Despite the friends he kept, he was the most loving and respected man with the children. If he heard one of his friends hit their own kids, Grace’s father would kick his butt for it. Once, he even turned in one friend when he found out he raped his daughter in a drunken stupor. “My father would never hurt us. Amie drinks, when she’s stressed, and gets very mean. She must see you as a threat... I told you she doesn’t trust men. Most guys she dated, before Ben, hurt her a lot. Ben is more like dad, than you are. Maybe it’s your age, or status in life. She might think you’re going to take mom and me away from her. She took over a lot of responsibility, after he died. And, added to a marrige and baby, she got so easily stressed out... but... some people do thrive on that stress.” Grace tried to rationalize her sister’s actions, but felt she was mumbling incoherently. She waited for Taker to say something, but the silence made her think he fell asleep.
She was just about to fall asleep, herself, when Taker spoke. “So, you think if she feels like she’s loosing your mother and you, she might have to face her demons?” he followed Grace’s explanation better than she thought.
“Maybe.” Grace answered, eyes closed, and off to sleep again.
Taker felt better after getting his thoughts out in the open. Grace seemed to understand him, more then he first thought, without becoming upset. He noticed her speech was improving, her vocabulary was coming back, and she had more insight to things he couldn’t understand himself. He watched her sleep, for a moment, then closed his eyes.
The next few weeks, Grace tried to contact her sister. Every time she called her at home, the answering machine picked up. When she paged her, Amie never called back. Her mother contacted Amie’s boss, and knew she was working, alive and well. What ever was going on, Gelda wasn’t saying anything, Taker never mentioned his visit to Amie’s again, and Grace was left in the dark. One Saturday, Grace’s mother went back to work. She didn’t want to, but Grace insisted she go and take a break from caring for her. Taker was on the road, John had other patients to work on, so Grace spent her day exercising on her own and trying to contact her sister.
Just before lunch, she made one last phone call. Waiting for the answering machine to pick up, she was startled by her sister saying hello to her. “Amie, you busy?” Grace asked.
“No, just got in from working half a day. How are you kid-o?” Amie asked.
“Fine, just been trying to get a hold of you.” Grace replied, looking around the living room.
“It’s been busy at work. I’ve been doing double shifts these past few weeks. Les goes back to school soon. How have you been?” Amie’s voice seemed cherry, but fake to Grace’s ears.
“I’m fine, I like to talk to you, but not over the phone. Can you come over? We can go have lunch somewhere.” Grace said softly, knowing Amie would make up some excuse not to go.
“Is mom there?” Amie’s voice raised an active higher.
“No, she went back to work today.” Grace told her.
“Oh, can you get out of the house, now?” Amie asked.
“Yes, why?” Grace replied, feeling more concerned.
“Okay, I’ll be over in a bit.” her sister said, then hung up on her.
Grace hung up her end of the phone, and stared off into space. She was surprised Amie agreed to see her, but happy she accepted the invite to lunch. She thought of calling her mom, and telling her she was going out, but decided not to. Instead, she made her way into the den, where Taker’s main computer set, and got online long enough to email him, at his portable pc, so he wouldn’t worry. She then got herself ready to go to lunch.
Amie and Grace spent half their time eating, and small talking, through their meal. Grace felt she needed to warm up to Amie, since they never really had spent a long time together growing up. Amie always tried to distance herself from Grace, unless it was to boss her around, or she needed her to watch Lesley. Both were alike, but their differences out weighed their similarities.
“You’re getting along better.” Amie commented, drinking her soda.
“Thanks, won’t be long until I can walk on my own. My back hurts sometimes, and my legs give out once in a while. But the doctors say it could be, I’m over doing the therapy.” Grace explained, before taking a bite of her dessert. “How’s Lesley?” she asked.
Amie smiled faintly, watching her sister eat. “She’s fine. Um..” Amie sighed, looking away, “Ben took her for the rest of the summer. They went to visit his parents in Chicago.”
“Sounds fun for her. I liked Chicago, when Taker took me on the road last spring.” Grace spoke, nodding her head. Amie looked at her little sister, with puzzlement on her face. Grace looked back, picking the chocolate from her molars with her tongue.
“How much do you remember before and after the accident?” Amie asked, with the same high tone she had over the phone.
“I guess I remember everything, before, but the last thing I remember about the accident was that Mark called me. I don’t remember what we talked about though.” Grace answered her. Amie nodded her head, rubbing her tongue over her teeth. “What’s wrong?” she heard Grace ask.
“Nothing...” Amie sighed, again, “Ben wants to have custody of Lesley for a while. He says I’m to stressed out to take care of her right now.” Grace studied her sister, as she began to show signs of crying. She hardly ever saw Amie cry, not since their father died.
“I’m sorry, Amie, but I do think it’s right.” she told her, sympathetically. Amie wiped her tears away, and glanced at her sister. “You’ve been under a lot of pressure these last few years. You’re working, looking after mom, taking care of Lesley, making sure I stay out of trouble... you need time for yourself. I’m sure he doesn’t mean to take her off somewhere and not let you see her.” Grace’s voice spoke softer, waiting for Amie to explode. ,p> “No, he’s not going to take her away, completely, just wants to stable her life a little bit better. He’s going to marry that... person, at the end of the month.” Amie told her, then choked out a laugh.
“Ahh, which is why he’s in Chicago...” Grace said, lifting her eyebrows.
“Yeah, that... person is from Chicago, too, so they’re up there for the wedding.” Amie said.
“She has a name... that person.” Grace smiled.
“I know, but don’t play mom with me.” Amie smiled back, “What did you want to talk about?” Grace watched her, looking for her words, so she wouldn’t make her older sister angry with her. Grace always seemed to fear her, from the outbursts she’d make in front of people when she was mad.
“Why were you.. why don’t you like Mark? He told me he visited you, and you were harsh to him. You made him think dad hurt us.” Grace finally let it out.
Amie looked at her, holding her drink in front of her face. “Did he tell you I was drinking?” she asked. Grace only nodded. “He came to my house, uninvited, and basically called me a b*tch. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to him, or give him the satisfaction of spilling my guts.” Amie continued.
“So, you made him think I was hurt by dad, and him being built the way he is... that I wanted another father figure in my life?” Grace asked, her cheeks getting hot and pink.
Amie watched the expression on her sister’s face. “I was drunk, Grace... all this crap going on, with Ban wanting to take Lesley, and your accident.. I’m sorry.” Amie tried hard not to burst into tears.
Grace reached out her hands and gripped her sister’s, tightly. “Why don’t you like Mark?” she asked her again. Tears streamed down Amie’s face, as she looked into Grace’s eyes.
“I’m afraid of him. I’m afraid he’ll hurt you. This is the first time I’ve seen you with a man... all the men I’ve been with, dated, like him! They hurt me... I don’t want that to happen to you, Grace...” Amie held onto her sister’s hands, as she finally broke down.
“Mark’s not going to hurt me. He loves me. But if it doesn’t work out, it won’t mean he’ll start beating me. He and Ben are both proof that not all men are abusive. Dad was proof too...” Grace softly told her sister, as the other patrons in the restaurant gawked at them. Grace looked around and singled for the check, while Amie quietly went to the restroom to calm herself.
Once in the car, Amie began to feel better. “He loves you, you know.” she smiled.
Grace nodded back, and bit her bottom lip, “I love him.”
“You two going to get married?” Amie asked.
“Um... I don’t know. He seems to not want to do that right now. He hasn’t been divorced long yet, I think.” Grace pondered, as she spoke.
“You want to marry him?” Amie asked her.
“If he asked, maybe.” Grace told her.
“Grace,” Amie looked ahead, her hands gripping the steering wheel, “would you tell him that I’m sorry for being such a b*tch?”
Grace giggled at her sister, folding her arms, “I think you should tell him in person.” Amie smiled, shaking her head, as she turned on the car and drove out of the parking lot.
Grace’s mother finally left from her and Taker’s house. She had moved out, a few days before, only to come over to help Grace with meals, and house work. Taker was due back home, late that night, and Grace had plans for him. She was nervous, her mother could tell, and on edge. She barely ate her supper, and broke a plate helping her mom with the dishes. Her mother thought she should stay, but Grace insisted she go home, and rest. She with her wishes, Gelda went home.
Now, Grace laid in her and Taker’s upstairs bed. She thought of going to the basement, but thought it would frighten him if he found her missing. Plus, the room must have been dusty with neglect. She bathed, in a hot bubble bath, preempt herself up, and dressed in a black teddy, with black stockings, and watch t.v. as she waited for him. Just as she dosed, she heard someone rummaging downstairs. She turned off the t.v., and listened for more sounds. Her heart pounded so hard, she thought it would explode out of her chest. Her body temperature rose, as she felt her cheeks flushed. “Grace?!” Taker’s voice called out, as she heard him clumping up the stairs.
Grace quickly put the remote on the night stand, and positioned herself, just right, on the bed, as she waited for Taker to open the door. Soon, the door knob slowly turned, and the door creaked open. “Grace,” Taker popped his head in, “you in heeerrrre...” Grace giggled, seeing Taker’s eyes opening wide. The look on his face was priceless. “Wow!” he howled, coming in and closing the door behind him.
“You like?” Grace asked, sitting up seductively, and running her fingers through her short dark hair.
“You look so beautiful, Grace.” Taker heaved, coming closer to the bed. He slowly took Grace into his arms, and kissed her passionately, like he had never done before. His hands roamed around the lace martial, while Grace worked in taking his shirt off. Taker broke the kiss, and peeled off the black T-shirt, “I missed you so much.”
Grace smiled, now more confident than she felt hour earlier. “I missed you, too.” she moaned, grabbing him and pulling him onto the bed.
Both kissed and groped each other, as if they had been apart forever. And well, since Grace’s accident, they hadn’t made love, until now. Taker couldn’t get enough of the teddy martial feel, on Grace’s skin. He almost forgot he bought it for her, before the accident. He kissed her, over and over, as memories flooded his mind. Memories of Grace; the night they met, their first date, the first night they made love, the incident with D-X on Raw, everything came to him...
Taker quickly broke his last kiss, and looked into Grace’s eyes. She smiled up at him, holding his face with her hands. “Something wrong?” she asked.
Taker licked his lips, and looked her up and down, “Um.. you remember anything about the day of the accident?”
“Only that you called, but I don’t remember much else, why? Did we fight?” Grace asked, now wrapping her arms around him.
“No..” Taker shook his head, “I told you I had a surprise for you. I never had a chance to give it to you, until now.”
“What is it?” Grace whispered, her eyes shining brightly up at him.
“Well, it comes with a question, and if you don’t agree, I promise I won’t get mad at you.” he told her.
“Okay?” Grace said, with a confused look.
She let him go, and watched him as he went over to his dresser. He opened to top drawer, and came back to her, holding a small box. Grace sat up, and watched him, waiting.. “Grace, Grace, would you do me the honor of being my wife?” Taker asked her. Grace’s expression was now that of a deer caught in head lights. Taker smiled at her, wanting to laugh, and waited for her answer.
Grace looked at the box, then back at the man sitting next to her. “No.” she shook her head.
“No?” Taker’s hands dropped, as he looked at her. He didn’t know what to say or do, like he’d been shot, until... he heard her giggle.
“NO! What do you mean, ‘No’?” He shouted, grabbing her arm and pouncing on her, as she turned from him. Grace laughed, as Taker tickled her ribs and shouting no’s on her ears.
“Stop..” she begged him, laughing and struggling in his hold on her.
“You going to be my wife, or not?” Taker shouted, still tickling her.
“Yes! Yes! YES!” Grace screamed, between laughing and huffing. Taker quickly stopped tickling her, and bent down to kiss her cheek.
“You sure?” he asked, huffing from the act.
“Yes, silly.” Grace answered back, pulling his hair. Taker turned her over, took the ring from the box, and placed it on her finger. “It’s beautiful.” Grace moaned.
“You’re beautiful.” Taker told her. just before they made love for the first time in months.
The next day, Taker was in the den, going through his books, when he heard the door bell ring. “I’ll get it!” He called, as he got up and headed to the front door. Grace, not quite sure what he said, came out of the kitchen, and headed to the door, as well. She got to the edge of the hall, when Taker opened to the door.
Amie stood on the porch, putting out a cigarette. She looked up at Taker, taking off her sunglasses, and spoke very softly, “I’m sorry.” Taker looked shocked, holding onto the door knob. Then, he felt even more of a shock when Amie stepped closer to him and hugged him. Grace smiled, almost giggling, as she watched him turn to her with a questioned expression on his face.
END
