chickenwing
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user id: 350749
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Joined: February 19, 2013
Last Seen: 9 years
user id: 350749
Gender: F
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senior.nineteen.taken.field hockey.track.guns.america.camouflage.writting.reading.
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Quotes by chickenwing
State of
Grace
Chapter 14
Chapter 14
The next time Luke saw Grace was the following Monday night. She had been dropped off at his house to see Ella. When she entered Ella’s room, her hood on her sweatshirt was up and she held something in her hand. Grace slowly pulled back her hood. Her long blonde hair that had fallen to her waist was now cut short at her shoulder. In her hand was a beautiful blonde wig fitted for Ella’s hair free head. Ella gathered all of her energy to get up and hug her. Ella’s mother placed it on her daughter’s head before hugging Grace as well. They couldn’t thank her enough but she knew she had to leave for them to truly enjoy it.
“Oh no!” said Luke’s mom, when Grace asked to borrow the phone to call for a ride home, “Luke will bring you home, won’t you Luke?”
He nodded. He hadn’t said anything since Grace arrived. He grabbed his keys and headed out the door. His mom frowned but Grace just smiled. She had half expected Luke to return being rude as soon as the dance ended. The silence in the car ride seemed well quieter than usual.
She tried to gather courage the whole ride home to speak to him. He was parked in the drive way before she knew it.
“What?” he said, “Do you expect me to continue opening the doors for you?”
“Uh…No…I had a question but never mind. Thanks for the ride,” she said fighting back tears and inwardly yelling at herself. How could she let Luke bother her like that? She should be used to it. Pull it together, Grace, she told herself. She was almost at the front door when he called her name, “Wait. Grace, just wait.”
She turned and crossed her arms. He got out of his truck and shook his head at her. He crossed the yard and stopped a foot in front of her. He looked down at his feet before he took another step toward her.
“Thank you,” he said, to the ground. Suddenly thunder cracked above and Luke’s head snapped up. “I better go!”
When Grace reached the safety of her porch she turned and watched Luke until his headlights disappeared. Inside her home, she met an interesting scene. Annie and Ryan were curled up on the couch in Grace’s living room. They were looking through baby names books and laughing at something when Grace spoke up, “Don’t you two ever stay home?”
They both laughed and Annie took Ryan’s hand. He brushed her hair out of her eyes as she placed his hand on her round belly. Grace hadn’t seen them this in love or this happy since high school. Ever since they got home, Annie looked upset and Ryan looked tired and stressed.
“What do you think of Charles,” asked Annie. Grace bit her lip.
“See?” Ryan said, “She doesn’t like it either!” Annie just laughed. Grace rolled her eyes and went to find her parents. They were talking on the deck.
“Hey Momma, Hey Dad,” she said as she joined them. Her mother ran her hand down her daughter’s shortened hair.
“How’d little Ella like it?” asked Grace’s mother.
“She loved it. Her parents were so thankful,” said Grace. Her father smiled and said a rare thing, “I’m proud of you, honey.”
There is a great feeling about doing something good and Grace was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t fall asleep at all that night. It seemed everything was going right.
State of Grace
Chapter 13
Chapter 13
“Oh my
gosh! Grace! You look like Fifth Avenue met Carrie
Underwood!” screamed May.
“What’s Fifth Avenue?”
May rolled her eyes, “Grace, it’s in New York…New York City!”
“Luke?” said a girl to their left.
“Oh, hey, Ashley! You look nice!” said Luke to a very pretty red head.
“Well you look more than nice! Want to dance?” she asked. Grace had already let go of Luke’s arm when she heard him say, “No thanks, Ashley, I’m with Grace tonight.”
Grace smiled up at him. She couldn’t believe he was sticking with her. She had expected to be left at the door, knowing Luke’s usually tendencies to treat her like crap. May attached herself to Grace’s side and whispered in her ear, “What’s up with Luke?” Grace shrugged before Luke dragged her off to the dance floor. They danced all night.
“What’s Fifth Avenue?”
May rolled her eyes, “Grace, it’s in New York…New York City!”
“Luke?” said a girl to their left.
“Oh, hey, Ashley! You look nice!” said Luke to a very pretty red head.
“Well you look more than nice! Want to dance?” she asked. Grace had already let go of Luke’s arm when she heard him say, “No thanks, Ashley, I’m with Grace tonight.”
Grace smiled up at him. She couldn’t believe he was sticking with her. She had expected to be left at the door, knowing Luke’s usually tendencies to treat her like crap. May attached herself to Grace’s side and whispered in her ear, “What’s up with Luke?” Grace shrugged before Luke dragged her off to the dance floor. They danced all night.
State of Grace
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
The day of the
prom arrived, looking promising for every young couple in the
town, well except for one oddity. Grace and Luke or Luke and
Grace, however one wanted to put it, just didn’t fit right.
The news had traveled like wildfire and no one could be blamed
for starting it. At first, people thought it was joke, or a false
rumor. But as the days approached Luke and Grace were seen
talking a lot more than usual. Of course, they hadn’t
really increased their conversations. It only seemed like it to
the rest of the junior class. Some people whispered rumors about
what happened on the car rides home. These rumors made Grace roar
with laughter but they infuriated Luke to no end. That made Grace
laugh even harder.
Michael intended to pick May up at Grace’s house at six o’clock sharp. Grace knew he wouldn’t be any later while Luke had promised to at least show up. When six o’clock rolled around, May was pinning Michael’s flower on his jacket. Grace and her momma snapped some pictures and off they went. Grace went upstairs to get dressed when May had left. She figured she had another hour at least until Luke showed up. It was seven o’clock when Luke’s truck pulled up the drive. Grace heard his rushed apologies to her parents as he turned the corner to start up the porch steps. There he saw, through the open door, her sitting on the steps. Her long tan legs were crossed at the knee letting one booted leg hang above. The creamy tan material laced with gold gathered on the ground. Midway up, the dress began to sparkle gold and silver all the way up the straps from the cut neck line. Her long blonde hair was gathered in an elegant twist of curls. She smiled when she saw him but soon laughter filled her up. Luke was wearing a tux that was elegant and black, but the shirt was mossy oak camouflage. His tie, vest and cummerbund were bright, hunter’s orange.
“Nice boots,” he said, smiling down at her.
“Nice camo,” she replied as she took his arm. He went so far as to open her door for her at the truck. Then, they were off.
When they arrived at the prom, there were limos everywhere. No trucks or jeeps or anything. Luke’s yellow truck stuck out like a sore thumb. It was yellow in a swarm of white and black. Of course by the time they had parked, everyone was staring.
“I didn’t think to rent one of those,” said Luke. He looked nervous as he took Grace’s hand. “Let’s get this over with.”
Michael intended to pick May up at Grace’s house at six o’clock sharp. Grace knew he wouldn’t be any later while Luke had promised to at least show up. When six o’clock rolled around, May was pinning Michael’s flower on his jacket. Grace and her momma snapped some pictures and off they went. Grace went upstairs to get dressed when May had left. She figured she had another hour at least until Luke showed up. It was seven o’clock when Luke’s truck pulled up the drive. Grace heard his rushed apologies to her parents as he turned the corner to start up the porch steps. There he saw, through the open door, her sitting on the steps. Her long tan legs were crossed at the knee letting one booted leg hang above. The creamy tan material laced with gold gathered on the ground. Midway up, the dress began to sparkle gold and silver all the way up the straps from the cut neck line. Her long blonde hair was gathered in an elegant twist of curls. She smiled when she saw him but soon laughter filled her up. Luke was wearing a tux that was elegant and black, but the shirt was mossy oak camouflage. His tie, vest and cummerbund were bright, hunter’s orange.
“Nice boots,” he said, smiling down at her.
“Nice camo,” she replied as she took his arm. He went so far as to open her door for her at the truck. Then, they were off.
When they arrived at the prom, there were limos everywhere. No trucks or jeeps or anything. Luke’s yellow truck stuck out like a sore thumb. It was yellow in a swarm of white and black. Of course by the time they had parked, everyone was staring.
“I didn’t think to rent one of those,” said Luke. He looked nervous as he took Grace’s hand. “Let’s get this over with.”
State of
Grace
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
“Boy, was she mad,” said Luke later to Ella. Ella giggled and said, “Tell it one more time! It’s hard to believe!”
“What’s hard to believe?” asked their mother, coming in the door from work, their father right behind her.
“Luke got a date to prom!” squealed Ella. Her father picked her up from the couch and twirled her around. Her laughter filled the room but Luke’s mother gave him a stern look.
“Who did you ask?” she asked him. Luke could tell his father was listening. He shrugged and said, ever so nonchalantly, “Grace Foster.”
“Ain’t that just the grandest thing you ever heard, Momma?” asked Ella. Her mother swept her up in a hug and carried her to her room.
“Congratulations,” said Luke’s father. He reached out to his hand but Luke just shrugged again.
“Pop, it’s nothing. It’s Grace…she’s been, well, you know, Grace since day one. It’s nothing.” His dad smiled and shook his hand anyway, “Sure, Son, it’s nothing. But she sure is pretty.”
State of
Grace
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Suddenly Grace had the answers to everything: Luke’s weird mood, Annie’s incessant crying, May’s depressed look, her mother’s subdued mood, and her father’s strange actions during the past week.
Little Ella was suffering from a tumor in her kidney and nothing was working. The chemo left her useless and weak. Annie spent her days reading and playing with the little girl while her mother was at work. Luke spent his nights holding her tight, trying to hold onto to his little sister.
“She’s only got a couple of months left,” he told Grace one day. They had been spending a lot of time at Luke’s house, fixing it up just for Ella. They were planting flowers the day he confessed to her why he hadn’t told her in the first place.
“I asked your family to keep it secret, even May. I didn’t want you to know,” he said softly. Grace frowned.
“Why?” she asked.
“I was afraid you’d see me as less strong for crying over something like that,” he replied.
“Luke,” she took a breath, “You’re the strongest person I know.”
She glanced over at his reaction. His eyebrows furrowed but then a miracle happened; Luke smiled. Grace hadn’t seen his smile for three weeks.
“Thanks,” he said, “I tried to lose myself in Rachael…that didn’t work out to well, huh?” he asked. Grace walked over to him then, and put a hand on his arm, and said, “No, Luke, it didn’t.” They hugged then, the first hug the two had ever shared. It was brief and friendly, a kind of hug you give to a friend you haven’t seen in awhile.
Ella seemed to get better some days, and decline the next. She grew frail and thin, unable to do some of her favorite activities. Grace took over for Annie in the afternoons. Annie was getting bigger and bigger; the birth of the baby was one of the only things that truly made Ella happy. Her beautiful blonde hair had fallen out which made her quite upset whenever she saw Grace’s long, flowing blonde hair.
Grace grew to love Ella even more as the month passed by. Soon it was May, the birth month and namesake of her best friend, and the junior prom.
Early on, Grace had made a decision. The junior prom scheduled for the second weekend in the month helped her in the best possible way. For weeks she glowed inside without considering the prom at all.
One night, May called to tell her exciting news.
“Michael asked me! He got Luke and the other guys to drive their trucks and park in the parking lot, and when I walked out of school all the hoods were up! Every truck had a poster board in it that had a different letter for, “Prom?” and Michael was standing at the end holding flowers! Calla lilies too! My favorite flower!” she rushed into the phone. Grace smiled into the phone. Michael, Luke and Grace had dedicated an entire afternoon for the plan. Luke provided the trucks, Michael had the idea and Grace added the extra kick of knowing May’s favorite flower.
“Congratulations!” she said.
“Did anyone ask you yet?” May asked, earnestly.
“No, of course not, May. You’d be the first to know!” replied Grace. Grace wasn’t surprised at all that she hadn’t been asked. She hadn’t given the prom any thought at all until Michael brought it up to her at lunch.
The next weekend May and Grace went shopping with Annie and Grace’s mom. May’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Watson, were both doctors and worked long hours at the hospital which is why May spent most of her time at Grace’s house. After spending all day at the mall, May finally chose a bright and flowing pink dress that fit her perfectly. Grace had a harder time finding a suitable dress. She still didn’t have a date but her mother insisted on buying her one anyway. The dress that they all agreed with matched her tan skin and long blonde hair.
During the middle of the week, only a few days before the prom, Luke met Grace at her locker. “Hey Grace,” he said while she opened her locker and rummaged through it.
“How ya doin?” she asked him.
“Good, do you have a date yet?”
“No, do you?” she asked.
“No…” he said. Grace had been distracted throughout the conversation and she turned to face him, slightly confused.
“Wanna go?” he asked, looking down at his boots. His hands were deep in his pockets and his face was turning red. Well, at least the part of the face Grace could see. His favorite cowboy hat was on and pushed down low. Since his head was turned down, Grace could only see his mouth and nose.
“Sure,” she said, “If this ain’t some joke.”
“I’d never kid around with something like that,” Luke said with all seriousness back in his voice. He was looking at her now and she knew somehow that what he said was true. She smiled then and he relaxed.
“Pick you up at 8,” he called as he retreated down the hallway.
“Luke! The prom is at 6! Luke!” she called after him. He continued swinging his keys and walking towards the parking lot.
“Luke! You’re my ride home!” she called. The sound of his engine starting made her sprint towards him.
State of Grace
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
The next week,
Luke was exceptionally quiet and moody. Grace thought it was
because of the break up, apparently Rachael’s other
boyfriend called during Luke’s last night with her. He
seemed awfully upset about a summer fling though, but Grace
pushed it from her mind. She had too much fun calling him
“Lukey Poo” during work. One night her father stopped
her from heading back to the house with Luke. She had just been
teasing Luke about Rachael again when her father called her
name.
“Yeah Dad?” she asked.
“Hey Gracie, lay off Luke for awhile. He’s got a lot going on, alright? I’m giving him the rest of the week off as well, so you need to cover for him,” said her dad. He hugged Grace tight and gestured for her to not wait for him. As she walked through the fields towards the bright light of the house, Grace couldn’t stop thinking about what was bugging this whole family. Even her dad was more affectionate towards her than usual.
Luke was getting in his truck when Grace stepped out into the clearing. He looked up at her presence and Grace saw that he had been crying. Grace had enough tack to not let him know that she saw so she quickly hurried up the porch steps. She turned and watched him pull away from the house with only one question on her mind, why was Luke crying?
Annie was in the kitchen with Grace’s momma when Grace entered her house. Grace was halfway across the hall towards the steps when she stopped in her tracks. Sobs were coming from inside the room; Annie was crying again. Grace blew out against the hair resting on her face. Inside a war was raging between her heart and brain. Her brain wanted to find out some answers but her heart knew it wasn’t her business. Eventually Grace’s heart won out, and she trudged up the stairs to her room. That night Grace couldn’t sleep, she tossed and turned to the sun came up. Her alarm sounded but she didn’t need it, she had been staring up at the ceiling for the last few hours.
Her mother looked startled when Grace entered the kitchen. “Grace, are you alright honey?” she asked, in alarm.
“Yeah why?” wondered Grace, as her momma pointed to the mirror in the hall. When Grace saw her reflection, she almost screamed. Her hair more or less resembled the bride of Frankenstein’s while the shadows around her eyes would have made a raccoon jealous.
“Beautiful” said a deep, slow voice from the door. Grace turned to see Luke hanging in the doorframe, with the morning sun shining in around him. The sun hid his face from her but when he moved forward, and the door shut, she could see the worry in his face regardless of his joke. She searched his eyes for a hint of the usual playful sparkle but he looked serious. In fact, there was kindness in his eyes that was usually reserved for his little sister, Ella.
Ella was six years old and was the love of Luke’s family. Everyone in town seemed to love her as well. Back when Annie was in college, she baby sat Ella all the time. When Annie left, Ella grew close to her brother, Luke. Grace admired his gentleness with her. She watched them together, noting how he never let her get too far away. She knew he would do anything to protect his little sister.
“You’re joking, right?” asked Grace, a happy thought entering her mind. What if Luke was back to normal? But as soon as she thought that, Luke stalked off into the kitchen without a backwards glance.
When Grace returned from fixing herself as best as possible, May was sitting in her usual chair at the table. But she wasn’t smiling or laughing, in fact, no one at the table was. Grace sighed as she sat down while she wondered how long this dark mood would last.
“What’s wrong, May?” she asked her best friend.
“Oh nothing,” replied May, but Grace knew her too well. She had to be lying. “Come on! Tell me,” said Grace.
“Michael called this morning to reschedule our date,” she answered. This reason made sense because May had spent the last week obsessively preparing for her first date with the guy of her dreams. As the week progressed, Grace would receive constant phone calls from May, asking for advice or freaking out with nerves. It still didn’t make up for the extremely depressed look on her face though. Grace chose to ignore it.
“Well, at least you know you’ll be perfectly prepared for when it does happen!” said Grace brightly, attempting to lighten the tension in the room just a little bit. Luke stood up from the table and slammed his fork down. He glared at Grace before storming out of the room.
“What’d I do?” she cried. Annie burst into tears at her words. Ryan let out an exasperated sigh before resting his head on the table. Grace’s momma rose up to comfort Annie and May rose to go make something warm for Annie. Grace’s dad alone stayed still. His eyes met Grace’s across the table. His head inched slightly to the direction Luke had just gone. The message was clear: go talk to Luke.
When Grace found Luke, he had been crying. “I’m sorry,” he said, through his hands, “I didn’t mean to, it’s just there’s nothing to look forward to it! No preparation for her.” Grace reached up and pried his hands off his face.
“What’s been going on, Luke? Who are you talking about?” she asked, “Please tell me.”
“It’s Ella, Gracie, she’s all sick and I don’t know what to do,” he cried.
“Oh, Luke… I had no idea. What’s she got?” Grace asked, tentatively.
Cancer was the answer.
“Yeah Dad?” she asked.
“Hey Gracie, lay off Luke for awhile. He’s got a lot going on, alright? I’m giving him the rest of the week off as well, so you need to cover for him,” said her dad. He hugged Grace tight and gestured for her to not wait for him. As she walked through the fields towards the bright light of the house, Grace couldn’t stop thinking about what was bugging this whole family. Even her dad was more affectionate towards her than usual.
Luke was getting in his truck when Grace stepped out into the clearing. He looked up at her presence and Grace saw that he had been crying. Grace had enough tack to not let him know that she saw so she quickly hurried up the porch steps. She turned and watched him pull away from the house with only one question on her mind, why was Luke crying?
Annie was in the kitchen with Grace’s momma when Grace entered her house. Grace was halfway across the hall towards the steps when she stopped in her tracks. Sobs were coming from inside the room; Annie was crying again. Grace blew out against the hair resting on her face. Inside a war was raging between her heart and brain. Her brain wanted to find out some answers but her heart knew it wasn’t her business. Eventually Grace’s heart won out, and she trudged up the stairs to her room. That night Grace couldn’t sleep, she tossed and turned to the sun came up. Her alarm sounded but she didn’t need it, she had been staring up at the ceiling for the last few hours.
Her mother looked startled when Grace entered the kitchen. “Grace, are you alright honey?” she asked, in alarm.
“Yeah why?” wondered Grace, as her momma pointed to the mirror in the hall. When Grace saw her reflection, she almost screamed. Her hair more or less resembled the bride of Frankenstein’s while the shadows around her eyes would have made a raccoon jealous.
“Beautiful” said a deep, slow voice from the door. Grace turned to see Luke hanging in the doorframe, with the morning sun shining in around him. The sun hid his face from her but when he moved forward, and the door shut, she could see the worry in his face regardless of his joke. She searched his eyes for a hint of the usual playful sparkle but he looked serious. In fact, there was kindness in his eyes that was usually reserved for his little sister, Ella.
Ella was six years old and was the love of Luke’s family. Everyone in town seemed to love her as well. Back when Annie was in college, she baby sat Ella all the time. When Annie left, Ella grew close to her brother, Luke. Grace admired his gentleness with her. She watched them together, noting how he never let her get too far away. She knew he would do anything to protect his little sister.
“You’re joking, right?” asked Grace, a happy thought entering her mind. What if Luke was back to normal? But as soon as she thought that, Luke stalked off into the kitchen without a backwards glance.
When Grace returned from fixing herself as best as possible, May was sitting in her usual chair at the table. But she wasn’t smiling or laughing, in fact, no one at the table was. Grace sighed as she sat down while she wondered how long this dark mood would last.
“What’s wrong, May?” she asked her best friend.
“Oh nothing,” replied May, but Grace knew her too well. She had to be lying. “Come on! Tell me,” said Grace.
“Michael called this morning to reschedule our date,” she answered. This reason made sense because May had spent the last week obsessively preparing for her first date with the guy of her dreams. As the week progressed, Grace would receive constant phone calls from May, asking for advice or freaking out with nerves. It still didn’t make up for the extremely depressed look on her face though. Grace chose to ignore it.
“Well, at least you know you’ll be perfectly prepared for when it does happen!” said Grace brightly, attempting to lighten the tension in the room just a little bit. Luke stood up from the table and slammed his fork down. He glared at Grace before storming out of the room.
“What’d I do?” she cried. Annie burst into tears at her words. Ryan let out an exasperated sigh before resting his head on the table. Grace’s momma rose up to comfort Annie and May rose to go make something warm for Annie. Grace’s dad alone stayed still. His eyes met Grace’s across the table. His head inched slightly to the direction Luke had just gone. The message was clear: go talk to Luke.
When Grace found Luke, he had been crying. “I’m sorry,” he said, through his hands, “I didn’t mean to, it’s just there’s nothing to look forward to it! No preparation for her.” Grace reached up and pried his hands off his face.
“What’s been going on, Luke? Who are you talking about?” she asked, “Please tell me.”
“It’s Ella, Gracie, she’s all sick and I don’t know what to do,” he cried.
“Oh, Luke… I had no idea. What’s she got?” Grace asked, tentatively.
Cancer was the answer.
State of
Grace
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
“Lukey?! Luke! Lukey poo!” called Rachael, as her boots clicked through the upstairs hall and onto to the landing. She turned the corner, and saw Luke standing near the bottom of the steps.
His hand pulled away and he walked over to greet Rachael with a kiss. Grace retreated outside, disgusted at what she just saw, yet curious about what Luke wanted to talk about.
Grace wished she hadn’t come outside though. Annie and Ryan were standing in the center of the drive, equal distance apart, and tears were streaming down Annie’s face. Ryan was trying to comfort her but nothing was working. When the door hit the post, they both looked up to see Grace. Annie wiped her face and smiled at her through watery eyes. Ryan continued to look worried, but he too smiled in her direction.
“Almost ready, Gracie?” he asked.
Grace stumbled for the words, “Yes, I think we’re just waitin’ on Momma.”
The dinner was tense and quiet, as everyone had to deal with their own issues. Annie and Ryan were focused on their fight and were silently communicating across the table. Rachael seemed stuffy and red eyed which made Grace suspect that “Lukey poo” was no more. Her mother sensed the tension and knew enough to stay quiet. However, Grace’s father kept trying to bring up conversation starters.
“So Rachael, excited about going back to school?” Or: “Hey Annie, did you guys pick out baby names yet?”
Or, Grace’s favorite: “Ryan, now about the crops in the south eastern field…”
As if anyone wanted to talk about farming and crops at a time like this! Before long, Grace found herself back at home, curled up on the porch seat, watching the sky for shooting stars. She wasn’t having very much luck as a storm was brewing and clouding the sky.
“Hey Grace, got a minute?” asked her brother as he sat down next to her. He draped a blanket over her shivering body. The nights were still cold in April. Ryan looked tired and much older than twenty six.
“Yeah what’s going on?” she asked. She wanted to find out what they had been talking about that day in the yard but she couldn’t ask directly.
“I just brought Annie back home, she needs more sleep then she’s been getting with the baby coming and all.”
“Are y’all excited, at least?” asked Grace. There, she thought, she hinted that she knew something was wrong. Ryan smiled like he could read her mind. She always suspected that he could when they were younger.
“We’re thrilled, of course, but she can tell you what’s going on by herself. Good night sis.” And with that, Grace’s tall, dark, and haughty brother walked out onto the moonlight.
State of
Grace
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The final night
of Rachael’s stay seemed to take forever to arrive on
Grace’s calendar. Her parents were taking the whole family
out to dinner. Grace and Annie were getting ready in
Grace’s room when there was a knock on the door. Rachael
entered and Grace and Annie fell silent. They had been discussing
Rachael’s relationship with Luke, and Grace felt a little
guilty talking about her cousin.
“Hi! You, girls, almost ready to go? I can’t believe it’s my last night! These weeks just flew by!” she exclaimed, looking eagerly from Annie to Grace.
Annie smiled shyly, and pulled her sweater around her already protruding belly. “I wish you were here for the baby’s birth though, darling, we’ll miss you,” she said softly, giving Rachael a one armed hug before she left the room. Grace sighed and turned away. Annie was so good at giving compliments and being kind and then leaving before anything bad could happen. It was like a superpower every other girl possessed but Grace. She breathed in and faced Rachael again. She almost turned around again after one look. Rachael had on her high black boots again, a pink mini skirt, and a white tank top. Grace shuddered.
“How do I look?” she asked. Grace forced herself not to laugh. Grace herself had on a warm cream colored dress with her nicest boots. Although the spring was coming the weather was still a bit cold. Grace couldn’t believe that Rachael could wear just a tank top this early in April. Her dress and Annie’s outfit matched the occasion perfectly while Rachael looked ready to hit a club or dance party.
“Beautiful,” answered Grace’s mom, Grace’s own saving…well grace. She had come to the rescue yet again, “Grace, May is on the phone with some urgent news and Luke wants to talk to you.”
Rachael turned to exit the door but Grace’s mother stopped her. “No, darling, he wants to talk to Grace.” Rachael pouted and flopped down on Grace’s bed, and flipped open her cell phone. Grace presumed she’d be texting her boyfriend back home. Grace followed her mother out the door and down the steps into the foyer. Luke was waiting there, holding out the phone. Grace took it.
“May? Sorry I took so long.”
“That’s fine! Guess what!”
“Hmm…should I seriously guess or will you just tell me?”
“Michael Quincy asked me on a date! Next Friday night! Can you help me get ready? I want to look perfect! How should I do my hair? Can we go shopping? Wait I need new shoes too, and a manicure. You can get one too! Wait…. Grace?” said May. Grace had starting smiling as soon as she began her speech.
“Yes May?” asked Grace.
“I really like Michael,” she said.
“I kind of figured that out myself, May,” said Grace, as she started to laugh.
“Don’t laugh! I was meaning to tell you the other night but I couldn’t! I’ve liked him for the whole year! And he isn’t like Luke or any of those other guys, no trace of redneck or hick in him!” May exclaimed. Grace continued to smile and laugh.
“What is so darn funny?” asked May.
“Nothing at all, I’m so sorry it’s just you’re so excited. I’ve never seen you like this before. You’re hyper and jumpy and nervous. You remind me of me like every day,” said Grace. “I have to go though, we leave for dinner soon.” Luke had been tapping his wrist like an imaginary watch for the past minute. Grace hung up the phone.
“Yes?” she asked.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Grace took another moment to study him. His cheeks were sunburned from the day’s work and his hair was matted down from his hat, which he held in his hands. The hat itself was his favorite John Deere cap. It was weathered and torn and had seen many days. His old white shirt was faded and tucked into his jeans and belt. She smiled at the belt buckle; the rebel flag. His boots were dirty and old. He was tall and lean but muscular and strong. She could see the outline of a six pack through his shirt and the sleeves were too tight on his bulging arms. Her eyes traveled back to his face and she found his blue eyes opened and staring at her with an odd expression. She locked her green eyes, the only thing unique about her, on his blue ones. His eyes lit up, but only for a moment. He shook his head and cleared his throat. He reached out towards her hand-
“Hi! You, girls, almost ready to go? I can’t believe it’s my last night! These weeks just flew by!” she exclaimed, looking eagerly from Annie to Grace.
Annie smiled shyly, and pulled her sweater around her already protruding belly. “I wish you were here for the baby’s birth though, darling, we’ll miss you,” she said softly, giving Rachael a one armed hug before she left the room. Grace sighed and turned away. Annie was so good at giving compliments and being kind and then leaving before anything bad could happen. It was like a superpower every other girl possessed but Grace. She breathed in and faced Rachael again. She almost turned around again after one look. Rachael had on her high black boots again, a pink mini skirt, and a white tank top. Grace shuddered.
“How do I look?” she asked. Grace forced herself not to laugh. Grace herself had on a warm cream colored dress with her nicest boots. Although the spring was coming the weather was still a bit cold. Grace couldn’t believe that Rachael could wear just a tank top this early in April. Her dress and Annie’s outfit matched the occasion perfectly while Rachael looked ready to hit a club or dance party.
“Beautiful,” answered Grace’s mom, Grace’s own saving…well grace. She had come to the rescue yet again, “Grace, May is on the phone with some urgent news and Luke wants to talk to you.”
Rachael turned to exit the door but Grace’s mother stopped her. “No, darling, he wants to talk to Grace.” Rachael pouted and flopped down on Grace’s bed, and flipped open her cell phone. Grace presumed she’d be texting her boyfriend back home. Grace followed her mother out the door and down the steps into the foyer. Luke was waiting there, holding out the phone. Grace took it.
“May? Sorry I took so long.”
“That’s fine! Guess what!”
“Hmm…should I seriously guess or will you just tell me?”
“Michael Quincy asked me on a date! Next Friday night! Can you help me get ready? I want to look perfect! How should I do my hair? Can we go shopping? Wait I need new shoes too, and a manicure. You can get one too! Wait…. Grace?” said May. Grace had starting smiling as soon as she began her speech.
“Yes May?” asked Grace.
“I really like Michael,” she said.
“I kind of figured that out myself, May,” said Grace, as she started to laugh.
“Don’t laugh! I was meaning to tell you the other night but I couldn’t! I’ve liked him for the whole year! And he isn’t like Luke or any of those other guys, no trace of redneck or hick in him!” May exclaimed. Grace continued to smile and laugh.
“What is so darn funny?” asked May.
“Nothing at all, I’m so sorry it’s just you’re so excited. I’ve never seen you like this before. You’re hyper and jumpy and nervous. You remind me of me like every day,” said Grace. “I have to go though, we leave for dinner soon.” Luke had been tapping his wrist like an imaginary watch for the past minute. Grace hung up the phone.
“Yes?” she asked.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Grace took another moment to study him. His cheeks were sunburned from the day’s work and his hair was matted down from his hat, which he held in his hands. The hat itself was his favorite John Deere cap. It was weathered and torn and had seen many days. His old white shirt was faded and tucked into his jeans and belt. She smiled at the belt buckle; the rebel flag. His boots were dirty and old. He was tall and lean but muscular and strong. She could see the outline of a six pack through his shirt and the sleeves were too tight on his bulging arms. Her eyes traveled back to his face and she found his blue eyes opened and staring at her with an odd expression. She locked her green eyes, the only thing unique about her, on his blue ones. His eyes lit up, but only for a moment. He shook his head and cleared his throat. He reached out towards her hand-
State of Grace
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
The next few days, Luke was nowhere to be seen. Rachael only appeared at mealtimes. Grace often heard her climbing out of her window and the sound of tires retreating down the driveway. At work, Luke seemed dazed and unfocused which really affected his work. Grace found herself picking up his slack, working from dawn to dusk, and going to bed exhausted at night. Grace’s school started up again but Rachael still had another week until she had to return to her college. Grace often wondered what Rachael did during the day with Luke in school. Meanwhile, Luke in school without Rachael was not a good mix. He fell asleep a lot and barley did his work. Not that Grace cared but she couldn’t help but notice. This relationship had to end.
One Saturday morning when Luke was actually at work and fixing the tractor with Grace, she decided it was the best time to discuss it.
“Luke?”
He looked up at her and smiled. His blue eyes sparkled. The sun was shining and the weather was warming up. A light breeze ruffled his dark hair as he asked for a wrench. “Luke, about you and Rachael…”
“Grace, what your cousin and I have is really none of your business,” he replied, coolly.
“Luke! You guys don’t have anything! She is using you!” Luke stood up and Grace realized how he much he towered over her.
“Grace, I appreciate the concern,” he said, as he touched her shoulder, “but it’s much more than what you think.”
Grace tried not to focus on how much Rachael would hurt Luke when she left. He was looking for a long distance, true relationship and she just wanted some action on vacation with Luke. Grace heard her conversation with someone on the phone late that night:
“Yeah, babe, I miss you too.”
“No I still love you! I miss you here. It’s so boring here.”
“Maybe we can get together the first night I get back?”
“Okay bye honey! I love you!”
Grace felt like a weight dropped to the pit of her stomach. Not only was Rachael using Luke, she was cheating on her boyfriend back at college. She obviously didn’t care for Luke. But why should Grace worry about Luke, as May constantly reminded her whenever Grace expressed her concern for Luke. Grace shuddered as she thought of the last time she brought it up to May.
“Grace,” interjected May, one night as they lay watching a movie on May’s couch, “do you like Luke?”
“Of course not,” said Grace right away. It got her thinking though. What if she did like Luke? And worse, what if she did like Luke and Luke didn’t like her?
“Are you sure?” asked May. But her attention was already back on the screen. She smiled because she knew May must be joking around. Her focus slipped from the thoughts of late nights, long days and close situations with Luke and turned to the fun night she and May had planned.
State of Grace
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
The sound of a car door slamming shut
woke Grace up one morning, a few weeks after the rain storm.
Grace rolled out of bed, and without checking her appearance in
the mirror, padded downstairs. It was the first day of her spring
break and she had been looking forward to sleeping in. She pushed
open on the screen door and was blinded by a brown mane of hair
attacking her.
“GRACE!” yelled her cousin, Rachael.
Grace groaned inside. Rachael was the cousin who got passed around in the family on holidays and vacations. Her mother usually went away with Rachael’s stepfather and didn’t take Rachael with them. Grace dreaded the upcoming spring break. Rachael was a freshman in college so she would be at Grace’s house for three weeks at least. Sure enough Grace spotted a huge amount of cheetah print suitcases on the ground near her father’s pick up. A hand on the small of her back brought her back to the present.
“Grace?” said her mother, “Rachael needs help bringing up her suitcases to the guest room. Fix your hair when you’re up there.” This was followed by a sad, knowing smile from her mother. Grace didn’t know if her mom’s attempt at comfort made things better or worse.
It took Grace four trips from the driveway to the guest room to carry Rachael’s entire luggage. When she returned, freshly showered, to the living room she saw that Luke had arrived. He and Rachael were sitting awfully close on the couch. Rachael was laughing and flipping her hair around. Luke looked mesmerized. Grace entered the kitchen to find her mom and May cooking breakfast. May turned around at the noise Grace made swinging through the door. She instantly launched herself at Grace, talking incredibly fast. Grace only caught tidbits of what May said: the part about Rachael’s outfit or the snide remark about her hair.
May was right. Rachael looked down right trashy. She had a white miniskirt on, a black tank top and a blue jacket with black fur lining. Her black leather boots reached her knees. Her brown hair reached a little past her shoulders but was teased out so much that Grace thought she looked like she got electrocuted. Luke entered the kitchen and May instantly shut up. May was habitually shy but when it came to Luke or Ryan she was quieter than a church mouse.
“Your cousin is one heck of a lady, Miss Gracie,” he said.
“More like lady of the night,” whispered May in Grace’s ear as she passed by holding a bowl of pancake batter.
“Luke, is it paycheck day or something? You usually don’t hang here on off days,” said Grace, turning her back to him. Her mother and May had left the kitchen, leaving Grace alone with Luke, the last place she wanted to be.
“I heard rumors that a very pretty girl was headed your way so I wanted to see for myself. By the way, it is paycheck day,” replied Luke. Grace opened a drawer and handed Luke his envelope.
“Well its breakfast time, you better head on home, Luke.”
Grace entered the dining room a few minutes later quite confused at what had happened. Whenever Luke and Grace held a conversation it usually ended up in a fight. Was Rachael’s presence making Luke…ugh Grace couldn’t stomach the thought…a better man? He had whispered to her that there was no way a girl as pretty as Rachael could be related to Grace on his way out the door. But it was only a whisper, a last minute remark, almost as though he had to balance out their relationship.
“GRACE!” yelled her cousin, Rachael.
Grace groaned inside. Rachael was the cousin who got passed around in the family on holidays and vacations. Her mother usually went away with Rachael’s stepfather and didn’t take Rachael with them. Grace dreaded the upcoming spring break. Rachael was a freshman in college so she would be at Grace’s house for three weeks at least. Sure enough Grace spotted a huge amount of cheetah print suitcases on the ground near her father’s pick up. A hand on the small of her back brought her back to the present.
“Grace?” said her mother, “Rachael needs help bringing up her suitcases to the guest room. Fix your hair when you’re up there.” This was followed by a sad, knowing smile from her mother. Grace didn’t know if her mom’s attempt at comfort made things better or worse.
It took Grace four trips from the driveway to the guest room to carry Rachael’s entire luggage. When she returned, freshly showered, to the living room she saw that Luke had arrived. He and Rachael were sitting awfully close on the couch. Rachael was laughing and flipping her hair around. Luke looked mesmerized. Grace entered the kitchen to find her mom and May cooking breakfast. May turned around at the noise Grace made swinging through the door. She instantly launched herself at Grace, talking incredibly fast. Grace only caught tidbits of what May said: the part about Rachael’s outfit or the snide remark about her hair.
May was right. Rachael looked down right trashy. She had a white miniskirt on, a black tank top and a blue jacket with black fur lining. Her black leather boots reached her knees. Her brown hair reached a little past her shoulders but was teased out so much that Grace thought she looked like she got electrocuted. Luke entered the kitchen and May instantly shut up. May was habitually shy but when it came to Luke or Ryan she was quieter than a church mouse.
“Your cousin is one heck of a lady, Miss Gracie,” he said.
“More like lady of the night,” whispered May in Grace’s ear as she passed by holding a bowl of pancake batter.
“Luke, is it paycheck day or something? You usually don’t hang here on off days,” said Grace, turning her back to him. Her mother and May had left the kitchen, leaving Grace alone with Luke, the last place she wanted to be.
“I heard rumors that a very pretty girl was headed your way so I wanted to see for myself. By the way, it is paycheck day,” replied Luke. Grace opened a drawer and handed Luke his envelope.
“Well its breakfast time, you better head on home, Luke.”
Grace entered the dining room a few minutes later quite confused at what had happened. Whenever Luke and Grace held a conversation it usually ended up in a fight. Was Rachael’s presence making Luke…ugh Grace couldn’t stomach the thought…a better man? He had whispered to her that there was no way a girl as pretty as Rachael could be related to Grace on his way out the door. But it was only a whisper, a last minute remark, almost as though he had to balance out their relationship.