Finding Gracie's Rainbow Read online

  There were tears in his eyes while he watched Bea sleeping on the couch. He looked at Paige and spoke softly. “I’ll put her in the bed, and then I’ll talk to you.”

  Steven told Paige everything that Jackson had told him after he had walked back into the room. “And now I can’t find Jackson anywhere.”

  “He’s here.” Paige stood. “He's been waiting for you in the kitchen for about an hour.”

  Steven stood and looked in shock as Bea stared at him with tears in her eyes. “Princess?”

  “I want to see Momma.” Bea looked at him with those big brown eyes as Steven picked her up. She started screaming for Gracie as Steven started to panic.

  Jackson walked out from the kitchen as he watched Steven trying to calm the little girl before taking her away from his friend. He walked with her, talking soothingly as Steven watched him. “I’m a pediatrician; I have to be good at calming children down.” Bea laid her head on Jackson’s shoulder after she had stopped crying.

  “Well, then, I guess I need to thank you twice.” Steven smiled. “Gracie woke before I left.”

  “That’s good news.” Jackson was still holding Bea, who had gone back to sleep. “I’ll put her down and then I guess I had better go home to get some sleep myself.”

  Paige looked at her husband after Jackson left. “A knight in shining armor.”

  “Excuse me?” Steven glanced over at her.

  “Cinderella isn't the only fairy tale, Steven.” Paige started to walk down the hall. “Are you sure you don’t want to add Jackson to the list.”

  “Positive,” Steven went to their bedroom and stretched out on the bed, falling asleep in the clothes that he had been wearing all day.

  ~

  Paige walked with Bea down the hall as they followed Steven into Gracie's hospital room. The doctors had removed the IV, and it was quieter than it had been the night before. Steven watched as his sister slept; the strawberry blonde hair curling around her face as it had done when she was little.

  Paige looked down as Bea started to pull back. Bea glanced at her after Paige smiled reassuringly at her. “She's alright, Bea.”

  Gracie opened her eyes and watched as Paige brought Bea back into the room. “Hey, Princess,” Gracie could talk without her throat hurting. “I just had a little accident.”

  “No, you didn’t.” Bea sat down on the bed next to her mother. “It was my father, and he beat you.”

  Gracie stared hard at Steven as Bea talked. “There’s no fooling you- is there?” She asked as she had looked back at her daughter.

  “I don’t want to meet him anymore.” Bea laid down as she talked. “Jackson is a hero.”

  Gracie raised her eyes. “Uncle Steve has some good friends. Jackson has always been like another brother to me.”

  Paige looked at Gracie and then at Steven. “You're both confusing me. Another brother?” She whispered to Steve.

  “Yes, Paige. He even changed her diaper once.” Steven glanced at Gracie when she moaned.

  “He changed my diaper?” Gracie asked amused. “Things just got weird. How old were you?”

  “We were twelve; I think, and Kim was ten.” Steven looked over at Paige. “And that would have made Paige about four.”

  “That’s great. I kissed someone who changed my diaper. I could’ve gone for the rest of my life without knowing that. Thank you, Steven.”

  Bea just watched them as they talked.

  Paige looked hard at Steven after they left Bea to talk with her mother. “You did that on purpose!”

  “And?” Steven looked at her. “I don’t want him anywhere near her; not unless he's in the role he is now.”

  “You don't have the right!” She walked away from him as she felt herself grow angry.

  “Don’t I?” Steven waited outside the room as he listened to Bea and Gracie talking.

  “When can you come home?” Bea looked over at her mother.

  “How does tomorrow sound?” Gracie smiled at the thought of leaving the bleak room. “I'm kind of tired right now so you're going to have to go home with Uncle Steven.”

  “I don’t want to.” Bea was being stubborn as Steven walked into the room. She glanced back at her mom. “We could watch Tinker Bell.”

  “We can watch that tomorrow when I get there, I promise.” Gracie watched as her brother picked Bea up from the bed. “Tomorrow, Bea, I love you.”

  Paige watched as Steven walked towards her carrying Bea. She was still angry with him. “I'm gonna to hang out here for a while. I’ll see you later.” Steven stared as Paige walked back into Gracie's room.

  Gracie was watching Paige look out the window making sure that Steven had left. “So tell me what it was like to kiss Jackson.”

  Gracie smiled. “My thoughts before or after Steven told me about the diaper?”

  “Before, of course,” Paige smiled down as she sat down. “And I doubt very seriously that Jackson changed one diaper, especially not with Kim around.”

  “Why did Steven even say that then?” Gracie asked as she stood.

  Paige stared at her. “Your brother thinks that he's protecting you from a one-night stand.”

  “And of course, little ol' me always need to be protected.” Gracie scoffed before asking. “Did anybody bring me any clothes?”

  “In his eyes, you'll always be his baby sister.” Paige picked up the bag that she had placed beside the door. “And I've brought you a change of clothes.”

  “I've always been lucky to have a friend like you.” Gracie grabbed the clothes and walked into the bathroom. “Much better,” she stopped when she saw Jackson standing next to Paige.

  He smiled at her. “You look a lot better, too.”

  “Thanks.” Gracie sat down on the bed. “Did you get hurt bad?”

  “Just a few scratches,” Jackson looked at her chart. “You've improved a lot.”

  “Knowing that Mark is behind bars helps.” Gracie narrowed her eyes when Jackson bit down on his lip. “What are you not telling me?”

  “Nothing, Gracie,” he put the chart down as he looked at her. “I have to go. I just wanted to drop in and see how you were doing.”

  “You’re such a lousy liar.” Gracie walked over to the window and looked down, frowning when all she saw was the parking lot.

  “Yeah, well, I do have to go.” He walked out the door before Gracie glanced over at Paige and rolled her eyes.

  “The kiss?” Paige asked her again.

  Gracie laughed, “What about the kiss? I was mad, and I kissed him.”

  “You?”

  “Yes, me, and he kissed me back, and it was anything but brotherly.” Gracie sat down on the bed. “I had actually stopped thinking about him as a brother after that until. . .”

  “Until Steven said what he did.” Paige finished for her.

  “So he’s now back on brother status.” Gracie looked at the wall. “Do I really need to stay here another night?”

  “Afraid so,” Paige watched Chandler and Janet walk into the room. “I'm going to find some supper.”

  ~

  “Bea?!” Gracie called out when she walked into Steven’s apartment. “Come on, Princess, I’m back.” She smiled as she heard Bea screaming before seeing her.

  Gracie knelt down so she could hug her daughter. “Momma, Uncle Jackson bought me another movie.”

  “Really? I was looking forward to Tinker Bell.” Gracie smiled when she saw the movie. “Enchanted?”

  “A real-live fairy tale,” Bea sat down on the couch after placing the DVD in the player. Gracie didn't notice that Paige had sat down and was watching the movie with them until the end.

  Gracie hugged Bea, “That was a good movie. Did you thank ‘Uncle’ Jackson?”

  “Sure I did.” Bea stood and started dancing around as Gracie finally noticed Paige.

  “She's a lot happier now that you're here.” Paige stood and stretched as Bea twirled around her. “Are you hungry?”

  “Actually, I am.�
� She watched Paige smile as she answered her. “That just made your day- didn’t it?”

  “Don’t you know it?” Paige took out some macaroni and cheese.

  “We'll eat anything but that. No offense,” Gracie said as she pointed to the box Paige was holding.

  “None taken,” Paige replaced the box when Steven walked into the room.

  He danced with Bea as he looked Gracie over. “Looking good, Gracie,” he stopped at the sink to wash his hands.

  “And you look tense.” Gracie glared at him. “Jackson had the same look on his face at the hospital yesterday. So, I’m going to ask you what is going on and. . . .” Gracie pointed a finger at him. “You better not patronize me.”

  Paige was looking at Steven when he started to talk. “Mark is out on bail.” He said it very softly before he turned around to face his sister.

  “How?”

  “His wife posted his bail.” Steven looked apologetic.

  “Don’t,” Gracie didn't like the tone he had just used. “Mark was mean, but he did give me Bea.” Gracie watched as Jackson walked into the room. She mentally started to count to ten with her eyes shut trying to calm down.

  “Gracie,” Steven was watching her. “His wife helped him break into your apartment.”

  Her eyes sprang open. “So now you're telling me that I have to watch out for two of them. Do we even know what she looks like?”

  Jackson saw the anger in her face and walked out of the room as Gracie continued to talk. “Bea, go watch cartoons in the spare bedroom please.” She watched Bea walk out before she looked sharply back at her brother. “Were you going to volunteer this information or are you just trying to protect me again?”

  Steven bit his lip. “I. . .”

  “That’s what I thought.” Gracie snapped “News flash, Steven. Gracie grew up a long time ago.” She walked out of the door and looked at Jackson, who was just staring at her. She kissed him and then heard herself moan when he kissed her back. “You see, Jackson. I'm not a little girl anymore, and I know I explained this before. I'm going to watch cartoons with Bea now.”

  Jackson looked over at the kitchen door when he saw Paige smiling at him.

  She walked over to him. “So was that like kissing your sister?”

  “Not knowing how I should answer that, I'm going to plead the fifth.” Jackson looked down the hall. “Tell Steven that I had to go. I think I have a date.”

  “You think?” Paige laughed at the look on his face. “You're right; you do need to leave so Steven doesn’t see your expression.” She stood on her toes and whispered. “And if you're smart, you won’t tell Steven she just kissed you again.”

  “She’s a very confusing person.” Jackson left before Steven came out of the kitchen.

  “Where’s Jackson?”

  “He left. Something about a date.” Paige was watching Wheel of Fortune on the television as she spoke.

  “Always a player,” Steven sat down next to her.

  ~

  Addison smiled when she saw Gracie come into the office building. “Just a little tense today, Gracie?”

  “Just a little,” Gracie admitted glancing at her office noticing the doors had already been replaced. “What is my schedule like today?”

  “Nothing until ten,” Addison looked up from the appointment book. “How do you feel?”

  “Fine. I need to go over a few things with you if you have a few minutes.” Gracie walked towards her office and took a deep breath before she went in followed by Addison. She looked around for any sign of what happened the past Friday before she settled down.

  Addison fixed them both a cup of coffee before sitting down across from her. After telling Addison everything, Gracie smiled. “And then I kissed the doctor.”

  “And?” Addison asked when she put down her empty coffee mug.

  “I haven't given him a second opinion.” Gracie frowned. “There is one more thing. Mark married again, and his wife was the one that helped him tear up my apartment. I don’t know what she looks like, and he's out on bail.”

  “Just what you needed,” Addison stood and walked to the windows. “Goody!”

  “What?” Gracie looked over at her.

  “The owners of the building are installing cameras and hired a security team.” Addison smiled. “And I want to hear about that kiss right after I straighten you out about your brother’s math. You haven’t thought about that much- have you?”

  “What math?” Gracie asked.

  “Wait and see.” She grabbed a pencil and paper and started to write down Steven’s, Kim’s and Gracie’s birth dates. “I have a photographic memory, remember?” She smiled while Gracie was watching her. “Steven was nine years old going on ten when you were born. See?” Addison pushed the paper to her. “If he met the doctor when he was in middle school. . .”

  “Jackson couldn't have changed a diaper.” Gracie smiled at her. “Why are you just a secretary?”

  “Lack of people skills,” Addison laughed at her. “Now tell me all about that kiss.”

  Gracie smiled as she glanced up at her. “I believe that I told you before that I don’t give second opinions.”

  “I think that the poll is still open, but you don’t have to say a word.” She picked up the mugs. “Sometimes actions can speak louder than words. Your ten o' clock will be here shortly if you need to prep for them.”

  “Thanks, Addison.” Gracie took out some files from the cabinet and studied them before her appointments started showing up.

  ~

  “Mom?” Gracie walked into her parents’ house. “Bea?” She laid down her keys as she heard Bea giggling. “Hey, Princess,” Gracie looked down when she noticed the puppy in her daughter’s lap. “Mom got a puppy?”

  “Uncle Jackson’s,” Bea let the puppy lick her in the face before Gracie frowned.

  “Where is Granny?” Gracie sat down on the couch watching her daughter play with her new friend.

  “Gracie.” Janet walked out of the kitchen drying her hands on the towel she was holding. “Is it that late already?”

  “It is. Are you puppy sitting now?” Gracie looked up at her mother.

  “No, Jackson is outside helping your father put together a swing set.” Janet glanced down at Bea. “Don’t let him lick your face, child.”

  Bea looked up at Gracie, who nodded in agreement.

  “I’m not going to kiss you now.” Gracie heard Jackson laugh as she talked. She hadn't heard him come into the house. “Well, she has doggie germs on her face. What are you laughing at anyway?”

  Jackson smiled as he walked into the kitchen to wash. Janet looked at Gracie as the puppy walked over to her. “Fuzz ball, don’t you come anywhere nearer to me.” Gracie was talking to the puppy as Bea smiled.

  “Are you scared of the puppy, Momma?” Bea laughed as she picked up the puppy. “Fuzz ball; that would be a cute name.”

  Janet looked curiously at Gracie as she packed up Bea’s backpack. “Are you sure that it's a good idea for you to stay at your apartment tonight?”

  “I can't stay at Steven’s forever, Mom.” Gracie frowned as she felt dog slobber on one of Bea’s tennis shoes. “Especially with the way he's acting.”

  Janet looked at her intently. “He is just trying. . .”

  “To protect his baby sister.” Gracie finished for her mother as she had heard this speech from her brother that morning. “I've heard this already.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” Janet watched as Bea came back into the room carrying the puppy.

  “That thing is going to be spoiled.” Gracie said after she finished cleaning Bea’s shoe. She handed the shoes over to her daughter. “We need to go, Princess.”

  Bea placed the little black puppy down on the floor and sat down to put on her shoes. “He's so cute.”

  “That he is.” Gracie admitted just as Jackson walked back into the room. “Tell everybody bye and let’s go.”

  They made the quick trip to the apartment, and Graci
e sighed as she sat down on the couch. Paige and Kim had worked all week putting the apartment back together while Gracie worked. The only room left was the kitchen, and Gracie was too tired to mess with it. She smiled after Bea came back into the room and sat down beside her. “It’s good to be home, isn’t it?”

  Her daughter looked up smiling as she agreed.

  ~

  Paige was sitting down with Kim at Gracie’s apartment the next day putting the final touches on the kitchen. She looked surprised when Kim mentioned Jackson and Gracie in the same sentence.

  “What did you say?” Paige asked as she watched Kim wiping the counter off.

  “When?” Kim looked at her puzzled.

  “You were talking about Gracie and Jackson.” Paige was putting silverware in the drawer and paused, looking towards Kim puzzled.

  “All I said was that it was lucky that Jackson had been there at the office.” Kim sat down at the table. “But you're thinking about something else.”

  “I think they look good together. I saw Gracie,” Paige paused. “She kissed Jackson at our house.”

  “She did? Who made her mad?” Kim was laughing at the expression on Paige’s face.

  “Steven, of course,” Paige smiled. “We're setting her up with a couple of friends.”

  “Seriously?” Kim stood as she laughed. “I hope that it wasn’t your idea to set her up on dates.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s just not a good idea.” Kim thought for a minute. “But. . .”

  “Don’t keep me in suspense.” Paige frowned when Kim didn't finish what she was saying.

  “Add Jackson to the list.” Kim looked at Paige as she shook her head.

  “Steven won’t let me. He even went so far as to tell Gracie that Jackson had changed her diaper.”

  Kim laughed so hard at that she almost cried.

  “What?”

  “Steven didn’t meet Jackson until Gracie was two or three.” Kim smiled at Paige as she talked. “What is the real reason that Steven doesn't want to put him on that precious list?”

  “It had something to do with one-nightstands and Jackson being a player." Paige was angry that Steven had lied to both her and Gracie.

  “That would be a better reason.” Kim wasn't laughing anymore, “A very good reason.”