Page 51 of The Dis-Graced

Drake:Yeah, same here.

Luke:Well, we’ll be over around five if that’s alright with you.

Drake:I don’t want to see you without that baby!

Luke:Sure thing, boss.

Chapter 14

Grace

“Oh-my-Gosh! Hand her over, right now!” I outstretch my arms towards baby Annabelle.

Amanda hands her over, relief washing over her face. “I know she’s only like twelve pounds, but my arm feels like it’s going to fall off!”

Amanda has always been a pretty woman with vibrant red hair and a petit form, but it’s clear she’s gone without some sleep.

“She’s beautiful!” I enthuse, kissing baby Annabelle on the cheek.

“It’s good to see you, Gracey! You look great!” Amanda says, wrapping me in a hug.

I’ve never felt comfortable around Amanda, though she’s always been warm towards me. Coming from an affluent line, Amanda just seems so unrelatable, and our conversations have always been awkward. I remember once hearing how angry she was when she turned sixteen because her father had bought her a BMW and not the Mercedes that she had wanted, so she refused to drive it. It was such a foreign concept to me because my parents could never afford such things for my brother and me. Now, she’s embarrassed she had acted like such a brat, but we’re still lightyears apart from understanding each other.

“You look beautiful! I can’t believe how much little Ani has grown since I’ve last seen her!”

We release each other, but as I pull away, my hair gets tangled in one of her pearl earrings.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, cocking my head awkwardly, so neither of us gets hurt.

“No, it’s my fault,” she says as she untangles the strands. “These things are so gaudy, but they’re heirlooms, and I figured they’ve collected enough dust.”

“Roast is done,” Drake says, coming in from the kitchen with a platter in hand.

“Thank God! I’m starving,” Luke says, and we head on into the dining room.

Dinner is delicious, cooked to perfection by Drake himself. Amanda goes on and on about how she wants to go back to work, but she feels it’s too early, and how she’s scared of being replaced.

Meanwhile, Annabelle gets passed around for us to dote upon with even Drake making googly eyes at her.

Luke stares at me off and on throughout the night, like something’s on his mind, and it isn’t until we’ve finished with dessert, a homemade cheesecake, that he asks me to meet with him in private.

We go out onto the balcony, the light breeze feeling good upon my skin.

“What’s up, Luke?”

“I just want to tell you that I’m sorry.”

I furrow my brow. “Sorry? For what?”

“I’ve been thinking, and, well, I don’t think things have been fair for you.”

“Fair?”

“I’ve always had Drake, and I was so scared of losing him, I never asked that you be included in anything. I just didn’t want to be any more of a burden. And, well, I kind of left you with a lot of responsibilities.”

I give him a tight smile, trying to process his apology. Technically, he’s done nothing wrong, but his absence growing up certainly did put more on me.

“I appreciate you saying so. It was a tough situation, but the blame lies with our parents.”