Gracie’s Hope

Hope Preston’s heart was beating faster than hummingbird wings as she pulled into her boyfriend’s driveway. Today, she was suppose to be leaving for college but after speaking with the administration she’s decided to push she orientation back to the next session. She just wasn’t quite ready to leave the love of her life. Especially since the speech she’d been preparing since the prior evening could completely transform all their plans for the future. She clenched her trembling hands tightly and stared down at her fist. Silently, she coaxed her emotions to stay in check. She was fine. Derrick loved her. They loved each other and everything was going to be fine. At least, that’s what Hope told herself. She took a moment to reminisce on the last two years of her life. Her family had always been wealthy but after inheriting a large sum of money from some long lost, great aunt, her parents decided to relocate to the little town of Grand Clifton, where the grass was always green and the sky was always blue. That’s what the welcome sign greeted you with when you entered the border, anyway. The truth is Hope’s father, after being elected mayor, exposed that little lie piece by piece through his term. Though he tried to shelter his family from the poverty, gang infested parts of the city, Hope was naturally drawn to the raw beauty and strength found in the homes and hearts of those less fortunate than she was. After being abandoned by her birth parents, left in foster care and experiencing years of neglect and abuse, her current parents adopted her at ten years old. So she often sympathized and related to the underdogs. That’s how she met Derrick. He’d lived his whole life in this small corner of the world and had never met a girl like Hope. They’d met when Hope started tutoring his younger brother, Tommy, in a few of his classes. Hope was bright, friendly, compassionate and down-to-earth. So unlike any of the other rich snobs that took up residents on the bright side of town. When she smiled, it was genuine and the warmth of it could melt the coldest of hearts. She was just what the Harris family needed. After losing their mother at a young age and their father a year prior, Derrick was left to care for his two younger brothers, Tommy and Jessie. He’d turned down a football scholarship to a prestigious university just to protect his youngest brother, Tommy from being a ward of the state. He worked none stop-sunrise to sunset- just to keep food on the table and ensure a decent future for his family. But even being as selfless and caring as Derrick had been, he was still young and the pressure weighed down on him at times. It was when he was at his lowest, considering giving up and sending Tommy to a group home, that Hope breezed in like a breath of fresh air. Little by little, she snuck her way into all the Harris boys’ hearts and vegans to introduce the family to happiness and life again. And Derrick, in particular fell hard. As Hope sat in her brand new red Lexis, she closed her eyes momentarily to prepare herself to either say goodbye or begin a new chapter with Derrick. They were going to be parents. She’d only just found out the night before herself and she had so many emotions swirling around in her stomach and thoughts flashing through her mind. What if Derrick didn’t want to be a father and rejected her and her baby? Her best friend Sarah had been with her when she took the test and had reminded her just how mature, responsible and caring Derrick was. He’d never abandon his child and had, in fact, already stepped up to care for his brother. Sarah was right and Hope knew it. Derrick was the most humble, loving person she’d met and it’s not like they weren’t already planning on spending their life together anyway. He’d already given her his grandmother’s wedding ring with a promise that right after she graduated from collage with her teaching degree, they’d get married. Hope had wanted to do it before she left for college but Derrick didn’t want her to regret that decision if she found someone else. Hope knew he was just being responsible but it still hurt. She was more than ready and sure of herself now. Especially now that she carried his baby inside of her. After stealing one more moment to herself, she stepped of the car and proceeded up the gravel walkway leading through the little rock garden she’d help the boys design and set up the summer before. Oh, how she was going to miss them all when she eventually left for school. As she approached the front door of the humble two bedroom house with white siding, green shutters and an old pointed roof that she’d created so many fantastic memories in the last couple of years, something caught her eye and made her pause. She stared, unmoving as she watched her best friend, Sarah, the first person she’d shared her exciting news with, wrapped her arms around her boyfriend’s waist, stand on her tiptoes and kiss him, all while Derrick stood there holding her hips lightly. Not resisting. Not pushing her away. Not even realizing she was standing on the porch just a few feet away feel like she’d been trampled by mad mob. What were they doing? What was going on? Surely, surely this was all a joke. Derrick loved her. He’d never be able to hurt her like this! Not her Derrick! He was the sweetest, most sensitive, loving boy she’d ever met. Somethings not right. Her gut twisted in disgust. She turned her head so she didn’t have to watch the scene play out in front of her any longer. In the process she knocked over the potted marigold plant she’d placed at the top on the steps just last month, alerting the two people inside to her presence. Hope wanted to hide in the pot or disappear. Her entire body was humming. She felt cold and numb, like she was in a dream. No, a nightmare. The horror was chilling her bones. Her best friend and the love of her life. They couldn’t. The would never do this to her! Everything seemed so surreal. She’s not sure when she turned back around but suddenly Derrick burst out the door and catches her elbow as her legs begin to buckle from weakness under her. “Hope!” Derrick exclaimed as she jerk back to avoid his touch. Refusing to make eye contact. “What’s going on,” she asked dazed, “what are you two doing?” “I already told him everything, Hope,” Sarah blurts out, “So, there’s really no reason for you to stay any longer. Derrick is a good man and doesn’t deserve having you hold him back in life. To put it simply, you don’t deserve him.” Hope glanced back at them shocked. “So, you know and you still want me to leave,” she asked Derrick quietly. Willing the burning anger and hatred not to show in her shaky voice and refusing to give either of them the satisfaction of seeing the tears stinging her eyes fall. “Yes.” “That’s all? That’s all you have to say to me? And what about you, Sarah? You were suppose to be my friend. Why would you kiss my boyfriend?” Her voice was now dripping with venom. How could they do this to her? “Oh sweetie, he hasn’t been your boyfriend in quite a long time. Stop acting so shocked. And I’d never let you trap him and use him like you’re trying to. So go ahead and take your bags. I’ll be here to warm your spot in his bed.” Without much warning, and to her shock, Hopes hand swung out and her palm made contact with the side of Sarah’s head. “Stop! Hope get out of here. Go live your life. You and I are done. I hope I never see you again!” Derrick stares at Hope in shock. That was very out of character for her. Maybe Sarah was right and Hope had only been playing him the entire time. Stringing him along as some type of pet. It’s the only thing that made sense, now that he’s thinking about it. People like Hope don’t just meet and fall in love with people like him. Rough, harden people like him. “I can’t believe you’re doing this Derrick. But make no mistake, you will regret it and when that time comes, remember your own words. We. Are. Done. I wish you were the man you’d made me fall in love with but it’s obvious you had me fooled. He never existed anyway. You’re just the same hollow shell of a man…whatever.” Hope finally let her tears fall freely as all the emotions washed over her as she stormed away. Today was supposed to be filled with excitement. Terrifying excitement, but still. How could this go so wrong? Derrick didn’t want to be a part of her baby’s life. So she’d do everything in her power to provide a great life and make up for his absence. She promised herself, as she drove away from her former lover, that her child would never want for anything and she’d never let him or her suffer any heartbreak from their deadbeat father. Not as long as there was breath in her body. She’d protect this baby from ever feeling his rejection. No matter what.