For the love of Grace

Is it a date?

Is it a date?

Grace POV

"Hey mama," I said as I picked up my phone. “Gracie honey how are you?” she asked. "I’m good mama. I’m at the store picking up some things for my dinner tonight." As soon as the words left my mouth I immediately regretted it. “Dinner? Who with?” she asked. "It’s no big deal mama. I am having Dean over for dinner tonight as a thank you." I said.

“Thank you? What are you thanking him for?” "Last night, two men tried to hurt me outside of the shop. Dean saw it happening and...saved me. He came home with me to make sure I got in the house OK and when we got here, I saw a broken window and my front door open. Dean went in and checked the house and then he stayed with me all night."

“Oh my God are you alright sweetheart? Do you need me to come and stay with you for awhile?” She asked with panic in her voice. “No Mama, I’m fine. It was probably Ryan. I called the police. His dad showed up and I’m hoping he warned Ryan to stay away from the house." I assured her.

“Well he better! Or I will go and have a chat with his mother!” mama said with her stern motherly tone. I tried to hide my laugh but she was too funny. “Yes Mama, I will let you know if anything else happens. I’m going to go now and finish shopping. I’ll be alright." I said. “OK baby, but you better call me tomorrow and fill me in on your date!” "Ugh Mama it’s not a date!" I said. “Mmm hmm if you say so…” she said and then hung up. I stood in the store wondering, is it a date?

Dean POV

Tonight was a thank you dinner but I wasn’t really sure what to wear. I was standing in my room and going through all of the shirts I owned, holding each one up to me and looking in the mirror. "Why am I so nervous?" I thought aloud. “Maybe because you haven’t liked a girl in a really long time.” My uncle Ray walked in and said. "Ha ha, I guess I do like her," I said with a small chuckle.

“What’s not to like? She seems like a really sweet girl. From what I have been told and what I have seen, she comes from a nice family. Her mother is always volunteering at the church and she is constantly bragging about her daughter...Grace. That’s her name right?” "Yes. Grace is an amazing woman. She’s cooking me dinner tonight at her place. If I’m being honest, I’m a little nervous. I’m not really sure what to wear." I said.

"Go with the red button up with a pair of khaki pants and your black dress shoes.”" Dress shoes? I don’t have any dress shoes," I laughed. “Lucky for you we are the same size," he said with a wink. He walked out and returned with a pair of smooth black dress shoes. They looked like they had never been worn. There wasn’t even a crease.

"These are a bit much aren’t they?" I asked. “Well I guess you’ll have to wait and see. If you show up and she’s in sweats then I’d say yes.” he said with a laugh. Uncle Ray patted me on the back, “Have a good time tonight on your date son.” "It’s not a date, it’s a thank you dinner." I reminded him. “If you say so…” he said as he walked away. I stood staring at myself in the mirror. Is it a date?

Patty POV

"Don’t you have anything...fresh?" I asked the dim witted produce girl at the grocery store. “This lettuce is fresh ma’am. Just came in this morning.” she said. "Well, it doesn’t look fresh to me… useless, I said as I turned to walk away. As I was rolling my eyes thinking how stupid the produce girl was, I noticed Grace was shopping here too. She was standing near the meat section looking through the selections. Completely oblivious to anything else around her.

I decided I would walk up and “accidently” bump into her. I banged our carts together. "Oh I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there," I said. “Oh!, Hi Patty. How are you?” she said sweetly. Grace was always so sweet to everyone. Everyone loved Grace! What was so special about her? How great could she be if she let a catch like Ryan get away.

"I’m fantastic. I finally found someone and we couldn’t be happier." I dramatically stated. “Oh that’s wonderful! I wish you the best.” she said. She started to walk away and I blocked her path. "Aren’t you curious who the new man in my life is?" I said. “Oh of course. Who is the lucky guy?” she asked with a smile. "Ryan Brannigan," I replied with a smirk. I was hoping she would become insane with jealousy. Her smile quickly faded. “Oh, well, I hope you both will be happy.” she said and quickly side stepped me and walked away. "We definitely are!" I shouted at her. Ryan and I were just fooling around mostly but I didn’t want her to know that.

Grace was so perfect in High School. Head of the debate team. Cheer captain, homecoming queen and Valedictorian our senior year. Her speech is still talked about amongst all the old biddies in town, making it hard for any other girl to “measure up.” But Ryan always came running to me to fill his needs. She was such a stuck up snob, didn’t even know how to please her man. Fine by me because I always left him with a smile, I thought to myself as I flipped my hair. When he asked her to marry him, I was shocked. I didn’t know what he saw in her. Still don’t.

Grace POV

Seeing Patty was so uncomfortable. Why would Ryan be with her, but still be pursuing me? I always thought they had something going on behind my back but Ryan always said it was in my head. He swore that he would never cheat on me. Hearing her tell me they were together made me think my previous suspicions were spot on.

After I left the grocery store I started thinking about what Sarah said. Maybe I should go buy an outfit and dress up a bit. I decided to stop by Abigail’s boutique to pick something out. Abigail or Abbie as I called her, has been my best friend since the third grade. She always knows how to put things into perspective for me. She married her High School sweetheart, Brad and is pregnant with their third child.

When I walked in and saw her helping another customer. She waved at me and held up her finger telling me to give her one minute. I decided to look around. Everything in Abbie’s store was beautiful. Abbie has wanted to be a clothing designer ever since we were in middle school. Her store was now filled with all of her designs. She made womens and mens clothing but mostly women’s. Her boutique was so fancy. When you walked in you wouldn’t think you were shopping in a small town. You’d think you were in Beverly hills.

When she was done with that customer she came over and hugged me. "Wow look at you! You are glowing." I said. Abbie was six months pregnant but she was adorable. Her big belly poking out of her adorable maternity shirt that I’m sure she made herself. Her strawberry blonde hair up in a messy bun. “Girl, I have missed you but don’t lie to me. I’m not glowing. I look like a balloon ready to pop!” she said dramatically.

“So what’s going on with you?” "Well, I met this guy and…" “You met a guy!!!!” she screamed, cutting me off. "Shh, stop yelling before you give birth in the middle of your store and let me finish my sentence." I said. Her face lit up as she impatiently waited for me to finish. "I met a guy at my mother’s church on Sunday. Later that night two men tried to attack me and he saved me. I am having him over for dinner to thank him. For that and because he also fixed my hot water heater."

“Ohhh wow, sounds like some steamy

Love scene. The maintenance man/hero and the flower shop girl.” she said using her hands to make a rectangle as if she was a director of a movie with a “vision.” Abbie always had a flare for the dramatic.

“Listen, I need to find an outfit for tonight can you help me?" “Yes! I have the perfect outfit. I just designed it and finished the final touches today actually.” she walked over and pulled it from the rack. She held it up and I was stunned. "You are an artist Abbie!" “Thank you. I really outdid myself.” she said. "I love it!" I told her. “Does that mean you’ll take it?” she said with a hopeful smile. "Yes I’ll take it.”

“How much do I owe you?" I asked as I was opening my wallet. Abbie shook her head at me. “All I want is one juicy story after your date tonight.” "I don’t know if it will be juicy but I will definitely call you and tell you how it went." I said hoping it was enough. “I’ll take what I can get! Do you like him?” Her question stopped me and I thought it over for a minute. "I do, I don’t know him enough to say much more though. Sarah thinks I should just jump his bones and get it over with." I said, rolling my eyes.

“Ha! Sarah is a trip, but she is right.” Abbie said, nonchalant. "I can’t believe you agree? You made Brad wait until you were married. He was practically begging you daily! Yet you still held out. You know I want the same thing."I said. “Honey listen, I love Brad and I wouldn’t change our relationship but I do have to admit that waiting was hard. But we got married when we were twenty. You are twenty five. I think you’ve waited long enough. You are a grown woman. It’s time for you to start living like one.” she said.