Finding Grace

Chapter 4 ~ The Way Of Our Lives

Snapping back from looking at the picture now in her hands, she delicately sets the ivory frame back down on the top of her dark mahogany dresser.

She took in a deep breath before releasing it. She smoothed out the front of her dress as she did. Taking in the moment to compose herself before going downstairs to join her guests, who were just now beginning to arrive.

Playing the perfect homemaker and hostess, she shows off the new renovations they have done. They had redone the kitchen, master bedroom and made the entire left side of the second floor into a huge playroom for Grace. Everyone at the party was in awe.

When she wasn't giving guided tours of their immaculate house, she was sitting beside her husband as he talked about the new deck he wanted to be built.

Perched on the arm of his chair, she doted over him as she always did in public.

Making sure to mingle and laugh with every guest in attendance.

Doing everything that was expected of her and then some.

Everyone in the local high society always attends their events.

Grant's family was from what was considered old money and many people tried to be and stay in their good graces.

Many of Grant's clients, coworkers and firm partners were also going to be attending.

For her, this was how her life had been for the last decade.

The years had gone by in the blink of an eye.

Nowadays, everything just seems to blend together.

Thinking back to the girl she used to be, she couldn't even recognize herself anymore. With medium-length brunette hair and blonde highlights, prim and proper attire, and a smile that was always on and always forced but perfect.

Pouring another glass of wine, she stared at herself in the reflection of the pool.

It had been years since she'd been home, since she'd seen her family face to face.

She left on such bad terms that she didn't know what she would say to them even if she could see them again.

Some days, she wondered what life would have been like had she never met her husband. The party was now over, and her husband was passed out in his study on the main floor. She was currently preparing for bed. Sitting at her dresser, she began taking out the pins in her hair and taking off the rest of her makeup.

She sat looking at herself. She was definitely no longer the girl she was when she first met Grant. She looked down at the picture on her dresser. She was wearing a simple yet elegant white gown and Grant was in a black tux standing next to her. It was taken a week after they met. She let her mind slip back into that time

_____________

The next day went by normally.

She spent the morning helping Grace prepare for kindergarten this upcoming fall.

A lot was expected from Grace in her private school and even at 5, she was ready for it all.

By noon, she had tea with her mother-in-law, Eleanor, who had come by for a surprise visit with her and Grace.

They sat and talked about all the upcoming events and holidays they needed to begin planning for.

It was always about having grand parties and showing off for Eleanor. She was an heiress to her own family fortune. Amara learned very well how this high society life functioned, and it was all about doing it bigger and better than the next one.

Amara would like to think that there was a heart of gold in there somewhere.

She was so kind and accepting.

However, that was only after everyone found out that Amara was expecting the next Williamson heir.

Since then, Eleanor had been wonderful and kind to her and Grace over the years.

She was like this sorority sister fairy godmother.

So many times whisking her and Grace away.

Her excuse was to go shopping, but Amara knew in her heart why.

By 4 p.m. she began preparing dinner.

They had chefs and maids, but Amara loved to cook, and Grant liked being able to brag about having a wife who made him home-cooked meals to come home to.

He even had a professional chef come and teach her a few things to help her hone her skills.

Of course, that was at the beginning when they had first moved into the house and were still very much in the honeymoon stage.

A stage Grant left much quicker than Amara did.

8:45 . . . Grant was severely late for dinner.

Something that has unfortunately become their normal for the past year now.

On the outside, they were so perfect.

It almost made her sick to think about it.

Big house, nice cars but still one of the loneliest places Amara had ever known.

"Are you okay Mama?" Grace asked when she noticed Amara's mood had changed.

"Yeah baby girl. Just thinking is all."" She told her daughter as she booped her little nose.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Grace asked her mom.

"Well, right now, I am thinking about how beautiful and smart and amazing you are." She told her as she brushed a strand of blonde, curly hair out of her daughter's face and tucked it behind her ear.

"I'm also thinking that it's time for . . . "

She looks both ways as if to pretend that it's a big secret.

"Ice cream!" She looked at her daughter's excited face and couldn't help but be happier at that moment.

This perfect angel was, at this point, her only reason for living.

It was Gracie that gave her a reason to get up in the morning and play her little part.

For only five, she was so smart and kind.

With blonde curly hair and hazel-green-brown eyes, she was the spitting image of Amara's own beautiful mother.

It warmed her heart but also broke it when she watched her daughter make the same facial expressions as her mother did.

She wished all the time that she could just pick up the phone and call her.

She missed her family so much every day, but she knew what would happen.

They didn't want to speak with her.

"Alright, what flavor?" She tried to ask, but the distance noise distracted their happy moment.

Snapping them back to their unfortunate reality.

Amara's heart broke as she watched her daughter's beautiful face fall when she heard the sound of blaring music coming up their thankfully long driveway.

"I think it's time for bed mama." She said in a small quiet voice as she got down from her chair and hugged her mother goodnight.

Amara kissed the top of her head before their housekeeper, Roberta, instinctively helped Gracie make her way up to her bedroom.

It angered Amara fiercely that Gracie was affected this way. She was so in love with Grant once, and then she learned to be scared of him, but now, being a mother?

Her anger squashed any other emotions she had.

She tried so hard for their perfect little family, but nothing would ever be good enough.