Frozen Heart

Chapter 40 ~ "Just Give It Some Time"

☆  Warning some mature content ahead! ☆ 

Nik

I didn't know what to think picking Grace up in tears, I wasn't always the best person at comforting other people, but for her I had to try and be. It killed me to watch her cry and sound so upset, I had to wonder what I could do to help her.

This afternoon had been decently rough on me too, it finally looked like Sasha was coming home. Mom had had some serious conversation with my dad last night, I wasn't sure what it was about, but I had to guess that she had threatened to leave him based on one piece I heard while I was coming downstairs to get my school bag.

"-I love you." She said quietly. "But if Sasha's coming home, things must change. If things start to go back to the way they were, I'm done."

I felt my eyes widen hearing her say that. I didn't love my father, but the concept of your parents falling out and wanting to separate was uncomfortable. I prayed that it wasn't the case, maybe this version of my father my mother was so attached to would finally start to come out. I had my doubts, but the power in our house was shifting. It relaxed me that my sister and mother wouldn't be afraid of him anymore.

Thankfully, Sasha was coming home tomorrow. I'd finally have my sister back in the house and hopefully, things would start to get better. 

But just when my issues seemed to be under control Grace was calling me in tears, wanting me to come pick her up. That broke my heart. She was still crying now and I couldn't take it. I didn't know where I could bring her, my parents and Alex were at home and I couldn't think of another safe place.

I pull over into a shopping plaza parking lot, unable to think while she seems so upset. I reach over and hold her hand, watching her lower lip wobble. 

"What happened?" I ask and she sobs, shaking her head.

"My dad found out before I could tell him, apparently Charlie was telling my father that I'd started seeing a boy." She sniffles and I feel my eyes widen. "He told me I wasn't allowed to see you......he wanted me to break-up with you."

I knew he wouldn't like me, I shouldn't have been so hopeful. I didn't think he'd hate me enough to try and have Grace dump me though. 

"I'm sorry." I whisper.

"Don't worry." She begs, wide eyes pleading and I feel every part of my body get weak. "I won't, never." I turn off the car and pull my seat back, undoing her seatbelt. She takes the hint and crawls over into my lap, curling up against my chest and I wrap my arms around her.

"Was he upset?" I ask, wanting to know how severe this was. 

"Really upset." She sighs. "It was some unspoken rule that I wasn't allowed to date anyone. Dad didn't trust boys at all after Calvin. I hadn't told him because......well because I was afraid of this." She whimpers and leans back into my chest to let out another sob.

"Shh, just take some deep breaths." I whisper, running my hands over her back. She cries for a bit longer and I kiss her forehead. She was normally alright, she didn't usually have meltdowns like this. I had to be strong for her right now. "I'm sorry it came out like that." I whisper. I knew how much she was trying find the right time to tell her dad.

"Me too." She mumbles. "I was going to tell him tonight." She whispers and I nod, trying to keep her as close as possible. "I wanted to tell him how excited I was about you that.....well, that I felt so special with you."

"He didn't take it well huh?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"Terribly." She breathes and I kiss her cheek. "My god, I knew he'd be a little upset but I didn't expect him to be so angry. He kept insisting that I wasn't allowed to do this, that I'd gone behind his back.....he said 'teenage boys only want teenage girls for one thing'." She says, starting to sound angry instead of sad.