{ a/n- based loosely off of the story "Change of Heart" by trinitywrites on tumblr; their work is my bible and they're writing gods. I'm also very sorry it's so long I don't know what happened but writing inspiration took over and yeah. This happened }
Third Person POV
"Grace, I'm sorry to do this on such short notice, but can I ask you a favour?" The voice of an old college friend asks Grace through her phone. Mae, whom Grace sees only rarely despite them both living in Los Angeles, was a friend from Ramapo.
"What favour Mae?" Grace questions, biting her lip nervously.
"My mom is unwell and she has nobody at home to help her right now, so I need to take the first plane out to Detroit I can get. Would you mind looking after my two little ones for a couple days, just until I figure something out? I'm sorry to throw this on you Grace I really am, but you're the only one who lives remotely close to my house." Mae says, her voice filled with obvious stress and concern. Grace stops short, her heart pounding. She doesn't want to say no because Mae would do this for her in an instant no question. If it had been any other favour Grace would absolutely say yes. But this, this worried her.
"Um, I'll have to see about it with Chester, can I call you back?" Grace stammers.
"Of course, thank you so much." Mae replies. Grace hangs up and goes to find Chester. He's sitting at the piano but not playing, he's simply writing little phrases and notes in his journal. Grace smiles at his candidness, wondering all over again at the luck she got to have him love her.
"Ches, can I talk to you about something?" Grace asks nervously.
"Of course, love, what's wrong?" Chester says, looking worriedly at his girlfriend.
"Nothing's wrong, it's just my friend Mae is going to help her mother and she needs someone to look after her kids and," Grace starts.
"She asked you?" Chester ponders.
"Yeah, she did," Grace affirms. "and I don't know what to say."
"Well, what do you think you should do?" Chester asks. Grace looks at him, her eyes dark with anxiety and clouded with doubt.
"I want to help her, I really do, but you know I'm not the best with kids." She says.
"Well," He begins to respond. "would Mae mind if I came along and helped out?"
"I don't think she would mind." Grace murmurs. "Are you sure?"
"Of course. Go call Mae and let her know we'll help her out." Chester says with a smile.
~
Two days later and Grace and Chester are left with Mae's two young children. Her 6 year old girl Bella and her little 3 month old Tom. Mae thanks them repeatedly as she's leaving, rushing to catch her flight. When the door clicks shut it hits Grace then; she's going to be alone with two young kids for who knows how long. Okay, not alone, she has Chester.
Bella retreated to her room after saying hello and Tom was napping when they arrived, so Grace decides to go properly introduce herself to the young girl. She goes upstairs and finds a door covered in posters of women's soccer players, Olympic swimmers, and printed photos of dogs. Grace notes the hand drawn sign stating "Bella's Room" embellished with stickers and drawings. She knocks and hears a small voice call a greeting.
"Hi there." Grace says softly, stepping into Bella's room cautiously. It's quite neat for a child's room. It seems to be very meticulous, everything stacked properly.
"Hi." Bella replies in a sweet, angelic tone. Her voice absolutely melts Grace's heart, it's such a perfect and small sound. Bella smiles up at Grace, her rosy cheeks deepening in blush.
