Ransom Drysdale - State of Grace ✔️

Chapter 16

Grace paced in the waiting room in front of Linda as they waited for the doctor to get them.

"Grace. Sit down. You're making me nervous." Linda grabbed at her hand but she pulled it away.

Grace went to say something but they were approached by a police officer, "can you tell us anything that happened?"

The officer sighed, "Mr. Drysdale's blood alcohol level was above the legal limit when he got into an accident."

Grace groaned, "tell me he didn't hit anyone."

He shook his head, "no. He swerved to avoid hitting another car, hitting a telephone pole instead. He will lose his license. But he's lucky it wasn't worse than it is."

She sighed, "okay. Lucky. Right." She looked past the officer to see the doctor approaching them. She pushed past the officer as Linda stood up.

"Mr. Drysdale has a concussion and a a broken arm. Other than that, he has some cuts and bruises. We're waiting for him to wake up. You can come see him if you like, but he's still unconscious."

Grace nodded, following her as she heard Linda get up to follow. She groaned as she reached the room, seeing small cuts all over his face, a sling on his left arm.

"The window shattered in his face."

Grace placed her hand on his face gently, "it's all my fault. I didn't believe him about the woman." She felt her eyes welling as she felt Linda rubbing her back.

"It isn't your fault Grace. He'll be okay."

Grace nodded, sitting next to him as a nurse came in with another officer carrying a bag.

"This is all we could salvage from the car."

Grace accepted the bag of stuff, "his ring? It isn't on his finger."

The nurse nodded, opening the drawer next to his bed to display another bag, "all personal affects that were on his person are in this bag."

"Thank you." Grace opened the bag, pulling his signet ring out to put back on her right hand. She sat next to him, resting her head on the bed next to his hand.

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Grace didn't know how long she had been asleep for when she felt Linda grab her shoulder, making her look up.

"I'm going to go get something to eat. Do you want something dear?"

Grace shook her head, "I'm fine." She saw Linda hesitate before leaving her alone in the room with Ransom. Grace stood up, running her hand along his cheek, "oh Ransom." She sighed, sitting down to go through his bag of stuff from his car. She found a copy of his book, meaning he must have gone back to the office at some point. She noticed on the front it said 'Special Edition.' She opened it to find a different forward than the other copies. This one was written by Ransom.

-Gracey-
I wouldn't be here with this book if it wasn't for you. I wouldn't be where I am at all if it wasn't for you. You continue to believe in me and push me to want to be better, not just for you, but for us. I love you so much and I can't imagine not having you in my life.
Will you marry me?
-HRD

"Oh my god." Grace felt the tears streaking her cheeks as she closed the book, looking up to see Ransom watching her.

"You've ruined my proposal."

She laughed, setting the book on the table to lean over him, "Ransom. I was so worried. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault you're here."

He shook his head, grabbing her hand, "no. Only one to blame is myself. I'm sorry I'm a constant disappointment Gracey."

She groaned, "you aren't. I went to your apartment and saw the house listings. I'm sorry for assuming the worst."

"I wanted to surprise you. I'm sorry for keeping it from you. Will you help me sit up?"

Grace nodded, pulling away to press the little button, raising his back up so he was sitting.

He pointed to the bag she pulled the book from, "give that to me."

"Sure." She handed him the bag as she watched him root around in it with one hand, pulling out a ring box as she gasped.

"Like I said, you ruined the engagement. I was going to wait until we picked a house." He laughed, handing her the box, "but as long as it's all out there, will you marry me Gracey?"

She looked from Ransom to the ring box before handing the ring box back to him. "Of course I'll marry you Ransom. Keep this so we can do it right though."

Ransom nodded, smiling as he put the box back into his bag, "deal. I love you Gracey. I'm sorry I ran away. I promise I won't anymore."

Grace nodded, "and I promise I will give you the benefit of the doubt from now on. I'm so sorry Ransom."

He shook his head as he pulled her lips to his, kissing her urgently until they heard the door open. Grace pulled away to see Linda and Meg and a few other family members. Ransom groaned, "I'm fine. I don't need everyone checking on me."

Grace squeezed his hand, "no matter how big of an ass you can be, we all care about you Ransom."

He nodded before resting his head back, "I appreciate that. But I'm tired. You can all bombard me tomorrow."

Grace laughed as she crawled into bed next to him on his right side as he held his arm up for her to lay on his chest. She pressed the button to lower his hard back to laying position as Linda covered them both with a blanket.

She ran her hand through Ransom's hair, "I'm glad you're okay son. We'll come back in the morning."

Ransom nodded, "thanks mom."