Unfolding Truths: KO x LMM

Four

A few days later, Lin was sitting in during Hamilton rehearsals. Mandy had left a few months prior and a new Angelica was finally joining. Aubin was relieved, but also excited that she could start going back on as Peggy and Maria. However, Gracie was most excited because Lin had given her two Hamilton tickets as an early Christmas gift. She just had to figure out how to convince her mom to take her.

"So, Mom." She said, sitting next to her on the couch. "Now that we've settled in a bit, there's something happening tomorrow that I would really appreciate if you could take me to."

"Oh?" Karen asked, taking a bit of the scrambled eggs they had made for breakfast. "Go get your food before it gets cold, please."

"Okay." Gracie walked over to the kitchen, piling the scrambled tofu her mother had made just for her and pancakes on her plate, pouring syrup onto the pancakes. She then put ketchup on her eggs before walking back to the couch and sitting next to her mom again.

"How can you eat tofu with ketchup?" They asked their daughter, a look of near disgust on their face.

"And how can you eat eggs without it?" Gracie shot back.

"Okay, okay. Now, what is that 'something' that's happening tomorrow?"

"So...Lin gave me Hamilton tickets yesterday. Mandy invited him to brunch with us. And he gave me two tickets. So...would you wanna go with me?"

"Gracie, you saw how Lin and I feel about each other."

"Yeah, you hate him for whatever reason and he cares about you so deeply."

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"Oh come on Mom, please? You had the opportunity to be in the show once and now you won't even see it!"

"Gracie, no. We can't. I can't. You can't."

"Mom! Come on! I just wanna see the show once! Please?" Gracie was now on the verge of tears.

"If I say yes, all we do is see it, that's it! No stagedooring afterwards. No talking to anyone after."

"BUT MOM! Lin told Aubin and Krystal I was coming! They promised him they'd stagedoor! Please Mom?"

"Fine. Just to meet them. Then we leave. Immediately!"

"Thank you!" Gracie said as her eyes lit up brightly. "You're the best!" She hugged her mother quickly and then shoveled her breakfast into her mouth.

"Slow down, Gracie. You'll give yourself a stomachache."

"Sorry, Mom. I'm just excited is all. I have to tell Lin we're going! He'll be so happy! He said he might be asking you to play Angelica!"

"Absolutely not. I will not take any part in his show. I'm done working for him." Karen said.

They remembered that night in Lin's dressing room after the show. "I love you so much, Karen." He had whispered in their ear. Karen had repeated the whispered sentiment back to him. It had been the night Gracie was conceived.

"I can't be in Hamilton. And Gracie? After we see the show tomorrow, you are not to speak of Hamilton with me again. Do you understand?"

"Yes Mom." Gracie said, standing up to take care of her dish. "I'm sorry." After washing her dish and putting it in the drying rack, she ran upstairs, not wanting her mom to see her cry.

Gracie had a tendency to shield her mother from her true emotions. She knew if she let her mother see how depressed she was, her mom would be worried sick. And that wasn't something she was willing to risk. As soon as she shut the bedroom door, the tears Gracie had been holding back began to flow. She slowly slid down to the ground, her back against the door.

A few moments later, Karen knocked on their daughter's door. "Gracie? Are you okay?"

Gracie wiped her eyes. "I'm fine, just working on that assignment for school. Gotta be caught up and do it well, right?" She gave her most convincing chuckle.

"That's my girl. Well, I was gonna start baking some Christmas cookies. Mandy invited some people over to watch a new Christmas movie. Said we could go over early since there will be two of us. But, I think she just misses her goddaughter. Anyway, I thought you might want to join me?"

"Yeah, just give me a minute." Gracie said, going into the en-suite to splash some cold water on her face. Once she had, she went out and opened the door. "Okay, let's go." She gave a small smile.

"Great." Karen smiled too.

"Mom, if you say no, I promise I won't ever ask again, but...can't you please tell me about my dad?"

"Well, he was the one everyone suspected I divorced first. But, as I've said many times, there was never a divorce. We never got married to begin with. We broke up before I found out I was pregnant with you. Matt and James are the ones I divorced. Anyway, from what I've heard through the grapevine, he's married and has a couple more kids." Karen said.

"I have siblings?" Gracie asked.

"Yeah, two half brothers."

"Wow." Gracie smiled, thinking how cool it would be to meet them.

"Did you ever tell him about me?"

"Yes. And he said he wasn't ready to be a father. So we agreed you would stay with me."

"Was it because there were two of us?" Karen took in a sharp breath at the mention of her son.