Unfolding Truths: KO x LMM

Seven

It was two days until Christmas. As it was Friday, Gracie was at Lin's. She'd never admit it to her mom, or Lin, but she hated staying at Lin's. She always felt homesick and wanted her mom. For her, feelings homesick wasn't about wanting to be in a familiar place, but a familiar person, her mother. For Gracie, home was her mother.

"Gracie! Ready to go?" Lin called. He was taking her ice skating.

"Yeah! Just give me a minute!" Gracie called back, throwing her long hair up in a ponytail. She then rushed out and grabbed her coat and gloves. "Okay. Ready."

"Alright, let's go." Lin smiled.

"Okay." Gracie sighed. "Did you invite Mami? Like I asked?"

"Honey, your mom and I aren't really talking much. We may be coparenting but we aren't really in good terms. Honestly, I would love if  they would talk to me but they're still pretty upset."

"One thing you should know about Mami is they hold grudges. Big time."

"You could say that again." Lin chuckled. "Alright, let's go."

"Yeah."

"So, mija, tell me about Manuel. What was he like?"

"Manuel? He was a musical genius. Kinda like you but less...history telling and more like...history making." Gracie started. "He loved Hamilton. He's the reason I know it. If he had know you were our dad, he'd have lost his shit. Even more than I did. He was so kind. He loves everyone. Or, loved, I guess. Lin, I don't want to talk about him. It hurts too much. It's only been a little over a month."

"It's okay mija." Lin said.

"I'm sorry you never got to meet him. Since he was your son and all."

"He was your twin brother, I'm sorry for your loss, and for your mother's."

"Did you at least ask Mami?"

"Yes. I did ask. They said they'd think about it."

"Okay." Gracie grabbed her cellphone off the kitchen counter. And the two of them headed to Lin's car. "Vanessa's strict."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't have my phone in my room at night, no music after 10pm, lights out and in bed by 10:30 at the latest. Mami let's me have my phone at night, music all night and bed at 11:30. Besides, Vanessa's not even my parent. I hardly even know you."

"Things work differently depending on what house you're at, Gracie. That's natural." Lin said, putting his hand on Gracie's shoulder.

"I just want Mami." Gracie sighed.

"I'm sorry, mija. I know it's difficult getting used to having another parent. You've lived with your mom your entire life. But you'll get used to it."

"I hope I don't have to." Gracie said, not looking at Lin. Now that she knew he was her father, she suddenly didn't like him as much. He was already a dad to two kids he got to raise and seemed to have quickly taken to raising a teen. Lin was happy to be her father, while Gracie on the other hand seemed quite frustrated with it.

"Your mom just texted. They'll be there. At the ice rink."

"Really?" Gracie's eyes lit up.

"Yes, really." Lin chuckled, happy his daughter was finally happy.

"And then tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I'll get to go back to Mami's! And Gramma and Grandpa will be there! And Aunt Ruth!" Gracie's smile grew wider. "I can't wait to see everyone. Well, almost everyone."

"What do you mean?"

"Mami and James were together for nearly 10 years. That's still most of my life, Lin. His daughter was my sister. Nearly my whole life. Mami and Matt were together the first four years of my life. He was there for Mami and I. I don't know why the didn't work out but I always called him Dad growing up. He still sends me birthday and Christmas cards, Lin. When he and Mami divorced, I had weekends with him until we moved to Wisconsin." Lin just nodded. "I've always seen him as my dad. And I don't really know if I want a new dad. I never cared much that he wasn't my birth father. He was there for everything. He took me to my first riding competition, when I broke my wrist when I was seven, he flew to Wisconsin to stay with me until my wrist fully healed. For all intensive purposes, Lin, Matt is my dad."

"I understand what you're saying, Gracie. But I was never given the chance to be that for you."

"I know, but that's not my fault."

Lin parked the car at the ice rink and the two got out.

Karen was waiting for Gracie and Lin at the ice rink with Matt who they had invited along. "How's Gracie doing?" Matt asked.

"They're alright. I finally told Lin and Gracie. Lin's elated, Gracie however doesn't want anything to do with him now." Karen chuckled. "She keeps asking me when she's gonna see her dad again. She means you, by the way."

"Well, just as I'm her father in her eyes, she's my daughter in mine."

"You were there for me through most of my pregnancy. You were there when Gracie and Manuel were born, you helped me raise them. They both loved summers with you."

"I loved them too." Matt's eyes began to water. "God I miss Manuel. Losing him has been awful."

"I know, Matt." Karen hugged him. Matt hugged back.

"I can't wait to see Gracie."

"She'll be so excited to see you too." Karen said.

"MAMI!" The two heard. Matt turned and saw Gracie. "DADDY!" She screamed. Matt smiled and ran over to her, picking her up and twirling her around.

"Hey baby girl!" He said, putting her back on the ground. "Diego misses you, kiddo."

"Can we go to the barn next week so I can ride him?"

"Of course we can. You haven't ridden him since Thanksgiving when you and your mom came down."

"Mami and James got a divorce literally the day after we got home."

"I heard." Matt said and kissed her forehead. "Now, do you wanna go skate?"

"Yeah! Let's go!"

Matt and Gracie headed off and Lin was left alone with Karen.

"Did you seriously let her grow up calling him her father?"

"He was there. They see each other that way. I can't control that. But he was there when she and Manuel were born. He soothed their nightmares, their fevers. He bought her her first horse when she was six. She still rides that horse. Diego. They bonded over riding. He took her to every competition. Every break she had during the school year, she came down to train for competitions. Lin, I get it, I should have told you about the twins but I didn't, I can't change that. But Matt has always been there for Gracie. Even after our divorce. He was there for us both. He helped pay for things she needed. Matt has always been her father in her eyes. And knowing that you are her real father isn't going to magically change that. I'm sorry."

"Karen, I don't think you realize this but that night you left, the night you broke things off, I was going to propose. I was ready to settle down, I just thought you had meant more than just moving in together. But the main piece that I don't think you get is that I am still in love with you."

"Matt asked to get back together, Lin. And I said yes." Lin nodded slowly.

"Okay. I'm gonna go home. Drop Gracie off when you're all done skating."

"Okay." Karen watched him leave, feeling a little guilty.

"Karen! Come on!" Matt called, waving them over. Karen turned, smiled and headed over to their boyfriend and daughter.