Unfolding Truths: KO x LMM

Fourteen

When Gracie and Matt got home, Gracie went straight to her bedroom, slamming the door shut. Karen looked at Matt. "What happened?"

"Diego had to be euthanized. He broke both front legs and wouldn't get back up. Gracie's taking it really hard. He was her first horse."

"Shit. Why didn't you call?"

"I was busy comforting her during the drive. I tried getting some food and water into her but she wasn't having that. We had to pull over at one point because she cried so hard she had to throw up."

"Oh, poor baby. I'm gonna go see her." Karen stood up and walked upstairs, going to their daughter's bedroom. They knocked. "Gracie? Mija, may I come in?" Gracie didn't answer, only letting out a strangled sob, as well as an upset scream. Karen immediately walked in, seeing their daughter pulling at her hair, rocking back and forth on her bed. Gracie screamed again. Karen ran to her side, taking her daughters hands in their own. "Hey, hey, baby, look at me."

"He's dead, Mami!" Gracie sobbed. "DIEGO IS DEAD!" Her screams broke Karen as all they could do was hold her close.

"I know baby. I know." They whispered, rocking her back and forth. Gracie continued to sob into her mother's chest.

"Make it stop, Mami!" She cried. She'd dealt with too much death in the past couple months and all she wanted was her brother and her horse back.

"I'm trying baby, I promise, I'm trying." Karen whispered, continuing to rock Gracie back and forth until she eventually fell asleep. Matt came into the bedroom.

"Um, honey. Andréa and Amelia are here. Amelia saw what happened and is understandably both freaked out and concerned about Gracie."

"Okay. I'll be right down." Karen whispered, slowly slipping Gracie onto the bed and following Matt downstairs.

Amelia's face was tear streaked and Andréa had her arms wrapped around the 15 year old.

"Hey, Karen. How's Gracie doing?" Andréa asked.

"Not good. I finally got her to sleep. She is going to have a horrible migraine later from all that crying, if she doesn't already have one now."

"I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Andréa. Gracie knew this could happen going into owning and competing with horses. Diego was a trained jumper and barrel racer so I think she assumed something like this would never happen. But he was getting old. He was 24. It was bound to happen sooner or later."

"I think she blames herself, unfortunately." Matt said, taking Karen into his arms. "She said if she'd just done laps today, he'd still be alive."

"Amelia wanted to check on Gracie." Andréa said, kissing the side of her daughter's head. "She was worried sick about her."

"I saw the whole thing. The fall. Lessons were over and I wanted to tell her that mom was going to buy Lucky for me so I decided to watch her jump with Diego and when it happened, I froze. I wanted to help but I froze. Then when you and Mrs Dawson came running in, I couldn't do anything. When the vet came in and I realized Diego was gonna die, I ran. I'm so sorry." Amelia said.

"It is not your fault, Amelia. It is nobody's fault. Okay? No one could change the outcome of what happened." Matt said, gently. "All we can do is try and help Gracie through this grieving process. And once she's ready to ride again, I'm sure she'd feel better having someone with her. Would you be up for that?"

"Of course. I'll do anything to help Gracie."

"I appreciate that, Amelia." Karen said, sitting next to the teen on the couch. "Gracie has had too much loss in the past two months and I think knowing she has a friend will help her so much. Thank you."

"Of course, Tía." Amelia said and Karen squeezed the teens hand gently.

"Would you two like to stay for dinner?"

"Sure, we'd love that, Karen." Andréa smiled.

When it came to dinner, Gracie was awake, sitting alone in her room, not wanting to see her mom and dad, worried the two would blame her for Diego's death, just like she blamed herself.

Karen walked upstairs. "Hey honey. Do you think you'll be able to stomach some food? Some tofu, rice and beans?"

"Were the beans cooked separately? I can't stomach anything with flavor."

"They were."

"Okay. Thanks Mami. Can I take some Tylenol?"

"Of course baby girl." Gracie sighed and got up and walked downstairs. The moment she saw Andréa and Amelia, she turned to go back upstairs. "Gracie? Baby?"

"I don't want to see anyone right now, Mami. Just you."

"Baby, your daddy and I miss you so much."

"But isn't Daddy mad at me? He spent thousands of dollars buying Diego and even more thousands on vet bills over the years. I'd be mad at me if I were him."

"Baby girl. I am not mad at you. It isn't your fault, what happened. You aren't to blame. You didn't know that would happen."

"So nobody is mad at me?"

"No one is mad at you, Gracie. I promise." Karen said, taking their daughter's hand in theirs.

"Okay." Gracie said and hugged her mother. Karen hugged her back, rubbing her back.

Matt got Gracie's food. "Go sit on the couch, princess, I'll bring your food out to you."

"Thank you Daddy. I love you."

"I love you too, kiddo."

Gracie sat on the couch, feeling small. After realizing she had sat right next to Andréa, she got up and sat in the recliner. Matt sighed, going over and handing her the plate of food. "Honey, we're all here for you. I love you so much." Gracie didn't react and picked up her fork, pushing the food around her plate. She didn't take a bite, but just pushed the phone around the plate. Karen placed their hand over their heart. "I know, baby." Matt whispered.

"It's just so hard seeing her like this. She's so heartbroken right now."

"I know honey." Matt wrapped his arms around them.

As they stood there, Gracie suddenly exploded, throwing her plate, still full of food, screaming. Karen immediately rushed to their daughter. "Baby, what's going on?" They asked, kneeling in front of her.

"JUST SHUT UP!" Gracie screamed. "I CAN FEEL EVERYONE'S EYES ON ME! JUST STOP WATCHING ME! STOP TALKING TO ME! JUST STOP!" She stood up, putting on her winter boots and running out of the house.

"GRACIE!" Karen screamed.

"Karen, she just needs a break. Just give her some time."

"Karen? Matt? Is there anything we can do for you?" Andréa asked.

"No. Thank you, Andréa." Matt sighed. "I apologize for everything."

"It's no one's fault." Andréa said, holding her own daughter close.