Saving Grace #Wattys2016

Chapter Nine

TONY GOLDWYN AS MR. JACK HALE

Saturday; my best friend's wedding day. We woke up early enough to get everyone fixed which made the house into a war zone. Girls of all sorts were running yelling to get Ella into her totally gorgeous dress and make up done, finally we did.

"I hope we get to do this for you soon." She said to me once the mess was over.

She zipped up my plum bridesmaid dress before turning to look confused at her.

"Don't hold your breath on it." I smiled ghostly.

"With Hardy." She added. My smile turned into a frantic look. Even the thought of waltzing around a grand ballroom in Hardy's arms being called Mrs. Hale sent me into shock.

"I don't think that's gonna happen, Ella, you know that. We're not even together like that."

"Not yet, at least; you love him, Grace and he loves you too." Ella pulled me to stop fussing around and cupped my face in her hands. "I don't see why you two can't find some way to make it work."

"Because life isn't that easy for us, Ella." The tears that I couldn't stop were starting to form." Do you see how we live? He lives in a mansion and we live in the burnt houses. He has people opening doors for him and we have people purposely slamming them in front of us. Don't you see? It wasn't meant for this to last long, matter how bad we want it to." I need a break. I ran out the room before she could see my tears and ran straight into my mother's arms.

"Mama," I sobbed.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Mama patted my hair. "Oh, you're so happy. I know, it's amazing." The wedding. While I was talking about how all my dreams would never come true, she was talking about a wedding.

"I'm so happy for her getting married." Too bad it won't happen for me. Mama squeezed my shoulders and dashed off to help the other girls so we could get this show on the road but it was beautiful, Ella's wedding. Everything went according to plan and the guys actually looked good, even Scoot who has never worn anything formal for ten years. Now wad the time to laugh, dance and congratulate the new Delgado's.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She hugged Lucy, Mama, and I who planned the wedding. "I couldn't ask for anything better. Nana and Papa would've love to be here."

"That she would." Her mother's face saddened at the thought of her own mother and husband who died when Ella was young.

"Steven's here, Grace." Mama elbowed me and pointed to Steven Patton who actually looked good in his grey suit. I sighed and walked slowly over to him. There was nothing between us; no spark, no life, unlike Hardy, who just to think of him was enough.

Oh, Hardy.

"Wow." Steven looked at me. "You look amazing." He hugged me and kissed my cheek. "It's good to see you again."

"You too, it's been a while." It has been; I haven't seen him since I was fifteen and he was hanging out with Danny until he moved. "How have you been?"

"Great. We moved closer to here so I can start college."

"I want to go to my bachleor's out of this town. Mama says I need to focus on more important things like finding a boyfriend."

"Yes." Steven laughed as we walked to the buffet line. "Your mother sounds worried 'bout that. She just wants you to be happy."

"Why can't I find my own way to be happy? I'm perfectly happy not being married and having a kid coming on the way." Steven's eyes showed something that looked like understanding and a little scariness.