Grace

Chapter 13| Resolving

There was no victorious dinner, smiles from proud parents, and definitely no bouquet of flowers.

Nothing.

"You are a failure." Hissed William.

"A disgrace." Sneered Gavin.

"A brat." Screeched mom.

I cried myself to sleep that night.

"Alice, will you join us for dinner?" Asks Gavin as the door to the hotel room opened. I look away from the window and faintly shook my head.

"C'mon Alice, you didn't join us for brunch, please?" He responds. I sigh and reluctantly nod. It wasn't fair to him. As much as I didn't want to see my family for I feared their reactions, I can't keep to myself for long.

"I love you, you know that, right?" Questions Gavin as we walk down the hall to the lobby. I look up at him, his blue eyes staring right back.

"I know." I say softly and intertwine our fingers.

Mom, William, Hillary, Jeremy, Logan , Claire, and Daniel were chilling in the lobby. My mom was the first to look up as we approach.

"Hey, you okay?" Daniel asks as he approaches me. I want to say bitterly, 'do I look okay?' His ignorance was already making me want to bang my head against the wall. But I squeeze Gavin's hand instead.

We end up dining at a restaurant in downtown New York City. Claire and Gavin sandwiched me in the booth that surprisingly held all of us with room to spare. Daniel sat beside Claire and William sat beside mom, which left Hillary sitting near the twins as they were sandwiched between Gavin and Martha.

The waiter came shortly and we ordered our drinks.

"Ahem." Martha's voice raises as the chattering ceased. Everyone turned to her and listened patiently to hear. I, however, wanted to slam my head into the table over and over again. I was not having a good day.

"I'd like to make a toast to my daughter, Allison, for winning the 3rd place in The Nationals," Martha says and raises her glass as does everyone else.

I couldn't help, but notice William staring at her cup. I held back a chuckle as I see his eyes widened. Looks like she didn't tell him yet.

"Your-your." He stammered as he focuses on the glass of water that she took a swift gulp of.

"Pregnant?" I offer. He glares at me, and a chuckle escaped my lips. I never knew I could enjoy seeing William in a shocked state.

"Congrats!" Cheers Hillary and gave mom a hug from her seat. The others gave their 'congrats' as well and everyone toasts to that too.

When the drinks came, everyone was chattering amongst each other. Claire was chatting with Daniel, William was hugging mom, the twins were goofing off together, and Hillary, Gavin and I were talking.

"Wait, let me get this straight," I say to Hillary right after taking a sip of water. "You were married to Gavin's father, then you were widowed, and then you married William and he knocked you up with the twins, and you guys got a divorce?"

"Pretty much," Hillary confirms it.

"But," Gavin adds. "Part of the deal in order for the separation to happen, your step-dad had to give up one of his many houses he owns."

"Why?" I question. That didn't make any sense. Separations were supposed to keep you separated, not having your former spouse living in a house you can easily visit whenever you feel like it. It just didn't add up.

"During the divorce, I got full custody over the twins, but William still had to pay for child support and that was his payment." Hillary clarifies. Now that makes sense, sort of. Good thing I don't have any kids because this is so confusing.

"One day you will learn." Mom cuts in as if she had been listening the whole time. I sent a glare her way, what does that even mean? Learn not be a failure? I bet I can see the disappointment in her eyes.

I search and search her eyes for the slightest disappointment, but there was none. Just happiness.

I bit back the sudden temptation of bursting into tears.

No, they weren't sad tears.

A/N: Hey! Two more chapters and we are officially done! Hopefully I can get them up by tomorrow night. I know these last chapters are short and really bad, but like I said before, i shall be editing them.

On the other note.....

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST STORY I HAD EVER EVVVVVEEEERRRRR completed.

Crazy, right?

Stay Graceful~K

Ps. I must let you know that I am very proud of my writing right now, some years are coming to my eyes as I edit this. Ah, why do I have to be so darn emotional?

Edited on October 27th, 2017