Grace

Chapter 14| A Family I Wanted

I hear some rustling from downstairs. My eyes open and were hit by the bright sunlight. I wait for my eyesight to adjust before scanning my room, wondering if I was dreaming.

It was dark last night when we arrived home and I know I bumped into a few things as I walked myself to bed, but I didn't suspect any of it. Well, until now.

I was in an every girl's dream bedroom.

I quickly pinch myself to make sure it wasn't a dream. Sure enough, it wasn't.

I heard even more noises downstairs. What the heck is going on down there? I guess I should investigate then. I took a shower and dressed in a flower printed dress before walking down the stairs.

I hear the noise coming from the dining room. Strangely, there was more voices than usual in the morning.

I creep around the archway and was stunned.

Like, completely stunned.

William and mom were cooking in the kitchen, laughing together at something funny. George was setting the table while Hillary, the twins, and Gavin conversed between each other.

I pinched myself again, just to be sure if I was dreaming this.

Suddenly, blue eyes meet mine and I feel a smile spreading across my face.

He says my name loudly enough that I can hear him perfectly fine across the table. Everyone then stops what they were doing and looks at me.

Oh how I hate spotlights when they aren't on stage. Wait, I hate all spotlights, to begin with. They are too bright and make me sweat, which is not good for anyone.

"Good morning my winner." Chimes mom.

Pinch me.

"Allison, would you like to help us cook?" Offers William.

Pinch me harder.

"I think I should, you've been out of practice ever since you hired George." I find myself saying as I walk into the chef kitchen. I hear a chuckle from William.

Pinch me hard enough that I bleed.

I grab an apron and had William help me out to put it on for it was too big. I ended up being the one cracking the eggs and stirring them as mom sprinkles seasoning into the mix.

After we cooked breakfast along with funny jokes, we all sat down at the table and started digging in.

Before I could stop myself, I asked, "Why? What happened to you two?"

I looked up from my empty platter and wondered why they looked so shocked by that question.

Hillary gives me a questioning look before exchanging glances between William, mom, and I. I would love if they answered me instead of looking at me as if I strangled a bear. "What do you mean?" mom asks.

"Well, you guys were mean, always disappointed in me, expected too much, forced me to do ballet, forgot about dad, and set me up with Daniel when I should be with the love of my life." I answered honestly and passionately as I could. It felt as if the weight of the whole world was off my shoulders. I had finally said it, wow, just wow.

"I am sorry." William says after a long two minutes of awkward silence. "It's just that my marriages never ended well and I was never fond of the heartbroken feeling afterwards. So when I married your mom and saw how resentful you were about me when we met, I knew that was the only way to prevent another heartbreak was if I didn't get close. You know? If anything were to happen to this marriage. But now, I realized how much I took you and your mother for granted. Originally this marriage was founded out of money, but I have fallen in love with her. And due to my blindness throughout these past 10 years, I want to make it up to you, both of you." He says as he turns to my mom and me. "I know money can't buy the years of neglect, but I am willing to make up for the proud step-father I should be"

I was in tears. Pinch me. This can't be real. Gavin handed me a tissue and I gratefully took it. I wish I had known that William had felt this way. I somewhat pitied him for having to make that rational decision. if only I had known...

Now it was mom's turn.

"I hope you know I loved your father." Mom says softly to me. "When he passed, we were in debt and I knew the only way to get out of it was selling the house and living on the streets. I couldn't do that to you, especially if you were just a kindergartener. So I distracted you with the one thing I knew you loved, dancing. As you went to your lessons with my good friend, Mrs. Sankford, I was at home, researching. And then I found an article about the famous William Joyenne, it was about his recent divorce with Hillary. That was when I knew I had to marry him, for you."

I burst into tears. I felt Gavin's hand soothingly rubbing my back as I sobbed and sobbed. How could they keep this from me? I would have taken back all those thoughts of hate for them, danced more passionately so they had a daughter to at least be proud of together, be more respectful towards them, and listened.

There were so many things I could have done.

"I love you guys," I mumble as I wipe the tears from my eyes. I wanted to cry some more as I see smiles spreading across their faces.

A/N: Is it just me that cried as I typed this up?

And now you know.....

So this is basically the ending of the story, but I have an epilogue that should be posted later today.

Oh, boy....I am gonna miss you guys :'(

Stay Graceful-K

Ps. Reading on October 21st, 2017